HomeMy WebLinkAbout08(A) - Resolution Adopting the Prior Lake Annexation Area Alternative Urban Areawide Review (2025-06) Report
ITEM: 8A
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: April 28, 2026
PREPARED BY: Christine Watson, Public Works Supervisor – Administration
Alison Harwood, WSB LLC
PRESENTED BY: Nick Monserud, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Casey McCabe, Community Development Director
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Adopting the Prior Lake Annexation Area Alternative
Urban Areawide Review (2025-06)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution adopting the Alternative Urban Areawide Review for the Spring Lake Township
orderly annexation area and adjacent areas in Prior Lake (2025-06).
BACKGROUND:
The City of Prior Lake entered into an updated Orderly Annexation Agreement with Spring Lake
Township on September 10, 2024. In March 2025, the City determined that a study of the
development needs of the area would be practical to adequately prepare for development and
provide guidance for developers to understand how their project fits into the overall public
infrastructure plans prior to development.
Minnesota Rule 4410 also requires environmental review for certain types and sizes of projects,
including those which could be proposed within the orderly annexation area of Spring Lake
Township as well as adjacent areas within the City of Prior Lake. As an alternative to required
environmental review of individual developments, the Rule includes a substitute environmental
review process, the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), which allows for review of large
geographic areas based on one or more land use development scenarios. An AUAR can be used
to evaluate how much development can be accommodated in an area without significant impacts
on the environment or public infrastructure. The AUAR can also establish mitigation measures
which will need to be completed as development progresses in order to minimize the potential for
significant impacts. Staff determined that an AUAR was prudent for the study area and is an
acceptable form of environmental review for future developments.
The City ordered the preparation of an AUAR at their November 12, 2025 City Council meeting.
The draft AUAR was prepared and distributed for agency and public comment from January 6 –
February 5, 2026. The City received comments from 10 governmental agencies. The AUAR was
revised as necessary based on the comments received and a final AUAR was distributed for a
10-day objection period on March 17, 2026. The City received no objections to the AUAR. One
agency provided a comment. The comment, and the City’s response, is attached. No revisions to
the final AUAR were necessary based on this comment.
The AUAR study area encompasses approximately 2,730 acres located in the southwest corner
of Prior Lake, Scott County, Minnesota (Figure 1). The study area includes the orderly annexation
area of Spring Lake Township as well as adjacent areas within the City of Prior Lake.
City of Prior Lake | 4646 Dakota Street SE | Prior Lake MN 55372
Item 8A
Page | 2
Two development scenarios were studied (Table 1). Scenario 1 (Figure 2) is consistent with the
land uses in the existing City’s comprehensive plan, and Scenario 2 (Figure 3) involves a higher
density of residential development, based on anticipated requirements for the upcoming 2050
Comprehensive Plan update which will begin next year. Both scenarios also include varying
amounts of retail, business park, and industrial development.
Table 1: AUAR Development Scenarios
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Land Use* Comprehensive Plan
(acres)
(acres)
Urban Low Density 1,780 1,485
Urban Medium Density 139 356
Urban High Density 0 42
Retail/General Business 180 143
Planned Industrial 413 334
Business Park 0 152
* Campbell Lake, existing rights of way, and the existing Spring Lake Ridge residential
development total approximately 218 acres for both scenarios and do not contribute to the land
use acres.
Following adoption of the AUAR, the document will remain as a valid environmental review for
developments within the study area for five (5) years. Developments that meet the assumptions
of the development scenarios will not require individual environmental review. As development
progresses, the mitigation plan will be reviewed, and applicable mitigation measures will be
implemented to ensure potential significant impacts are avoided or mitigated. Upon expiration,
the City may prepare an AUAR Update to extend environmental review coverage.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Motion and second to adopt a resolution adopting the Alternative Urban Areawide
Review for the Spring Lake Township orderly annexation area and adjacent areas in
Prior Lake (2025-06).
2. Motion and second to deny this item and direct staff on potential next steps.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Figures 1-3
3. Agency Comments and Responses
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 26-xxx
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ALTERNATIVE URBAN AREAWIDE REVIEW FOR THE
SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP ORDERLY ANNEXATION AREA AND ADJACENT AREAS IN
PRIOR LAKE (2025-06)
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, the City has entered into an updated Orderly Annexation Agreement with Spring
Lake Township; and
WHEREAS, the City has an adopted Comprehensive Plan that identifies growth and
development in the orderly annexation area and adjacent areas of Prior Lake;
and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need to begin planning for development of the land in the
orderly annexation areas and adjacent areas of Prior Lake; and
WHEREAS, the City determined that an environmental review is prudent to develop the
orderly annexation area and adjacent areas in Prior Lake; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Rule Part 4410.3610 provides for a substitute form of environmental
review known as the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR); and
WHEREAS, an AUAR allows for environmental review of development and associated
infrastructure in a particular geographic area within a jurisdiction if the local
government unit as an adopted Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Prior Lake is the Responsible Government Unit (RGU) pursuant to
Minnesota Rules Part 4410.3610 Subp. 1; and
WHEREAS, the study area is approximately 2,730 acres in the southwest corner of the city;
and
WHEREAS, two proposed development scenarios have been identified to evaluate as part of
the AUAR, each of which has varying amounts of residential, industrial, business
park, and retail development; and
WHEREAS, the City Council ordered the preparation of the AUAR on November 12, 2025;
and
WHEREAS, the draft AUAR was prepared and distributed per Minnesota Rules Part
4410.3610; and
WHEREAS, comments received were considered and the AUAR was revised and distributed
for a 10-day objection period; and
WHEREAS, no objections were received.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. the City of Prior Lake adopts the Alternative Urban Areawide Review for the proposed study
area including the Spring Lake Township Orderly Annexation Area and adjacent areas in the
City of Prior Lake.
th
Passed and adopted by the Prior Lake City Council this 28 day of April 2026.
VOTE Briggs Braid Churchill Lake Hellier
Aye
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
______________________________
Jason Wedel, City Manager
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Annexation Area AUAR - RESO.docx 2
1
Figure 1 – Project Location
2
Figure 2 – Scenario 1
3
Figure 3 – Scenario 2
Agency Topic/AUAR Section Comment Response
Land Use
The AUAR covers over 2,500 acres, historically the northwestern quarter of
Spring Lake Twp. Most of this land was not previously considered as Prior Lake
urban reserve during Met Council’s Imagine 2050 forecasts preparation. Prior
Lake intends to address this future land supply in a Plan Amendment or the 2050
Plan Update which will include a forecast adjustment. At the time of a next Plan
Amendment or Plan Update, Met Council will use its Imagine 2050 forecast as a
start point, and will recommend adding to the Prior Lake forecast as much as
+1,800 jobs (either scenario); as well as +2,900 households (scenario 1) or
+3,400 households (scenario 2). Council staff advise a discussion of forecasts
and TAZ allocations of growth during the City’s preparation of a 2050 Plan
Update.
The City will consult with MetCouncil to discuss forecasts and TAZ growth
allocations during the preparation of a 2050 Plan Update.
Water Resources/Section 12b When the information becomes available, please provide a staging table and
map showing Scenario 1 and 2 forecasts by decade.
The City will plan to include additional detail related to staging within the
upcoming 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
Met Council
Metropolitan Council (Regional Office & Environmental Services)
390 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55101-1805
P 651.602.1000 | F 651.602.1550 | TTY 651.291.0904
metrocouncil.org
An Equal Opportunity Employer
March 30, 2026
Casey McCabe, Community Development Director
City of Prior Lake
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RE: City of Prior Lake – Final Alternative Urban Areawide Review – Prior Lake Annexation Area
Metropolitan Council Review File No. 23168-2
Metropolitan Council District No. 4
Dear Casey McCabe:
Council staff has conducted a review of this Final Alternative Urban Areawide Review (FAUAR) and
Mitigation Plan to determine its accuracy and completeness in addressing regional concerns. Council
staff commented on the draft AUAR in its February 4, 2026, letter. The study area encompasses 2,512
acres located in southwest Prior Lake around Campbell Lake extending southwest to the intersection of
Highway 79 and Highway 282. The FAUAR proposes two scenarios. The two scenarios primarily differ in
the type and number of residential units and in the breakdown of the area’s industrial/business districts.
The staff review has concluded that the FAUAR addresses previous comments and is complete and
accurate with respect to regional concerns and raises no major issues of consistency with Council
policies. The Council does not object to the FAUAR; however, staff offers the following comments for
your consideration:
Item 10: Land Use (Todd Graham, 651-602-1322)
The AUAR covers over 2,500 acres, historically the northwestern quarter of Spring Lake Twp.
Most of this land was not previously considered as Prior Lake urban reserve during Met Council’s
Imagine 2050 forecasts preparation. Prior Lake intends to address this future land supply in a
Plan Amendment or the 2050 Plan Update which will include a forecast adjustment. At the time of
a next Plan Amendment or Plan Update, Met Council will use its Imagine 2050 forecast as a start
point, and will recommend adding to the Prior Lake forecast as much as +1,800 jobs (either
scenario); as well as +2,900 households (scenario 1) or +3,400 households (scenario 2). Council
staff advise a discussion of forecasts and TAZ allocations of growth during the City’s preparation
of a 2050 Plan Update.
Item 12: Water Resources- Wastewater (Roger Janzig, 651-602-1119)
When the information becomes available, please provide a staging table and map showing
Scenario 1 and 2 forecasts by decade.
Page - 2 | March 30, 2026 | METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
This will conclude the Council’s review of the FAUAR. The Council will take no formal action on the
FAUAR. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact MacKenzie Young-
Walters, Principal Reviewer, at 651-602-1373 or via email at MacKenzie.Young-
Walters@metc.state.mn.us.
Sincerely,
Angela R. Torres, AICP, Senior Manager
Local Planning Assistance
CC: Tod Sherman, Development Reviews Coordinator, MnDOT - Metro Division
Deb Barber, Metropolitan Council District No. 4
Judy Sventek, Water Resources Manager
MacKenzie Young-Walters, Sector Representative/ Principal Reviewer
Reviews Coordinator
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