IV.4. Resolution 2022-034 supporting Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s application for a Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund Grant for 325 Blake Road; Youngquist
April 19, 2022 Council Report 2022-040
SUPPORT FOR MCWD APPLICATION TO THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSE FUND PROGRAM FOR 325 BLAKE ROAD
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution 2022-034
supporting Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s application for a Hennepin County
Environmental Response Fund Grant for 325 Blake Road.
Overview
The City of Hopkins and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) have been working
together for several years to plan for the redevelopment of the MCWD-owned site at 325 Blake
Road, with a vision to integrate a restored Minnehaha Creek with a transit oriented mixed-use
development.
As the former site of a cold storage industrial building, there were environmental issues
associated with the property. The City was successful in securing a Tax Base Revitalization
Account grant from the Metropolitan Council on behalf of MCWD in 2018, which assisted with
costs for environmental remediation work associated with demolition of the cold storage
building.
The City and MCWD entered into a cooperative agreement in 2020 to guide planning,
improvements, and redevelopment of the site and selected Alatus, LLC as the master developer
in 2021. The three parties subsequently entered into a predevelopment agreement to provide for
further coordination between the planned development and treatment of stormwater on the site.
In December 2021, the City approved a Rezoning and Planned Unit Development to facilitate
Alatus’ plans to redevelop the property into an 833-unit mixed use, commercial and residential
transit oriented development.
MCWD has indicated that there are known or suspected areas with minimal soil contamination
on the site which are located near the planned stormwater pond, restaurant pads, and a
residential building that may need to be remediated. MCWD plans to apply for an Environmental
Response Fund grant from Hennepin County to implement the Response Action Plan
Addendum for the site which has been submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for
approval. Hennepin County requires a letter of support from the local municipality where the
project is located as part of the grant application.
Supporting Information
• Resolution 2022-034
__________________________
Jan Youngquist, AICP Community Development Coordinator
Financial Impact: $_____0____Budgeted: Y/N ___ Source: __________
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): _______________________________________
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2022-034
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT’S
APPLICATION FOR A HENNEPIN COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE FUND GRANT
FOR 325 BLAKE ROAD
WHEREAS the City of Hopkins and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) have been
jointly planning for the redevelopment of 325 Blake Road and identified the potential to integrate a
restored Minnehaha Creek with a transit oriented mixed-use development near the future Blake
Road LRT Station of the METRO Green Line Extension; and
WHEREAS the MCWD purchased the 16.84 acre site at 325 Blake Road in 2011; and
WHEREAS the City was successful in securing a Tax Base Revitalization Account grant in 2018 on
behalf of MCWD for environmental remediation work associated with the demolition with the former
cold storage building on the site; and
WHEREAS the City and MCWD entered into a cooperative agreement in 2020 to guide the
coordinated planning, improvements and redevelopment of the site; and
WHEREAS the City and MCWD unanimously approved Alatus, LLC as the master developer for
the site and the three parties entered into a preliminary development agreement in 2021 to provide
for further coordination between the planned development and treatment of stormwater on the site;
and
WHEREAS the City approved a Rezoning and Planned Unit Development in 2021 to facilitate
Alatus’ plans to redevelop the property into an 833-unit mixed use, commercial and residential
transit oriented development; and
WHEREAS there are known or suspected areas with minimal soil contamination on the site which
are located near the planned stormwater pond, restaurant pads, and one residential building that
may need to be remediated.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Hopkins supports Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District’s application for an Environmental Response Fund grant that is being submitted to
Hennepin County on May 2, 2022 for the 325 Blake Road project.
Adopted this 19th day of April, 2022.
By:__________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk