I-35E Corridor AUAR Project

In October 2005, the City Council approved an environmental review called an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) for the I-35E Corridor. Due to increasing development pressure along this 4,600 acre corridor, the City proactively undertook the environmental review study to examine cumulative impacts of potential development scenarios and identify mitigation strategies in advance of development. The AUAR follows the format of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and provides the level of analysis required for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The AUAR is an innovative tool that gives the City the opportunity to assess the impact of potential development on the area's natural resources prior to receiving and considering development proposals from developers for approval. A single AUAR process can address both public infrastructure construction scheduled in the near future as well as the ensuing residential and commercial development slated for later years.