CCP 09-09-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Description of AUAR process e Guidant Corporation is in the process of completing a Draft Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR)/Draft Mitigation Plan for the proposed expansion of its existing campus. The Guidant Corporation site is located within the City of Arden Hills and is bounded by County Road F to the south, Guidant Drive North, Hamline Avenue on the west and Lexington A venue on the east. The AUAR process substitutes for the state Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA W) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) proccss. The AUAR process is similar to those two environmental review processes; however, the AUAR is generally looking at a development scenario and related impacts for an entire geographical area over a period of time rather than a specific project at a specific time. As the Guidant Campus is proposed to be constructed in phases, it was felt that the AUAR process was the best environmental review process to follow as it will consider the impacts of the full build- out scenario. The AUAR also allows for more efficient processing of the environmental review better meeting both Guidant's and the City's schedule for review of the project. Guidant is requesting that the City, as the regulatory governmental unit (RGU) for this project, order the AUAR at the their September 9th City Council meeting. The "ordering" of an AUAR commences the environmental review process and begins a l20-day time period in which the AUAR must be approved. Prior to the AUAR approval for public distribution, City staff will have the opportunity to review the Draft AUAR and provide comments to Guidant Corporation. Based on these comments, the draft document will be revised and submitted to the City Council for review at the September 30th City Council meeting. If approval ofthe Draft AUAR for public cornment is granted at this time, a notice of availability for the document will be a published in the Environmental Quality Board Monitor notifying the public and agencies ofthe document's availability for review and comment. The document is made available for 30 days, allowing the public and review agencies enough time to review the AUAR and submit any comments or concerns to the RGU. e Once the 30-day comment period terminates, Guidant will revise the document to reflect substantative comments and prepare responses to comments. Responses to comments and the Final AUAR/Mitigation Plan, including revisions based on substantative comments, will be completed by Guidant and submitted to City staff for final review and comment. In early December 2002, the completed document including the City's final comments will be distributed to the reviewing agencies and commentors of the Draft AUAR. Following the Final AUAR/Mitigation Plan distribution, there will be a 10-day objection period in which state agencies and the Metropolitan Council can file an objection to the document with the City (the RGU). If no objection is filed, the Final AUAR and Mitigation Plan will be submitted to the City (the RGU) for adoption. It is anticipated that approval of the Final AUAR will be sought from the City of Arden Hills at the December 30, 2002 City Council meeting. .