6.9. SR 09-06-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND The 171St Avenue Area is approximately 253 acres located in the southeast portion of Elk River (see Figure 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3). The study area is bound by the Mississippi River to the west with State Trunk Highway (TH) 10/169 bisecting the study area running parallel to the river. A mixture of office and light industrial land uses is located along the northern edge of the study area with high and low density housing and parkland to the northeast. The majority of the land to the east and south of the project area is owned by Cargill Corporation and Great River Energy (GRE) (see Figure 5-3). Cargill uses their land. and facility for agricultural research and production. The GRE site contains the Elk River Resource Derived Fuel (RDF) processing plant. The Burlington Northern Sante-Fe rail line borders the study area running from the northwest to the southeast and carries a large number of heavy rail trains each day in addition to the Northstar commuter train. The Northstar station is located to the north of the study area. This AUAR has been completed in conformation with Minnesota Rules 4410.3610. Three different development scenarios were evaluated as part of this study as outlined below. Scenario 1-Comprehensive Plan (Figure 6-1) In 2004 the City completed an update of the Comprehensive Plan that provided new land use guidance for the study area as well as surrounding areas. The land use designations in this scenario reflect the land use that is guided in the updated Comprehensive Plan. This scenario also reflects the anticipated development density that the City has experienced in the past and for which is allowed for each land use. The following table outlines the land uses for this scenario: Table 6-1: Scenario 1 Land Use Acres Gross Housing Commercial units s ft Industria l s ft Agricultural Research 75 Rural Residential 9 3 Highway Commercial 64 696,960 Light Industrial 82 892,980 Open Space 14 TH 10 ROW 10 TOTAL 253 3 696,960 892,980 * Calculations do not take into account existing or proposed wetlands, storm ponds, roads, right-of- way, parks, or railroad easements in the study area. Scenario 2 (Figure 6-2) Scenario 2 is based on the City's 171St Avenue Focused Area Study (FAST) 'Future Development Framework Plan'. This scenario evaluates the low end of the density ranges City of Elk River Draft Alternative Urban Areawide Review August 2011 Page 3 of 90