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REQUESTFORCOUNCILACTION DATE: 4/23/O 1 ITEM NO:1 _ 1 pproval: Manager/�' oved: Agenda Section: ?� (.� �� LAND USE Itein Description: Publication of Twin Lakes Alt�rnative Urban Area-Wide Review (PF3232) 1.0 REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION As part of the redevelopment planning process for Twin Lakes, the Council is requested to approve a resolution that will accept the draft Twin Lakes Alternative Urban Area-Wide Review (AUAR), a review of the environmental impacts of proposed development and redevelopment, and direct staff to formally provide notice of its availability for public review and comment through the State EQB Monitor and the local paper. 2.0 BACKGROUND/PUBLIC PROCESS 2.1 On January 8, 2001, the City Council approved a master plan concept for the Twin Lakes Business Park, which constituted a conceptual comprehensive plan amendment to the Twin Lakes Plan. Z.Z On February 12, 2001, the City Council directed staff to complete contracts for the Twin Lakes AUAR study by two consulting firms, DSU and SRF. 2.3 On February 24, 2001, the City Council directed staff to officially commence the Twin Lakes AUAR study of the recommended "concept" and "retail scenario" amendment to the Comprehensive Plan for Twin Lakes using the services of consultants SRF and DSU. 2.4 The purpose of the AUAR is to review all environmental issues (for all redevelopment properties) in Twin Lakes such as traffic, water storage and drainage capacity, air quality, infrastructure improvements, landscaping, design plan, parking, etc. Upon final review and acceptance of the AUAR the community should have a better understanding of the development potential in Twin Lakes, the impacts and ways to provide assurances for quality, environmentally sensitive development through specific mitigation measures. 2.5 The AUAR approach to environmental review was recommended over more parcel specific approaches such as an EAW or EIS for several reasons: L It requires the technical rigor of an EIS, the most rigorous form of review, but uses the convenient worksheet" format of an EAW. 2. Unlike an EIS or EAW, an AUAR requires mitigation of the project's environmental impacts. 3. An AUAR addresses impacts of future development, as well as of the proposed project. 4. As a result, future projects in an AUAR study area may not require further detailed environmental review, if they are consistent with original AUAR assumptions, their impacts do not exceed those anticipated by the AUAR and mitigation measures are implemented, as required by the AUAR. S. This type of process is more proactive and visionary and provides for a more comprehensive master plan. In addition, the process removes a redevelopment barrier by decreasing the environmental review process for projects by six months to a year. This sa�ings is time can be very significant in the site selection process for major corporations. AUAR Publish Authorization Planning File #3232 Page 1 of 2