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Minnesota emphasized the importance of the area around Langton Lake as an oasis for <br />migratory songbirds. <br />5. The GUAR on Page 6~ fails to identify any scenic views. Documents supplied during the <br />Twin Lakes litigation capture many scenic views. To those who enter this park, located in a <br />first-ring suburb and only blocks from Rosedale and Interstate 35W, all the natural views <br />unencumbered by man made artifacts are scenic. This area is a beautiful haven and should <br />be described and preserved as such. <br />6. Although there was much discussion of the noise, light, and air pollution that would be <br />created by the increased levels of traffic from the unnecessary and ill-conceived proposed <br />Twin Lakes Parkway during previous litigation, an analysis of that environmental impact on <br />the wildlife and residents in the area is non-existent. It is almost as though in the case of the <br />area surrounding Twin Lakes, the City Government has no interest in protecting the health, <br />welfare and safety of the residents. <br />7. This is the third year of water quality monitoring of Langton Lake. Following the completion of <br />the first two years, Langton Lake has been forwarded by the Metropolitan Council scientists <br />to the DNR to be listed as an impaired water. As an impaired water, other regulations go into <br />effect to safeguard the water quality and aquatic habitat and watershed. This information has <br />not been included or even acknowledged in this AUAR. <br />8. As explained earlier, the significant changes to the subareas and consequent <br />recalculation of traffic volumes takes a good deal of tune to fully analyze. However, <br />it is known and documented that the original motivation for Twin Lakes Parkway was <br />to create a road that would carry freeway traffic through the area to Highway 51. In <br />the 2001 AUAR, l~~INDOT made it very clear that such a road could not enter <br />Snelling Avenue (Highway 51) between County Road C and County Road C-2. This <br />is still true. Since this proposed Parkway remains in place, it serves no purpose than <br />to take traffic from the County Road C exit of 35W and distribute it into residential <br />neighborhoods, impacting the health, safety, and welfare of those residents. <br />Mitigation strategies for this unzlecessary traffic influx are expensive and unplanned. <br />Although traffic signals are suggested for Lydia and Fairview, the county has no <br />plans to widen Fairview. N[Nl~OT leas just stated in colntnents on the proposed <br />Northwestern College expansion that if that expansion does not go forward, there <br />would be no necessity for lights at Fairview and Lydia and there are no plans to either <br />redo the intersection or install traffic lights. Widening the road would negatively <br />impact the homes of residents along Fairview and expansion would be impossible <br />beyond County Road D on Fairview. <br />This AUAR is not an "update" nor is it complete or accurate. It is yet another thinly veiled <br />attempt to inflict massive traffic impacts on the surrounding residential neighborhoods, <br />jeopardizing the residents' health, safety, and welfare. It is also an obvious attempt to <br />circumvent the "environmental review" ordered by the court and to attempt to put retail into <br />an area where it is specifically barred by the Comprehensive Plan. <br />2 <br />