Greenfield previews environmental review for 140‑acre ‘Black Parcel’ Rebecca Park Trail project

City staff and consultants on April 7 gave the Greenfield City Council a high‑level preview of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for parcel 7375 — the 140‑acre “Black Parcel” proposed for the Rebecca Park Trail development.

Allison Harwood of WSB, the consultant who prepared the EAW material, told the council the review follows Minnesota Rule 4410 and the EAW standard form. She said the EAW will be distributed to state and local agencies and the public for a 30‑day comment period the city anticipates running from April 21 through May 21, with a lead‑agency/EIS‑need decision expected at a June meeting (presenters cited June 16 as the likely date). "Minnesota rule, specifically Minnesota rule 4410, outlines requirements for the types of projects that require environmental review," Harwood said.

Angela, the developer’s representative, summarized the concept plan presented during the recent comprehensive‑plan amendment: the site spans roughly 140 acres north of TH‑55 and east of Dogwood Street; presenters identified about 4 acres of wetlands, roughly 30 acres proposed for commercial uses (the transcript recorded "195 square ft," which presenters intended as a much larger commercial area), a village center of about 14 acres, approximately 350 apartments, about 10 acres of parkland, townhomes and single‑family areas. The developer described a four‑phase buildout concept, with the village center and commercial components expected later and single‑family product likely to lead initial sales.

City staff said the draft EAW did not flag a single major, previously unknown environmental hazard in the project area, which is largely agricultural. But staff and the developer identified several infrastructure and permitting issues that will shape the project’s timing and mitigation:

- Sewer capacity: Brad (city staff) said adding the Black Parcel under the proposed plan would use roughly 99% of the wastewater plant’s permitted capacity if no other pending development is counted. He described a facility plan in progress and mitigation options that include decommissioning the existing plant and constructing a new lift station and force main, or reaching an agreement to use nearby Rockford capacity as a preferred approach. "They're going to utilize about 99% of the permitted capacity of that plant today," he said.

- Water and trunk fees: staff said existing well capacity can serve initial phases but water‑system improvements will be required for later phases. The parcel has not previously paid trunk fees; staff explained trunk fees are collected at final plat and are intended to fund system improvements, and that phased final plats trigger incremental trunk‑fee payments.

- Transportation and access: the transportation study showed no single mitigation action at the regional scale but expects pressure on certain intersections (Bridge & County Road 50/Woodland Trail; Rebecca Park Trail, Dogwood and TH‑55). Staff noted the existing driveway to the Holiday/Subway site does not meet spacing standards on Highway 55 and will need coordination with the county and state during platting; possible engineering responses include turn‑lane changes or right‑in/right‑out access while longer‑term roadway improvements are completed.

Next steps: staff said they will finalize edits, circulate the draft EAW to agencies and the public for the 30‑day comment period, and return a findings document after comments are considered. No formal council action was required at the workshop; presenters said they expect a preliminary plat submittal this summer and that residential build‑out could take several years, depending on market conditions.

Authorities and next procedural steps named during the workshop included Minnesota Rule 4410, the state Environmental Quality Board (EQB), and submission requirements to the Metropolitan Council. The EAW and the comment record will determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement is required.