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Parks commission recommends cash-in-lieu for 272-unit Inwood preliminary plat
Summary
City of Lake Elmo Parks Commission voted to recommend approval of the Inwood Eighth (Towns of Inwood) preliminary plat and PUD, endorsing acceptance of a fee in lieu of parkland based on staff findings.
The City of Lake Elmo Parks Commission recommended approval of the Inwood Eighth (Towns of Inwood) preliminary plat and planned unit development, with staff’s recommendation that the city accept a fee in lieu of land for park dedication.
The proposal, presented by city planning staff as an application from M and I Homes, covers roughly 19 acres and would include about 272 housing units consisting of an apartment building and townhomes. The staff report said Ivywood Park was dedicated with earlier phases of Inwood, leaving an existing park credit of 1.16 acres to apply toward the current site; after applying that credit the outstanding dedication obligation is 0.77 acres. Staff estimated a fee in lieu at about $90,000, based on Washington County GIS assessor values, with the final amount to be set at final plat and development agreement.
Staff identified two parks-related findings under the city comprehensive plan: the project is not within a park-search area, and the property lies less than one mile from two neighborhood parks, Stonegate Park (about 6 acres) and Ivywood Park (about 12 acres). Staff also reported the site is along a neighborhood trail search corridor on Fifth Street but that an existing sidewalk and a trail on the north side of Fifth Street provide connectivity; no qualifying trails were proposed that would meet park-credit criteria.
Commissioners discussed whether money collected could be designated for improvements at Ivywood Park, given the development history, and noted that final allocation could also be considered during the budget process. After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend approval with acceptance of cash in lieu of land; another commissioner seconded the motion. The motion was carried and the commission voted to recommend the plat and the fee-in-lieu option to the City Council. The transcript does not specify individual vote counts for that motion.
The commission’s recommendation forwards a land‑use and park‑dedication choice to the City Council; staff indicated the fee amount will be finalized in the final plat and development agreement stages.
