Cedar DOD Fire Station Proposal - Public Comment
No vote taken; item was public comment only. Mayor requested Burke leave contact information for follow-up.
Dissent: No council dissent recorded; item referred to Planning Commission meeting on Thursday for further consideration.
Steve Burke, a 30-year resident north of Cherry View Park, expressed concerns about the proposed fire station location. Key issues included: (1) traffic safety at 179th Street and Grandby intersection with poor sightlines and high curve speeds; (2) risk to children using Cherry View Park and the tunnel crossing; (3) a youth fatality in the neighborhood last June; (4) preference for alternative location near the maintenance facility or water treatment facility where Fire Station 4 was built in 1998; (5) request for historical call data from stations 2 and 4 to understand anticipated call volumes; (6) suggestion for additional evergreen buffering on the north side of 175th Street. Burke noted the proposal aims to save money by avoiding land purchase but questioned whether this would be regretted later.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day Proclamation
Proclamation read and adopted by Mayor; no formal vote recorded.
Dissent: None.
Mayor Luke Kier initiated and presented a proclamation designating January 27, 2025 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The proclamation commemorates the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, honors the six million Jews and millions of others systematically murdered by the Nazis, defines anti-Semitism per the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and reaffirms the city's commitment to promoting tolerance, understanding, and human dignity while standing against all forms of hatred and discrimination.
2024 Liquor Department Annual Operations Report
Report presented and accepted; no formal vote required.
Dissent: None.
Director Michelle Wul presented the annual report showing flat sales ($22.7M in 2024 vs. $22.76M in 2023) but positive trends in customer counts, gross profit (up $158,000), and e-commerce (nearly doubled). The Emporium room hosted 50+ promotional events and 70 private rentals generating $190,000 in combined revenue. The liquor fund contributed $1.6M to city services, including equipment and police station debt service. Community fundraising totaled $93,000 across four initiatives: Be on the Yellow Ribbon ($33,000), Taste of Lakeville ($20,000), food shelves ($35,000), and Ritter Farm Park children's environmental programming ($26,000). Achievements included top 100 retailer recognition, reader choice award, 90th anniversary celebration with inaugural 5K, staff wine certifications (2 level 2, 9 level 1 in progress), and an exceptional inventory shrink rate of 0.071% (vs. 2% retail average).
2024 Economic Development Annual Report
Report presented and accepted; no formal vote required.
Dissent: None.
Community Development Director presented comprehensive economic development data: $258M in building permit activity (slightly above 2023's $257.5M); residential construction dominated at 60% of total value with 523 units (285 single-family, 100 detached townhomes, 49 attached townhomes, 89-unit apartment complex); Lakeville ranked #2 statewide in residential permits (behind Woodbury) and #2 in total units (behind Moka). Median home price $415,000; 2,881 households; average household size 2.9 persons. Commercial investment exceeded $75.1M with major projects including RL Cold Storage ($32M), medical office expansions (Children's Minnesota, Al Health, MNGI Digestive Health, Midwest ENT Specialist), and new retail/restaurants (LBC at the Lake, Donut Star, Taco Bell, Kiev Bakery, Farmer's Grandson). Institutional development included Grand Prairie Park construction (main building, grandstand, baseball stadium, pickle ball courts, cricket pitch). Employment grew 3.9% to 2,852 jobs; unemployment at 2.4% (vs. 2.7% county, 2.9% state). Council attended 25 ribbon cuttings and 3 groundbreaking ceremonies. Strategic initiatives included business retention/expansion program (visiting 4 businesses monthly in partnership with EDC and Chamber), rental registration program (650+ properties registered, 61% single-family), and planned CDBG-funded Downtown Development guide update and industry cluster analysis.
Kenrick Corner Second Edition Preliminary Plat and Easement Vacation
5-0 Approved (Wul-I, Hellier-I, Walter-I, Lee-I, [Mayor]-I)
Dissent: None. Council Member Lee requested follow-up confirmation on turnaround driveway status prior to final plat.
Moved by Council Member Joshua Lee · Seconded by Unknown
Developer Jennifer Hascamp (Swanson Camp Consulting) presented a replat of a 1.6-acre commercial outlot (C3 zoning, commercial land use per comprehensive plan) for Messen Brink Construction and Engineering. The project proposes a 9,600 sq ft building for two tenants with separate parking areas on either side. Existing landscape screening and buffering will be preserved; additional landscaping will be added along the north property line. Two prospective tenants are in discussion (leases not yet executed); one is identified as a wellness center, the other as commercial space. Access is via private drive. All required parking and setbacks are met. Site plan shows darker brick exterior with metal accents. Planning Commission held public hearing January 9 and unanimously recommended approval. Council Member Lee requested confirmation that an existing turnaround driveway (likely for fire safety) on the east side of the plat will remain; staff agreed to verify via demolition plan prior to final plat approval at the next meeting.
Title 11 City Code Amendment - 2024 Phase 2 Zoning Updates
4-0 Approved (Walter-I, Lee-I, Wul-I, Hellier-I; Mayor did not vote per ordinance requirement)
Dissent: None. Mayor thanked director and Planning Commission for extensive work on amendments.
Moved by Council Member Dan Walter · Seconded by Unknown
Community Development Director Tina presented Phase 2 of 2024 zoning amendments addressing six key areas: (1) Commercial recreation facility definition (indoor athletic/playground facilities like hockey camps, baseball/soccer facilities, indoor pickle ball courts) added to I1 and I2 districts; (2) Parking requirement reductions for manufacturing, warehousing, and fitness centers to reflect automation and reduced demand; (3) Signage amendments for Grand Prairie Park (monument sign on Cedar, wall signage on facilities) and Hamburg Park (second monument sign) to accommodate expanded park facilities; (4) M2U mixed-use corridor density adjustment reducing minimum unit size from 1,675 sq ft to 1,100 sq ft to align zoning with comprehensive plan density range; (5) I1 light industrial auto repair use with limited outdoor storage (max 20% of lot area or 10,000 sq ft, whichever is less) changed from conditional to permitted use with stipulations; (6) I3 administrative use allowance for MAC maintenance building sleeping quarters for staff. Planning Commission held public hearing January 9 and unanimously recommended approval. Director noted a word processing error in the strikeout version regarding fitness center and funeral home parking requirements (not part of proposed changes) that was corrected.