Lakeville approves $5.8B infrastructure plan through 2030
The Lakeville City Council unanimously approved a five-year capital improvement plan on September 18 that outlines major infrastructure projects across transportation, utilities, and parks. The plan will substantially increase the city's debt by roughly 50% over three years, according to council members.
City Engineer Zach Johnson presented the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan, describing it as "a guide that's used by city staff and officials to keep us running well today and also help us prepare for the future." The council voted 6-0 to approve the plan, which covers projects in transportation, utilities, parks and recreation, environmental resources, and facilities.
The plan includes several major transportation projects: a modernization of Dodd Boulevard between 50th and 210th Street with a new underpass for the Lake Marian Greenway, improvements to the Interstate 35 interchange at County Road 50 starting in 2028, and a new Fire Station 5 at Dodd Boulevard and Cedar Avenue in 2026. The city also plans to rehabilitate Judicial Road in partnership with a neighboring city and improve the County Road 1560 roundabout to reduce crashes.
However, Commissioner Swenson raised concerns about the financial impact. "It's great we're doing all these projects and all these things are happening in our community. Many of them are desperately needed," Swenson said, "but it all comes at a cost... the debt level that the city is taking on with us, it's going to increase fairly substantially, 50% in three years." City Engineer Johnson explained that the city carefully plans ahead for water supply needs and works through state permitting processes to assess groundwater availability for new wells.
The council also approved two development projects. The Chart House restaurant received unanimous approval to replace a 1,600-square-foot outdoor bar with a 2,800-square-foot building, despite exceeding impervious surface limits and requiring a shoreline setback variance from Kingsley Lake. Commissioners praised the long-standing business and its proposed stormwater improvements, including a rain garden.
Lakeville Flex Space LLC's Launch Park Fourth Edition project was also approved unanimously. The development will create 98 "garage condo" units for small businesses and personal storage on a 20-acre site, governed by a Community Improvement Corporation to enforce rules against overnight parking, noise, and strong odors.
A preliminary plat for North Creek Second Edition, proposing 47 single-family residential lots, was tabled to a future meeting due to an unspecified issue.
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Votes (4)
Consideration of the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Kuza [8:19] · Seconded by Unknown [8:26]
City Engineer Zach Johnson presented the CIP, highlighting projects in transportation, utilities, parks & recreation, environmental resources, and facilities. Key discussions included cost-sharing for Judicial Road with a neighboring city, the substantial increase in city debt projected over three years, and the process for assessing groundwater supply for new wells. Staff emphasized the living nature of the document and its conformance with the comprehensive plan.
Public Hearing: North Creek Second Edition Preliminary Plat
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [9:40] · Seconded by Unknown [10:00]
This item concerned a preliminary plat for 47 single-family residential lots. Due to an unspecified issue, the discussion and action for this public hearing were tabled to a subsequent meeting.
Public Hearing: Chart House Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Variance
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Swenson [20:00] · Seconded by Unknown [20:12]
Owner George Maverick sought to replace a 1,600 sq ft outdoor bar with a 2,800 sq ft building, requiring a CUP amendment for exceeding impervious surface limits and a variance from shoreline setbacks at Kingsley Lake. Staff noted the property's legal non-conforming status and that the proposed impervious surface (43-46%) was still below a 1997 approval (48%). Commissioners praised the business as long-standing and important to the community, appreciating proposed storm water improvements like a rain garden and the DNR's minimal comments.
Public Hearing: Launch Park Fourth Edition Preliminary Plat and Development Plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Tinsley [29:43] · Seconded by Unknown [29:56]
Jim French, representing Lakeville Flex Space LLC, proposed a preliminary plat for a 20-acre site to create 'garage condo' units for small businesses or personal storage. The project includes 98 units across four buildings, with a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to enforce rules like no overnight parking, noise, or strong smells. Commissioners inquired about unit numbering for emergency services, crime-free agreements, and the ability of owners to rent units. Staff confirmed compliance with zoning and landscaping, noting minor parking plan adjustments needed.
Notable Quotes (9)
It's really a guide that's used by city staff and officials to keep us running well today and also help us prepare to future.
It's great we're doing all these projects and all these things are happening in our community. Many of them are desperately needed... but it all comes at a cost... the debt level that the city is taking on with us, it's going to increase fairly substantially, 50% in three years.
Any kind of well we have to do we go goes through permitting through the state. Uh they are very careful and analytic in their evaluation of our need. Uh and we do try to plan ahead of it.
We'd like to um take it down and put a 2,800 square foot building. So we'd have 1,200 square ft of additional impervious surface and we're already a little bit past what it's allowed the 25% because most of our property of the 23 acres 17 are water.
The building is proposed to be located about 95 ft on the west side to the OW and then about 107 feet at the closest point to the north to Kingsley Lake. So the original conditional use permit was approved in 1997 and at that time it allowed 48% impervious surface.
I'm comfortable with everything that's being proposed with the amount of impervious surface on the site. Um I like the fact that you're adding a rain garden to the site to kind of work on improving water quality to Kingsley Lake.
The intention there is that we um create a CIC um which is essentially an HOA uh with declarations and covenants and restrictions on the uses... with a primary um um I'll say prime perspective client of being a small business owner um kind of bluecollar uh space.
So, uh the CIC is just to ensure the community um remains uh with the proper uses. So, uh some of the restrictions and covenants within the CIC uh that we implement are uh no noise excessive noise producing activities, no excessive smell producing activities, no overnight parking.
We see we see a lot of um small business owners that might be operating out of their house. Um, maybe have outgrown their garage or got kicked out of their own garage or what whatever the case may be. Um, and this is a good um transition space uh at a reasonable price point is the idea.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
A draft guide for city staff and officials identifying essential services and infrastructure projects for the next five years.
Guiding document used to ensure consistency with the Capital Improvement Plan and zoning decisions.
Requested by the Chart House to exceed impervious surface limits in a shoreland overlay district.
Requested by the Chart House to allow a structure closer than the required setback from Kingsley Lake.
Proposed for 47 single-family residential lots, tabled to a future meeting.
Proposed for a one-lot, one-outlot subdivision to facilitate a small-bay industrial 'garage condo' development.
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Other Topics from This Document
Chart House Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Variance
Launch Park Fourth Edition Preliminary Plat and Development Plan
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