Lakeville approves two major developments, denies medical office signage
The Lakeville Planning Commission unanimously approved two significant development projects on January 23 while rejecting a sign variance request from a medical office. The decisions will shape residential and industrial growth in the city while clarifying limits on commercial signage.
The commission voted 7-0 to approve the Antlers Ridge Second Edition preliminary plat, which will add 26 twin homes near Lake Maran off Kendrick Avenue and Kenfield Trail. The developer has been working with a neighboring towing company to potentially expand the project onto adjacent property in the future. Staff confirmed the project complies with shoreland protection requirements that limit impervious surfaces near the lake, and the engineer verified stormwater drainage meets all city standards. One commissioner asked the developer to consider screening between the new homes and the neighboring business as the project moves forward.
The commission also unanimously approved a preliminary and final plat for the Airlake industrial park, which will create two outlots and extend 222nd Street. One outlot is intended for Dakota Electric Association's new headquarters. The utility company, which has occupied its current facility for nearly 50 years, needs more space to accommodate its growth. The project aligns with the city's comprehensive plan, though specific site development will require additional review.
In a more contentious decision, the commission denied a variance request from Midwest ENT Specialists, which sought permission for five wall signs on its new building in the Sundance Lakeville development near 162nd Street and Buck Hill Road. The medical office argued that multiple signs were necessary to help patients identify its different service lines. However, staff and commissioners determined the request did not meet the legal standard for variances—demonstrating "practical difficulty"—since the building is new construction and alternatives exist, such as combining service names into a single larger sign. Staff noted that a consolidated sign could be up to 150 square feet, which would comply with existing rules. While commissioners expressed sympathy for the applicant's branding goals, they noted state law constrains their ability to approve variances without meeting strict criteria. The commission suggested the applicant work with staff on potential future ordinance changes.
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Votes (3)
Antlers Ridge Second Edition Preliminary Plat and Conditional Use Permit
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [13:19] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [13:38]
The developer presented a revised plat for twin homes, incorporating lessons from Phase One construction and potential future expansion onto an adjacent property. Staff highlighted compliance with Shoreland overlay district requirements for impervious surfaces. Commissioners inquired about potential screening between the proposed homes and a neighboring business, and about stormwater drainage, which the engineer confirmed met all requirements.
Airlake DEA Preliminary and Final Plat
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [20:12] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [20:22]
The plat establishes two outlots for industrial development, including one intended for Dakota Electric Association's new headquarters. Speakers emphasized the long-term industrial park development and Dakota Electric's need for a larger facility due to 50 years of growth. Staff confirmed the project aligns with the city's comprehensive plan and zoning, noting that specific site development will require further review.
Midwest ENT Sign Variance
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [56:17] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [56:31]
Midwest ENT requested a variance to place five wall signs on its new Lakeville building, citing the need to differentiate multiple distinct medical services for patient clarity. Staff recommended denial, stating the request did not meet the 'practical difficulty' criteria required by state law for variances, as it was a new construction and alternatives (like combining signs) were available. Commissioners expressed sympathy for the applicant's branding goals but felt constrained by the legal requirements for variances, suggesting future dialogue with staff for potential ordinance updates.
Notable Quotes (10)
We um you know you know kind of kind of in in summary but the the developer was able to you know have have conversations with with the neighbor at the at the towing company and you know there there was some interest that you know potentially they could find a new parcel and we could add add this to to the development.
I just asked to potentially consider it and work with staff on potentially maybe thinking about whether some screening is appropriate in that location as we move forward.
so basically we got we got you know water run off comes from from the south properties Down Stone Brook and um there's a you know city pond that Outlets through the property uh the way the way the site's been designed and graded um you know we primarily focused in in one one large pond and every everything you know on our site except for a couple backyards routes through that pond and um so and we we mimic existing conditions and um certainly pass and meet all the storm water requirements for Quality Vol volume or abstraction and rate control.
We've been in our current site for almost 5050 years we've outgrown it and we're excited about building a new headquarters.
I too want to just tell you how excited we as owners and operators of this industrial park that has been in development for going back to Jack matowski and then his predecessors 70 some years...
I think the the fact of our business is that uh we have many different business units and um business divisions that are not intuitive to our consumers and as such it's important for people to ensure that they know that they are in the right location and at the right building...
staff does not find that there's any unique circumstances to the parcel or practical difficulties that would warrant a variance to permit additional signs.
we like to provide a very consistent experience for our patients and the members of your community who as we do the ZIP code analysis are coming to see us in Woodberry in Badness Heights even and in Egan right now because we're not here we just want to make sure that they have the same experience when they see us in their own Community as they do when they come to see us elsewhere.
I mentioned that option within the staff report that if they you know put the signs in a in a different uh Arrangement and we can put you know one box around there and that box is 150 square feet that is how we have traditionally and I've Been Working On signs for almost 20 years in Lakeville...
our hands are also somewhat tied with the variance process because what we have to consider is the variance that's in front of us and it's a very specific process that's laid out in statute and there's an application for it and everything so there's not really an opportunity to kind of you know work on this on the Fly.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
Application for Antlers Ridge second edition
Application for Antlers Ridge second edition within the Shoreland overlay District
Zoning overlay impacting Antlers Ridge second edition
Single and two-family residential district zoning for Antlers Ridge second edition
Action related to Antlers Ridge second edition plat, to be addressed by City Council
General industrial district zoning for Airlake DEA
Overlay district affecting sign allowances for Midwest ENT
Request to exceed number of wall signs for Midwest ENT
Commercial zoning for Midwest ENT building
City regulation governing signage, central to the Midwest ENT variance discussion
Document outlining the criteria for evaluating a variance request, used for Midwest ENT
City planning document referenced in all three agenda items
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Airlake DEA Preliminary and Final Plat
Midwest ENT Sign Variance Request
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