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1996 Response to Comments and Findings of Fact EAWResponse to Comments and Findings of Fact Minneapolis Factory Shoppes Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) In accordance with the standazds and procedures of Minnesota Rules, Part 4410.1700 the City of Albertville has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required for the Minneapolis Factory Shoppes project. The City of Albertville makes a "Negative Declazation" on the need for any such EIS. This decision is based upon the findings of fact stated below. A. Type, Eztent and Reversibility of Effects: 1. The City of Albertville fords that the proposed Minneapolis Factory Shoppes project is within the Ostego Creek Watershed. The Ostego Creek Authority has the local responsibility to protect water resources within this watershed. Based on studies completed by John Oliver and Associates, the north- south ditch which flows south into the north side of the Factory Shoppes site will be replaced by a twin 36" pipe system to convey water through the site. Prior to entering the site this ditch flows through a system of wetlands. A TR20 model to represent the existing and proposed conditions utilizing the wetlands as reservoirs was constructed. The pipe system proposed through the site will accommodate the flow from the existing 100-yeaz, 24-hour event. The pipe does not connect with the proposed ponds azound Town Squaze. The ditch entering the Factory Shoppes site from the west flows through existing wetlands, which are proposed to be enlazged as part of the wetlands mitigation. The twin 36" pipe outlet for the ditch system located in the southwest corner of the Factory Shoppes pazking lot, is sized to allow the existing downstream wetland and the existing proposed wetland mitigation azeas to the west of the site, to work in combination for storm water storage. The proposed ponds azound Town Squaze aze designed to control the rate of discharge from the Factory Shoppes site to the 100-yeaz, 24-hour historic storm event. All rates of dischazge aze in accordance with the ultimate drainage plan for the Ostego Creek Watershed. The existing culvert under County Road 19, is a 30 inch RCP culvert. This culvert controls the storm water flows to School Lake, for the entire tributary azea west of County Road 19, including the Factory Shoppes Site. No change is proposed for this culvert. According to the John Oliver and Associates analysis, the net effect of the proposed ponds and pipes is that there will be no increase in the existing 100-yeaz 24-hour storm event dischazge at the upstream end of the existing 30 inch culvert under County Road 19 as defined by the ultimate drainage plan for Ostego Creek. This finding addresses a of the concerns raised by the Ostego City Council. 2. The City of Albertville finds that the proposed development would comply with Best Management Practice requirements for treating storm water runoff. Analysis by John Oliver and Associates shows that the proposed onsite water quality ponds adjacentto Town Squaze were designed in accordance with the guidelines in Section 4.1 of "Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas: Best Management Practices of Minnesota", by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Division of Water Quality. The ponds should provide the following water treatment as given in Figure 4.1 of the Best Management Practices Manual: Target Pollutant Percent Removal Suspended Solids 85-95 Oxygen Demand 50-90 Total Phosphorous 40-70 Dissolved Phosphorous 40-70 Nitrate Nitrogen 60-80 Kjeldahl Nitrogen 20-40 Copper 60-80 Lead 80-95 Zinc 40-80 The runoff dischazged from the water quality ponds will be additionally treated by the existing wetland south of the Factory Shoppes development. Wetland treatment in Section 4.5 states "wetland treatment is very effective for removing sediment and pollutants associated with it (such as trace metals, nutrients, and hydrocarbons), oxygen demanding substances and bacteria from urban runoff'. The runoff from the site will therefore be treated twice before reaching School Lake. The guidelines set forth in the Best Management Practices Manual represents the current standards for storm water quality treatment in the Twin City Metropolitan azea. There aze no special water quality issues associated with the proposed Factory Shoppes development that would not be addressed by the Best Management Practices Manual requirements. This finding addresses a concern of the Ostego City Council. 3. The City of Albertville finds that open space land use on the property is currently agricultural (pasture and cropland). The proposed project would permanently change the land use from agricultural to retail. Retail land use includes restaurant, retail center and pazking lot. 4. The City of Albertville finds that the project will not cause impacts to current cultural resources. This finding is in agreement with the review of the EAW completed by the Minnesota Historical Society. B. Cumulative Potential Effects of Related or Anticipated Future Projects: 1. The City of Albertville finds that the proposed Minneapolis Factory Shoppes project will not require the addition of an off ramp from westbound I-94 to CSAH 19. A traffic study completed by Benshoof and Associates concluded that the existing access to and from I-94 sufficiently accommodates the future traffic volumes. This addresses one of the concerns of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. C. Extent to Which Effects Can be Mitigated by Ongoing Public Regulatory Authorities: 1. The City of Albertville finds that the project will be available for review by the joint Ostego Creek Authority. A formal review and approval process currently does not exist for this watershed and a permit is not required. This addresses a concern raised by the Ostego City Council. 2. The City of Albertville finds that all wetland impacts and the mitigation of wetland impacts are subject to the review by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (protected waters only), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (including comment and review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), and the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District (the LGU for this project). Concerns with the impact and replacement of wetlands for the project will be addressed during the permitting process. This addresses concerns raised by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. D. Extent to Which Effects Can Be Anticipated and Controlled as a Result of Other Studies Undertaken by Public Agencies or the Project Proposer, or of Previous EISs: 1. The City of Albertville finds that further analysis is needed before traffic signals aze justified at the intersection of CSAH 37 and the I-94 westbound ramp, and the intersection of CSAH 37 and CSAH 19. Close monitoring of the volumes at these intersections after the development is built should occur to determine when the signals would be needed. This finding addresses the concerns of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Summary of Findings The proposed development, Minneapolis Factory Shoppes, conforms to current comprehensive plans. Environmental impacts aze consistent with developments of this type, and mitigation measures will be incorporated into the construction process. Therefore, the City of Albertville finds that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required for the project, and makes a Negative Declaration.