Alternative Areawide Review

Marion Township Map

Sewer Service Area 16 in Marion Township

Because future development of currently undeveloped areas may occur as a result of the Marion trunk sanitary sewer extension, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has requested that the City conduct an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR).

An AUAR is designed to identify potential cumulative environmental impacts from future development over a broad geographic area.

Background

More permits to repair or replace septic systems have been issued for Marion Township than any other township in Olmsted County (739 through 2000).
The Water Quality Protection Project (WQPP) was established in December, 1998 to extend sanitary sewer and water to homes that petition the City for connection.
The permit to construct the trunk sewer required the preparation of an Environ-mental Assessment Worksheet (EAW).
The MPCA suggested an AUAR was a preferable environmental assessment tool instead of an EAW.
The City agreed to prepare an AUAR vs. delaying the scheduled projects 1 year.

Advantages of the AUAR Process

Evaluates cumulative environmental impacts over a large area instead of project-by-project impacts.
Increases awareness of area-wide environmental issues prior to development.
Provides for more consistency in how environmental issues are addressed during the development process.
Provides more public participation opportunities than other environmental assessment methods.
Developers whose projects are consistent with the final AUAR may not need to submit a separate environmental review.

Required Steps in the AUAR Process

Identify the review area boundaries and describe the “development scenario” allowed under the adopted Land Use Plans.
Prepare a draft AUAR document that assesses the potential environmental impacts from future urban development in the affected sewer service area.
Prepare a draft Mitigation Plan that describes ways to avoid, minimize, and/or alleviate the potential environmental impacts.
Commence a 30-day public notice period, then revise the draft document to address comments received.
Distribute the revised AUAR and Mitigation Plan for final review.
City adopts the final AUAR and Mitigation Plan (if no objections are filed by any state agency within 10 days).
Ongoing local government oversight to assure conformance with the AUAR and Mitigation Plan by future development projects.
Regular AUAR updates, at a minimum of every 5 years.

Project Area

The initial boundary was based on trunk sanitary sewer pipe capacity for the next 50 to 75 year’s growth at average development densities…this may be refined.
Contains approximately 5,600 acres.
41% is already platted, containing a mix of residential and commercial development.
Only 41% of unplatted area is developable.
Spans the 25-year Rochester Urban Service Area, the 50-year Urban Reserve Area, and the Suburban Development Area.
Orderly Annexation Agreements have been executed for the majority of the Phase I area.
The Phase II area represents the remaining sewer system capacity that could be served by gravity-flow lines.

Public Process

Interested parties are encouraged to share their environmental concerns during the process (the AUAR is independent of annexation or utility connection issues).
Input from many perspectives is needed to prepare a useful draft AUAR and Mitigation Plan.
A “Technical Advisory Committee” (TAC) will be formed to help prepare the draft AUAR and Mitigation Plan.
Likely TAC participants may include residents and landowners; developers; township, city and county elected and appointed officials; and local and state agency staff (e.g., SWCD, DNR, MPCA).
The public process and schedule is being developed, but will include “open houses” in addition to the TAC meetings to get public input

First Steps

Letter to elected and appointed officials
Project Team (staff) kick-off tour
EQB/MPCA meeting
Letter to private property owners adjacent to streams and/or wetlands to obtain permission to access property for storm water management planning
Town Board Meeting

Task List

Task 1: Order For Review
Task 2: Agency & Public Coordination

Task 2.1: Initial Meetings (Prior to OFR)
Task 2.1.1: Core Team Kick-off Meeting & Site ReviewTask 2.1.2: Meet with MPCA & EQBTask 2.1.3: Agency & Local Government Mtg/Field Rev.Task 2.1.4: Core Team Review Constraint Mapping/ & Confirm Development ScenarioTask 2.1.5: City Council & TAC WorkshopTask 2.1.6: Public Information Meeting
Task 2.2: Ongoing Meetings & Coordination
Task 2.2.1: Ongoing Core Team Interaction, City, Township, & TAC MeetingsTask 2.2.2: Draft AUAR Open House

Task 3: Review Existing Plans & Documents

Task 3.1: Review Existing Information Task 3.2: Area Constraint Mapping & Land
Use Mapping

Task 4: Prepare & Distribe Draft AUAR

Task 4.1: Land Use Planning, Environmental & Recreational Corridor EvaluationTask 4.2: Transportation/Civil Engineering
(e.g., transportation & traffic planning, water & sewer, storm water, noise, air quality, solid waste)
Task 4.3: Natural & Cultural Resources Assessment
(e.g., land cover types, fish & wildlife, ecologically sensitive resources, surface & ground water use & quality, wetlands, geology & soils, etc.)
Task 4.4: Prelim. Draft AUAR Preparation
Task 4.4.1: Executive SummaryTask 4.4.2: Draft Mitigation PlanTask 4.4.3: Preliminary Draft AUAR for Review
Task 4.5: Final Draft AUAR Preparation,Distribution, & Submission

Task 5: Finalize AUAR

Task 5.1: Documentation of & Response to Comments; redistribution
Task 5.2: Final AUAR
Proposed Schedule
Consultant Team

Multi-disciplinary, multi-firm approach

Earth Tech, Inc. – lead, environmental regulations, natural resources

The Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. - land use

The Howard R. Green Company - civil engineering and transportation

Richardson & Richter Associates, Inc. - public involvement and communication support

The 106 Group LTD. - cultural resources

«Back

Contact Information

Adobe Acrobat Reader