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.
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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
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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.