Lakeville approves Taco Bell and townhome amenity building
The Lakeville City Council unanimously approved two development permits on October 2nd: a Taco Bell with drive-thru service at the marketplace at Cedar development and a recreation building for the Ritter Meadows townhome community.
The council voted 6-0 to approve a Conditional Use Permit for Marvin Development to build a Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-thru at the marketplace at Cedar development, located near Cedar Avenue and 179th Street. The decision came after discussion about how the fast-food restaurant would handle traffic flow and customer waiting times. City staff confirmed that the Taco Bell's location and use align with the original site plan for the larger marketplace development, which had already designated this lot for a quick-serve restaurant with drive-thru service.
During the meeting, staff addressed concerns about drive-thru operations. According to city officials, Taco Bell's standard practice is to serve customers directly at the window without dedicated parking spaces for order waiting. Delivery trucks typically arrive early in the morning before the restaurant opens, minimizing conflicts with customer traffic. The planning manager noted that an adjacent undeveloped parcel could temporarily affect traffic flow, but this was considered manageable given the site's overall design.
In a separate 6-0 unanimous vote, the council also approved a Conditional Use Permit for Twin Cities Land Development to build a private recreation building for the Ritter Meadows townhome community. The amenity building will serve 135 townhomes and include a swimming pool, club room, fitness area, and parking for maintenance vehicles. The building's location near Kiokook Avenue and 205th Street offers residents scenic views overlooking an adjacent city park and pond—a benefit that city officials noted was an accidental but positive outcome of the building's placement.
Both permits now move forward with the council's approval. The decisions reflect the city's ongoing development in the Cedar Corridor area, with the marketplace at Cedar and Ritter Meadows projects representing significant residential and commercial growth in Lakeville.
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Full analysis
Votes (2)
Conditional Use Permit for Marvin Development (Taco Bell)
Dissent: None
Moved by Kuza [12:56] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [13:43]
The primary discussion points included the operational specifics of the Taco Bell drive-thru, particularly handling high traffic volumes and customer waiting. Concerns were raised regarding potential traffic flow issues from the drive-thru's exit angle and the interim traffic management given the undeveloped adjacent parcel. The planning manager confirmed the proposed use aligns with the general site plan for the broader 'marketplace at Cedar' development.
Conditional Use Permit for Twin Cities Land Development (Ritter Meadows Amenity Building)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [20:59] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [21:42]
The discussion centered on the proposed amenity building for the Ritter Meadows townhomes, detailing its size, included facilities like a pool and club room, and the provision for maintenance vehicle parking. Commissioners inquired about the number of units served and the building's scenic integration with an adjacent pond and city park, which was noted as an accidental but positive outcome of the placement.
Notable Quotes (6)
We don't have any um parking waiting for your order spaces. Um it is a Taco Bell operational standard to get your food at the window. Um it it should not happen frequently...
Their deliveries are typically very early in the morning um before they're even open for business. So there wouldn't be cars in the parking lot to make their life more difficult.
Yes, when we have while we've been reviewing the the marketplace um plat even though there were no um a lot of times with a plat it comes with the specific approval of, you know, site uh uses and development with the marketplace site. They did have a site plan. So, this lot was, you know, identified as a a quickserve restaurant with a drive-thru.
We just want to have an amendity building for that townhouse area. Um, we've got a a pool and, you know, typical club room, that kind of stuff. Uh, as well as kind of one of the big things for us was to have some parking so that way we've got a spot for a maintenance vehicle, that type of thing.
Yeah, this is just for the town homes. So, we have 135 uh town homes that would use this. None of the other housing that goes to the north would utilize this building.
So, we've got a pond in kind of this area and then this kind of L-shaped is actually city park um that's been dedicated to the city. And so, yes, the pool area back here kind of overlooks the edge of the park and part of that pond.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Permit for Marvin Development's Taco Bell.
Overall development plan for the Taco Bell site, pending City Council approval.
Document supporting the Taco Bell Conditional Use Permit approval.
Memo outlining stipulations for the Taco Bell Conditional Use Permit.
Permit for Twin Cities Land Development's Ritter Meadows amenity building.
Document supporting the Ritter Meadows amenity building Conditional Use Permit approval.
Memo outlining stipulations for the Ritter Meadows amenity building Conditional Use Permit.
Source document
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Conditional Use Permit for Ritter Meadows Amenity Building
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