Lakeville City Council — Transcript

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Story

City Council approves mixed-use housing project on constrained site

Votes (1)

Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

4-2 Approved

Dissent: Commissioner Kza and Commissioner Zimmer both voted against the motion, citing concerns about the number of deviations and the potential for setting a precedent.

Moved by Commissioner Aink [0:49:50] · Seconded by Unknown [0:50:15]

Michael Waldo (Ron Clark Construction) presented the project, detailing the 49-unit apartment and 15 townhomes, and the rationale for requesting PUD zoning and deviations (setbacks, height variance) due to complex site constraints (wetlands, major roadways, past right-of-way loss). He emphasized the project's quality and livability. Frank Dempsey (Staff) elaborated on the PUD process, compliance with comprehensive plan housing goals, and specific deviations. A public speaker, Janet Leens, raised concerns about the apartment building's height impacting her sightlines. Commissioners questioned future I-35 widening impacts and the overall number of requested deviations. Some commissioners expressed support due to the site's unique challenges, while others voiced discomfort with setting precedents for future developments.

Notable Quotes (6)

what we're proposing is a 49 unit apartment and 15 Town Homes... currently planning for those to be rental... but they're all individual PS they're all set up to be for sale if they want to be so it's always best long term to give a project the most flexibility than having it be locked into something

Michael Waldo [0:1:55]
Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

I think Lakeville has been so used to being a green FEI field developer me that everything is okay we got 50 acres let's go in here let's we got zoning let's get it done now we're getting residual pieces that are kind of left over from other things and now we're kind of saying okay maybe that exact zoning doesn't quite fit even though we're very close and that's where when we started to work through it with staff they're like when don't we look at doing a PUD

Michael Waldo [0:9:5]
Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

the plan unit developments... are established to perent to uh uh to allow uh creative development uh designed as long as the land use complies with a comprehensive plan which which this does... allows mix uses which this is proposing uh provides variations from strict applications uh to improve site design

Frank Dempsey [0:19:35]
Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

if you historically look at any of the affordable projects we've done we I laugh at the only thing different on our affordable than our market rate is one gets a granite top and one gets a foric top in the kitchen they they have the same high quality finishes the exterior building honestly at uh Lakefield point is probably um almost of a higher quality than the one I just finished at minat tanka that was a market rate

Michael Waldo [0:33:55]
Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

this site in my view as I look at it does suffer from a lot of different things and not all of the developers doing by any stretch of the imagination... so the site is just really tight with a lot of different roadway pinching it in a lot of different directions so I understand the need for flexibility here with setbacks and some of the other things

Commissioner Kza [0:43:20]
Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

I had said I had some major concerns about the number of uh deviations not variances... and uh I'm just concerned its precedent setting for the next attempt um for a PUD so I I understand and appreciate the input from Mr Waldo um about how it's a difficult site and you're trying to make it work I I uh I don't want to make anybody go back to the drawing board and redo it but maybe it has to be less uh units or something in order to make me more comfortable with it

Commissioner Zimmer [0:50:50]
Public Hearing for Kenyan Green Rezoning and Preliminary Plat

Ordinances & Resolutions (9)

Kenyan Green Preliminary PlatPlan

Proposed plat for the development, including 17 residential lots.

Kenyan Green RezoningOther

Request to change zoning from O to PUD for the project site.

PUD Development Stage PlanPlan

Site plan for the proposed townhomes and apartments under the PUD zoning.

O (Office Residential Transition District)Ordinance

Current zoning classification of the property.

PUD (Planned Unit Development)Ordinance

Requested zoning classification to allow flexible and creative development.

Invision Lakeville (2023 Update)Plan

City's comprehensive plan, referenced for affordable housing goals.

Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment (2023)Plan

Study identifying demand for affordable housing units in Lakeville.

May 30th, 2024 planning reportOther

Report outlining project details and recommending approval with 8 stipulations.

Homeowners Association (HOA) covenants and declarationsOther

Required by State Statute if townhomes are sold as private properties.

View Source
Lakeville City Council - Lakeville Recorder