Laserfiche WebLink
developing a final plan to incorporate comments and input from the stakeholders. This plan was <br />developed and finalized in September 2002. • <br />Inventory and Analysis /Forces and Issues <br />As described in the 2002 End Use Master Plan, the ERL is located on the northern edge of the <br />City's boundary and Highway 169 runs north/south along its eastern edge. Current use of the <br />existing facility is an active landfill and vehicle access is from Highway 169 at the intersection of <br />225th Avenue. The SDA, located adjacent and to the south of the existing facility, currently <br />includes a commercial asphalt plant and gravel mine, both of which are operating facilities, and <br />accessible via 221St Avenue. A horse and hiking trail runs along the western edge of the site. <br />Adjacent to the northern boundary of the existing MSW portion of the ERL is Livonia Township. <br />Highway 169, 221St Avenue, and the hiking trail along the west side of the site provide <br />convenient motorized and non-motorized access to the site. These access points make the site <br />easily accessible and visible. Although automobile access is easily achievable from Highway <br />169 at this time, future access needs to be modified based on Mn/DOT plans for the area and to <br />insure user safety. The hiking trail along the west side of the ERL has the potential to link the <br />site to the City's trail system. <br />Views from the top elevation in all directions are very commanding. To the west, the Rice Lake <br />wetland complex offers nature views and on a clear day, downtown Minneapolis skyline can be <br />easily seen to the southeast. Mature groves of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen native trees <br />form the eastern edge, screening Highway 169. Mature vegetation also forms the western edge, <br />adjacent to the hiking trail. • <br />Major Land Use/Zoning <br />According to the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1995, the existing land use <br />for the existing facility is "landfill" and it is zoned "agricultural conservation" with "mineral <br />excavation" and "solid waste facility". The description of the area contained in the 1995 <br />Comprehensive Plan identifies the site characteristics as patches of wooded areas with slopes in <br />excess of 7%. The existing unpaved hiking path will be paved in the future. The Comprehensive <br />Plan identified the mature vegetation, steep topography, and recreational use both as <br />opportunities and constraints for development. The wooded area, though moderately restrictive <br />to development, when incorporated into the design of the project could be a natural asset. The <br />area to the south of the existing facility that is slated for continued development of the ERL is <br />currently shown as "mining" land use and it is zoned "agricultural." <br />• <br />6 <br />