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Environmental Asses. Worksheet-Oakwood Hills• • • ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET COMPILED BY WEHRMAN BERGLY ASSOCIATES, INC. Oifirea0D OAKWOOD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY •. • • L.H. thiirct 1(1 Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) MARK APPROPRIATE BOX: REGULAR EAW ❑ SCOPING EAW NOTE TO REVIEWERS: For regular EAWs, written comments should address the accuracy and completeness of the EAW information, potential impacts that may warrant investigation and /or the need for an EIS. For scoping EAWs, written com- ments should address the accuracy and completeness of the information and suggest issues for Investigation in the EIS. Such comments must be submitted to the Responsible Government Unit (RGU) during the 30 -day period following notice of the EAW's availability in the EQB Monitor. Contact the EQB (metro: 612/296 -8253: non - metro: 1 -800- 652 -9747, ask for envi- ronmental review program) or the RGU to find out when the 30 -day comment period ends. 1. Project Name OAKWOOD HILLS APARTMENTS 2. Proposer Oakwood Development Company 3. RGU City of Hopkins Contact Person Jerr Pautz Contact Person Jim Kerrigan Address #210 8680 Cedar Ave. S. and Title City Planner Bloomington, MN 55420 Address 1010 S. 1st St. Phone 854 -9276 or 333 -2577 Hopkins, MN 55343 Phone 935 -8474 4 . Project Location: SW '/ SW '/4 Section 25 Township 117N Range 22W a. County Name Hennepin City /Township Name Hopkins b. Attach copies of each of the following to the EAW: 1. a county map showing the general area of the project. 2. a copy(ies) of USGS 7' /s minute. 1:24,000 scale map. 3. a site plan showing the location of significant features such as proposed structures. roads, extent of flood plain, wetlands. wells. etc. 4. an existing land use map and a zoning map of the immediate area, if available. 5 . Describe the proposed project completely (attach additional sheets as necessary). Oakwood Hilts consists of two "U" shaped, three -story buildings with under - building parking on a 20 -acre site at the very southwest corner of Hopkins. The City of Minnetonka forms the west and south boundaries of the site. Smetana Road abuts the property on the south; Feltl Court forms most of the east boundary; the property on the north is the completed Hopkins Landfill;and the property immediately west is undeveloped. The site is located in the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and the Hopkins School District. Under - building parking accommodates over one space per living unit. Over 1.8 parking spaces under and outside the building are provided for each unit. Only 27.9% of the site is covered by building or impervious surfacing having 72.1% either in its natural state or landscaped with additional plant materials. Two elevators are provided for each building. Two tennis courts and a.swimming pool with changing rooms are provided in the central area of the site. OAKWOOD HILLS 'HOPKINS QUADRANGLE U.S.G.S. MAP MAP2 01, 22 4. _ _ ` arrum*M8s PA114 • - • 4r - - . OAKWOOD HILLS Gross Site Area 20.3 acres Parking ' Ms spaces/unit) SMETANA ROAD R.O.W. 0.6 acres INTERIOR !Til 332 PET SITE AREA 19.7 acres (857,700 a.f.) EXTERIOR ' " . 251 4 POTENTIAL EXPANSION 65 I I I I Units Allowed By Ordnance 373 units PROPOSED DWELLING UNTTS 324 units • potential parking expansion to achieve 1-BEDROOM 2 spaces/unit shown with dashed line on Plan. 2-BEDROOM parking and drives to be bituminous with concrete curb and gutters. FT‘ 0tTUM0704 1ATN - / — 1 E;ZiStSla T20133 j 7 1. " "TA1441 T 61 "P • -1 SITE DEVELOPMENT DATA 1 Pc - — Site Coverage BUILDING FOOTPRINT PARKING & DRIVES POOL & TENNIS COURTS LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE DRIVEWAY EASEMENT •UGHTS- 16' steel post with decorative 'shoebox" fixhre hidden light source 238,980 s.f. (27.9%) 106.510 al 114,470 al 18,000 at. 618.720 GI (72.1%) SITE PLAN MAP 3 6. Reason for EAWpreparation: construction of 15U Cf rore citaCtie- I ESiutliL;dI UhiLS in ir c as ci List all mandatory category rule ''s which apply: y 3.0388 7 . Estimated construction cost 11) 8. Total project area (acres) 19 or kngth (miles) 9 . Number of residential units 324 or commercial, industrial, or institutional square footage 10. Number of proposed parking spaces 332 under buildings, 251 outside, 65 potential expansion 11 . List all known local, state and federal permits /approvals /funding required: • 13. 16. Level of Government Federal: None State: MN PCA (EAW) Local: Type of Application Status City; approval of Conditional Use Permit, Building Permit and Plat; applied for but not acted upon. Nine Mile Creek Creek District; Grading and Land Alteration er it; not yet app 12 . Is the proposed project inconsistent with the local adopted comprehensive land use plan or any other adopted plans? If yes, explain: E Yes Describe current and recent past land use and development on and near the site. Currently the site is undeveloped; land to the west land undeveloped; and the east east is the retired, undeveloped Hopkins Landfill; nis undeveloped; land across Smetana Road to the south is a complex of about 300 apartment units. 14 . Approximately how many acres of the site are in each of the following categories? (Acreages should add up to total project area before and after construction.) Before After Before After Forest/ Wooded 4 4 Wetland (types 3 -8) Cropland - -- Impervious Surface 0 5.3 Brush / 15 7 3 Other(spe 7.4 turf cify) 15. De ribg the soils on the site, giving the SCS soil classification types, if known. (See attached map) Hb Hayden Loam Pm Peaty Muck Over Loam He Hayden Clay Loam Gc Glencoe Silty Clay Loam Hd Hayden and Lester Loam Du Dundas Silt Loam Lt LeSueur Loam Soils from the SE hill will be used to backfill under the Ne Nessel Loam buildings. Does the site contain peat soils, highly erodible soils, steep scopes, sinkholes, shallow limestone formations, abandoned wells, or any geologic hazards? if yes, show on site No ® Yes map and explain: Approximately 45% of the site is in peat soils of varying depths. Approximately 20% of the site is in slopes ranging from 20 to 25 %. 17. What is the approxi ate depth (in feet) to: ? ? On approximately 45% of the site? a groundwater 1 min. avg. b. bedrock min. avg. "? 7. NNGt ?h °0> a • • �,- _ .i ck+:atrp.. . , .t. Cwntec,r� s d e L t2tN .LtifCF-law : o •aY R••WC Cno .- - t8- oo .= Rxr.Y ctw t.rti L1�pR OAKWOOD HILLS c \ArrQ_ • • _ site analysis " -- !t3' '/y _••• •• iron • - 4 ILK 9 .0.17 Mt" - 14 `A O I alrk.t IE 344- -¶ .V ON 127N/4 . .117st 1'El� 0 a-lIV ON GIN h GuL PE .MC.. N tq h TwHfl+tzt NORTC O 25' 50' 100 Scala. 1 .50 - -Cr /ALA rrAc- Weeg 19 �_'" / SITE ANALYSIS /SOILS MAP 4 • 8. • Does arty pan of the project area intioive; a. shoreland zoning district? b. delineated I00 -year flood plain? c. state or federally designated river land use district? !ryes, identify water body and appli<abie state ciasstfication(s). and describe measures to protect water and related land resources: b.Will the project affect groundwater levels in any wells (on or off the site)? if yes, ex- plain: a Ili No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes 19 . Describe any physical alteration (e.g., dikes, excavation, fill, stream diversion) of any drainage system. lake, stream, and /or wetland. Describe measures to minimize im- pairment of the water- related resources. Estimate quantity of material to be dredged and indicate where spoils will be deposited. A shallow, narrow drainage di tch that crosses the site will be realigned in approximately the same location to create a more attractive site amenity. An existing shallow wetland (Type 2) will be dredged to create a deeper pond. In both cases, dredged material will be f laced around the created water bodies. A third pond,will be created to provide storage or rface rvnotf. the ponds and slow vin water i th e drraina e itch will cont ue to � rov i de a sedimentation process tor runo water. l furfi wi De established around a. e . a the project require an appropriation of ground or surface water? I f yes, exp [n yes EP. (indicate quantity and source): ® No No ❑ Yes b. Identify receiving waters, including groundwater, and evaluate the impacts of the discharges listed above. if discharges to groundwater are anticipated, provide per - coiation /perrneabjlity and other hydrogeological test data, if available. The. on receiving waters including i g Nine Mile Creek and ground water will be ensign scant, as the water table at present is within a foot o the surface tor 45% the site with virtually the same effect as impervious coverage. 23 . Will the project generate (either during or after construction): a. air pollution? b. dust? c. noise? d. odors? !ryes. explain. including as appropriate: distances to sensitive land uses; expected lev- els and duration of noise: types and quantities of air pollutants from stacks, mobile sources, and fugitive emissions (dust); odor sources; and mitigative measures for any 410 impacts. Give the basis or methodology of estimates. SEE NEXT PAGE Yes Yes Yes Yes 21 . Describe the erosion and sedimentation conrrol measures to be used during and after construction of the project. Approved erosion control devices will be used around construction sites as necessary; siltation basins will be used throughout construction; site grading will reduce some of the most severe slopes and extensive turf areas will reduce the potentential for erosion. a. Will the project generate: 1. surface and stormu•ater runoff? No Yes 2. sanitary wastewater? No Yes 3. industrial wastewater? No Yes 4. cooling water (contact and noncontact)? No Yes If yes, identify sources, volumes. quality (if other than normal domestic sewage), and treatment met) - ds._G ve the kasis or methodology of estimates. Surface water runott will be increased due to the construction of buildings and impervious surfaces such as drives and parking lots. Runoff generated due to the increased impervious coverage will be stored on site and released at the rate of runoff existing prior to development. • • • 23. a. air pollution? Motor vehicle activity will be the only cause of air quality impact. MPCA uses 1000 parking spaces as the minimum requiring an air quality analysis. This project has only 583 spaces so is well below the threshold. b. dust? A minor amount of dust will be generated during construction. However, once operational, there will be no dust. Mitigation measures will include: earthwork construction in the Spring or early Summer when the moisture content of the soil is likely to be the highest; and dust control through the use of sprinklers during grading operations. c. noise? Siting the construction project within an environment that is naturally contained by hills and removed by distance from abutting highways will reduce the traffic noise from the highways for future occupants of the site. Vacant sites to the west, north and east and substantial setbacks on the property to the south, will reduce the impact of site construction noise on abutting properties. 3a 24 . Describe the type and amount of solid and /or hazardous waste including sludges and ashes that will be generated and the method and location of disposal: Household generated trash is the only waste potential on this project. Garbage disposal units in each kitchen and trash receptacles in each building for pickup and hauling by a rubbish service will be the methods used for disposal 65. Will the project affect: a. fish or wildlife habitat. or movement of animals? . ® No ❑ Yes b. any native species that are officially listed as state endangered, threatened. or of special concern (animals and /or plants)? ® No ❑ Yes If yes. explain (identify species and describe impact): 26 . Do any historical, archaeological or architectural resources exist on or near the project site? If yes. explain (show resources on a site map and describe impact): © No ❑ Yes 27 . . Will the project cause the impairment or destruction of: a. designated park or recreation areas? b. prime or unique farmlands? c. ecologically sensitive areas? d. scenic views and vistas? e. other unique resources (specify)? If yes. explain: 28 . For each affected road indicate the current average daily traffic (ADT), increase in ADT contributed by the project and the directional distributions of traffic. SEE ATTACHED TRAFFIC ANALYSIS Summary of Issues RTIFiCATION BY RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTAL UNiT Et Et No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Are adequate utilities and public services now available to service the project? if not. ® Yes what additional utilities and or services will be required? CI No For regular EAWs. list the issues as identified by "yes" answers above. Discuss alternatives and mitigative measures for these issues. For scoping EAWs. list known issues. alternatives, and mitigative measures to be addressed in EIS. #16. PEAT SOILS - -45% of the site is covered by peat soils; most of the remainder is covered with two hills which the City has protected through the "Official Map" procedure. A two - building approach was used that wraps the "U" shaped buildings around the hills to avoid substantial alteration of the peat areas and to best protect the hills. All of the northe st hill is untouched and the south slope of the southeast hill (facing the public street remains intact. Fill matterial from the north side f his hi]] is used to backfii1 the areas under the buildings so no off -site fil will be utilized. The alternatives are to not develop the site or to develop only the very south portion of the site. The site is not in a flood plain so the fill to be added will not contribute to increased flooding. Ponds are created on the site to store (and slowly release) excess runoff created by the areas of impervious cover. #23. b. and c. dust and noise generation -- Mitigative measures are discussed in question 23. IP ereby certify that the information contained in this document is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and that copies of the completed EAW have been made available to all points on the official EQB distribution list. Signature Date BENSHOOF & ASSOCIATES, INC. TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE CONSULTANTS 7901 FLYING CLOUD DRIVE, SUITE 119 / EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA 55344 / (612) 944 -7590 February 6, 1986 M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mr. Jerry Pautz Mr. Mike Finnemann FROM: James A. Benshoof ) R K RE: Traffic Study for Proposed Oakwood Hills Development PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND REFER TO FILE: PRELIMINARY The purpose of this memorandum is to present the results of our traffic study for the proposed Oakwood Hilis develop- ment. As we understand, the proposed development would consist of two buildings with a total of 324 apartment units. The development site is located north of Smetana Road and west of Felt] Court in the southwest corner of the City of Hopkins. Our study has addressed the following three points: • Traffic effects on the public roadway system Site access, egress and internal circulation • Parking space needs The items addressed relative to each point and the findings are presented next. TRAFFIC EFFECTS ON PUBLIC ROADWAY SYSTEM The proposed development would gain access to Feltl Court, which in turn connects to Smetana Road. Smetana Road, which was completed in June 1985 between 11th Avenue and Shady Oak Road, enables development trips to distribute to the west (and then north or south on Shady Oak Road) or to the east (and then north on Ilth Avenue or east on the Opus 2 roadway system to County Hwy. 18). In assessing the effect of Oakwood Hilis development trips on these roadways, the first step is to project the number of trips generated by the proposed development. Utilizing trip generation rates published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers' and the proposed size of 324 apartment units, the resultant trip generation projections are as follows: 1 "Trtp Generation ", Institute of Transportation Engineers, 1983. 86 -34 -05 • Mr. Pautz 8 Mr. Finnemann -2- February 6, 1986 Daily - trip generation rate = 6.1 - trip ends = 1976 A.M. Peak Hour (about 7:15 to 8:15 a.m.) - trip generation rate = 0.5 - trip ends = 162 P.M. Peak Hour (about 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.) - trip generation rate = 0.7 - trip ends = 227 The next step is to allocate the development trips by route and direction of travel. Based on previous traffic studies performed in this area by Benshoof & Associates, Inc. and by BRW, Inc., we estimate that the trips to /from the Oakwood Hills development will distribute as follows: 35 percent to /from the east on Smetana Road and north on Ilth Avenue • 25 percent to /from the east on Smetana Road and contin- uing to the east and south on the Opus 2 roadway system • 30 percent to /from the west on Smetana Road and south on Shady Oak Road 10 percent to /from the west on Smetana Road and north on Shady Oak Road The next step is to assign the development trips to the roadway system according to the above distribution percentages and to relate the development trips to the existing traffic situation. In this context, Figure 1 presents the existing and projected post - development daily traffic volumes. Considering these volumes and other related characteristics, we have established the following conclusions regarding effects of the development traffic on the public roadway system: • Effects on Ilth Avenue. The development would add 690 trips per day to Ilth Avenue, north of Smetana Road. This translates to a percentage increase of from 11 to 15 percent. lath Avenue is a designated collector route in the City of Hopkins. The normal volume range for collector routes, as published by the Metropolitan Counci1 is 1,000 to 15,000 vehicles per day. Since the projected post - development volume is in the lower half of this normal range, it is concluded that Ilth Avenue can effectively accommodate the projected devel- opment traffic. 2 "Transportation Development Guide /Policy Plan ", Metropolitan Council, 1983. I RvjEw LA W.4 7thc*Lt N LANDNAR I S. LANOL1 WAG 0NW 2790 3580 ILWOO 11 WOOD tOth ST FELTL CT . HETAN 4600/5090 WARD WAY WE tr 0 C', R C' 13000/13590 tst 1111111E1,t11111111116 E% CEL 111..S°(' � I II 3r0 SL O W i I 2 Q / N M ORE Z •� �' ( O 5th ST. A e vi > ti M• L tt r E f a � Q > ® > o 5 2 WAi L � ` w > a W 2 a • 6450/7140 COUGAR TR TEL TR Note:, Existing Volumes Are From 1983 Flow Maps, Except For Smetana Road Which Was Counted At The End Of July 1985, Two Months After The Opened. Roadway N U 1 /4mi. Approximate Scale t BENSHOOF & ASSOCIATES, INC. TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE CONSULTANTS JERRY PAUTZ AND TRAFFIC STUDY MIKE FINNEMANN FOR OAKWOOD HILLS DEVELOPMENT FIGURE 1 EXISTING AND POST DEVELOPMENT DAILY VOLUMES 1/ • • Mr. Pautz & Mr. Finnemann -3- February 6, 1986 Effects on Smetana Road. A traffic count on Smetana Road taken in the summer of 1985, two months after the roadway opened between Shady Oak Road and Ilth Avenue, indicated a daily volume of 2,790 vehicles per day. A traffic study performed by the firm of BRW, Inc. for the Felt! Addition of Opus 2 indicates that the volumes on Smetana Road following completion of the Feltl development will be 5,900 vehicles per day west of Felt' Road and 6,800 vehicles per day east of Felti Road. The proposed Oakwood Hills development would increase the volume on Smetana Road by 790 vehicles per day west of Felti Court and by 1190 vehicles per day east of Felt) Court. Given the collector function of Smetana Road and its four lane width, it is concluded that Smetana Road will effectively accommodate the projected post - development volumes. • Effects at intersection of Smetana Road and Shady Oak Road. This intersection presently operates with two -way stop control. Hennepin County staff have indicated that traffic signal warrants for the inter- section are being analyzed and that a traffic signal probably will be installed at the intersection in two to three years. It is expected that this schedule for installation of a signal will relate well with the growth in traffic volumes. With its layout and traffic signal control, it is expected that the intersection will provide ample capacity to accommodate the projected full development traffic volumes. SITE ACCESS, EGRESS, AND INTERNAL CIRCULATION With the proposed site plan, all public access to /from the development will occur via Felt! Court at a point about 180 feet north of the driveway for the proposed St. Therese project on the east side of Felti Court. A supplementary access point for emergency vehicles only will be provided to Smetana Road; we understand that this provision was made in response to a request by City staff. Given the expected volumes and function of Smetana Road, it is a good idea to concentrate all public access for this development via Felt) Court. In consolidating access for this development and other nearby properties via Felt! Court, safety on Smetana Road fs improved by reducing the need for private driveways on Smetana Road. The proposed emergency vehicle driveway to Smetana Road will not cause adverse traffic effects provided that it is available only for use by emergency vehicles. This control could be accomplished by several means, including chains and knock -down posts. • • Mr. Pautz 8 Mr. Ftnnemann -4- February 6, 1986 We have reviewed the internal traffic circulation system for the development and conclude that It provides a reasonable framework for accommodating traffic movements within the site. PARKING SPACE NEEDS We understand that the parking supply in the proposed plan has been established using a ratio of 1.8 parking spaces per dwelling unit. Further, we understand that an additional "proof of parking" area has been shown whereby the parking supply could be increased, if needed, to a ratio of 2.0 parking spaces per dwelling unit. To assess the adequacy of this parking supply, we related to parking usage surveys at other apartment developments. Two particular sources of such information and the findings presented in each are as follows: • Shared Parking, Urban Land Institute, 1983. This study documents the results of parking surveys at 12 suburban multifamily residential developments. The report states that "in remote suburban areas, the average peak demand was 1.5 vehicles per occupied unit, with a range of 1.2 to 1.85." IF one assumes a 95 percent occupancy level, this translates to a need for between 1.14 to 1.76 spaces per unit. • Parking Generation, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 1985. This study documents the results of parking surveys at 54 low to mid rise apartment developments. The resultant average peak parking demand was 1.0 parking space per dwelling unit, with a range of 0.4 to 1.9. Based on the preceding studies, it is our conclusion that the ratio of 1.8 parking spaces per dwelling unit in the proposed Oakwood Hiils plan will likely provide sufficient parking. The "proof of parking" provision could increase the parking supply, If needed, to a ratio of 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit; this ratio is higher than the maximum documented in either of the above two studies. Mr. Pautz & Mr. Finnemann -5- February 6, 1986 CONCLUSIONS Based on all the preceding considerations and analyses, we have established the following four conclusions: • The proposed development will not cause adverse traffic effects on 11th Avenue or Smetana Road. A traffic signal likely will be installed in the next two or three years at the intersection of Shady Oak Road and Smetana Road to expedite movements at this location. • The proposed consolidation of site access via Felti Court will provide a safety benefit in terms of reducing the conflict points on Smetana Road. • The proposed site plan, with appropriate changes regarding the traffic circles, will effectively accommodate traffic movements with the site. • The proposed parking ratio of 1.8 spaces per dwelling unit, which can be increased to 2.0 if needed, will provide sufficient parking spaces.