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Community Assets & <br /> Development Department <br /> <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> <br />DATE: November 25, 2015 <br /> <br />TO: Economic Development Commission <br /> <br />FROM: Janice Gundlach, Asst. Director of Community Assets & <br />Development/Planning Director <br /> <br />SUBJECT: New Brighton Exchange Updates <br /> <br />The purpose of this memo is to update the Commission on the development status of <br />Blocks B and D within New Brighton Exchange. This update is for informational <br />purposes only and will provide valuable background information for future actions the <br />EDC may be asked to take concerning development within New Brighton Exchange. <br /> <br />BLOCK B <br />In September, the EDC met with Ryan Companies, Colliers, and Barr Engineering <br />concerning development on the east side of Old Highway 8 NW in New Brighton <br />Exchange. Block B is the largest block on the east side of Old Highway 8 NW and fronts <br />the intersection of Interstates 694 and 35W. The biggest constraint with Block B is the <br />presence of dump materials and the technical and regulatory challenges related to the <br />dump. One of the recommendations that came out of the September meeting was to <br />report back on the development of a conceptual Response Action Plan (RAP) for <br />submittal to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The biggest concern is <br />that Ryan and Colliers will market the site but the MPCA won’t approve a RAP to <br />develop it. There is a belief that advancing a RAP for an actual development (even <br />though we don’t have one) will motivate the MPCA to make decisions on the parameters <br />under which they’ll allow development on Block B (or not). This will also allow Ryan <br />and Colliers to move forward with their marketing efforts and have faith the MPCA will <br />provide the necessary approvals. <br /> <br />No progress has been made on this effort because of the following: <br />1) Ryan Companies has been focusing all their efforts of the development prospect <br />of Streamworks for Block D (see below discussion on Block D), and <br />2) The City is facing elevated methane readings at one dump monitoring point and <br />prior to advancing a RAP for Block B, staff feels efforts should be focused on a <br />resolution the MPCA will accept in order to reduce these levels. Staff feels <br />advancing a RAP at this point will not position the City to receive favorable <br />feedback on the developability of Block B.