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Prior Lake council adopts AUR to guide Spring Lake Township annexation area
Summary
The Prior Lake City Council on April 28 adopted an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUR) covering about 2,700 acres in the city and adjacent orderly annexation area to guide land use, infrastructure planning and environmental review for up to five years.
The Prior Lake City Council on April 28 voted to adopt an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUR) covering the Spring Lake Township orderly annexation area and adjacent Prior Lake parcels, city officials said.
“An AUR is an environmental review document that state statute outlines the process for,” said Casey McCabe, public works and community development director, during a presentation to the council. McCabe said the document is not approval for any specific development and is valid for five years.
McCabe told the council the study area covers roughly 2,700 acres and staff evaluated two development scenarios. “Scenario two is just under 1,500 acres of low-density residential, about 350 of medium density and 40 of high density residential,” he said, adding the study also identified more than 600 acres of general business, industrial and future business park to diversify the tax base. McCabe said the AUR helps plan collector roads, trunk sanitary sewer, trunk water main and regional stormwater management and can remove the need for an individual developer to prepare an environmental assessment worksheet — a process he said usually takes six to eight months and costs roughly $70,000 to $100,000.
Several council members expressed support. “This has been years in the making … I’ll be in support of this tonight,” said Council Member Bra. Council Member Lake said he was “very grateful” for the step forward and expects it to be beneficial for the city.
Council Member Braid moved to adopt the AUR for Spring Lake Township and adjacent Prior Lake areas; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
The AUR itself does not authorize or approve any individual project, McCabe emphasized; it provides a citywide environmental and infrastructure framework staff and developers may use as they plan specific proposals. The document was published in the EQB Monitor for a 30-day comment period, received ten comments from agencies including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Department of Natural Resources and Scott County, and was redistributed for a 10-day objection review; the record included one “no objection” letter prior to council consideration.
Next steps include using the AUR findings to inform infrastructure planning and permitting; specific developments in the study area will still require separate approvals and any necessary state and local permits.
