Lakeville approves affordable housing project despite one dissent
The Lakeville City Council approved a mixed-use development called Kenyon Green on June 17, moving forward with plans for 49 affordable apartments and 15 townhomes despite concerns from a neighboring resident about the project's visual impact.
The council voted 4-1 to approve the preliminary plat and rezoning for Kenyon Green, with Councilmember Dan Walter casting the sole dissenting vote. Developer Mike Waldo of Ron Clark Construction presented the project, which includes a 50-year affordability commitment overseen by the Dakota County Community Development Agency and Minnesota Housing. The site faces significant constraints from surrounding roads, wetlands, and an interstate, which necessitated the developer's request for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to make the project financially viable.
Resident Janet Labens expressed concerns about the apartment building's visual impact on the surrounding neighborhood, particularly its deviation from the character of nearby properties. However, city staff and council members emphasized the project's alignment with Lakeville's housing goals. Staff member Miss Goodroad noted that the Economic Development Commission had prioritized affordable housing to serve the local workforce. Walter's dissent focused on concerns about the precedent set by using a PUD for developer economics rather than addressing site constraints alone.
In other business, the council unanimously approved the issuance of $21.53 million in general obligation bonds to fund street reconstruction, collector rehabilitation, and the final phase of a 2021 park bond referendum. The city secured a favorable interest rate of 3.65% from the low bidder, Piper of Minneapolis, down from the estimated 3.90%. Moody's reaffirmed Lakeville's AAA credit rating, which helped attract competitive bidding.
The council also recognized Darts, a nonprofit serving older adults in Dakota County for 50 years, by issuing a proclamation designating June 17 as Darts Appreciation Day. Mayor Luke Kellier highlighted the organization's services, including the Lakeville Loop transportation program that helps seniors access groceries and errands. Additionally, the council accepted $8,100 in donations from the Lakeville Public Safety Foundation for police community engagement and over $6,000 in quarterly donations to Parks and Recreation. Finally, the council acknowledged the city's 2023 financial audit, which received a clean opinion with no compliance violations, marking the city's 35th consecutive award for financial reporting excellence.
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Votes (5)
Presentations/Introductions: Darts 50th Anniversary
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
Miss Bailey provided an overview of Darts' 50 years of service in Dakota County, noting their origins in Inver Grove Heights and their expansion to Lakeville. She detailed various services offered to older adults, including transportation (Lakeville Loop), home chores, caregiving resources, and volunteer opportunities. The organization boasts a 99% client satisfaction rate, and the Mayor acknowledged their vital partnership with the city.
Consent Agenda Items 6E and 6G
Dissent: None
Moved by Unnamed Council Member [0:04] · Seconded by Unnamed Council Member [0:04]
Mr. Miller, the Mayor, highlighted two specific items on the consent agenda: Resolution 6E, accepting an $8,100 donation from the Lakeville Public Safety Foundation to the Police Department for community engagement, and Resolution 6G, acknowledging over $6,000 in quarterly donations to the Parks and Recreation Department for the first two quarters.
Kenyon Green Preliminary Plat and Rezoning
Dissent: Dan Walter
Moved by Unnamed Council Member [0:36] · Seconded by Unnamed Council Member [0:36]
Mike Waldo of Ron Clark Construction presented the Kenyon Green project, consisting of 49 affordable apartments and 15 townhomes. He explained that the PUD rezoning was necessary due to significant site constraints (surrounding roads, wetlands) and to make the project financially viable, allowing minor variances for setbacks and building height. The project includes a 50-year affordability commitment. Resident Janet Labens expressed concerns about the visual impact of the apartment building and tree removal. Staff and Council members discussed the project's alignment with Lakeville's housing goals and the need for affordable housing for the local workforce, noting the developer's strong management record. Concerns about playground safety were raised, and the Planning Commission recommended approval 4-2.
Resolution Authorizing Issuance of General Obligation Bonds Series 2024a
Dissent: None
Moved by Unnamed Council Member [0:40] · Seconded by Unnamed Council Member [0:40]
Julie Stall introduced the bond sale for $21,530,000 in General Obligation Bonds, Series 2024a. Jessica Green from Northland Securities presented the bid results, noting that Moody's reaffirmed the city's AAA rating, leading to a competitive sale with 10 bids. Piper out of Minneapolis was the low bidder, securing an interest rate of 3.65%, a decrease from the estimated 3.90%. The bonds will fund street reconstruction, collector rehabilitation, and the final portion of the 2021 Park Bond referendum.
Acknowledge Receipt of Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Dissent: None
Moved by Dan Walter [0:57] · Seconded by Unnamed Council Member [0:57]
Chris Kopic and Lucas Chase from CliftonLarsonAllen presented the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. They confirmed an unmodified (clean) audit opinion, the highest level of assurance, with no identified deficiencies in internal controls or legal compliance violations. The presentation highlighted the city's strong financial position: consistent General Fund revenues and expenditures, adherence to the fund balance policy, positive cash flows from enterprise funds, and a significant contribution from the liquor fund to offset other activities. They noted the city's achievement of the GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 35th consecutive year. Upcoming GASB standards were briefly mentioned.
Notable Quotes (12)
darts has been in the community specifically Dakota County for 50 years we started up in Inver Grove Heights and have moved onward and upward as you many of you probably know we run a loop here every Thursday which circulates through senior dense housing and then sh stops where those Riders want to stop which is largely groceries and runs for places like Walmart and Target.
now therefore I luk helier mayor of the city of Lakeville do Proclaim June 17th as dart's Appreciation Day and I signed this copy for you guys to have thank you very much hopefully at least 50 more years right all right.
item 6E is a resolution accepting Don from the Lakeville Public Safety Foundation to the Lakeville Police Department for Community engagement efforts and that's an $8,100 donation and then item 6G is our quarterly acceptance of donations to the Parks and Recreation Department and this uh actually this is the first first two quarters totaling just over $6,000 and we're appreciative of both those um donations very good.
what we're come before you tonight is our Kenyon GRE project we're looking at a 49 unit affordable apartment um and 15 town homes on the site.
We've got between the Dakota County CDA and Minnesota housing uh they oversee that and do inspections on it every one to three years uh depending on how the project goes so you get someone else besides the city with eyes on it consistently.
I am however concerned about the apartment building portion of this proposal which I think is quite a deviation from the all the surrounding space including on my side of 185th Street.
this project was really driven from the economic development commission it's been a priority of theirs to make sure that we have affordable housing to serve our local Workforce.
my big concern is the Pud usage here... the precedent that we're setting... I will be voting against it just because of that.
It is paying for the 2024 Street reconstruction project and collector Rehabilitation as well as the last portion of the November 2021 Bond referendum.
competitive sale today 10 bids again Piper out of Minneapolis was the low bidder for the bonds we have a final maturity here of February 1 of 2045 and then an optional call February 1 of 2032 so at that point you are able to call the bonds in in whole or in part and then then finally at the bottom we have just a quick comparison there um between when we had gone over the finance plan back in May um as compared to the results today so again 21, 530,000 and nice results here with a decrease from 3.90 to 3.65 on the following page you will see the bid tab with all 10 of those bids and as you'll see they stack up really closely together a difference of about five basis points um between all 10 of them which is um kind of crazy.
the city did receive an unmodified clean audit opinion on your financial statements that's the highest level of assurance that any type of entity can receive whether it's government for-profit nonprofit publicly traded unmodified as the goal we set out for as part of your audit.
this award program it's very high measurement standards that they have in place and it is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting so the attainment of this award it's nothing to be taken lightly and it represents a a significant accomplishment by the government and its management.
Ordinances & Resolutions (16)
Declaring June 17th as Darts Appreciation Day.
Item 6E, accepting $8,100 from Lakeville Public Safety Foundation to the Police Department.
Item 6G, accepting over $6,000 for the Parks and Recreation Department.
Planned Unit Development rezoning for Kenyon Green project to allow mixed housing types and flexible design.
Preliminary plat approval for the Kenyon Green development.
Rezoning the Kenyon Green property from O office residential to PUD planned unit development.
Resolution for the General Obligation Bonds Series 2024a.
City's financial audit report for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Required letter from auditors to those charged with governance.
A policy guidance document related to housing goals.
City's planning document guiding development and housing goals.
Study identifying demand for rental and subsidized rental units in the city.
Governmental Accounting Standard Board (GASB) statement related to changes in the financial reporting model.
GASB statement regarding prior period adjustments or restatements.
GASB statement re-examining compensated absences (sick and vacation leave).
GASB statement related to risk disclosures, including vendor and revenue concentrations.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Acceptance of Donations
Kenyon Green Preliminary Plat and Rezoning
General Obligation Bonds 2024a Issuance
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
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