Lake Elmo City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Story
Lake Elmo approves housing, park improvements, restaurant development
Friends of Sunfish Lake Park Recommendation Letter
RFP for Former Fire Station and Parks Building
Authorize Design Services for CASAW 14 Water Main Improvements
Votes (4)
Inwood Town Homes First Edition Final Plat and Easement Vacation along with Public Hearing
Dissent: Council Member Hearn voiced density concerns but ultimately voted in favor of the resolution.
Moved by Unknown [00:05:37] · Seconded by Unknown [00:05:38]
The presentation covered the history of the Inwood development, noting previous preliminary plat and PUD approvals. The focus was on the First Edition, consisting of 54 attached units, which aligns with high-density residential zoning. The request included vacating an existing drainage/utility easement and rededicating new ones, which staff supported as it cleans up property title work. Agency reviews provided standard comments and requested revisions, and the possibility of a crosswalk over Fifth Street to Ivywood Park was raised. The public hearing drew no formal comments.
Friends of Sunfish Lake Park Recommendation Letter
Moved by Unknown [00:08:44] · Seconded by Unknown [00:08:46]
The Assistant Public Works Director presented three proposals from Friends of Sunfish Lake Park for the 3M Priority 2 grant: buckthorn removal, a 300-foot boardwalk, and a fish advisory study. The council discussed concerns about the long-term maintenance of the boardwalk, with the applicant explaining that initial maintenance would be grant-funded for two years, after which the city would decide on continued maintenance. The design and construction of the boardwalk would follow an RFP process if the grant is awarded. Council members expressed strong support for the initiatives.
RFP, Former Fire Station and Parks Building
Moved by Council Member Jaguchich [00:23:01] · Seconded by Unknown [00:23:03]
Director Sto presented the EDA's recommendation for the Tap and Ladder Machete team to purchase and redevelop the former fire station and parks building. The proposal detailed plans for a tap house/restaurant and a Mexican restaurant, emphasizing preservation of historic character and community benefit. Council discussion focused on ensuring project completion through a purchase and development agreement with potential 'clawback' provisions, parking solutions (with the applicant confirming public access to their lot), and the need for staff to retain expert assistance for evaluating potential business subsidies or TIF funding. The applicants shared their experience with similar renovation projects.
Authorized Design Services for CASAW 14 Water Main Improvements
Moved by Unknown [00:29:43] · Seconded by Unknown [00:29:46]
City Engineer Nathan Stanley detailed the urgent need to replace a failing 6-inch water main on CASAW 14, which has experienced seven breaks in six years. The proposed solution is to upsize to a 12-inch main, use directional drilling to minimize road disruption, and strategically locate it deeper within the roadway to prevent conflicts with future county road projects. Discussion confirmed that the project would be funded by restricted capital from the water enterprise fund, rather than incurring new debt, aligning with the fund's purpose for asset renewal.
Notable Quotes (12)
Uh the first addition is to include 54 attached units which is a density of 11.7 units per acre which is within that allowable HDR density range.
The applicant is proposing to vacate this easement and rededicate necessary easements within the final plat. Um staff finds this request consistent with preliminary plat approvals and it cleans up the title work for the applicant.
I know I brought it up at the uh the preliminary plat I I do have some concerns for the the density um that I brought up at that time. But from the preliminary to the final um everything appears to be the same. So that's why I'll be voting in favor.
Again, the forestry one is to continue the buckthorn removal in Sunfish Lake. Uh the boardwalk is to prepare or create a 300 foot um boardwalk that would cross the be the northeast west side of Sunfish Lake. And then the fish advisor would be doing a study of the fish uh that are currently in there uh to see the rehab of any POS that do if they are contaminated with POS and um post those findings for the public.
The proposal asks for two years of maintenance after it's finished out of the contract that we get. And then the city would have to decide whether to keep maintaining.
I just want to thank Tony number one for taking the time to issue these and to ask the settlement team for it. Don't know if he'll get it or not, but there's there's a set amount of money and we know members of other communities are asking for dollars from the same fund. So, if we have a chance to add assets to the community because a member of our community stepped up, we are better for it.
The fire station will be transformed into tap ladder, a selfport tap house and casual dining restaurant with approximately 150 seats... The parks building will become the second location of machete cosina Mexicanana... Known for its bu vibrant flavors, handcrafted tortillas and signature quesadota.
I don't mean to speak so much, but um one thing I I would like the council to consider adding to this motion is as we move forward and we look at perhaps business subsidies and Tiff has mentioned in in this as a possibility and all those things that's going to require a lot of analysis um and expertise we don't have on staff and I think we should add a motion or add to this motion that authorizes staff to get that expertise they need.
So this is our third time that we would be doing this... we've uh kind of done projects all over. We've we have we have, you know, Machete and Woodbury. We also own all the Los restaurants. Uh Suburban Avenue is the one that uh was the first project that that they did and that was condemned by the city of St. Paul and it was going to be knocked down... and I'm not really like worried I guess or concerned. Um we've seen a lot of I think crazier things than what what we've seen here.
Um unfortunately it still is not in in the CIP and the and the the water mean has deteriorated to a state where we are um facing um [clears throat] it's it's it's reached the end of its natural life or its service life rather. Um there has been uh seven breaks in the last six years with five of those coming in the last three.
Um the existing main runs kind of along the southern edge of the right of way. Um the new main we'd like to push out into the roadway um and and maybe actually coordinate some extra depth so that um you know with any future improvements to the county road uh we're able to leave the main in place.
In our water and sewer fund, the whack and sack charges and the connection fees are restricted by council policy for either uh asset renewal and replacement or payment of debt service... So given the construction we've had in the last few years, I would guess that we have restricted funds sufficient to cover $800,000 $850,000.
Ordinances & Resolutions (21)
Approved on the consent agenda
City council approved this ordinance related to lot size, setbacks, impervious surface, public street frontage, and spacing flexibilities for Inwood Town Homes
Approved the easement vacation request by M&I Homes for Inwood Town Homes
Approved the final plat and final PUD for the Inwood Town Home Development
City's comprehensive plan guiding the Inwood Town Homes property as high-density residential
Planned Unit Development, a type of zoning approval for Inwood Town Homes
Final approval document for the Inwood Town Homes subdivision
Initial approval document for the Inwood Town Homes subdivision (approved in 2014 and June this year)
Environmental Assessment Worksheet, included in the Inwood preliminary plat approval in 2014
Capital Improvement Plan, specifically the county's plan which the CASAW 14 water main project is not currently included in
Request for Proposal, issued by the city for the former fire station and parks building
Grant fund from 3M settlement for aquatic resources, wildlife habitat, fishing, and recreational opportunities
Approved for Lake Elmo Association 3M priority 2 grant; also for Friends of Sunfish Lake Park's grant application
Proposed agreement to be negotiated for the sale of the former fire station and parks building
Policy the city may need to adopt if business subsidies are requested for the fire station project
Tax Increment Financing, a potential financial tool mentioned for the fire station project
City plan providing guidance for downtown Lake Elmo development
Restricted fund source for the water enterprise fund, used for asset renewal or debt service
Restricted fund source for the water enterprise fund, used for asset renewal or debt service
Resolution restricting the use of water and sewer fund charges for capital expenditures or debt service
Design documents authorized for the CASAW 14 water main improvements