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CR 06-055 Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR)-Opus CiTY OF May 10,2006 m Council Report 06-55 HOPKINS ALTERNATIVE URBAN AREAWIDE REVIEW (AUAR) - OPUS Proposed Action. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the following motion: Move to aoorove Resolution 06-36. adooting the Uodated Alternative Area Wide Review and Updated Mitigation Plan for the Excelsior Crossings office development as the revised Environmental Analvsis Document and Plan for Mitigation for the Excelsior Crossings Area. At the Zoning and Planning meeting Ms. Hatcher moved and Mr. Skiermont seconded a motion to adopt Resolution 06-14, recommending approval of the Updated Alternative Area Wide Review and Updated Mitigation Plan for the Excelsior Crossings office development as the revised Environmental Analysis Document and Plan for Mitigation for the Excelsior Crossings Area. The motion was approved unanimously. Overview. In 2001 an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) was completed for the Medica development proposed on the former Supervalu North Annex site. This environmental review was required because of the size of development. The Excelsior Crossings office development on this site will require that the AUAR that was prepared for Medica be updated. The City of Hopkins is the Responsible Governmental Unit for the AUAR On April 6, the updated AUAR was distributed for the 10-working-day comment period. An open house was held on April 12 at City Hall for public comments. Comments were received on the updated AUAR until April 25, 2006. Attached on pages 2-6 on Responses to Comments are the comments from the agencies and all other interested parties. Primarv Issues to Consider. . What is an AUAR? . Why is the applicant doing an AUAR? . What was the discussion at the Zoning and Planning meeting? Supporting Documents. . Analysis of Issues . Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review and Appendix for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development . Memo from John Dietrich . Schedule for AUAR . Resolution 06-36 Nancy . Anderson, AICP Planner Financial Impact: $_ N/ A Budgeted: Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Notes: Y/N Source: CR06-55 Page 2 Primarv Issues to Consider. . What is an AUAR? The Alternative Urban Areawide Review process substitutes for any Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA W) or Environmental Impact Statement (ElS) required for specific qualifying projects, provided they comply with the review assumptions and mitigation measures. The Environmental Quality Board states the following: A hybrid of the EA Wand EIS review processes, the AUAR uses a standard list of questions adapted from the EA W, providing a level of analysis for typical urban area impacts comparable to an EIS. Since its content is uniform, scoping is not necessary; however, it has been voluntarily added to several reviews. A draft and final document are prepared and distributed in a manner similar to an EIS to ensure adequate review. A process for appeal to the Environmental Quality Board can be invoked by state agencies and the Metropolitan Council. . Why is the applicant doing an AUAR? The development is required to have an environmental review. The applicant chooses the AUAR process because an AUAR reviews a development scenario or several scenarios for an entire geographical area rather than a specific project. . What was the discussion at the Zoning and Planning meeting? Ms. Anderson gave a brief history of the AUAR. John Dietrich from RLK reviewed the AUAR with the Commission. The Commission asked questions regarding the AUAR process, the reduction in the traffic estimates from the Medica project, adding extra lanes to TH 169 and the regional pond. There was no one in the audience regarding the AUAR. Responses To Comments On And Amendments to The URdated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And ARPendix for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development Hopkins, Minnesota Update to the 2001 AUAR for the Medica Corporate Office Development adopted August 21, 2001. City of lIopkins May 4, 2006 Prepared By RLK Incorporated 6110 Blue Circle Drive, Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55343 Tel 952-933-0972 Fax 952-933-1153 www.rlklnc.com City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Tel 952-935-8474 Fax 952-935-1834 www.hopkinsmn.com Table Of Contents INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................1 COMMENTS AND RESPONSES ........................................................................................................................2 A. Metropolitan CounciL....... ........ ....................... .......... ..... ...... ............... ...............................2 B. Hennepin County Transportation Department.....................................................................2 C. Minnesota Department Of Transportation...........................................................................2 D. Chandra Erickson ................................................................................................................4 E. Pete and Kathy Stiehm ........................................................................................................4 F. Bob Shaw.............................................................................................................................5 G. Steve Shaw ..........................................................................................................................5 AMENDMENTS To THE UPDATED AUAR .....................................................................................................6 8. Permits And Approvals Required........................................................................................6 21.c. Traffic, Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................... 7 AMENDMENTS To THE APPENDIX Comments ................................................................................................................... Attachment C RLK Incorporated Memorandum: Potential Movement Restrictions at North Site Access, Impacts to 2nd Street! Monroe Avenue Intersection OperatiOlis, Apri113, 2006........................................... Attachment D List of Tables Table 21-5: Second Street NElMonroe A venue Southbound Approach Average Delay Per Vehicle (in seconds) Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page i Introduction The Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And Updated Mitigation Planfor the Excelsior Crossings Office Development (the "Updated AUAR" and "Updated Mitigation Plan," respectively) was prepared hy the City of Hopkins (the "City") and published for objection and comment in the EQB Monitor on Apri!l 0, 2006. The Updated AUAR and Updated Mitigation Plan update the Medica Corporate Office Development Alternative Urban Areawide Review dated June 18,2001 (the "Original AUAR"). The required I O-day objection and comment period ended on April 24, 2006. No objections were received. Comments were received from the Metropolitan Council, the Hennepin County Transportation Department, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and five residents of Hopkins, Minnesota. The City has reviewed and considered the comments. To respond, the City has prepared this Responses to Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development (the "Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments"). The first section of this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments reproduces the full text of each comment letter with responses inserted following specific comments or the letter as a whole. The second section contains two Items from the Updated AUAR with amendments based on the comments received. The third section adds two attachments to the Updated AUAR Appendix. Except as specifically amended in this AUAR Update Responses And Amendments, the Updated AUAR and the Updated Mitigation Plan are assumed to be complete and accurate. The Hopkins City Council has adopted the Updated AUAR, the Updated Mitigation Plan, and this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments. Together these constitute the entire Updated AUAR and Updated Mitigation Plan. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 1 Comments And Responses In this section, the City reproduces the full text of each comment in italics and presents the City's responses, (Copies of the actual comments are included in this Updated AUAR Reponses And Amendments as Attachment C to the Updated AUAR.) Sometimes the response comes at the end of the letter; in other cases, the response follows a comment paragraph. A. Metronolitan Council Letter from Phyllis Hanson, Manager, Local Planning Assistance, dated April 17, 2006 Comment: Council stajf has conducted a review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Planfor Excelsior Crossings Office Development (formerly Medica Corporate Office Development) to determine its adequacy and accW'acy in addressing regional concerns. The stajfreview has concluded that the Updated AUAR is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. This will conclude the Council's review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development. The council will take no formal action on the Updated A UAR. Response: Comment noted. B. Hennenin County Transnortation Denartment Letter from Robert H. Byers, Senior Transportation Engineer, dated April 29, 2006 Comment: Generally, the analysis and findings of the traffic section appears to be reasonable, However, we believe that theforecast time horizon should be 20 years as it was in the originalAUARfor the proposed Medica development in 2001. It appears that the Updated AUAR has kept the forecast year as 2020 (a I4 year period) when it should be the year 2026 (a 20 year period), Roadway facilities typically are designed to function over a 20-year life span. . Response: The Updated AUAR was prepared to compare development proposed in the Original AUAR to the Excelsior Crossings Office Development (the "Project") and to show changes from the Original AUAR. A new traffic study and count of 2006 background traffic was provided. The year 2020 was retained as the forecast year for the updated traffic analysis, so changes to the Original AUAR could be determined. In subsequent updates, a 20-year forecast horizon will he used. C. Minnesota Denartment ofTransnortation Letter from Marv McNeff, Transportation Planner, dated April 27, 2006 Before any further development, please address the following comments: Comment: Highway System Improvements: In the Mn/DOT Metro District 2008 - 2030 Transportation System Plan (TSP), TH 169 is designated as a management corridor. The peiformance based analysis conducted for the TSP indicates that additional Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 2 lanes are needed. But since it is a fiscally constrained plan, fundingfor the widening of TH 169 has not been identified within the TSP time frame, Bridge replacement projects may be completed during the 2008 - 2030 time period. For questions on these points, please call Wayne Norris, Mn/DOT Metro District West Area Engineer, at (651) 582-1295. Response: Comment noted. Comment: Drainage: A drainage permit may be required. The proposed development will need to maintain existing drainage rates (i.e., the rate at which storm water is dischargedfrom the site must not increase). lfrunoffwill increase, a Mn/DOT drainage permit will be required In the event that a drainage permit is required, the City or project developer will need to submit before/after hydraulic computations for both 10 and 100 year rainfall events verifying that all existing drainage patterns and systems affecting Mn/DOT right of way will be perpetuated. Please direct questions concerning these issues to Molly Chermak (651-634- 2356) of Mn/DOT's Water Resources Engineering section. Response: No change in stormwater runoff to Mn/DOT right of way is anticipated with this project. Comment: Permits: Any work impacting Mn/DOT right of way will require a permit. Permit forms are available from Mn/DOT's utility website at www.dot.state.mn.us/tecsup/utility. Please direct any questions regarding permit requirements to Buck Craig (651-582-1447) of MnDOT's Metro Permits Section, Response: Comment noted. Item 8 Permits And Approvals Required is amended in this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments to list this permit as one that might he needed. Comment: As a reminder, please address all initial furure correspondence for development activity such as plats and site plans to: Development Review Coordinator Mn/DOT - Metro Division Waters Edge 1500 West County Road B-2 Roseville, Minnesota 55113 Mn/DOT document submittal guidelines require three (3) complete copies of plats and two (2) copies of other review documents including site plans. Failure to provide three (3) copies of a plat and/or two (2) copies of other review documents will make a submittal incomplete and delay Mn/DOT's 30-day review and response process to development proposals. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation in providing the necessary number of copies, as this will prevent us from having to delay and/or return incomplete submittals. lfyou have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 651-582-1548. Response: Comment noted. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 3 D. Chandra Erickson Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: A stoplight al the r Street entrance or the Monroe Avenue intersection warrants . consideration, Residents that use Monroe have no other access to r Street. Response: The projected 20-year volume of traffic utilizing the Second Street NE access does not satisfy the warrants for a traffic signal. Comment: Consider a "right turn only" restriction al2"d Street exit to limit traffic going park/S/h Street. Response: Opus Northwest, L.L.C., the Project developer, has designed the internal site circulation to focus the majority of the traffic to the JacksonlSt Louis Avenue intersection. However, in response to concerns raised at the neighborhood meeting, RLK Incorporated prepared a memorandum Potential Movement Restriction at North Site Access, Impacts to 2"" Street/Monroe Avenue Intersection Operations dated Apri113, 2006. The analysis concludes that a restriction limiting the Second Street NE access to right inlright out would have minor and mixed results, In the AM Peak, the average delay for southbound vehicles on Monroe Avenue at Second StreetNE would drop from 10.3 second to 9.5 seconds, a decrease ofless than I second. In the PM Peak, the average delay would rise from 12.9 seconds to 13.5 seconds, an increase of less than I second. The impact is so small because traffic that would have avoided the Second Street NFJMonroe Avenue intersection by turning left at the north site access will now use the main Project access, come up Jackson Avenue, turn left on Second Street NE, and pass through the Second Street NFJMonroe Avenue intersection as westbound traffic. In short, the restriction would not keep traffic from using Second StreetNE. Item 21 Traffic is amended in this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments to include a summary of this analysis and the RLK Incorporated memorandum is added as Attachment D to the Updated AUAR. E. Pete and Kathv Stiehm Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: Burnes Park as planned will be negatively impacted. It is a park heavily used by the new townhomes as well as all of Hopkins SE quadrant. If traffic calming methods are not used, the children will be significantly impacted in their use of the park Perhaps the City should consider changing the status of Minnetonka Mills road to a non-collector street as it did up by the elementary school. Response: First, the traffic analysis in the Updated AUAR does not support a fmding that Burnes Park will be negatively impacted. Average daily traffic on Minnetonka Mills Road will increase by 1,000 trips, or about 12%. This increase is well within the carrying capacity of the roadway and represents a reduction of 1,200 average daily trips from the traffic predicted for the Medica Office Development as studied in the Original AUAR. Second, the appropriate time to consider traffic calming measures or additional pedestrian amenities such as trail or sidewalk connections to the Cedar Lake Trail is when Minnetonka Mills Road is reconstructed. Such measures would have to maintain the function of Minnetonka Mills Road as a collector Street. Third, the City does not intend to change the collector status of Minnetonka Mills Road. This is a Minnesota State Aid route and will retain its collector status from Blake Road to Fifth Avenue. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 4 F. Bob Shaw Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: Concern: Chimney holding pond restricting flow from 2"d and Monroe intersection. Response: The proposed regional pond will not restrict flow from Second Street NE aud Monroe Avenue iutersection. Currently, the upstream culverts and roadway crossings control the discharges that flow to the existing ditch. It is anticipated that these devices will continue to limit the upstream discharge in the proposed condition, The proposed regional pond may improve the situation somewhat hecause the proposed pond, even with its rate control devices, has a larger capacity than the existing ditch and could accommodate additional upstream flows on the Chimney Parcel. G. Steve Shaw Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: Our concern is the depth of the new stormwater holding pond. Could it be deeper than the existing ditch or is the exit of the pond going to be raised to less than 5 feet? During heavy rains this ditch fills up with water to the top and can take one to two hours to empty out. The existing pond [at Second and Monroe] is never dry due to high water table. Will the new pond ever be dry? Response: The proposed regional pond will have the same outlet elevation as the current ditch, with excavation below this outlet elevation to provide a 4-foot deep permanent pool or "wet pond" that will hold water to control the rate of runoff and allow sediments to settle to improve water quality. The pond elevation will fluctuate slightly due to evaporation or infiltration, but the current pond as designed, will hold water on a permauent basis. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 5 Amendments To The Updated AUAR In this section, the City amends two Items in the Updated AUAR. For clarity, the entire Item (or Item subsection) is reproduced, with additions to the Item (or subsection) shown in double underlining, and with deletions shown in strike-though. The Items are the same as in the AUAR Update. 8. Permits and appruvals required. A listing of major approvals (including any comprehensive plan amendments and zoning amendments) and publk financial assistance and infrastructure likely to be required by the anticipated types of development projects should be given for each major development scenario. This list will help orient reviewers to framework that will protect environmental resources. The list can also serve as a startingpointfor the development of the implementation aspects of the mitigation plan to be developed as part of the A UAR Unit of Government I Type of Application Status Federal U.S. Army Corps of Application for Exemption for Constructed To be applied for Engineers Ditch State Department of Health Watermain Extension Approval To be applied for Department of Natural Water Appropriation Permit for To be applied for if Resources construction dewatering needed Water Appropriation Permit for well to To be applied for supply pond feature and for irrigation Department of Plat Approval To be applied for Transportation Work in Ril!ht ofWav Penuit To be annlied for if needed Pollution Control Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination To he applied for System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) General Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity NPDES Stormwater Permit for operation To be applied for Air Quality Permit for standby generators To be applied for if needed Sanitary Sewer Extension Approval To be applied for if needed Application to Voluntary Inspection and To be submitted Compliance Program No Association Letter To be applied for Application to Petroleum Brownfields To be submitted Program Closure Letter To be applied for Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 6 Unit of Government Type of Application I Status Regional Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Council Environmental To be applied for Services (MCES) sanitary sewer connection constructiou MCES approval of construction To be applied for if dewatering discharge needed Minnehaha Creek Application for Exemption for Constructed To be applied for Watershed District Ditch Grading and Erosion Control Permit To be applied for Stormwater Management System To be applied for Approval Wetland Delineation Approval To he applied for Local Hennepin County Plat Approval To be applied for City of Hopkins Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan Under review Approval Updated AUAR Traffic Impact Study Under review Stormwater Management Plan To be applied for Planned Unit Development (POD) To be applied for Preliminary and Final Plat To be applied for Redevelopment Agreement Approved Sanitary Sewer Connection Permit To be applied for Municipal Water Connection Permit To be applied for Demolition Permit To be applied for Building and Site Construction Permits To be applied for It is not the objective ofthis Updated AUAR to develop all the detailed information required for the listed permits. Opus will assemble the required information and apply for these permits when appropriate. 21. Traffic. c. MitilIation Measures For the AM peak hour on an overall intersection Level of Service (LOS) hasis, every intersection except one remained at the same overall LOS when compared to the Original AUAR. The only intersection to change was the Excelsior Boulevard, Jackson Avenue, and Milwaukee Street intersection, which improved from a LOS D to LOS C. For the PM peak hour, all but three intersections remained the same. The TH 7 and Fifth Avenue intersection improved from LOS F to LOS D, the primary site access at the Jackson Avenue and St. Louis Street intersection declined from LOS A to LOS B, and the Excelsior Boulevard, Jackson Avenue, and Milwaukee Street intersection improved from LOS D to LOS C. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative May 4, 2006 Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development Page 7 Since the results of the 2020 Build analysis did indicate that at the primary site access intersection the PM peak overall LOS is projected to be LOS B rather than the previously predicted LOS A, the following suggestions to accommodate the additional traffic are proposed: . Restriping of the southbound approach to extend the left turn storage bay length from 75 feet to 120 feet. . Design of the onsite eastbound approach to include a lOS-foot right turn storage bay. Based on Fignre 3, Concept Site Plan of the Traffic Impact Study, this suggestion is already part of the Project design. . Installation of a traffic signal when warranted. . Adjustment of signage and striping on the northbound approach to create dual left turn lanes and shared through/right turn lane. This measure should he completed concurrently with installation of the traffic signal. Re~trictions on acce~s at the north site access on S:econd Stre~t NE were also studied to determine their imnact on the oneration of the Second Street NR and Monroe Avenue intersection. See Attachment D: RT.K Incomorated Memorandum for the fun analvsis. Table 21-5 shows the imnact of the restrictions on southbound traffic on Monroe Avenue Table 21-5 Second Street N1UMonroe Avenue South hound Annroach Averap'e Delav Per Vehicle (in !Il:eennd~\ Movement Re.drictinn At North Site Ace~!il AM Peak PM Peak All movement';~ allowed (as nronosed) ~ J22 Three Quarter movement.c; onlv (rii!ht-in/ril!ht-outlleft in) .ill.4 ll.2 Ril!ht-inlril:zht-out onlv ~ W Based on the verv Sli2ht and conflictimz imnacts exnected. no mitii!ation mea.c;ures are nrono,l;ed to re~trict acce~~ at the north site access. An updated Transportation Management Plan (TMP) will be developed as part of the Updated AUAR Mitigation Plan as well. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative May 4, 2006 Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development Page 8 Amendments To The Appendix In this section, the City amends to the Updated AUAR Appendix by adding two attachments: Attachment C - copies of the original comments on the Updated AUAR and Updated Mitigation Plan; and Attachment D - an additional traffic memorandum prepared by RLK Incorporated. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May 4, 2006 Page 9 ATTACHMENT C COMMENTS 44A 1\1 tropolitan Council ~ Bw1ding communities that work April 17, 2006 Nancy Anderson City Planner City of Hopkins 10 10 I" Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 RE: City of Hopkins, Updated AUAR Metropolitan Council District 3 Metropolitan Council Referral File No. 18555-3 Dear Ms. Anderson: Council stafIhas conducted a review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development (formerly Medica Corporate Office Development) to determine its adequacy and accuracy in addJ:essing regional concerns. The staff review has concluded that the Updated AUAR is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. This will conclude the Council's review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development. The Council will take no formal action on the Updated AUAR. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Ann Braden, Principal Reviewer, at 651-602-1705. Sincerely, cc: Jack Jackson, MultiFamily Market Analyst, MHF A Tod Sherman, DeveloJlment Reviews Coordinator, MnDOT - Metro Division Keith Buttleman, Environmental Services Mary HilI Smith, Metropolitan Council District 3 Ann Braden, Senior Planner Cheryl Olsen, Reviews Coordinator V:\REVIEWf-l\Communitic-s\Hopkin:s\Le:ttcrs\Hopkins ~OUb upd:llcd AUAR Excelsior cros~ings (fOffil.erl !....iedica) 18555-3.doc WWW_tDCt:rocoWlCU.Org Metra Info Une 602~1888 230 East Fifth Street St. Paul. MInnesota 55101M1626 . (651) 602-1000 . Fax602-1550 . TIY291..(}904 An Equal Opportunity Employer Hennepin County Transportation Department 1600 Prairie Drive Medina, MN 55340-5421 612-596-0300, Phone 763-478-4000,FAX 763-478-4030, mD www.hennepin.us April 19, 2006 Ms. Nancy Anderson, City Planner City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Re: Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Excelsior Crossings Office Development CSAH-3 (Excelsior Boulevard) I Jackson Avenue North Dear Ms. Anderson: This letter provides comments on the Updated AUAR for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development. Generally, the analysis and fmdings of the traffic section appears to be reasonable. However, we believe that the forecast time horizon should be 20 years as it was in the original AUAR for the proposed Medica development in 2001. It appears that the Updated AUAR has kept the forecast year as 2020 (a 14 year period) when it should be the year 2026 (a 20 year period). Roadway facilities typically are designed to function over a 20 year life span. Thank you for the opportunity to review the Updated AUAR. If you have any questions, please call me at 612-596- 0354. Sincerely, /b;~' Robert H. Byers, P .E. Senior Transportation Engineer c. Jim Grube - Director Transportation Department and County Engineer Tom Johnson - Transportation Planning An Equal Opporrunity Employer Recycled Paper '~l~I" I ~ i i '<,:""....~ Minnesota Department of TransportatIon Metropolitan District Waters Edge 1500 West Counly Road B-2 Roseville MN 55113-3174 ... April 27, 2006 -f: '. ..-- 1'''..- \,;~J ,( Nancy Anderson City Planner 1010 First Street ~outh Hopkins, MN 55343 Subject: \},;,;;::~": ">- ~ Excelsior Crossings Office Development updated AUAR & Mitigation Plan Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnIDOT) Review # AUAR 06-001 Northeast quadrant ofTnmk Highway (TH) 169 and CSAH 3 (Excelsior Boulevard) . City ofHopkinsIHennepin Connty MnlDOT Control Section # 2772 Dear Ms. Anderson: The Minnesota Department ofTrausportation (MnIDOT) has reviewed the above-referenced Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) and Mitigation Plan. Before any further development, please address the following comments: Highway System Improvements: . In the MnIDOT Metro District 2008 - 2030 Transportation System Plan (fSP), TH 169 is designated as a management corridor. The performance based analysis conducted for the TSP indicates that additional lanes are needed. But since it is a fiscally constrained plan, funding for the widening of TH 169 has not been identified within the TSP time frame. Bridge replacement projects may be completed during the 2008 - 2030 time period. For questions on these points, please call Wayne Norris, MnlDOT Metro District West Area Engineer, at (651) 582-1295. Drainage: . A drainage permit may be required. The proposed development will need to maintain existing drainage rates (i.e., the rate at which storm water is discharged from the site must not increase). lfrunoffwill increase, a MnlDOT drainage permit will be required. In the event that a drainage permit is required, the City or project developer will need to submit before/after hydraulic computations for both 10 and 100 year rainfall events verifying that all existing drainage patterns and systems affecting MnIDOT right of way will be perpetuated. Please direct questions concerning these issues to Molly Chermak (651- 634-2356) of MnlDOT's Water Resources Engineering section. An equal opportunity employer . Perm.its: . Any worlc impacting MnIDOT right of way. will require. a permit. Permit fonns are available from MnDOT's utility website at www.dot.state.mn.us/tecsuo/utilitv. Please direct any questions regarding permit requirements to Buck Craig (651-582-1447) of MnDOT's Metro Permits Section. As a reminder, please address all initial future correspondence for development activity such as plats and site plans to: Development Review Coordinator MnIDOT - Metro Division Waters Edge 1500 West County Road B-2 RoseviIle, Minnesota 551 13 MnIDOT document submittal guidelines require thr~ (3) complete copies of plats and two (2) copies of other review documents including site plans. Failure to provide three (3) copies of a plat and/or two (2) copies of other review documents will make a submittal incomplete and delay MnIDOT's 30-day review.and response process to development proposals. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation in providing the necessary number of copies,.as this will prevent us from having io delay and/or return incomplete submittals. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 651-582-1548. Sincerely, ~=?n(vrr Transportation Planner 00: Rob Wied, Hennepin County Survey Section, MiIineapolis, MN Bob Byers, Hennepin County Transportation Planning Section, Medina, MN c...- John DietI:ich, ASLA, Principal Landscape Architect, RLK, Inc., Minnetonka, MN Updated AUAR Excelsior Crossings Office Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hopkins City Hall IV Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Name: Address: Telephone: Email: Please \ Please deposit this form to Nancy Anderson at the meeting. Comments may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Nancy Anderson Fax: 952-935-1834 Email: nanderson@lhookinsmn.com City of Hopkins 1010 Rrst Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Please note the deadline for the City to receive vour comments is ADril 25. 2006. at 4:30 Dm. ;)+re.e u for our tj we a reciate our comments and s estions. c-~t~ 9J"'Du.\~ Qo{\SlOer 0.. \ip'>~ lflc, . '(Y\.l"T\e...~lcQ.. D'\\t\S If\Oo.d. ~~ a. r)()\)~ Go \\ec...1-D\' CIS \ -\ d. '\6 u.0 \0 ~ ~ e e...\ e..\Y\ ttr\ CU'L\ S c:J\Oo \ . Updated AUAR Excelsior Crossings Office Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hopkins City Hall N Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Name: Bob 5 h"loV Address: 30 MoVlvo e. Telephone: ?5l-'!3 'T -169( Email: Please V'&--- tt"",.'\1 Y 0'" 5n..- -t",I>~~ 1'1'. twu... -:r:-..r-,:-> COVl'''''''' ~ CI"""V1~ f/-.I).'n 0") t.,.tr,Lfih FI",; +__ 2..~/ rJ= """"t'.~ 1;",t.". f,,,,,_ Please deposit this form to Nancy Anderson at the meeting. Comments may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Nancy Anderson Fax: 952-935-1834 Email: nanderson(1i)hookinsmn.com Oty of Hopkins 1010 Rrst Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Please note the deadline for the City to receive vour comments is ADril 25. 2006. at 4:30 Dm. Updated AUAR Excelsior Crossings OfFICe Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hopkins City Hall - Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. I-'Ib'" "'/.2'1-0'" Narne: 'STeve. SH)!..\Q Address: :';c>t NOI<1''') MDA)~Oe AV..,.. Telephone: c::r5~ ~., 31J- 5" &l;,l - Email: Please provide your comments below: OuR C:oIJCE\!./oJ I~ "Tl->e De?"ft.t 01" 'T!-lff NEw STo~M c.vA,~l~ H<::\.D"",,,,, ~ CHl tl "",\\.1. Ii' ~~ Dccf'e'it ThA"-J tr-re 1?-':167/'" ell i~ \, e:.~ ,.. '"T11e. 't:' l< \T of ""The \">c::/VO Gte;, liJ,,- ""reo B~ RA\~<:'~ 10 L.eSS "'T7-1Au 5J, DuR."'... t-lc....vy 12p-\ QS ""Thl;. PI\<:;'-1 ~\\.\.. '" ...... ,"" V-> P>\e(C, "'To 'i.-te: \()PA'-',:> r::..A~ \J\ , ,. p..y:. e \ .,. C> "t l-io"'1'<~ -1'0 E:/.J'i"Tv <:;l<.ii, 11;~ IE' '10: I.!.> TIIJ5 r<:o ..., I:;' I"H'vi."It O~'f P VI:: '\ 0 HI'!'" c.v A.\C:I!:'TA~l.C, u.J\t.LlJ"e Nf-ou po..:> Please deposit this funn to Nancy Anderson at the meeting. Comments may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Nancy Anderson Fax: 952-935-1834 EmaD: nanderson@lhookinsmn.rom City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Please note the deadline for the Citv to receive YOUr comments is ABril 25. 2006. at 4:30 pm. ll1ank YOU for VOIJf' time we a . comments and - ns. E?V(~ 6~ DR ,) "I, OVER --- -~.--------- -- -------- '-~-- ----........--. .....~----., ~- f -------._____ ------ I ~ 'l --..---......-.----__ _ ____ r _____ I ~ ------- ____ I l-low I:> <::e 1" w \ t..\. "'" ""- ~ ~ _______ ! \K t ~ f" 0 fo:J () a e. '?,. ~ p;\"'n1' ____________ --------- I ~ ~~~-V-__ ________ ~ I ~ ~ Q IN' ~v> et. ~:-- ~, I ;- tJ ~,..~ . .. ----.: S . \.. . . '" ,. "a~ I J 'C,-to{!. ~,> I ~ ' I ) --- oc,.;~ 'I ~~ P -____ i 1___ d 0'-- . r', . ! S"rQR".., ~__.-...~ r. _~'i"'" I~ --rk~ Ce"~T \4~~'t . JIf/ --- ~ I -__{ """'-"- PLP;'...,,,<:O ""1"" 6~ Colve~T / l t-. J C t1 a. u ~.~ f> ~ . / i i ('" A8M OR'lJ~(QA'Y i N I 6t ll~ "C MA 1)1 ?O^'" ~tJe ~J l~ -frO OLv.e.a, ~ · ; I ; f: .. . . . - J . ~ i ~ I)t- o I ol~ 3 10. ~ ::l~ I ~!~ ------'--.---T--Mo-~~Oe. Ave. No I! ~ I ~.. J-\~"" I li(~{~I..PII.1~-" PO~D'~' '., '. ',_LoCA.1 WAle fl- f.Of^?'." _:.... '.' .~ I I ...oA....~ \ . 'T1'\\~ ''''l)IJ'' l~ F"u\.!.- 0 F' w A\-e~ I i'\ p~.e \0 &i\.~-eg Pc H'~l,. ~~\-C~ -I L\ t TA.g(e o~ ~\J,Joe\C ~ 2o~lJl) f uIJoda i '5 PIl:JV:~S i Gr'KootJO ,I - 5Tof! M w,..,eft 1 ffl ---- "Z (/\ E ATTACHMENTD RLK INCORPORATED MEMORANDUM: POTENTIAL MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS AT NORTH SITE ACCESS, IMPACTS ON 2nd STREET/ MONROE AVENUE INTERSECTION OPERATIONS, APRIL 13,2006 ~ RI1K. Engineering. LandscdpeArchited\)r~. planning . Surveying . Traffic ( INCORl'ORATEO') . ..' .., ,.. .. . . . . "-.,,/ Crealmg'xtraordl"ry . " CO'lllmuitities .. . . . MEMORANDUM COPY: Dave Menke, Opus Northwest Dave Bangasser, Opus Northwest Ericka Miller, Opus Northwest John Dietrich, RLK david.menke@opusnw.com david.bangasser@opusnw.com TO: Ericka,miller@opusnw.com jdietrich@rlkinc,com FROM: Nicholas Erpelding, PE Vernon Swing, PE, Principal Traffic Engineer nerpelding@rIkinc,com vswing@rlkinc,com DATE: April 13, 2006 Potential Movement Restriction at North Site Access Impacts to 2nd StreetIMonroe Avenue Intersection Operations Excelsior Crossings AUAR Update RLK Project No~ 2006-032-M RE: On April 12, 2006 an ."open-honse-style" neighborhood meeting was held to receive input from the citizens of Hopkins on the proposed Excelsior Crossings Office Development. Based on citizen comments received, and upon your direction, RLK has completed additional analysis to quantify impacts of potential limitation of left-turn vehicular movements at the proposed 2nd StreetJNorth Site Access intersection. While left-turn movement restriction would improve operations at the North Site Access intersection itself by reducing potential conflicts, traffic desiring to make the restricted movements would be necessarily rerouted. A likely route for impacted vehicles desiring to egress the site westbound on 2nd Street would be through the primary access, up Jackson Avenue, and then onto 2nd Street. In the case of full access (no prohibited movements) at the 2nd StreetJNorth Site Access intersectio'n, vehicles destined westbound on 2nd Street from the site would not pass through the 2nd Street/Monroe Avenue Intersection, since the proposed North Site Access is west of Monroe Avenue. But if left-out movements were to be restricted at the North Site Access, conflicting westbound through traffic on 2nd Street at Monroe A venue would increase due to the addition of the rerouted traffic. Figure I, attached, provides a comparison of estimated 2020 Build scenario peak hour traffic volumes at the 2nd Street/Monroe Avenue iutersection. Three North Site Access movement alternatives are presented, The top portion of the figure shows estimated peak hour traffic volumes at the 2nd Street/Monroe Avenue intersection assuming full movements at the North Site Access. The middle portion again shows 2nd Street/Monroe A venue volumes but with three-quarter movements (right-in, right-out, left-in only) assumed at the North Site Access. The bottom portion assumes right-in, right-out only movements at the North Site Access. Offices: Hibbing . Minnetonka . Ham Lake . Twin Porls (952) 93W972 . 6110B,~eqrp!.1l.DJive . Suite 100 .. Minnetonka. MN 55343 . FAXJ~92-1'9?~1153 .....". 'Equal OpportunitY. Emp1hte,: ( / Dave Menke, Dave Bangasser April 13, 2006 From the figure, the restriction of the North Site Access to three-quarter movements would increase conflicting westbound through traffic at the 2"" StreetIMonroe A venue intersection by II vehicles in the AM peak and 76 vehicles in the PM peak, Restriction of the North Site Access to right-in, right-out only movements would reduce conflicting westbound traffic volumes during the AM peak, compared to full access. During the PM peak the conflicting movement volume would be better when compared to the three-quarter option, but would still be worse than the full access option by 52 vehicles. Operations at the intersection of 2nd Street and Monroe A venue were studied to determine the impacts in terms of average delay per vehicle, measured in seconds. Delay on the critical southbound approach is compared for the three scenarios in Table I. Three PM Peak 12.9 13.9 13,5 Table I shows that the impact to average delay per vehicle overall is very small; approximately I second at most. Compared to the full access alternative in the AM peak, the three-quarter North Site Access alternative would degrade southbound approach operations at the 2nd StreetIMonroe intersection by 0.1 second/vehicle. However, the right-in/right-out alternative would improve Monroe Avenue southbound delay by 0.8 second per vehicle. For the PM peak, three-quarter access at the North Site Access degrades the southbound Monroe Avenue movement by 1.0 second/vehicle, compared to having full access at the North Site entrance. With movements limited to right-in/right-out only at the North Site Access, operations for southbound Monroe Avenue at 2nd Street degrade by 0.6 second/vehicle when compared with full access at the North Site entrance. In conclusion, the prohibition of left-in and/or left-out movements at the proposed North Site Access is forecast to have very little effect on the operations of the 2nd Street/Monroe Avenue intersection. Were left-in and/or left-out movements to be restricted at the North Site Access, the small impacts anticipated at 2nd StreetIMonroe Avenue would be negative, with the only exception being the right-in/right-out case during the AM peak hour. RLK, Inc. Page 2 00 G.\Cilyl)fHopIdll$\2006-032.M\]ecMi~ Du.\TI'Ilffic\ttporl'104-1J-D6R1ROJmpad$\RlROM=mo -04-I).06,doc: Excelsior Crossings 21lO6-032.M N. z N, .,::! w > <( N. .r:: ~ ~EET If) 2006 RlK INC. ~. Z ~, ~ <( ,. .r:: ~ .ET If) ~ . ~ ~ , ~ '" . E , :g .,; u o ~ .. o ~ Ii w Q I ~ 'j' ., 5- iI , ~ ~ r:a N. ;; .'l o o ~ N. ~ u . ~I /' " I N a N. I w Q ~ . c " ~ o ~ EET o " ~ " E ~ W N .. "'~ 169 ...... LEGEND "";t: w co 0 STOP CONlROL () frD, ~ tZuj z> tZ AM PEAK HOUR VOLUMES XXX 0<( w ---' PM PEAK HOUR VOLUMES XXX ~ >- 5T, N.E. f- '1. .,:1 w ~ <( ---' SITE ro \3\.-\10. I.i , \ EXo:.\.-S\O? " \ ''--JACKSON AVE. N. s'" vi :+-ss ...,,0 WITH NO MOVEMENT RESTRICTION AT NORTH SITE ACCESS is ~ tZ w >=' ST, N.E. f- w o truj z> 0<( ::;: 2nd ')..(\0 \3\.-\j1) . , \ EXcx.\.-S\OR ',\ 'LJACK50N .,. s". ui WITH 3/4 MOVEMENTS (RIGHT-IN, RIGHT-OUT, LEFT-IN ONLY) AT NORTH SITE ACCESS -- is ~ tZ w >=' ST. N.E, f- w o tr . z~ 0<( ::;: z 2nd ')..(\0 uj > <( .r:: ~ If) \3 \.-\jl) . \ EXcx.\.-SlO? , \ , \ . c,"',~ ''--JACKSON WITH RIGHT-IN, RIGHT-OUT' MOVEMENTS ONLY AT NORTH SITE ACCESS ,--....... Oulurb.MN ~ ,. '\ flfl1b~~ g RLIC. MlIIl1ctonl.i;MN I lNUlI\I'OM'lllD I Phonc:9529330972 ri ~ I Fu: 952933 1153 1 1 "----' _._- : iiLo BIUI: C.rclt Drive. Suite 100 . Minnetonk.. MN 55343 NORTH SITE ACCESS RESTRICTION IMPACTS TO MONROE AVENUE 2020 BUILD TRAFFIC VOlUME COMPARISON FIgura # 1 ProJect, 2006032M DRAFT 5/4/06 RESPONSES TO COMMENTS ON AND AMENDMENTS TO THE UPDATED ALTERNATIVE AREAWIDE REVIEW AND APPENDIX FOR THE EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS OFFICE DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTAL UNIT: CITY OF HOPKINS PREPARED BY: CITY OF HOPKINS WITH ASSISTANCE FROM: RLK INCORPORATED MAY 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................1 COMMENTS AND RESPONSES ............................................................................................................2 A. Metropolitan Council...............................................................................................2 B. Hennepin County Transportation Department.........................................................2 C. Minnesota Department Of Transportation ...............................................................3 D. Chandra Erickson .....................................................................................................4 E. Pete and Kathy Stiehm.............................................................................................5 F. Bob Shaw .................................................................................................................6 G. Steve Shaw ............................................................................................................... 7 AMENDMENTS To THE UPDATEDAUAR..........................................................................................8 8. Permits And Approvals Required ............................................................................8 21.c. Traffic, Mitigation Measures ...................................................................................8 AMENDMENTS To THE APPENDIX Comments RLK Incorporated Memorandum: Potential Movement Restrictions at North Site Access, Impacts to 2nd Street! Monroe Avenue Intersection Operations, April 13, 2006 10 Attachment C Attachment D LIST OF TABLES Table 21-5: Second Street NE/Monroe Avenue Southbound Approach Average Delay Per Vehicle (in seconds) Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May _, 2006 Pagei INTRODUCTION The Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And Updated Mitigation Plan for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development (the "Updated AUAR" and "Updated Mitigation Plan," respectively) was prepared by the City of Hopkins (the "City") and published for objection and comment in the EQB Monitor on April 10, 2006. The Updated AUAR and Updated Mitigation Plan update the Medica Corporate Office Development Alternative Urban Areawide Review dated June 18,2001 (the "Original AUAR''). The required I O-day objection and comment period ended on April 24, 2006. No objections were received. Comments were received from the Metropolitan Council, the Hennepin County Transportation Department, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and five residents of Hopkins, Minnesota. The City has reviewed and considered the comments. To respond, the City has prepared this Responses to Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development (the "Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments"). The first section ofthis Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments reproduces the full text of each comment letter with responses inserted following specific comments or the letter as a whole. The second section contains two Items from the Updated AUAR with amendments based on the comments received. The third section adds two attachments to the Updated AUAR Appendix. Except as specifically amended in this AUAR Update Responses And Amendments, the Updated AUAR and the Updated Mitigation Plan are assumed to be complete and accurate. The Hopkins City Council has adopted the Updated AUAR, the Updated Mitigation Plan, and this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments. Together these constitute the entire Updated AUAR and Updated Mitigation Plan. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May _,2006 Page I COMMENTS AND RESPONSES In this section, the City reproduces the full text of each comment in italics and presents the City's responses. (Copies of the actual comments are included in this Updated AUAR Reponses And Amendments as Attachment C to the Updated AUAR.) Sometimes the response comes at the end ofthe letter; in other cases, the response follows a comment paragraph. A. Metropolitan Council Letter from Phyllis Hanson, Manager, Local Planning Assistance, dated April 17, 2006 Comment: Council staffhas conducted a review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development (formerly Medica Corporate Office Development) to determine its adequacy and accuracy in addressing regional concerns. The staff review has concluded that the Updated A UAR is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies.' This will conclude the Council's review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development. The council will take no formal action on the Updated A UAR. Response: Comment noted. B. Hennepin County Transportation Department Letter from Robert H. Byers, Senior Transportation Engineer, dated April 29, 2006 Comment: Generally, the analysis and findings of the traffic section appears to be reasonable. However, we believe that the forecast time horizon should be 20 years as it was in the original AUARfor the proposed Medica development in 2001. It appears that the Updated AUAR has kept theforecastyearas 2020 (a 14 year period) when it should be the year 2026 (a 20 year period). Roadway facilities typically are designed to jUnction over a 20-year life span. Response: The Updated AUAR was prepared to compare development proposed in the Original AUAR to the Excelsior Crossings Office Development (the "Project") and to show changes from the Original AUAR. A new traffic study and count of2006 background traffic was provided. The year 2020 was retained as the forecast year for the updated traffic Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May -' 2006 Page 2 analysis, so changes to the Original AUAR could be determined. In subsequent updates, a 20-year forecast horizon will be used. C. Minnesota Department of Transportation Letter from Marv McNeff, Transportation Planner, dated April 27, 2006 Before any further development, please address the following comments: Comment: Highway System Improvements: In the Mn/DOT Metro District 2008 - 2030 Transportation System Plan (TSP), TH 169 is designated as a management corridor. The performance based analysis conductedfor the TSP indicates that additional lanes are needed. But since it is a fiscally constrained plan, fUnding for the widening of TH 169 has not been identified within the TSP time frame. Bridge replacement projects may be completed during the 2008 - 2030 time period. For questions on these points, please call Wayne Norris, Mn/DOT Metro District West Area Engineer, at (651) 582-1295. Response: Comment noted. Comment: Drainage: A drainage permit may be required. The proposed development will need to maintain existing drainage rates (i. e" the rate at which storm water is discharged from the site must not increase). if nmoff will increase, a Mn/DOT drainage permit will be required. 1n the event that a drainage permit is required, the City or project developer will need to submit biforelafler hydraulic computations for both 10 and 100 year rainfall events verifying that all existing drainage patterns and systems affecting Mn/DOT right of way will be perpetuated. Please direct questions concerning these issues to Molly Chermak (651-634- 2356) of Mn/DOT's Water Resources Engineering section. Response: No change in stormwater runoff to Mn/DOT right of way is anticipated with this proj eet. Comment: Permits: Any work impacting Mn/DOT right of way will require a permit. Permit forms are available from Mn/DOT's utility website at www.dot.state.mn.us/tecsup/utilitv. Please direct any questions regarding permit requirements to Buck Craig (651-582-1447) of MnDOT's Metro Permits Section. Response: Comment noted. Item 8 Permits And Approvals Required is amended in this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments to list this permit as one that might be needed. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May -,2006 Page 3 Comment: As a reminder, please address all initialjUture correspondence Jar development activity such as plats and site plans to: Development Review Coordinator Mn/DOT - Metro Division Waters Edge 1500 West County Road B-2 Roseville, Minnesota 55113 Mn/DOT document submittal guidelines require three (3) complete copies oJplats and two (2) copies oj other review documents including site plans. Failure to provide three (3) copies oj a plat and/or two (2) copies oj other review documents will make a submittal incomplete and delay Mn/DOT's 30-day review and response process to development proposals. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation in providing the necessary number oj copies, as this will prevent us from having to delay and/or return incomplete submittals. If you have any questions, please Jeel Jree to contact me at 651-582-1548. Response: Comment noted. D. Chandra Erickson SubmItted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: A stoplight at the 2nd Street entrance or the Monroe Avenue intersection warrants consideration. Residents that use Monroe have !1Q other access to 2"d Street. Response: The projected 20-year volume of traffic utilizing the Second Street NE access does not satisfy the warrants for a traffic signal. Comment: Consider a "right turn only" restriction at 2"d Street exit to limit traffic going park/5th Street. Response: Opus Northwest, L.L.C., the Project developer, has designed the internal site circulation to focus the majority of the traffic to the Jackson/St Louis Avenue intersection. However, in response to concerns raised at the neighborhood meeting, RLK Incorporated prepared a memorandum Potential Movement Restriction at North Site Access, Impacts to 2"d Street/Monroe Avenue Intersection Operations dated April 13, 2006. The analysis concludes that a restriction limiting the Second Street NE access to right in/right out would have minor and mixed results. In the AM Peak, the average delay for southbound vehicles on Monroe Avenue at Second Street NE would drop from 10.3 second to 9.5 seconds, a decrease ofless than 1 second. In the PM Peak, the average delay would rise from 12.9 seconds to 13.5 seconds, an increase of less than 1 second. The impact is so small because traffic that would May _,2006 Page 4 Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development have avoided the Second Street NE/Monroe Avenue intersection by turning left at the north site access will now use the main Project access, come up Jackson Avenue, turn left on Second Street NE, and pass through the Second Street NE/Monroe Avenue intersection as westbound traffic. In short, the restriction would not keep traffic from using Second Street NE. Item 21 Traffic is amended in this Updated AUAR Responses And Amendments to include a summary ofthis analysis and the RLK Incorporated memorandum is added as Attachment D to the Updated AUAR. E. Pete and Kathy Stiehm Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: Burnes Park as planned will be negatively impacted. It is a park heavily used by the new townhomes as well as all of Hopkins SE quadrant. If traffic calming methods are not used, the children will be significantly impacted in their use of the park. Perhaps the City should consider changing the status of Minnetonka Mills road to a non-collector street as it did up by the elementary school. Response: First, the traffic analysis in the Updated AUAR does not support a fmding that Burnes Park will be negatively impacted. Average daily traffic on Minnetonka Mills Road will increase by 1,000 trips, or about 12%. This increase is well within the carrying capacity of the roadway and represents a reduction of 1,200 average daily trips from the traffic predicted for the Medica Office Development as studied in the Original AUAR. Second, the appropriate time to consider traffic calming measures or additional pedestrian amenities such as trail or sidewalk connections to the Cedar Lake Trail is when Minnetonka Mills Road is reconstructed. Such measures would have to maintain the function ofMinnetonka Mills Road as a collector Street. Third, the City does not intend to change the collector status of Minnetonka Mills Road. This is a Minnesota State Aid route and will retain its collector status from Blake Road to Fifth Avenue. F. Bob Shaw Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: Concern: Chimney holding pond-restrictingjlow from 2nd and Monroe intersection. Response: The proposed regional pond will not restrict flow from Second Street NE and Monroe Avenue intersection. Currently, the upstream culverts and roadway crossings control the discharges that flow to the existing ditch. It is anticipated that these devices will continue to limit the upstream discharge in the proposed condition. The proposed regional pond may improve the situation somewhat because the proposed pond, even with its rate May _,2006 Page 5 Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development control devices, has a larger capacity than the existing ditch and could accommodate additional upstream flows on the Chimney Parcel. G. Steve Shaw Submitted at neighborhood meeting April 12, 2006 Comment: Our concern is the depth of the new stormwater holding pond. Could it be deeper than the existing ditch or is the exit of the pond going to be raised to less than 5 feet? During heavy rains this ditch fills up with water to the top and can take one to two hours to empty out. The existing pond [at Second and Monroe] is never dry due to high water table. Will the new pond ever be dry? Response: The proposed regional pond will have the same outlet elevation as the current ditch, with excavation below this outlet elevation to provide a 4.foot deep permanent pool or "wet pond" that will hold water to control the rate of runoff and allow sediments to settle to improve water quality. The pond elevation will fluctuate slightly due to evaporation or infiltration, but the current pond as designed, will hold water on a permanent basis. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May _,2006 Page 6 . AMENDMENTS To THE UPDATED AUAR In this section, the City amends two Items in the Updated AUAR. For clarity, the entire Item (or Item subsection) is reproduced, with additions to the Item (or subsection) shown in double underlining, and with deletions shown in strike-though. The Items are the same as in the AUAR Update. 8. Permits and approvals required. A listing of major approvals (including any comprehensive plan amendments and zoning amendments) and public financial assistance and infrastructure likely to be required by the anticipated types of development projects should be given fOr each major development scenario. This list will help orient reviewers to framework that will protect environmental resources. The list can also serve as a startingpointfor the development of the implementation aspects of the mitigation plan to be developed as part of the AUAR. Unit of Government I Type of Application I Status Federal U.S. Army Corps of Application for Exemption for Constructed To be applied for Engineers Ditch State Department of Health Watermain Extension Approval To be applied for Department of Natural Water Appropriation Pennit for To be applied for if Resources construction dewatering needed Water Appropriation Pennit for well to To be applied for supply pond feature and for irrigation Department of Plat Approval To be applied for Transportation Work in Riaht ofWav Permit To he annHed for if ~ Pollution Control Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination To be applied for System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) General Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity NPDES Stormwater Pennit for operation To be applied for Air Quality Permit for standby generators To be applied for if needed Sanitary Sewer Extension Approval To be applied for if needed Application to Voluntary Inspection and To be submitted Compliance Program Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative May -,2006 Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development Page 7 Unit of Government Type of Application Status No Association Letter To be applied for Application to Petroleum Brownfields To be submitted Program Closure Letter To be applied for Regional Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Council Environmental To be applied for Services (MCES) sanitary sewer connection construction MCES approval of construction To be applied for if dewatering discharge needed Minnehaha Creek Application for Exemption for Constructed To be applied for Watershed District Ditch Grading and Erosion Control Permit To be applied for Stormwater Management System To be applied for Approval Wet1and Delineation Approval To be applied for Local Hennepin County Plat Approval To be applied for City of Hopkins Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan Under review Approval Updated AUAR Traffic Impact Study Under review Stormwater Management Plan To be applied for Planned Unit Development (POD) To be applied for Preliminary and Final Plat To be applied for Redevelopment Agreement Approved Sanitary Sewer Connection Pennit To be applied for Municipal Water Connection Pennit To be applied for Demolition Permit To be applied for Building and Site Construction Pennits To be applied for It is not the objective ofthis Updated AUAR to develop all the detailed information required for the listed permits. Opus will assemble the required information and apply for these permits when appropriate. 21. Traffic. c. Mitigation Measures For the AM peak hour on an overall intersection Level of Service (LOS) basis, every intersection except one remained at the same overall LOS when compared to the Original AUAR. The only Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May -,2006 Page 8 intersection to change was the Excelsior Boulevard, Jackson Avenue, and Milwaukee Street intersection, which improved from a LOS D to LOS C. For the PM peak hour, all but three intersections remained the same. The TH 7 and Fifth Avenue intersection improved from LOS F to LOS D, the primary site access at the Jackson Avenue and St. Louis Street intersection declined from LOS A to LOS B, and the Excelsior Boulevard, Jackson Avenue, and Milwaukee Street intersection improved from LOS D to LOS C. Since the results of the 2020 Build analysis did indicate that at the primary site access intersection the PM peak overall LOS is projected to be LOS B rather than the previously predicted LOS A, the following suggestions to accommodate the additional traffic are proposed: · Restriping of the southbound approach to extend the left turn storage bay length from 75 feet to 120 feet. · Design of the onsite eastbound approach to include a I 05- foot right turn storage bay. Based on Figure 3, Concept Site Plan of the Traffic Impact Study, this suggestion is already part of the Project design. . Installation of a traffic signal when warranted. · Adjustment of signage and striping on the northbound approach to create dual left turn lanes and shared through/right turn lane. This measure should be completed concurrently with installation of the traffic signal. Restrictions on acceR.c;;. at the north site access on Second Street NE were also studied in determine their imnact on the oneration of the Second Street NE and Monroe Avenue internootion See Attachment D: RLK lncomornterl Memorandum for the full analv~is Tahle 21..5 shows the imnact of the restrictions on southbound traffic on Monroe Avenue. Movement Re"triction At North Site ACC~!ii AM Peak PM Peak All movements allowed (as nmnosed) W W Three Quarter movements only {right-"in/right-out/left in} lM .l.12 Riaht-inlri2ht-out onlv ~ W Table 21-5 Second Street NElMonroe A venue Southbound Annrnaeh Average Delav Per Vehide lin seeonds) Rased on the VeJV slight and conflictinl! imnacts exnected no mitiQation measures are nronosed to fe.'!:trict access at the north site access. An updated Transportation Management Plan (TMP) will he developed as part of the Updated AUAR Mitigation Plan as well. Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development May -' 2006 Page 9 AMENDMENTS To THE ApPENDIX In this section, the City amends to the Updated AUAR Appendix by adding two attachments: Attachment C - copies of the original comments on the Updated AUAR and Updated Mitigation Plan; and Attachment D - an additional traffic memorandum prepared by RLK Incorporated. MI,1314848,03 May -,2006 Page 10 Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Appendix For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development ATTACHMENT C COMMENTS ~ Metropolitan C unell ~ Building cornnumities that work April 17,2006 Nancy Anderson City Planner City of Hopkins 1010 I" Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 RE: City of Hopkins, Updated AUAR Metropolitan Council District 3 Metropolitan Council ReferraI File No. 18555-3 Dear Ms. Anderson: Council staffhas conducted a review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development (formerly Medica Corporate Office Development) to determine its adequacy and accuracy in addressing regional concerns. The staff review has concluded that the Updated AUAR is complete and accurate with respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. This will conclude the Council's review of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Office Development. The Council will take no fonnal action on the Updated AUAR. If you have any questions or need further infurmation, please contact Ann Braden, Principal Reviewer, at 651-602-1705. Sincerely, anson, Manager Planning Assistance co: Jack Jackson, MultiFamily Market Analyst, MHF A Tod Sherman, Development Reviews Coordinator, MnDOT - Metro Division Keith Buttleman, Environmental Services Mary Hill Smith, Metropolitan Council District 3 Ann Braden, Senior Planner Cheryl Olsen, Reviews Coordinator V:\REVIEWS\COlnlnuniti~s\Hopkins\Lelter5\Hopkins ~(j(}fi upd.ued AllAR E.,.:;elsior cros.~ings (fomlerl Medica) 18555-3.doc www.me:trocouncU.org Metro Info ~ 602-1888 230EastF1fthStteet St.Paul.Mlnnesota55101-1626. (651)602-1000 . Fax6Q2-1550 . TIY291-0904 An..equm Opportunut,r ~ Updated AUAR Excelsior Crossings Office Development Open House Meeting IV Sign-In Sheet At Hopkins City Hall '" Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. U!!_~~..~".11!,~l:,_~..tIdr~.,.,,, ,.' ,'~.c', ..,.."L~~~~~"..,.. J~~~~.I "~4;-", _, I 1. 80b S/"""" 309 ",v,,~.- ({ 93r- 'It5'1( 2. U :S'T"-v~ S D t--..u 30 \ IV. MO)JRo~ "1:?'(i' -SI?f.".J 3. CIjR. L J...J'l""'S L.f tv ;;t' _:J 1\-<'. KJ"rN -tv,<)) f?1l"'P f,. ~} "1'2 J"'",8v"....., ",}.. "/1 r - '/CY' 7 7>?'z..;o{. 4. 5. <;;7' t2V e- Z <a.v-!-f 6. !'1;c. ~...e-I S.....,;tt.- 7. J - V\i \<QlIJ 8. /3J-7Cf "H S- -'$ 3'2 <0 ~ a. 0-::' V 4 'f.,U/1....€.-n Aw tV Cl5t-l...1l %, <:( r/E- 'is'd-..- {j.33- 10. I D m 0'nJl-C-U P.tMv 30" ? 9. 1I 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. J9. H Hennepin County Transportation Department 1600 Prairie Drive Medina, MN 55340-54~1 612-596-0300, Phone 763-478-4000,FAX 763-478-4030, TOO www.hennepin.us April 19, 2006 Ms. Nancy Anderson, City Planner City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Re: Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Excelsior Crossings Office Development CSAH-3 (Excelsiorl3oulevard)/ Jackson Avenue North Dear Ms. Anderson: This letter provides comments on the Updated AUAR for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development. Generally, the analysis and findings of the traffic section appears to be reasonable. However, we believe that the forecast time horizon should be 20 years as it was in the original AUAR for the proposed Medica development in 2001. It appears that the Updated AUAR has kept the furecast year as 2020 Ca 14 year period) when it should be the year 2026 Ca 20 year period). Roadway facilities typically are designed to flmction over a 20 year life span. Thank you for the opportunity to review the Updated AUAR. If you have any questions, please call me at 612-596- 0354. ''=d>. ;6} ~~ Robert . Byers, P .E. Senior Transportation Engineer -.. c. Jim Grube - Director TransportatiQII Department and CoUDty Engineer Tom Johnson - Tnmsportation Planning An Equal OpportUnity Employer R.cyded Ptlpor o Minnesota Department of TransportatIon Metropolitan District Waters Edge 1500 West County Road B-2 Roseville MN 55113-3174 April 27, 2006 .., "~~.. . ........~.r: . . '" . ~ ,d.~\~:..., ~~~ \\\ . -v:~.' ;:~.~.~ . : .~3;~ ,\\ '\' .... :.'. '.' - ).\\ -: "".' .-,<'\\ \" \ ",' . r"~'-: \;..~ .. \'~ \:, ,_-t"'_;'~ ~ -:~:;~::: :~.............~' ,\,\>'{r-,,-,, ......... Hopkins, MIi! 55343 U...;---.~">" ~ Excelsior CrossiDgs Office Development updated AUAR & Mitigation Plan Minnesota Department ofTransportation (MnIDOT) Review # AUAR 06-001 Northeast quadrant ofTnmkHighway (IH) 169 and CSAH 3 (Excelsior Boulevard) City ofHopkinslHennepin County Mn/DOT Control Section # 2772 Subject Nancy Anderson City Planner 1010 First Street ~outh Dear Ms. Anderson: The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnIDOT) bas reviewed the above-referenced Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) and Mitigation Plan. Before any further development, please address the following comments: Highway System Iinprovements: . In the MnIDOT Metro District 2008 - 2030 Transportation System PIan (TSP), TH 169 is designated as a management corridor. The performance based analysis conducted for the TSP indicates that additional lanes are needed. But since it is a fiscally constrained pIan, funding for the widening ofTH 169 has not been identified within the TSP time frame. Bridge replacement projects may be completed during the 2008 - 2030 time period. For questions on these points, please call Wayne Norris, MnIDOT Metro District West Area Engineer, at (651) 582-1295. Drainage: . A drainage permit may be required. The proposed development will need to maintain existing drainage rates (i.e., the rate at which storm water is discharged from the site must not increase). If runoff will increase, a MnlDOT drninage permit will be required. In the event that a drninage permit is required, the City or project developer will need to submit before/after hydraulic computations for both 10 and 100 yearraiDfa11 events verifying that all existing drainage patterns and systems affecting Mn/DOT right of way will be perpetuated. Please direct questions concerning these issUes to Molly Chennak (651- 634-2356) ofMn/DOT's Water Resources Engineering section. An equal opportunity employer Permjts: . Any work impacting Mn/DOT right of way will require a permit. Pennit forms are avai1able from MnDOT's utility website at www.dot........mn.usItecsup/utilitv. Please direct any questions regan:Iing permit requirements to Buck Craig (651-582-1447) of MnDOT's Metro Permits Section. As a reminder, please address aU initia1 future correspondenCe for development activity such as plats IUId site plims to: Development Review Coordinator Mn/DOT - Metro Division Willen Edge 1500 West County Road B-2 Rosevillc; Minnesoia 55113 Mn/DOT document submittal guidelines require tbrep (3) complete copies of plats and two (2) copies of otbel" review documents includiDg site plans. FailIU'e to provide three (3) copies of a plat and/or two (2) copies of other review documents will mab: a submittal incomplete and delay Mn/DOT's 3().dayreview and IeSpODSe process to development proposals. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation in providing the necessalY number of copies, as this will prevent us from having to delay andIorretuIn incomplete submittals. If you have liny questions, please feel free to conIact me at 651-582-1548. Sincerely, ~?n(VI( TllIIlSpOrIatjon Plmmer cc: Rob Wied, Hennepin County Swvey Section, MiDneapolis, MN Bob ByeIll, Hennepin County Transportation Planning Section, Medina, MN t.-- John Dietrich, ASLA, Principal Landscape Architect, RLK, Inc., Minnetonka, MN Updated AUAR ExCelsior Crossings Office Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hopkins City Hall IV Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Name: Address: Telephone: Email: Please our commentS below: or L0u--rr G-<""-. \ ":, :=k ~ /ANO O'l'\C~ ~J<.. . \ f\ W ec.-\-;~ 01'\ s \ dsu-- "'- -\--~ o-r-, ~ t-.\o Con:,:>\&r D-- "c-t' "-+- -+urY'\ DY""\ 'I ~\-- ,;)rJo 6+ J<J/....i \- -+- D Please deposit this fOrm to Nancy Anderson at the meeting. Comments may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Nancy Anderson Fax: 952-935-1834 Email: nanderson(ij}hookinsmn.rom Oty of Hopkins 1010 First street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Please note the deadline for the City to receive vour comments Is ADril 25. 2006. at 4:30 om. Thank for our time we a reciate our comments and su estions. /5 0\-... Updated AUAR Excelsior Crossings Office Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hopkins City Hall "" Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Name: Address: c.- \ Please deposit 1hls fonn to Nancy Andelson at 1he meeting. comments may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Nancy Anderson Fax: 952-935-1834 Email: nanderson(il)hookinsmn.com oty of Hopkins 1010 Rrst Street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Please note the deadline for the Citv to receive your comments is Aorll 25. 2006. at 4:30 Dm. for rieur comments and 5 005. c..nL\ 'V\\cu.\~ Q.O{\'3l0er 0. 1 C) . 'fA. ',{M.t-O"V\lcQ., "0\"\\5 ~Da.c\ ~ Q, C1\)- do l\ec.--tO\ as i.--\. c\'\d. ~ Io~ ~e e..-\~ex>\ CU"L\ s~C>\ , 5 + r e.e Updated AUAR Excelsior Crossings Office Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hopkins City Hall IV Wednesday, April 12., 2.006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Name: Bob 5 h",,,,,, Address: 301 MOv1I'Oe- Telephone: 'l5l~'l3 S" -169& Email: Please provide vour comments below: lPc:r-- tt'''.''' T ylc~ 5f1--/ -it.l$.~ 1'1'. 104f.-. ,+--$-" ( C"V'I(C::VV" ": Ck,...\'lCv ff.,tJ,,,.. Po.,) t...1f,1.t,,,, FI4J +;.,... 2.01 d'" """n ~~ :J;",t...s; Please deposit this form to Nancy Anderson at the meeting. Comments may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Nancy Anderson Fax: 952-935-1834 Email: nanderson@hookinsmn.com my of Hopkins 1010 First street South Hopkins, MN 55343-9475 Please note the deadline for the City to receive YOur comments is ADril 25. 2006. at 4:30 Dm. Thank YOU for vour time we "Mreciate your comments and suooestions. f,7:rvJ.. UpdatedAUAR Excelsior Crossings Offia! Development Open House Meeting Community Input At Hc;pIdns City Hall ... Wednesday,. April 12, 2006, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. /o'lbIJ "/- 2 'i -oc.. Name: STeve. SH~~ Address: ',3;:>1 No~i11 twio t.>il.r>e j.l;.V"f' Tel~; ~5~ -., 3~- 5801 EmaiI: Please OUR COIJCEI1.'" ""e De ;t, of 'Tl-lE' New STolH"\ c.v,6,"'\'Ii~ Ho~D,,,,, I"c.lo1t> II-\. 11" a~ De"e"e'R 'T11..."" """Tlfe fih!f:T/IJ CITe;\., l>R \~ "T''1e. S'loToF""The ~CI""O Gt I:> IlJ 8, 1'0 Sc: RA''!.<:'~ 10 , L.esS ....,-z.,p"u S . H.:..." ~P.''>$ ""Thl~ D....~I'" P 1\C;~ ~I\.\.. \)f ",-,,\l, C,.<.> A,ett 10 ~~ \<:>PA/..>t> CApo.) IA)<c \ Ie> ~ I-loo.>"R-S \0 &'/-J'i'T QuT n~ e:lCl~TtJ.) I~ Nt'\lell. 0'" DUI:IO H. '" c.v"'\C:~IA'i'>I.C. c..t.>1t.I..-o.~ NCIU po... Please deposit this fonn to NaiK:y Anderson at the meeting. Commenls may also be emailed, faxed or mailed to: Naocy Alo".uu Fax: 952-935-1834 EmaiI: 1liI1de.!.uI.@hooIdnsmn.am Oly of IIopkiJIS 1010 First SbeeI: South IlopkiIlS, MN 55343-9475 P1-- naIe the deadline far the Citvto -- YOUr comments is ADriI 25.2006. at 4:30 om. Thank for we con.dents. and OV~r< - - ev (\~ at P R)l1 :; f. '7. <f> \'\\ 1G.'f '" ""'l':t"'~ , S' T;~~faOl'\ W ...'l.~ ~ I c"p . -,,1- --n. o~"'\"' \4~o( . I~ Ii> ._<. Coi."el'T I ~...........-aO ""\<> f,<:' C...."'...~,,~~ I . I"\"'O'~"'''' A'll: .. l"A-n. \-\"w pCf.f c,..>' \.1,. '? ""'\1"<.,' 'i"O...f> e,e. . ,r' ~~~~..c. j':J-<.t>'l-..... :;;....tr Q.t>"> y....... ~- $.....llM W"'"tE~ ~v<.u>"r ~ ",~C"'\.II"l>.T t. ~~.;.. ...3: ~ ~t "Z: ~-,; .. 0 A ; ~ ..... ..." \~ ~..,.. "-- .~.,., ~".. 'O,,;C .~:"".., ,._, .... ...0 ., ,~< of ~.,.. .. ' . . "..- "",.< p..... -(0 ...~cf. p ,," ->~ T~.<e o~ 0"" ",..,,0 _ v"o..a ,:>'('12-,1'10:;<; &....."...0 \ 6,"'tcf-t'J c.W ,..-tq-~ ....,..... ." - ATTACHMENT D RLK INCORPORATED MEMORANDUM: POTENTIAL MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS AT NORTH SITE ACCESS, IMPACTS ON 2nd STREET! MONROE AVENUE INTERSECTION OPERATIONS, APRIL 13,2006 ~ ~ Engineering. landscape Architecture. Planning. Surveying. Traffic ( INCORPORATED) C Ii '" J rea ng_Ofdlnary ............". Communilles MEMORANDUM TO: COPY: Dave Menke, Opus Northwest Dave Bangasser, Opus Northwest Ericka Miller, Opus Northwest John Dietrich, RLK david.menke@opusnw.com david.bangasser@opusnw.com Ericka.miller@opusnw.com jdietrich@rlkinc.com FROM: Nicholas Erpelding, PE Vernon Swing, PE, Principal Traffic Engineer nerpelding@rlkinc.com vswing@rlkinc.com DATE: April 13, 2006 RE: Potential Movement Restriction at North Site Access Impacts to 2'd Street/Monroe Avenue Intersection Operations Excelsior Crossings AUAR Update RLK Project No. 2006-032-M On April 12, 2006 an "open-house-style" neighborhood meeting was held to receive input from the citizens of Hopkins on the proposed Excelsior Crossings Office Development. Based on citizen comments received, and upon your direction, RLK has completed additional analysis to quantitY impacts of potential limitation of left-tom vehicular movements at lite proposed 2" Street/North Site Access intersection. While left-tom movement restriction would improve operations at the North Site Access intersection itself by reducing potential conflicts, traffic desiring to make the restricted movements would be necessarily rerouted. A likely route for impacted vehicles desiring to egress the site westbound on 2" Street would be through the primary access, up Jackson A venue, and then onto 2"" Street. In the case of full access (no prohibited movements) at the 2" Street/North Site Access intersection, vehicles destined westbound on 2" Street from the site would not pass through the 2" StreetIMonroe Avenue Intersection, since the proposed North Site Access is west of Monroe Avenue. But if left-out movements were to be restricted at the North Site Access, conflicting westbound through traffic on 2" Street at Monroe Avenue would increase due to the addition of the rerouted traffic. Figure I, attached, provides a comparison of estimated 2020 Build scenario peak hour traffic volumes at the 2,d StreetIMonroe A venue intersection. Three North Site Access movement alternatives are presented. The top portion of the figure shows estimated peak hour traffic volumes at the 2" StreetIMonroe Avenue intersection assuming full movements at the North Site Access. The middle portion again shows 2" Street!Monroe Avenue volumes but with three-quarter movements (right-in, right-out, left-in only) assumed at the North Site Access. The bottom portion assumes right-in, right-out only movements at the North Site Access. OffICes; Hibbing . Minnelonka . Ham Lake . Twin POfIs (95219:n.0972 . 6110 Blue Qcle Crive . Suite 100 . Minnefonl:o. MN 55343 . FAX (952J 933-1153 Equal Opportunity Employer Dave Menke, Dave Bangasser April 13, 2006 From the figure, the restriction of the North Site Access to three-quarter movements would increase conflicting westbound through traffic at the 2nd StreetJMonroe A venue intersection by II vehicles in the AM peak and 76 vehicles in the PM peak. Restriction of the North Site Access to right-in, right-out only movements would reduce conflicting westbound traffic volumes during the AM peak, compared to full access. During the PM peak the conflicting movement volume would be better when compared to the three-quarter option, but would still be worse than the full access option by 52 vehicles. Operations at the intersection of 2,d Street and Monroe A venue were studied to determine the impacts in terms of average delay per vehicle, measured in seconds. Delay on the critical southbound approach is compared for the three scenarios in Table I. Table I. 2J1d StreetIMonroe Avenue Southbound A roaeh Avera e Dela er Vehiele in seconds Movement Restriction At North Site Access AM Peak All Movements Allowed 10.3 Three uarter Movements Ri t-InIRi t-OutlLeft-ln Onl 10.4 Ri t-lnlRi t-Qut Movements Onl 9.5 PM Peak 12.9 13.9 13.5 Table 1 shows that the impact to average delay per vehicle overall is very small; approximately I second at most. Compared to the full access alternative in the AM peak, the three-quarter North Site Access altemative would degrade southbound approach operations at the 2'd StreetJMonroe intersection by 0.1 second/vehicle. However, the right-inlright-out alternative would improve Monroe Avenue southbound delay by 0.8 second per vehicle. For the PM peak, three-quarter access at the North Site Access degrades the southbound Monroe Avenue movement by 1.0 second/vehicle, compared to having full access at the North Site entrance. With movements limited to right-inlright-out only at the North Site Access, operations for southbound Monroe Avenue at 2"" Street degrade by 0.6 second/vehicle when compared with full access at the North Site entrance. In conclusion, the prohibition of left-in and/or left-out movements at the proposed North Site Access is forecast to have very little effect on the operations of the 2nd Street/Monroe Avenue intersection. Were left-in and/or left-out movements to be restricted at the North Site Access, the small impacts anticipated at 2nd StreetJMonroe A venue would be negative, with the only exception being the right-in/right-out case during the AM peak hour. RLK., Inc. Page 2 on (j;\Clty OfHopI.iTl/l\2006-00;z..M\_Ted1nielll Dala\Trallle'npon\04.I)-06 RlRO Impac1S\RIRO Memo _ 04-13.06 ~ Excelsior Crossings 2~32-M s,,-, en *,SS .,h.,D WITH NO MOVEMENT RESTRICTION AT NORTH SITE ACCESS t!:::i!: is .'i: .... LEGEND STOP CONlROl AM PEAK HOUR \/OUlMES PM PEAK HOUR \/OUlMES () xxx XXX 200e RlJ( .... ~. z ~. ..:! W > -0: ~. .<: ~ :ET L{) w o O::LJ z> 0-0: ::;; 0:: w ~ ST. N.E. f- 2nd w ~ -0: -.J CD , \ EXo:.\...S\OR ,\ ,\ ~- JACKSON AVE. N. B\...\j\). ..i z is IV" W 0 11'0. .'i: O::w 0:: z> 0-0: w ::;; -.J >- 2nd ST. N.E. I- N. ~ N. Ii I'! . Ii: E N. . ~ ~ u o ~ 11 ~ -0: w ~ -0: ---' CD o :EET ~ .. ~ o J, J ::> . f . ~ e N. o " ...- .!! o o .<: ~ L[) s,,-. I . ..<" WITH 3/4 MOVEMENTS (RIGHT-IN. RIGHT-OUT. LEFT-IN ONLY) AT NORTH SITE ACCESS , \ EXo:.\...S\OR , \ ',I '--JACKSON B\...\j\) . .. ~ N. ~ u I' I ...- .. .\ l:? N. , ~ ! . .. ~ ~ ~ EET ......- Hi\! is w 0 I?~ .'i: O::w 0:: z> z 0<( w ::;; -.J ST. >- 2nd N.E. I- ').<,c ~ -0: SITE .<: B\...\j\). ~ EXo:.\...S\OR L{) , \ ,\ " '\..-JACKSON o ~ ! WITH RIGHT-IN. RIGHT-OUT MOVEMENTS ONLY AT E NORTH SITE ACCESS ~ ~ ~ il ~ M:!i~ NORTH SITE ACCESS RESTRICTION 1"' 1..; ~~' P~ll}_~ IMPACTS TO MONROE AVENUE Pro)oct, .d,O",".Ci""Dri~.'w.'OO'''''='''''''''MN5'''' 2020 BUILD lRAFFIC VOLUME COMPARISON 2006032M MEMORANDUM DATE: James Kerrigan, Economic Development Director, City of Hopkins John Dietrich, ASLA, RLK Incorporated March 30, 2006 To: FROM: SUBJECT: UPDATED AUAR AND MITIGATION PLAN FOR EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS This memorandum provides background on the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) and summarizes the conclusions in the Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And Mitigation Plan For Excelsior Crossings (Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan). 1. What is an AUAR? The AUAR process substitutes for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that may be required for specific qualifying projects provided they comply with the review assumptions and mitigation measures in the approved AUAR. The Environmental Quality Board states the following: A hybrid of the EA W and EIS review processes, the AUAR uses a standard list of questions adapted from the EA W, provides a level of analysis for typical urban area impacts comparable to an EIS, and must include a mitigation plan. Since its content is uniform, scoping is not necessary; however, it has been voluntarily added to several reviews. A draft and final document is prepared and distributed in a manner similar to an EIS to ensure adequate review. The Metropolitan Council or State agencies can object to an AUAR and force an appeal to the Environmental Quality Board. 2. What is an Updated AUAR? To remain valid, an AUAR must be updated if: (a) five years have passed since its adoption; (b) a comprehensive plan amendment is passed that allows more intense development in the AUAR study area than assumed in the AUAR; (c) total development in the AUAR study area or any specifically delineated subarea will exceed maximum levels studied in the AUAR; a substantial change in public facilities intended to serve the AUAR study area may result in adverse environmental impacts; (d) installation of public facilities will occur on a schedule other than that assumed in the AUAR or mitigation plan so that the likelihood or magnitude of adverse environmental impacts is substantially increased or the implementation of mitigation measures may be substantially postponed; (e) new information demonstrates that environmental impacts have been substantially underestimated; or (f) the responsible governmental unit determines that changes have occurred and consequently environmental impacts have been substantially underestimated. An update focuses on changes in assumptions and environmental impacts since preparation of the original AUAR. Memo to James Kerrigan Updated A UAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior.Crossings March 30, 2006 Page 2 of 4 3. Why was the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan prepared? First, the proposed Excelsior Crossings development includes approximately 691,000 SF, which is 15% larger than the 600,000 SF project studied in the Medica AUAR. Second, Excelsior Crossings includes more than office uses, whereas the Medica project involved solely office space. Third, the Medica AUAR study area included only the North Annex property. Excelsior Crossings adds an 8,000 SF parcel along Jackson Avenue to the North Annex property to form its "Main Parcel" and uses a three acre parcel across Second Street NE (Chimney Parcel) for a regional stormwater pond. Fourth, the Medica AUAR must be updated to maintain its effectiveness beyond August 21, 2006. 4. What are the major conclusions in the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan? Summarv Excelsior Crossings is consistent with the Medica AUAR, and, in every category, it is expected that envirorunental impacts will remain the same or be reduced compared to the impacts described in the Medica AUAR. The Updated AUAR addresses all the questions on the EA W form, including land use and compatibility with City plans, wildlife and critical habitat, coverage types, adequacy of public and utility infrastructure, water use, stormwater management, water quality, traffic, air quality, noise, odors, demolition, and site contamination and remediation. Excelsior Crossings is compatible with the plans, goals, and objectives of the City. The Updated AUAR analyzes cumulative impacts for each question and includes a Mitigation Plan that specifies mitigation measures. The areas which may affect the properties and residents surrounding the Main and Chimney Parcels to the greatest extent are stormwater runoff, traffic, and compatibility with City plans. A summary of each follows. Contamination On Main Parcel Phase 1 and 2 Environmental Site Assessments identified a number of contaminants on the Main Parcel that must be remediated. These include petroleum products and other chemicals in the soil, asbestos, lead paint, and PCBs in florescent lights and ballasts. Clpus will emoll the property in the MPCA's Voluntary Inspection and Compliance and Petroleum Brownfields Programs, prepare plans to remediate the Main Parcel, and implement those plans under the supervision by of the two MPCA programs. All remediation actions will comply with Federal and State laws. Stormwater The proposed stormwater management system will provide detention and treatment for the Site as required by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and City. Stormwater . dis'charge from the 28-acre Main Parcel will be reduced from the existing rate of -2- Memo to James Kerrigan Updated A UAR and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings March 30, 2006 Page3 of 4 approximately 193 cubic feet per second (cfs) for the 100-year storm in the existing condition to less than 14 cfs with the proposed improvements. In addition to a reduction in the amount of flooding in the adjacent streets from Main Parcel runoff, the proposed regional pond on the Chimney Parcel will provide over two acre-feet of additional capacity for detention and treatment of stormwater runoff from off-site developments and the City's snow storage area. Negative impacts to Minnehaha Creek, a valuable natural resource and wildlife habitat, will be further reduced from those described in the Medica AUAR based on the additional capacity in the regional pond and the improved quality of storm water leaving the regional pond. Traffic Results of the 2006 Traffic Impact Study reveal that Build traffic volumes were 16% lower than forecast in the Medica AUAR. The analysis identified two major factors that contributed to the decline in area traffic: (I) changes to MnDOT's freeway ramp metering strategy have reduced delays in accessing the freeways; and (2) the Alliant Techsystem's property east of the Project Site was redeveloped at a much lower density than assumed in the Medica AUAR. The analysis found that, because of this reduction in existing 2006 traffic, the area roadway network will accommodate the additional traffic generated by Excelsior crossings while remaining at or under traffic levels accounted for in the Medica AUAR in the 2006 design year. For the AM peak hour on an overall intersection Level of Service (LOS) basis, every intersection except one remained at the same overall LOS when compared to the Medica AUAR. The only intersection to change was the Excelsior Boulevard, Jackson Avenue, and Milwaukee Street intersection, which improved from a LOS D to LOS C. For the PM peak hour, all but three intersections remained the same, The State Highway 7 and Fifth Avenue intersection improved from LOS F to LOS D, the primary Main Parcel access on Jackson Avenue declined from LOS A to LOS B, and the Excelsior Boulevard, Jackson Avenue, and !Milwaukee Street intersection improved from LOS D to LOS C. The following suggestions to accommodate the additional traffic are proposed at the Jackson Avenue primary entrance to the Opus Hopkins Office Development: . Restriping of the southbound approach to extend the left turn storage bay length from 75 feet to 120 feet. . Design of the onsite eastbound approach to include a 105- foot right turn storage bay. . Installation of a traffic signal at the main entrance when warranted. . Adjustment of signage and striping on the northbound approach to create dual left turn lanes and a shared through/right turn lane. This measure should be completed concurrently with installation ofthe traffic signal. -3- Memo to James Kerrigan Updated A UAR and Mitigation Plan Jor Excelsior Crossings March 30, 2006 Page 4 oJ4 Comoatibilitv With Citv Plans The City certifies that its Comprehensive Plan complies with the requirements in Minnesota Rules Chapter 4410,3610, Subpart 1. The Project is compatible with the following: . Business Park Zoning District, year 2000. . Business Park Comprehensive Plan, year 2001. . CSAH 3 Corridor Study 1995. . City of Hopkins Stormwater Management Plan. The Project will be designed to meet the objectives of the City's Business Park Zoning District. The Updated AUAR identifies the access locations, which are consistent with the Medica AUAR. The City will review the detailed site development plans through the Planned Unit Development process. -4- UPDATED ALTERNATIVE URBAN AREAWIDE REVIEW AND MITIGATION PLAN FOR EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS (Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan) SCHEDULE FOR UPDATED AUAR AND MITIGATION PLAN REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS If the City Council orders distribution of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan for review and comment, the review and approval process schedule will be as follows . April 6, 2006. Notice that the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan will be available on April 7, 2006, and of the public open house on April 12, 2006, is published in the Sun Newspaper. . April 6, 2006. Notice of public open house is mailed to area residents. . April 7, 2006. The Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan is mailed to the EAW Distribution List, made available in Hopkins City Hall, and posted on the City's web site, . April 10, 2006. Notice of availability of the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan is published in the EQB Monitor. . April 11, 2006. Ten-working-day comment period for public comments commences. . April 10, 11 & 12, 2006. Ten-working-day comment and objection period for Metropolitan Council and State agencies commences depending on when each receives the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan . Apl'iI12,2006. City holds public open house from 5:00 p,m, to 7:00 p.m. in the Raspberry Room in City Hall to provide information, answer questions, and take written comments on the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan. . April 25, 2006. Ten-working-day comment period for the public closes at end of City's business day. (An extra day has been included due to the Good Friday holiday.) . April 25, 26, & 27. Ten-working-day comment and objection period for Metropolitan Council and State agencies closes based on when each received the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan. . May 9, 2006. Planning Commission reviews responses to comments, Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan, and any proposed changes. . May 16, 2006. City Council acts on responses to comments, Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan, any proposed changes, and Record of Decision. CITY OF HOPKINS Hennepin County, Minnesota RESOLUTION NO. 06-36 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS ADOPTING THE UPDATED ALTERNATIVE AREA WIDE REVIEW AND UPDATED MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS OFFICE DEVELOPMENT AS THE REVISED ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS DOCUMENT AND PLAN FOR MITIGATION FOR THE EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS AREA WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Hopkins deemed it prudent and appropriate to conduct an updated alternative urban areawide review (AUAR) for the area designated as the SuperValu North Annex parcel and the Chimney parcel that were proposed for redevelopment as a primarily office project known as the Excelsior Crossings Office Development and ordered preparation of the update on February 17,2006; and WHEREAS, City staff and consultants prepared the Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And Updated Mitigation Plan for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development dated April 6, 2006 (Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan); and WHEREAS on April 4, 2006, the City Council adopted Resolution 06-24, which (a) noted that City staff and consultants had prepared the Updated AUAR And Mitigation Plan, (b) directed City staff to arrange for notice of publication to appear in the EQB Monitor and in the local newspaper, (c) directed staff to distribute the Updated AUAR And Mitigation Plan as the revised environmental analysis and plan for mitigation for the SuperValu North Annex and Chimney Parcels, (d) directed that copies of the Updated AUAR And Mitigation Plan be made available to the public on the City's web site, at City Hall, and in the public library, and (e) directed that a public open house be held to provide information about and receive comments on the Updated AUAR and Mitigation Plan; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Minnesota Environmental Quality Board ("EQB") Rules, the Updated AUAR And Mitigation Plan was distributed in accordance with EQB Environmental Review Program Rules and a public open house was held on April 12, 2006; and WHEREAS, the review and comment phase of the Updated AUAR And Mitigation Plan was completed on April 25, 2006; and , WHEREAS, responses to the Updated AUAR And Mitigation were received from the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County Transportation Department, Minnesota Department of Transportation; Chandra Erickson, Pete and Kathy Stiehm, Bob Shaw, and Steve Shaw; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Updated Mitigation Plan For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development dated May 4, 2006, adequately addresses the comments received and makes necessary changes in the Updated AUAR And Mitigation Plan; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hopkins that the City Council of the City of Hopkins hereby designates the Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And Updated Mitigation Plan dated April 6, 2006, and the Responses To Comments On And Amendments To The Updated Alternative Areawide Review And Updated Mitigation Plan For The Excelsior Crossings Office Development dated May 4, 2006, as the revised environmental analysis and plan for mitigation for the SuperValu Annex and Chimney parcels Area and adopts them in accordance with EQB Environmental Review Program Rule 4410:3610, Subp. 5E. Adopted by the Hopkins City Council this 16th day of May, 2006. Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor ATTEST: Terry Obermaier, City Clerk 2