CR 08-058 Alternative Urban Area Wide Review (AUAR) - Excelsior Crossings•
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June 11, 2008 Council Report 08 -58
ALTERNATIVE URBAN AREAWIDE REVIEW (AUAR) — EXCELSIOR
CROSSINGS
Proposed Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the following motion: Move to adopt
Resolution 08 -38, approving the Updated Alternative Urban Areawide 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.
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 the development. The Excelsior Crossings office
development required that the AUAR prepared for Medica be updated. Two previous
updates were approved for the Excelsior Crossings development.
Now because the proposed development is 56,000 square feet in additional office
development, and by changing the 6,000 square feet of retail space to either 10,000 square
feet of employee -only daycare or 5,000 of employee -only daycare and 5,000 square feet of
retail, the AUAR needs to be updated again. The total square footage of the office space is
proposed to be 796,000 square feet. The City of Hopkins is the Responsible Governmental
Unit for the AUAR.
The updated AUAR was distributed for the 10- working -day comment period from May 19 to
June 2.
Primary Issues to Consider
• What is an AUAR?
• Why did the applicant preparing an AUAR?
• What was the discussion at the Zoning and Planning meeting?
• What were the comments on the updated AUAR?
Supporting Documents
• Analysis of Issues
• Responses to Comments
• AUAR
• Resolution 08 -38
( 1rdQj\D m
Nancy( . Anderson, AICP
Planner
C ITY OF
Financial Impact: $ N/A Budgeted: Y/N Source:
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Notes:
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CR08 -38
Page 2
Primary Issues to Consider
• What is an AUAR?
The Alternative Urban Areawide Review process substitutes for any Environmental
Assessment Worksheet (EAW) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 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
EAW and EIS review processes, the AUAR uses a standard list of questions adapted from the
EAW, 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 did the applicant prepare an AUAR?
The development is required to have an environmental review. The applicant chose 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 reviewed the reasons for the amendment to the AUAR. Tom Shaver and John
Dietrich appeared before the Commission. Mr. Shaver stated that they have the second
building under construction and Cargill has acquired the third building. Mr. Dietrich
discussed the traffic impacts and stated that because it is now classified as a corporate
campus the overall trips have gone down.
There were no comments from the public regarding the AUAR.
• What were the comments on the updated AUAR?
The City of Minnetonka and the Metropolitan Council sent letters with no objections to the
updated AUAR.
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Responses to Comments on the
2008 Update
to the
Excelsior Crossings AUAR
and Mitigation Plan
for the
Excelsior Crossings Corporate Office Campus
Hopkins, Minnesota
44C1*
City of Hopkins
RLK Incorporated
6110 Blue Circle Drive, Suite 100
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Tel 952 - 933 -0972
Fax 952 - 933 -1153
www.rlkinc.com
June 17, 2008
Prepared By
City of Hopkins
1010 First Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343 -9475
Tel 952 - 935 -8474
Fax 952 - 935 -1834
www.hopkinsmn.com
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
COMMENTS AND RESPONSES 1
THE APPENDIX
Copies of Comment Letters Attachment A
Metropolitan Council
City of Minnetonka
Responses To Comments on the 2008 Update to the AUAR and Mitigation Plan
Excelsior Crossings Corporate Office Campus, Hopkins, Minnesota
June 17, 2008
Page i
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Introduction
The 2008 Update to the Excelsior Crossings AUAR and Mitigation Plan dated May 19, 2008 (2008
Update), was prepared by the City of Hopkins (City) and published for objection and comment in the
EQB Monitor on May 19, 2008. The 2008 Update is an update to the December 2006 Update to the May
Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development (December
2006 AUAR Update) adopted by the City on January 2, 2007.
The required 10- working day comment period ended on June 2, 2008. The ten - working -day period after
receipt for State agencies to comment and object has also expired.
Comments and Responses
Comments were received from the Metropolitan Council and the City of Minnetonka. Both letters
received acknowledge receipt of the 2008 Update to the Excelsior Crossings AUAR, support the update
and find no objections to the plan as published. The City takes note of these comments and thanks the
City of Minnetonka and the Metropolitan Council for their review and letters.
The Hopkins City Council has adopted the 2008 Update to the Excelsior Crossings AUAR and this
response. The 2008 Update to the Excelsior Crossings AUAR requires no change to the December 2006
Update in terms of the plan and/or mitigation plan included in the published document.
Responses To Comments on the 2008 Update to the AUAR and Mitigation Plan
Excelsior Crossings Corporate Office Campus, Hopkins, Minnesota
June 17, 2008
Page 1
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ATTACHMENT A
COPIES OF COMMENT LETTERS
O tt Metropolitan Council
May 30, 2008
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Nancy Anderson, City Planner
City of Hopkins
1010 l Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343-9475
RE: City of Hopkins, Updated AUAR for Excelsior Crossings Corporate Office Campus
Metropolitan Council District 3
Metropolitan Council Referral File No. 18555-6
Dear Ms. Anderson:
Council staff conducted a review of the 2008 Update to the Alternative Urban Areawide Review
(AUAR) and Mitigation Plan for Excelsior Crossings Corporate Office Campus to determine its accuracy
and completeness in addressing regiona/ concerns. Council staff previously commented on the original
AUAR, the final AUAR and subsequent AUAR updates in letters in 2001 and 2006.
This AUAR Update indicates that the character of the project has changed slightly from earlier concepts.
The square footage increased from 746,000 SF to 802,000 SF (a 7.5% increase), the land use changed
from General Office to Corporate Office, and a 5-10,000 SF daycare facility has been added to the
project.
The staff review finds the Updated AUAR addresses previous comments, is complete and accurate with
respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. The
Council offers no objection to the Updated AUAR.
This will conclude the Council's review of the 2008 AUAR update. The Council will take no formal
action on the FAUAR. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Jim Uttley,
Principal Reviewer, at 651-602-1361.
Sincerel
Phyllis IT
Local P
on, Manager
mg Assistance
cc: John E. Dietrich, ASLA, RLK, 6110 Blue Circle Drive, Suite 100, Minnetonka, MN 55343
Crystal Carlson, MHFA
Tod Sherman, Development Reviews Coordinator, MnDOT Metro Division
Keith Buttleman, Environmental Services
Jim Uttley, Sector Representativeand Principal Reviewer
Cheryl Olsen, Reviews Coordinator
N:\CommDev\LPACommunities\Hopkins\Letters\Hopkins 2008 AUAR Update Excelsior Crossings 18555-6.doc
www.metrocouncil.org
390 Robert Street North • St. Paul, MN 55101-1805 • (651) 602-1000 • Fax (651) 602-1550 • TTY (651) 291-0904
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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JUN. 3.2008 11:15AM
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etonka.
1 1 14600 Minnetonka Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55345 952 -939 -8200 Fax 952 -939 -8244
May 22, 2008
Nancy Anderson
City Planner - - - .. --
City of Hopkins
1010 First Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343 -9475
RE: 2008 Excelsior Crossings AUAR and Mitigation Plan Update
Dear Ms. Anderson:
The City of Minnetonka has received and reviewed the referenced AUAR update.
Please be advised our review produced no comments or concerns.
Thank you for including us in the distribution list. If you should have any need to
contact me, I can be reached at (952) 939 -8296 or laordon(a eminnetonka.com.
Sincerely,
Loren Gordan, AICP
City Planner
City of Minnetonka
CITY_OF_HOPKINS NO. 720 P. 1
cc: Steve Liilehaug, City Engineer
Julie Wischnack, Community Development Director
Minhetonke.., where qua /lty /s ournafure
• CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
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RESOLUTION NO. 08 -38
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS
ADOPTING THE 2008 UPDATE TO THE EXCELSIOR
CROSSINGS AUAR FOR THE EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS
CORPORATE OFFICE CAMPUS AS THE REVISED
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS DOCUMENT AND PLAN
FOR MITIGATION FOR THE EXCELSIOR CROSSINGS AREA
WHEREAS, on January 2, 2007, the City Council of the City of Hopkins adopted the
December 2006 Update to the May Updated Alternative Urban Areawide Review And Updated
Mitigation Plan for the Excelsior Crossings Office Development, Hopkins, Minnesota
(December 2006 Update) 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 (Project); and
WHEREAS, Cargill, Inc. has chosen to occupy all the buildings proposed at Excelsior
Crossings as a corporate office campus, desires to expand the office component of Excelsior
Crossings by 56,000 square feet (SF) to 796,000 SF, and desires to change the 6,000 SF retail
use to a 10,000 SF day care center or day care /retail facility; and
WHEREAS, the City determined that Cargill's proposed changes required preparation
of an update to the December 2006 Update; and
WHEREAS on May 6, 2008, the City Council adopted Resolution 08 -25 that
(a) directed preparation of an update to the December 2006 Update, and (b) retained RLK
Incorporated to assist City staff in preparing the update; and
WHEREAS, City staff and consultants prepared the 2008 Update to the Excelsior
Crossings A UAR And Mitigation Plan for the for the Excelsior Crossings Corporate Office
Campus, Hopkins, Minnesota dated May 12, 2008 (2008 AUAR Update); and
WHEREAS, notice of availability of the 2008 AUAR Update was published in the
EQB Monitor on May 19, 2008; the 2008 AUAR Update was distributed in accordance with
the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Environmental Review Program Rules; notice
was also published in the local newspaper; and copies of the 2008 AUAR Update were made
available to the public on the City's web site, at City Hall, and in the public library; and
• WHEREAS, the Hopkins Zoning & Planning Commission held a public hearing on the
2008 AUAR Update at its meeting on May 27, 2008; and
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WHEREAS, the review and comment phase of the 2008 AUAR Update was completed
on June 2, 2008, ten working days after receipt by State agencies of the 2008 AUAR Update,
and
WHEREAS, responses to the 2008 AUAR Update were received from the City of
Minnetonka and the Metropolitan Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the Responses to Comments on the
2008 Update to the Excelsior Crossings AUAR and Mitigation Plan for the Excelsior
Crossings Corporate Office Campus, Hopkins, Minnesota dated June 17, 2008 (Responses To
Comments), adequately addresses the comments received;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hopkins that the
City Council hereby designates the 2008 AUAR Update and the Responses To Comments as
the revised environmental analysis and plan for mitigation for the SuperValu Annex and
Chimney parcels area and adopts them in accordance with Environmental Review Program
Rule 4410:3610, Subp. 5E.
Adopted by the Hopkins City Council this 17th day of June, 2008.
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor