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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.d. Authorization to submit a Comment Letter to Empire Township concerning the Regional Energies Blomass Gasification FacilityAGENDA ITEM: Authorization to submit a Comment Letter to Empire Township concerning the Rational energies Biomass Gasification Facility. AGENDA SECTION: New Business PREPARED BY: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director AGENDA NO. A ATTACHMENTS: Comment Letter to Empire Township APPROVED BY: Dill RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to authorize the Mayor to sign and submit a comment letter to Empire Township opposing the proposed Rational energies biomass gasification facility. 4 ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL City Council Special Meeting: March 18, 2008 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ISSUE The City of Rosemount was notified through a public hearing notice that Empire Township would be considering a Comprehensive Plan amendment and zoning ordinance amendment to permit siting of a gasification facility within the Township boundaries near County Road 46 and State Highway 52. SUMMARY City Planning staff attending the public meeting and public hearing held by the Township relating to the Rational energies facility and required Plan amendment and Text amendment. During the meeting, staff raised issues of truck traffic, land use compatibility, environmental impacts, and facility operational concerns specifically relating to a facility such as Rational energies. A proposed letter was discussed at the work session meeting on March 11, 2009. The attached draft cites the concerns mentioned above and suggests that a facility of this kind should be built outside of the seven county metropolitan area. The letter concludes with a statement of opposition to the project. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign and submit a comment letter opposing the Rational energies biomass gasification project. March 2009 Empire Township Attn: Terry Holmes, Chairman 3385 W. 197 Street Farmington, MN 55024 Re: Rational Energies Dear Mr. Holmes: This letter is to document comments raised by the City of Rosemount at the March 3, 2009 Empire Township public hearing relating to a Comprehensive Plan amendment and zoning text amendment associated with a biomass gasification facility. A representative of the City, Jason Lundahl, City Planner, attended the meeting and raised several issues of interest to the City of Rosemount. The City Council has reviewed the handouts provided at the Township meeting and also had a meeting with Rational Energies when it was looking for sites in the area. The comments below are based on this information. First and foremost, the City is concerned about the truck traffic that will be generated by the business. It is our understanding that the facility will process more waste than is generated by Dakota County in one year. This will result in a significant amount of truck traffic to the site. It is estimated that up to 300 truck trips will be generated by the site daily, with a total of 700 vehicle trips generated. Depending on the hours of operation, this could be the equivalent of one truck every minute entering or exiting the site. While it is understood that County Road 46 is a designated minor arterial and designed for commercial traffic, the amount generated for this one site is greater than what would have been anticipated. It is the City's understanding that a formal environmental review will be conducted in conjunction with the project and that traffic impacts would be a key component of that review. Second, the City is concerned about compatibility of the proposed use with the planning efforts occurring on the UMore property. At this point, Rosemount, Empire Township, and Dakota County have been working with the University of Minnesota on a concept plan that will potentially bring up to 30,000 new residents to the area. South of the development area is the Vermillion Highlands and proposed Dakota County Regional Park. It is unclear that a use such as this, with the potential on -site and off -site impacts, would be compatible with the future development plans being undertaken. In the City's meeting with Rational Energies, company representatives indicated that buildings could be up to 80 feet in height and would be primarily constructed of metal. These design standards are inconsistent with what the City anticipates within the UMore development. Terry Holmes March 2009 Page 2 Linked with the concern over land use compatibility is the idea of locating a facility such as this within Dakota County, as part of the seven county metropolitan area. Development is proposed to occur in the area adjoining the facility, which would place residential development adjacent to an industrial use that has nuisance related impacts. Within the larger metropolitan area, there has been significant investment in infrastructure to facilitate development that brings tax base, jobs, and regional benefit to the area communities. This facility will use land, ultimately in the municipal urban service area, with little use for sewer and little taxable value compared with the financial investment in the entire facility. A facility such as this would be better located outside of the seven county metropolitan area. The City also has concerns about the environmental ramifications of the project, particularly on air quality. There are several industries within Rosemount that are monitored for air emissions and have strict permitting standards. The concern is how the addition of this business into the area will affect permitted uses and future regulations affecting the established industries' operational regulations and air emission permits. Of final note is the need to disclose more details about operations for the Rational Energies facility. Issues such as water demand, methods to dispose of by- products such as ash, and quantification of outside storage, all need to be determined. The City would also like clarification about the handling and storage of combustibles, and determination of the agency providing public safety services to the site. This letter is to document and provide further clarification to comments raised at the Township public hearing and during the Rosemount City Council discussion of the Rational energies facility. For the reasons stated above, the City of Rosemount opposes a Comprehensive Guide Plan amendment and zoning ordinance amendment for the Rational energies facility. It is understood that the Township Board will be discussing this item on March 24, 2009 Please forward these comments to the Board members so this letter is available during their deliberations. If you have any questions, please contact me at 651 322 -2020. Sincerely, Mayor William Droste City of Rosemount cc. Rosemount City Council members Dwight Johnson, City Administrator Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director Jason Lindahl, City Planner