04-32�i1'I��1�_
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Presented By
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RESOLUTION
PAUL, MINNESOTA
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WHEREAS, the 7LT Crroup is proposing to develop approximately 72 acres of land
located in the Westside neighborhood directly across the Mississippi River from downtown
bounded by Highway 52, the Mississippi River, Wabasha Street, Plato Boulevard (between
Wabasha and Robert streets) and Fillmore Street (between Robert Street and Hwy. 52), including
an azea known as the West Side Flats; and
WHEREAS, JLT Group's proposed development, to be known as "The Bridges of Saint
Paul," will be constructed in multiple phases over a 10 year period and is planned to have 3,000
residential units, 500,000 square feet of commercial retail space, 7,000 parking spaces and a
40Q000 squaze foot cultural center together with related infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, JLT Group's proposed development is large and will be constructed over a
relatively lengthy period of time and is not presently completely defined; and
WHEREAS, there exists under Minnesota law under Minn. Rule 4410.3610 an
environmental review method known as an "alternative urban area wide review process"
(AUAR) which is an appropriate environmental review method where a proposed project is
lazge, mu16-phased, of long duration and not completely defined; and
WHEREAS, the AUAR is a hybrid of the standard environmental assessment worksheet
(EAW) and environmental impact statement (EIS) review processes provided under Minnesota
law intended to produce an environmental analysis document whose content and form will be
similar to that found in an EAW and contain a level of analysis compazable to an EIS; and
WHEREAS, the AUAR process also provides for the preparauon and distribution of
draft and final environmental analysis documents in a manner similar to the EIS process in order
to ensure adequate comment on the proposed development; and
WHEREAS, in order to utilize the AUAR process, a local unit of government must have
a duly adopted comprehensive plan which meets the standards set forth in Minn. Rule
44103610, Subp. 1(A-C) and the City has adopted a comprehensive plan which meets the
requirements of the said rule; and
WHEREAS, planning staff of the deparUnent of planning and economic development has
reviewed the proposal for the Bridges of Saint Paul development and recommends that the
AUAR process be adopted to review the environmental impact of the Bridges of Saint Paul
development; NOW,
Counci] File # U`t — 32
Green Sheet # Oq5�.2.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that upon the recommendation of staff and pursuant
to Minn. Rule 44103610, Subp. 3, the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby provides that the
City will undertake an AUAR review of the anticipated nature, location and intensity of
residential and commercial uses proposed for the Bridges of Saint Paul development within the
azea boundaries shown in the e�ibit attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; AND
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, consistent with this proclamation and Minnesota law,
that the City is the RGU for the Bridges of Saint Paul development project. ANn
BE IT FURTHER RESOL
onomic Develo ment
ermine how such a d
g markets in the do
pment would have on
that the Council requests the
nduct an economic analvsis of
t
Department of Plann
the proposed develo
space, retail space
if any affect the pr
in Saint Paul.
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l„J't J G
DEPARTMENT/OFFICE/COUNCII.: DATE INITIATED GREEN SHEET NO.: 3 OQ ��� �
PED December 30,
2003
CONTAGT PERSON & PHONE: A1'E miTi,wppav
Lucy Thompson � i D�r,�xTZ,gNT `�crrY covrrcu.
M[7ST BE ON COUNCII, AGENDA BY (DATE) �IGN � CITY ATTORNEY `C—o Y � CITY CT.FaK
NUMBER f7NANCIAL SERV DIlL. FINANCIAL, SERV/ACCTG
T3IIU3I'y� ZOO4 FOR �J.M�11'OR(ORASST.) _CIVII,SERVICECOMMISSION
ROU'PING � �
ORDER
TOTAL it OF SIGNAT[JRE PAGES 1_(CLIP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE)
ACITON REQU&STED: -
Approval of resolution initiating an Altemative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) for the Bridges of St. Paul
project being proposed by JLT Group for the VJest Side Flats.
RECOM[vvIENNDATIONS: Appmve (A) or Reject �) PERSONAI, SERVICE CO�ITRACTS MUST ANSWER 1'HE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS:
PLANNAIG COM�IISSION . 1. Has this person/Srm ever worked under a conhact for this depazlment?
CIB COMIvICCI'EE Yu No
CNII. SERVICE COMNIISSION 2. Has Uils persoNSrm ever beea a ciry employee?
' Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not nocma(ly possessed by any current ciry emp(oyee?
Yes No
Eaplain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet
INITIAI'ING PROBLEM, ISSUE, OPPORI'ONI'CY (R'ho, What, When, R'here, Why):
Minnesota Rules Part 44103610 provides for a substitute form of environmental review, known as an Alternative
Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), as long as the local government unit has an adopted Comprehensive Plan.
AUARs are especially appropriate where a proposed project is large, of long duration and multi-phased, and where
the later phases of the project aze not clearly defined at the time the environmental review is conducted. The
Bridges of St. Paul project proposes 500,000 square feet of retail space, 3,000 new housing units, a 400,000-
square-foot cultural center and 7,000 pazking spaces. It is planned for build-out over the next 10 years. The plans
for the portion of the project bounded by the Mississippi River, Highway 52, Fillmore Street and Robert Street aze
fairly well-defined, but the plans for the azea between Wabasha Street, Plato Boulevard and Robert Street are still
in the early stages. The AUAR is a better tool to determine environmental impacts than an Environxnental
Assessment Worksheet (EA�, which would otherwise be required.
ADVANTAGES IF APPROVED:
Environmental review for the proposed project can begin, using a more appropriate tool to determine the
environmental impacts of a project this lazge.
DISADVANTAGESIFAPPROVED:
None.
DISAAVANTAGES IF NOT APPROVED:
The developer may proceed with an EAW, which staff does not believe is the best tool for adequately assessing the
environxnental impacts of the Bridges project.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF 1'RANSACTION: NA COST/REVENiJE BUDGETED:
F[JNDING SOURCE: AC1'IVITY NIJMBER:
FINANCIAL IlVFORMATION:
C.�DOCUmeots aed Settivge\wekheV.ocaf Se[mgs\TempVua'gavsheet wpd
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Council File 04-32
Green sheet # 30095662
Helgen Amendment language
Page two line 12 insert the following
"BE TT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the council requests the Planning and Economic
Development Department to conduct an economic analysis of the proposed development to
determine how such a development would impact the office space, retail space, and housing
mazkets in the downtown business district and what if any affect the proposed development
would have on future development opportunities in Saint Paul.