Planning Commission Meeting: Lakeville, MN

September 22nd, 2005 in Lakeville, South Metro

Went to the Lakeville Planning Commission meeting at Lakeville’s City Hall for a public discussion of a proposed townhouse development across the street from mine.

Even though Lakeville isn’t the town I live in, they notified us of the meeting by mail and I decided to attend as it directly impacts my home.

I have no stance on the issue as they are planning a 16 unit residential community called Sunrise Village. If they had been planning to add a gas station on that lot it would have been a different story.

There were eight people in attendence from the community (including me). I’m amazed that that few people give a shit about their town.

Agenda item #5 was the Spangler’s request for a conditional use permit to make an addition to their 2.25 acre property. Their existing garage is not acceptable for storing their vehicles so they have asked to add an attached garage to their home that’s greater than 1500 sq. ft (1639 sq. ft — less than 2% of their total lot area). They must submit $1650 to escrow to insure that their improvements to the existing garage and driveway will be completed by 7/1/2006. The commission recommends approval of their conditional usage permit. The commissioner had some nice and humorous comments with regards to the old garage and the approved the motion to go before city council.

Sunrise Village, RL Jansen, contractor was next.

Richard Jansen proposed a 16 unit (4 buildings) townhome unit for the SW corner of 160th St W and Flagstaff in Lakeville. One phase and no future plans. 34 significant trees were on the site and no wetlands. They plan to keep 50% of the existing trees.

Four, four unit buildings that will be built with part brick and part vinyl siding. They will include basements. The area will include eight guest parking stalls and they presented a revision to the guest parking due to concerns that they were entroaching on the berm and thus would require retaining walls. The developers exceed the green space by 3x (30%). The planning committee recommended approval.

The planning comission did ask that the builders update their floorplans to include a larger garage area in order to meet Lakeville’s minimum (440 sq ft).

Kerrin Swecker (the Chair) was concerned about the width of the private drive and whether emergency vehicles would be able to fit through when both sides of the drive were used for parking. Because the city has no jurisdiction on a private drive they would have to ask to add a stipulation to the incorporation of the home owners association to eliminate parking on one side of the road. The city engineer fell back on “neighbors being considerate” and not blocking their neighbors driveways as “evidence” that it probably wouldn’t be a problem. The Chair’s concerns were elliviated after the explanation and her own realization that the drive was mostly a driveway access.

The site can only access off of Flagstaff and there’s no way to allow access to CR 46. The planners have worked with the builder to make sure that all the unit’s driveways remain far from the Flagstaff intersection by increasing the drives to 28 feet (stipulation #14). They will be able to make lefts and rights onto Flagstaff.

Gerald Grenz was very concerned with their emergency vehicles not getting through without damaging resident’s vehicles. The builder is willing to post unenforceable no parking signs and add the stipulation (#13) to the homeowner’s association. The Associate Planner used other townhouse developments with similar plans as proof that it wouldn’t be an issue. Mr. Grenz was adament.

Mr. Grenz also was concerned about snow placement and the builder referred to the snow plow contrctor and the future decisions of the association.

The commissioners approved moving this to City Council unamimously.

I left the meeting following the decision.

See all the pictures from today here.