South Loop AUAR Update

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The South Loop District Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), originally adopted in 2002, is being updated. The AUAR must be update at least every five years. The last update occurred in 2017 and an update must be completed in 2022. The required 10-day review period for the AUAR update begins March 15, 2022 and ends March 29, 2022.

Where can I find the draft AUAR documents to review?

The draft AUAR Update documents, including the Mitigation Plan (Appendix H) are available on the City’s website at www.blm.mn/auar or paper copies are available for review at:

  • Bloomington City Hall (Community Development Department) – 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN;
  • Penn-Lake Library – 8800 Penn Avenue S., Bloomington, MN;
  • Oxboro Library – 8801 Portland Avenue S., Bloomington, MN.

To comment or if you have questions, please contact Julie Farnham, Senior Planner at 952-563-4739 or jfarnham@bloomingtonmn.gov. A virtual public informational meeting will also be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Click here to register and receive the meeting link: www.blm.mn/auar

What are the next steps?

Once the review period is over, staff will revise the AUAR and Mitigation Plan as necessary to address substantive comments received. The final AUAR and Mitigation Plan will then be brought to the City Council for formal adoption following a public hearing, which is anticipated to occur in mid-May 2022.

What is an AUAR?What an AUAR is NOT:
An AUAR is an alternative to site specific environmental reviews such as an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provides for analysis of the cumulative environmental impacts of development in a defined study area over multiple years. The AUAR analyzes a future development scenario that reflects total development when the South Loop reaches “full buildout”, anticipated to occur around 2040. It identifies the potential impacts of future development and steps the City can take to ensure any negative effects are minimized.An AUAR does not approve or deny any specific development projects. While the AUAR describes the type and amount of future development anticipated on specific sites in the South Loop, specific development proposals must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council. That will occur at the time an application for an actual development proposal is submitted to the city for consideration.


For more information, click on the questions below.

Why was the South Loop District AUAR created?

Why is the AUAR being updated?

What does the AUAR Update include?


Promise to the public: The public is invited to review the South Loop AUAR Update Report and share feedback with the Planning Division staff. All substantive comments received will be shared with the City Council and considered in the final revisions to the AUAR Update Report.

The South Loop District Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), originally adopted in 2002, is being updated. The AUAR must be update at least every five years. The last update occurred in 2017 and an update must be completed in 2022. The required 10-day review period for the AUAR update begins March 15, 2022 and ends March 29, 2022.

Where can I find the draft AUAR documents to review?

The draft AUAR Update documents, including the Mitigation Plan (Appendix H) are available on the City’s website at www.blm.mn/auar or paper copies are available for review at:

  • Bloomington City Hall (Community Development Department) – 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN;
  • Penn-Lake Library – 8800 Penn Avenue S., Bloomington, MN;
  • Oxboro Library – 8801 Portland Avenue S., Bloomington, MN.

To comment or if you have questions, please contact Julie Farnham, Senior Planner at 952-563-4739 or jfarnham@bloomingtonmn.gov. A virtual public informational meeting will also be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Click here to register and receive the meeting link: www.blm.mn/auar

What are the next steps?

Once the review period is over, staff will revise the AUAR and Mitigation Plan as necessary to address substantive comments received. The final AUAR and Mitigation Plan will then be brought to the City Council for formal adoption following a public hearing, which is anticipated to occur in mid-May 2022.

What is an AUAR?What an AUAR is NOT:
An AUAR is an alternative to site specific environmental reviews such as an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provides for analysis of the cumulative environmental impacts of development in a defined study area over multiple years. The AUAR analyzes a future development scenario that reflects total development when the South Loop reaches “full buildout”, anticipated to occur around 2040. It identifies the potential impacts of future development and steps the City can take to ensure any negative effects are minimized.An AUAR does not approve or deny any specific development projects. While the AUAR describes the type and amount of future development anticipated on specific sites in the South Loop, specific development proposals must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council. That will occur at the time an application for an actual development proposal is submitted to the city for consideration.


For more information, click on the questions below.

Why was the South Loop District AUAR created?

Why is the AUAR being updated?

What does the AUAR Update include?


Promise to the public: The public is invited to review the South Loop AUAR Update Report and share feedback with the Planning Division staff. All substantive comments received will be shared with the City Council and considered in the final revisions to the AUAR Update Report.

Comments and Questions

Comments or questions will be sent directly to Julie Farnham, Senior Planner, for review.  Comments will be taken into consideration for the final draft update to the extent possible.  

Answers will be sent directly to individuals posing questions. Please register at this site and include your e-mail for prompt response to your questions. 

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Page last updated: 06 Dec 2023, 11:42 PM