Lake Elmo City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Royal Golf Conditional Use Permits and Variance
Landscape Ordinance Zoning Text Amendments
2025-2034 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
2025 Planning Commission Work Plan
Votes (4)
Royal Golf Conditional Use Permits and Variance
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Styles [0:46:11] · Seconded by Commissioner Reeze [0:46:20]
The discussion centered on Royal Golf Development Incorporated's requests for a clubhouse expansion, two pickleball courts, and a variance for increased impervious surface. City staff presented details on each request, including the property's zoning, the scope of additions, and the rationale for the variance given the parcel's unique context within the larger golf course property. Staff confirmed that the proposals met city findings and criteria, and no public comments were received.
Landscape Ordinance Zoning Text Amendments
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Styles [1:12:35] · Seconded by Commissioner Reeze [1:12:44]
The presentation by H KGI, the city's landscape architect, focused on significant revisions to the tree preservation and landscaping ordinances. The goal is to ensure healthier landscapes by clarifying standards, adopting DOT specifications, requiring pre-installation conferences, and strengthening warranty enforcement. Commissioners discussed the stringency of the new rules, the importance of early communication with contractors, and the long-term benefits for the city's green spaces. It was noted that new projects would be subject to these updated codes.
2025-2034 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner B [1:28:47] · Seconded by Commissioner Breeze [1:28:53]
Finance Director Clarissa Hadler presented the city's 10-year Capital Improvement Program, a comprehensive plan for capital expenditures totaling $162 million. The presentation detailed projects across administrative, building, fire, and public works departments, with infrastructure (streets, water, sewer, storm water) making up the vast majority. Discussion included the value of the 10-year plan for financial forecasting and asset management, as well as the methodology for project cost estimation.
2025 Planning Commission Work Plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner B [1:37:37] · Seconded by Commissioner Breeze [1:37:43]
Sophia presented the draft 2025 Planning Commission Work Plan, reviewing accomplishments from 2024 and introducing new and adjusted items for the upcoming year. Key new priorities include developing cannabis regulations, reviewing the Old Village area zoning, and promoting sustainability through various programs, as well as implementing an interactive city map. The discussion emphasized the importance of these topics, particularly the ongoing work on cannabis regulations, and the utility of the new interactive map for both residents and developers.
Notable Quotes (11)
I like that uh the golf course can't exist without the clubhouse and the clubh can't exist without the golf course so they kind to me they go hand inhand and there's plenty of Imperia surface on the on the golf course so for that reason I'm in favor of it
I'd have to agree with the fact that I don't like the idea of more impervious surfaces... but I can't argue with it I think City staff outlined pretty well um how it meets uh the characteristics that we need to so an agreeance as well
contractors aren't clearly understanding project requirements initial installations aren't being complet completed correctly so they're not following the city's current planting details common problems with high levels of occurrence so we're seeing the same problems over and over and over again sometimes in the same development
as a resident of the City of Lake ELO I think this is awesome um thanks for being the landscape police I've seen it happen in my backyard it just keeps getting better um so I appreciate that
as a developer and contractor by day I think this is really stringent so um we don't see something this you know robust every day however I do appreciate the fact that it's going to be upfront you know it's going to be in the in the landscape review it's going to be um have a pre-construction meeting I I would encourage the fact that when we're when you are reviewing the plans making sure that the Landscape Architects for the developers and the contractors are putting all of these requirements right on the drawings so that when the contractor buys the Landscaping package the landscapers have that all included too so the more things that can be communicated every level down the easier it is
The Minnesota land planning act requires that the implementation plan portion of the comprehensive plan include a CIP for major infrastructure needs for a 5-year period again we've gone to a 10-year period so if you guys are here for a few years you will likely see this plan continue to grow so we're just really getting a much better idea of what our long-term needs are for the city
the good and the bad part of having the plan is you know what you're needing to f right and so then you have to come up for the money with the money for it so um it has been very eye opening to go to the tenure
I'm glad to hear that the confidence is still high in the 10e because it gives a better better planning
a new item is reviewing and implementing cannabis regulations another new item is reviewing the city's Old Village area zoning map and future land use map in relationship to that study we completed earlier this year
I really like the interactive city map for residents and probably also for developers too because I'm sure you get a lot of calls from developers like hey what's this zoned and what can I try to put here so I think that would be a really useful feature on the city's website
I feel like with the oncoming state regulations that it's probably going to be a pretty important Hot Topic MH for us to get our arms around even though I didn't show up to the workshop yesterday it was I learned a lot holy cow it's amazing yeah it was I enjoyed the joint with a city council for things like that
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Planned Unit Development overlay guiding requirements for the Royal Golf property, specifically requiring a CUP for clubhouse expansion.
Zoning overlay affecting part of the Royal Golf parcel.
Primary zoning classification for the Royal Golf property, with specific impervious surface and outdoor recreation use requirements.
Required for clubhouse expansion and outdoor recreation facility (pickleball courts) at Royal Golf.
Requested by Royal Golf to exceed the impervious surface limit in the Golf Course Community zoning district.
Guiding document for land use; Royal Golf property is guided as 'Golf Course'. Also, the CIP must be consistent with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Proposed changes to the Tree Preservation and Landscaping Ordinances.
Industry standard adopted for city landscaping and tree preservation guidelines.
Multi-year capital expenditure plan for city infrastructure, vehicles, and buildings.
The city's long-range plan against which the CIP's consistency is evaluated.
Annual plan outlining the commission's priorities and tasks for the upcoming year.
New regulations being developed and reviewed by the Planning Commission.
Sustainability initiatives the city plans to promote and implement.
Amended and adopted in August 2024 as part of the 2024 work plan.
Amended in October 2024 as part of the 2024 work plan.