The discussion of the final plat for West Creek Village First Edition highlighted a critical oversight in the final approval. During a previous meeting in June, the council approved the preliminary plat with a condition to include sidewalks on both sides of a street. However, this condition was absent in the current final approval, leading to notable concern among council members. One member pointedly remarked on the issue, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the previously established conditions. Following this, the council reached a consensus, proposing a new motion to incorporate the sidewalk requirement into the approval resolution. This motion passed unanimously.

The conversation then shifted to Downtown West Third Edition, with a detailed presentation by City Planner Brian McCann. The development, located near Highway 5 and Stiger Lake Lane, encompasses city-owned parcels totaling about 12.5 acres. Plans include four commercial buildings, two condominium townhouse buildings, a mixed-use building, and a public plaza.

A primary concern for the Downtown West Third Edition was the proposed 55-foot mixed-use building, which exceeds the standard height limit of 50 feet, requiring a conditional use permit (CUP). The council scrutinized the CUP application, focusing on compliance with local zoning codes, health and safety standards, and landscaping requirements. Access to the development from Highway 5 was another focal point, with the current design featuring a right-in, right-out access point. Discussions with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) about potentially allowing full access are ongoing, but the current design complicates left-turns due to a median.

Parking also garnered attention, with the development proposing 204 publicly available parking stalls, slightly below the 210 required. The design anticipates shared parking usage, allowing users to park once and access multiple venues. Residential units will have parking spaces underneath the buildings, augmenting the available parking capacity. Landscaping plans include the planting of over 250 trees, despite the near-total removal of existing trees on the site. The council acknowledged the developer’s efforts to meet boulevard tree spacing requirements and other landscaping standards.

The project falls within the shoreland overlay district, necessitating adherence to specific regulatory considerations due to its proximity to local lakes. Buildings comply with the 150-foot ordinary high water line setback, and the impervious surface ratio remains below the maximum allowable limit. The council noted that the developer anticipates meeting exemption criteria, which would allow them to bypass certain analyses typically required for larger residential units.

One member remarked on the development’s alignment with the desired community space, expressing satisfaction with the project’s progress. However, questions regarding access to the site from Highway 5 persisted, with the council seeking clarity on whether a full-access solution might be feasible in the future.