Prior Lake Planning Commission Advances High-Density Residential Project on Tower Street Southeast
The decision to amend land use and zoning maps paves the way for potential apartment development, drawing both support for future growth and concerns from existing residents.
The Prior Lake Planning Commission moved forward Monday, Feb. 12, with a significant land use and zoning map amendment request for a parcel on Tower Street Southeast. The unanimous 4-0 vote by the commission approved changing the designation of two parcels, Lot 1 Block 2 Invid First Edition and Outlot A Invid First Edition, from 'Commercial' and 'Mixed Use' to 'High-Density Residential'. This decision is a crucial step that could enable the construction of an apartment complex on the site, located near the intersection of Tower Street Southeast and Toronto.
City staff highlighted the limited scope of the commission's action. "What is not included in the request tonight... this action is not a site plan approval," explained a staff member during the meeting. "The action will not approve a preliminary or final planned unit development plan or a preliminary or final plat. So, some of the discussion may overlap those bounds, but just so the public is aware, the only thing being requested is a land use plan amendment and a re-zoning."
The applicant presented a case built on the property's stagnant commercial market. "As far as we can tell, the property has been listed for 5 years with the same broker," the applicant stated. "The broker's had next to no inquiries. It's never been under contract. Um and any interest that has come forward has been for multif family development."
This request comes amidst ongoing discussions about Prior Lake's commercial tax base. Staff analysis presented at the meeting indicated that Prior Lake lags significantly behind neighboring communities in commercial and industrial property value. "4.43% of Prior Lakes's taxable market value is commercial industrial property," a staff member noted, comparing it to Savage at 13.5% and Shakopee at over 26%. "The net tax capacity... 8.73% roughly of our tax burden in Prior Lake is on commercial industrial properties where Savage is pushing 25% and Shakopee is pushing 45%."
Community Concerns and Debate
The proposed change ignited a passionate discussion among residents, many expressing apprehension about the potential shift from commercial to high-density residential. Concerns ranged from increased traffic congestion, particularly on adjacent residential streets like Pond View Trail, to the aesthetic impact on the community's character and perceived strains on local infrastructure like schools and parks.
I like to call it like bait and switch reasoning. So when we move into Prior Lake you know 15, 20 years ago we love the small town feeling and uh we understand that the two existing adjacent properties like the P number 252690030 and 252690041 were zone commercial. We understood that. So we we put in a lot of time and effort to make the homes into our forever homes. But now that we talk about reszoning into the high-density residential areas, apartment complex, it feels like we're being, you know, in a put in a situation where is a bait and switch and it's a kind of a, you know, took out the trust of a long-term property owners...
Another resident, Robert Ericson, echoed a desire for thoughtful development, stating, "I think from a standpoint of the neighborhood in the community, we're not opposed to development. No one here has said we want to keep things exactly as they are. We are open to responsible development."
Balancing Growth and Legacy
Commissioners weighed the immediate concerns of residents against the city's long-term planning and economic needs. The discussion touched upon the city's comprehensive plan, which aims to diversify housing options and address economic development challenges.
If we don't grow responsibly and prudently, keeping the legacy in a place of honor while being really prudent in planning for the future, we will become obsolete. I know that sounds harsh to some of you, but we are facing some external forces. Some of which we know, some of which we can project, many of that which we don't know. And so that's the balance that we and then in concert with staff, in concert with city council and people at the Met Council, Met Council will be looking and watching.
With the Planning Commission's approval, the land use and zoning map amendment will now proceed to the Prior Lake City Council for final consideration. Future steps for the property would include a detailed site plan review and potentially a preliminary and final plat approval, which would address specific design, traffic, and infrastructure considerations.
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The applicant shall dedicate standard drainage and utility easements for lot one. The applicant shall submit an administrative subdivision to split indicated 566 square feet from 14145 Shady Beach Trail Northeast and combine that property with 14143 Shady Beach Trail Northeast via deed prior to or concurrent with the recording of the final plat.
If I look at the ordinance, um it says that the resulting lots and I'm going emphasis on the plural uh shall conform with all provisions of the zoning code. Going forward, can we see that that uh can we imagine that that other adjacent lot will have any issues? Would this be an opportunity to correct some of those issues?
So we have been provided very preliminary plans just to show that they can conform with all of the city's codes setbacks and impervious. Um, as of no means is it a final plan. So, we can't comment on that quite yet, but any kind of finished house will need to meet those minimums.
What is not included in the request tonight... this action is not a site plan approval. The action will not approve a preliminary or final planned unit development plan or a preliminary or final plat. So, some of the discussion may overlap those bounds, but just so the public is aware, the only thing being requested is a land use plan amendment and a reasonzoning.
4.43% of Prior Lakes's taxable market value is commercial industrial property. That compares to Savage at 13 and a half percent and Shakipi at over 26%. The net tax capacity... 8.73% roughly of our tax burden in Prior Lake is on commercial industrial properties where Savage is pushing 25% and Shakapi is pushing 45%.
As far as we can tell, the property has been listed for 5 years with the same broker. The broker's had next to no inquiries. It's never been under contract. Um and any interest that has come forward has been for multif family development.
I like to call it like bait and switch reasoning. So when we move into Praik you know 15 20 years ago we love the small town feeling and uh we understand that the two existing adjacent properties like the P number 252690030 and 252690041 were zone commercial. We understood that. So we we put in a lot of time and effort to make the homes into our forever homes. But now that we talk about reszoning into the highdensity residential areas, apartment complex, it feels like we're being, you know, in a put in a situation where is a bait and switch and it's a kind of a, you know, took out the trust of a long-term property owners...
I think from a a standpoint of the neighborhood in the community, we're not opposed to development. No one here has said we want to keep things exactly as they are. We are open to responsible development.
If we don't grow responsibly and prudently, keeping the legacy uh in a place of honor while being really prudent in planning for the future, we will become obsolete. I know that sounds harsh to some of you, but we are facing some external forces. some of which we know, some of which we can project, many of that which we don't know, right? And so that's that's the balance that we and then um in concert with staff, in concert with city council and people at the Met Council, Met Council will be looking will be looking and watching.
Source document
Tuesday, July 14th. If you would, please stand, join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much uh for coming before us this evening. Uh the first item on the agenda is the public forum, that opportunity for those in our council chambers to come before council and to anything that may be on your mind. Uh save those items uh that need to be reserved for a hearing. Is there anyone this evening that would like to come before us? Seeing none, council would go ahead and move along to item three on our agenda, which is the approval of the agenda itself. And I would entertain a motion to approve as submitted unless there are changes requested. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by council member Braid, second by council member Hellier to approve the agenda as submitted. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I, that motion carries, bringing us to item four on the agenda, which is the meeting minutes, and that is we're looking to approve the meeting minutes of June 23rd, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by council member Lake, second by council member Churchwell. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I, that motion carries, bringing us to the consent agenda this evening, which I will go ahead and turn over to City Manager Wedel to both introduce the consent agenda as well as those items before us. Manager Wedel. >> Thank you, Mayor and council members and members of the audience. So, the consent agenda is for those items that are considered routine or non-controversial. They're placed all together on the consent agenda. So, unless the Mayor or a council member asks for an item to be removed for separate consideration, they're all approved under a single motion, second, and a vote. If an item were to be removed from tonight's consent agenda, it would be placed under item 10 on the agenda. So, tonight we have the following items on consent. Approval of the claims listing. A resolution receiving quotes and awarding a contract for lighting updates at the library. Resolution approving a work order for architectural services for the fire station two remodel project. Resolution receiving quotes and awarding a contract for SCADA fiber installation. Approval of the May 2026 treasurer's report. Resolution approving a combined preliminary and final plat and development agreement for house addition. And finally, a resolution approving an amendment to the development agreement for Ridgewood Court. >> Thank you so much, Manager Wedel. Council are there any items that you would ask be removed from the consent agenda and taken up under item 10? If not, I would look for a motion to approve the consent agenda as submitted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Council member Bregg, second by Council member Hellier to approve the consent agenda. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. And that motion carries. Council, that brings us to item 11 this evening, which is our Council member liaison updates. And to kick us off, I look down to Council member Ethan Hellier. Council member Hellier. >> Thank you, Mayor, members of the Council. On June 23rd to the 25th, I and Mayor Bregg attended the League of Minnesota Cities annual meeting. On the 4th of July, I had the privilege of judging on the boat parade. And just want to say thank you to all the participants in the boat parade. There was a lot of really good submissions this year. And congratulations to the first place winner of the jaws boat. Very impressive. Planning Commission on the 6th and then agenda review yesterday. And that's it. >> Thank you so much, Council member Hellier. Council member Lake. >> Thank you, mayors, councilors. Um With enjoying a lot of the festivities with my family this holiday. Which is a great time here in Prior Lake. I had two things on my um items to report. Yesterday I attended EDA meeting and then uh on the 10th I attended my agenda review and that concludes my report. >> Thank you so much, Councilmember Lake. Councilmember Churchwell. >> Thank you, Mayor. I also had a family forward 4th of July and on the 10th I had my agenda review and I attended both days of Music Fest and it was a lot of fun. >> Outstanding, thank you. Councilmember Braide. >> Mayor, members of the council, I also celebrated the 250 years on the 4th of July. I'd like to say thank you to the Prairie Lake Association and all the supporters and donors for what a great event on the 4th and also the fireworks on the 5th. Um celebrated uh Music Fest. I would like to say like to say thank you to the Rotary Club for their tireless dedication to that great event and thank you to city staff and our PD for their efforts to keep things running smooth and safe. And then on 7/13 at EDA and also my agenda review. >> Thank you so much, Councilmember Braide. >> Um for my report, um want to come in on wonderful opportunity that Chief Dugan made available to ourselves to Manager Wedell and I, which was to visit the Minnetonka Police Department and look at their drone first response program. That was very enlightening. Manager Wedell and I had a wonderful meeting with the uh Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community on the 8th of July. Um I would like to also comment on Lake Front Music Fest as Councilmembers have have shared previous uh to all the great work the Rotary Club did. I also want to thank the Rotary Club for their generous, magnanimous gift of $200,000 to the city of Prairie Lake for us to make some improvements to our Lake Front Park. So, Rotary Club, um indeed you host a wonderful event and it brings so much benefit to our community and I want to thank you for that. Um and with that I'm going to go ahead and look to Manager Wedel to see if he has any comments for his update. >> Thank you, Mayor. Just one item of note for the community, the Planning Commission meeting for July 20th has been canceled due to a lack of business items for that meeting. >> With that, Council, I would entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Councilmember Reid, second by Councilmember Lake to adjourn the meeting. All those in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Aye. That That motion carries. Meeting is adjourned at 7:06.
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