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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.a. Apple Valey Mining Operations - EIS Comment � e j P.O BOX 510 1`� � 2875-t45TH ST W. [Q ROSEMOUNT. MINNESOTA 55068 �JG���u�� 612-423-4411 TO: MAYOR NAPPER & CITY COUNCIL I�EM � � Q FROM: MICHAEL WOZNIAR, AICP, CITY PLANNER DATE: JANUARY 31, 1909 . SUBJ: FEBRUARY 6� 1990 - REGULAR MEETIN6 REVIEWS - 7a. APPLE VALLEY MINING OPERATIONS - EIS COMMENT As Regulating Governmental Unit (RGU) the City of Apple Valley is currently considering an Environmental Impact Statement for an extremely large (1,438 acre) Sand and Gravel Mining Proposal. City Council has previously been provided with a copy of a Summary of the Sand and Gravel Proposal Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Mining Operation is being proposed by a Consortium of Property Owners and Mining Interests including the following: Nordic Square Ltd. Partnership F.M. See Family Trust Barton Sand & Gravel Dakota Caunty Gravel Pit Fischer Development II Michael McNamara The area encompassed by the proposed operation is south of CSAH 42, east of Galaxie ` Avenue and abuts the northerly boundary of Lakeville and the westerly boundary of Rosemount. It is the recommendation of staff that Council consider several issues associated with the proposal which may warrant written comment on the DEIS by the City. If Rosemount does elect to submi,t written comment to the City of Apple Valley on this matter it must be received by February 22, 1990. City Council should consider advising staff to prepare writt�n comment on the DEIS regarding the following issues: 1, Potential hazard and negative impact on 16Oth from increase truck traffic associated with the proposed mining. 2. The fact that the DEIS does not include or recognize the future construction of Diamond Path south of CSAH 42 to 160th St. _ 3a The potential environmental impacts of dust, noise and visual obtrusions associated with the mining on the West Ridge Additions Planned Unit Development. � TRAFFIC CONCERNS The Sand and Gravel Mining Proposal would generate up to 1,450 vehicle trips per day; the equivalent of 150 single family homes. However, the wear and tear on streets caused by the heavy �ehicles used for transport of sand and gravel is much more significant than that caused by regular automobiles. Of particular concern to Rosemount is the potential for increased traffic on 160th Street between Rosemount's west boundary and Highway 3 . Since this segment of street is partially in Rosemount and partially within Empire and is currently maintained by Rosemount adding truck traffic would represent an added maintenance burden. Dakota County does plan to take over this segment of 160th to develop County Road 46 into a arterial highway. Recommendations included within the DEIS include the following: -Prior to the upgrading of C.R. 46 (160th St. ) , truck access to C.R. 46 should be limited given� the design and lack of continuity of the current facility. -The design of improvements to C.R. 46 should take into ' ` account the expected usage by heavy vehicles generated by the proposal. It is the recommendation of staff that Council consider recommending to Apple Valley that truck traffic associated with the proposal be limited to County state Aid Highways or 3tate Trunk Hiqhways. Dakota County has indicated that C.R. 46 in Rosemount will not be designated a State Aid Highway, therefore, even upon improvement of C.R. 46 a condition such as this would preclude use of C.R. 46 in Rosemount as a haul road. DIAMOND PATH The DEIS does not include or recognize the future construction of Diamond Path south of CSAH 42 to 160th Street. The Comprehensive Guide Plans of both Rosemount and Apple Valley recognize the future need for Diamond Path to be constructed south of CSAH 42 to 160th Street. Dakota County has no current timetable for construction of Diamond Path (County Road 73) , however, it is likely that construction of this segment of street will occur well before completion of the mining operations. Staff suqgests that Council recommend to Apple Valley that the future alignment of Diamond Path be recognized in the EIS. This would involve identification of a 150 ' wide future Right-of-Way which would situated along the east boundary of the Nordic Square Property: In the north half of Section 31 in Rosemount, Diamond Path would be constructed within Rosemount abutting the Wensmann Additions PUD and future development to the north of that property. . . ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON SECTION 31 Included in the sand and gravel mining proposal is the Nordic Square Property (Model Stone) which is situated along Apple Valley's east boundary and abuts the SECTION 31 in Rosemount. The Nordic Square property is currently permitted to allow sand and gravel mining. However the plan for the property in the new proposal suggest that portion of the property closest to Rosemount will be among the last properties mined 45-60 years from now. This timing could change if extraction takes place faster than expected on other properties. The proposed end use plan for the Nordic Square Property calls for creation of two large ponds which in the long run would likely provide an axcellent amenity for the general area. Apple Valley's Guide Plan designates the property as being most suitable for Mixed Residential Uses (1-6 units per acre) . As currently designated the long term land use indicated for the property would be complimentary to abutting development in Rosemount. From Rosemount's perspective there does not appear to be a conflict - with the end use of the property, however, there may well be negative impacts on development in SECTION 31 when that portion of the Nordic Square Property abutting Rosemount is being actively mined. It should be recognizeci that West Ridge will have been fully c�eveloped for many years by the time mining occurs abutting the Rosemount border (according to the proposed plan) . The major concerns in Rosemount would regard airborne dust, noise, and visual obtrusions. The DEIS investigated two sources of dust production from the project: passive wind erosion from soil surfaces and dust production from mining op�rations and vehicle traffic. The DEIS states that wind erosion losses will be reduced by exposure of the extremely coarse gravel soils; these soils contain very little material small enough to be susceptible to wind erosion. The DEIS further states that mining operations such as conveyors and loaders produce a relatively small amount of dust. Vehicle traffic represents a larger potential dust impact. The document contends that potential impact will largely be felt by properties to the north of the Project Area (West Ridge is east) since prevailing winds during the peak mining season are from the south. The DEIS states that this impact can be almost completely mitigated by using dust suppression measures on the haul roads on the site. Staff would suggest that experience with existing operations in Apple Valley suggest that dust may be a more significant problem than indicated in the DEIS. Staff suqqests that Council recommend to Apple Valley that wind break plantinqs of everqreen trees be established abuttinq the � , � future Diamond Path alignment to help reduce the future impact of airborne dust. Since it would be many years before mining would take place immediately abutting Rosemount even the planting of smaller potted stock at this time would provide a significant windbreak 30-45 years from now when mining would take place. Since the mining of the Nordic Square Property would primarily involve operation of heavy equipment below the grade of the West Ridge Addition noise concern would be partially mitigated. The DEIS also indicates that stripped topsoil would be used to construct an earthern berm to further mitigate noise and visual obtrusions associated with the mining. No design criteria such as height and width are indicated for the berm in the DEIS. Staff suqqests that Cauncil recommend to Apple Valley that desiqn criteria for the proposed berm abutting the Rosemount boundary match those criteria for berms to constructed abuttinq residential areas in Apple Valley and Lakeville (16� high, 2:1 slope) . A combination of tree plantings and an earthern berm would help to significantly mitigate visual obtrusion to the West Ridge Additions PUD when mining does occur many years down the road.