Council approves rezoning, prelim plat and comp‑plan amendment for Cheval parcel; ordinance adopted

Council approves Cheval (Talaro Curve) preliminary plat, rezoning and comp‑plan amendment The Chaska City Council voted Aug. 18 to approve a set of land‑use actions for a 30‑acre property in the Cheval neighborhood known in the record as the Stoeffner/horse‑pasture parcel near Bavaria Road and 80th Street. The actions included approval of a preliminary plat, rezoning of the developable portion to a planned residential district and a comprehensive plan amendment and MUSA boundary adjustment necessary to proceed. Ashley (city staff member) outlined the applications and key technical elements: the plan proposes 10 new single‑family lots in the southwest corner of the site, accessed by a new cul‑de‑sac connecting at Talaro Curve; an outlot to hold stormwater and berming; and conservation easement placement over the remaining ~23.5 acres to preserve the pasture and adjacent woods. Ashley said the lot sizes in the proposal were increased to approximately 7,700 square feet (to align with nearby Talaro Villas) and that the project team continued to refine lot widths and grading limits before final plat. Why the comprehensive plan amendment was required Staff explained that a comp‑plan amendment was required because prior amendments to Chaska’s long‑range plan (including a 2006 change) had left the subject parcel outside the current MUSA/land‑use exhibits. Metropolitan Council staff confirmed that a formal comp‑plan amendment and MUSA boundary revision were necessary to re‑guide the parcel consistent with the 2006 Cheval approvals. Ashley told the council staff supports the amendment in concept but said additional detail on the view‑shed and landscaping is needed before final approval. Developer presentation and neighborhood concerns Megan Rogers, attorney for Quadriga Ventures (the developer), described the plan as a continuation of the Cheval development pattern and asked council for flexibility on two pie‑shaped lots that have constrained frontage but meet the project’s required lot area. Megan said the design maintains the one‑third/two‑thirds developable‑to‑preserved land ratio established for Cheval and requested staff and the HOA continue to coordinate on the right‑of‑way and construction access details. Several residents had participated in earlier meetings and the planning‑commission hearing; concerns raised included construction access sequencing, tree and off‑site root‑zone impacts, snow storage and sidewalk connections to the existing Talaro Curve neighborhood. Staff and the applicant said they would continue to work with the Talaro Villas HOA to finalize an access and sidewalk solution; one planning‑commission recommendation was to pursue a full sidewalk loop if the HOA can convey the narrow strip needed to link sidewalks around the existing bulb. Council votes and formal actions The council adopted the resolutions and ordinance related to the project on Aug. 18. The record shows these formal actions: Resolution 2025‑46 (preliminary plat approval), Resolution 2025‑47 (rezoning/preliminary plan consistency) and Ordinance No. 10‑68 (zoning change to PRD‑89). Motions and seconds recorded in the minutes: Resolution 2025‑46 was moved by Council Member Hatfield and seconded by Council Member Graf; Resolution 2025‑47 was moved by Council Member Hatfield and seconded by Council Member Benesch. Ordinance No. 10‑68 was moved by Council Member Chevlin and seconded by Mayor Hubbard. Each motion carried after the recorded voice votes. Planning staff noted that final plat and engineering will require further coordination and conditions addressing landscaping, off‑site grading impacts, sidewalk connections and stormwater details. What remains to be resolved Staff listed outstanding items to resolve at final plat: refined landscaping and view‑shed sections to meet the green‑belt guidance, coordination on off‑site tree impacts and grading limits, a definitive sidewalk termination/connection plan with the HOA, final stormwater engineering and clarification of conservation easement boundaries. Staff also said the developer must keep the lot configuration consistent with the 2.41 acres allocated for development in the site’s prior planning exhibits. Next steps After tonight’s approvals, the developer will continue engineering and neighborhood coordination toward a final plat submittal. Staff emphasized that final approvals will include detailed landscaping, grading and utility plans and that the council will review the final plat when the conditions are satisfied.