The Lakeville City Council approved routine business items and heard citizen concerns about rental housing concentration during its Oct. 20 meeting.

Bob Ericson of 19081 Indale Drive addressed the council about changes to the Ritter Meadows development, stating that Twin Cities Land Development, also known as Tradition Development, received approval for 135 rental townhomes instead of the originally planned 127 for-sale units. Ericson said residents who participated in the original public hearing were concerned about the shift from ownership to rental housing.

Ericson outlined what he described as a concentration of rental units within approximately one square mile, including 252 affordable rental townhomes at Athentics, 36 subsidized housing units at Dakota County Community Development Agency's Keystone Crossing, and the potential for more than 300 apartment units on adjoining RH2-zoned property. He questioned whether the development was following approved exterior finish requirements and expressed concern about the departure from the city's previous scattered-site policy for mixed housing.

The council approved its consent agenda, which included setting 2026 meeting dates and accepting a $217 donation from State Farm Insurance to the fire department. Council Member Dan Walter abstained from voting on a development contract for Spirit of Branch Farm Commercial 7th Edition due to his employer's involvement in the contract, but the item passed on a separate vote.

The council scheduled its next work session for Oct. 27 and next regular meeting for Nov. 3.