4.3. SR 08-28-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memo to Mayor and City Council Page 5 August 23, 2000 Statement 4. The project will have an impact on the infrastructure of the neighborhood due to excessive use of the local roads for larger than expected truck traffic and the high amount of water usage required by the facility. As stated earlier in this memo, Business Center Drive, Joplin Street and Highway 10 are all roads designed to handle truck traffic. The standards to which Business Center Drive was designed are for up to 15,000 - 20,000 cars/trucks per day. This proposal will only generate 50 trucks per day with initially 60 - 80 employees (225 - 275 average daily trips). The concern regarding maintaining adequate water supply is true for any community. The existing water system has adequate water to provide water for the production activities proposed by Softpac. Elk River continues to grow, particularly in the eastern area. Additional residential subdivisions will be developed over the next 10 years on approximately 1,000 acres of available vacant residential land. This increased growth will necessitate the construction of additional water production facilities. Elk River Municipal Utilities is currently in the process of siting water production facility #7 along with a water tower. The Minnesota DNR grants authorization to construct additional water production facilities and regulates annual water use allocations. To obtain the necessary permits from the DNR, water utilities must implement water conservation measures along with other conditions. The purpose for implementing an odd- even sprinkling restriction is to comply with MN DNR water conservation practices. The Elk River Utilities did offer, as part of the incentive package, a 20% reduction in water rates for three years. The amount of water needed to qualify for this reduction will not be consumed until the plant is expanded. It is not known at this time when that may occur. This offer will not cause an increase in costs to other water users beyond normal annual increases required due to maintenance and operating costs. Conclusion Staff has investigated the potential environmental effects of the proposed Softpac facility over the past six months, including potential noise, traffic, air quality, surface water and ground water impacts. It was staff's conclusion that the project does not have any potential for creating significant environmental effects. Therefore, the staff recommendation on this proposal did not include a recommendation that an EAW be prepared. Upon further review of the potential environmental impacts of the project, staff continues to be confident in its analysis and conclusion that this project does not have the potential for significant environmental effects. S:\PLANNING~llCHMC\CCREPRTS\CU00-28A.DOC