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Board conditionally approves Lydia-area comprehensive plan amendment, forwards to Met Council
Summary
The county board conditionally approved a plan amendment to re-guide 10 properties in the Lydia/Spring Lake Township area to a rural business reserve designation and authorized submission to the Metropolitan Council. The move drew both township support and resident opposition over wetlands, floodplain and traffic concerns.
The Scott County Board on Jan. 21 conditionally approved a comprehensive plan amendment that changes the planned land use for 10 properties in the Lydia area of Spring Lake Township from "transition area" to "rural business reserve," and authorized submission of the amendment to the Metropolitan Council for its review.
Why it matters: The change is intended to enable rural-business and light industrial uses — manufacturing, contractor yards, landscaping, trucking and similar uses — and to create buildable lots that could attract businesses needing outdoor storage or warehouse/office space. Spring Lake Township and the CDA cited the need for space for businesses to relocate or grow; opponents raised concerns about wetlands, floodplain impacts, stormwater, noise, lighting and traffic.
What the board approved Planning Director Brad Davis presented the request and noted that the Spring Lake Township board and property owners commissioned additional engineering work (including a FEMA letter of map amendment and floodplain delineation) before the planning commission returned a recommendation. The planning commission recommended approval on a 6–1 vote.
The Board voted to conditionally approve the amendment and to send it to the Metropolitan Council for the required 60-day review. If the Met Council finds the amendment consistent, staff said the county would return for final adoption; at that point property owners could apply for zoning, platting and conditional-use permits as needed. Staff estimated Metropolitan Council review could take roughly a month to six weeks, and that rezoning/platting applications could follow immediately afterward.
Public comment and concerns Residents who spoke in opposition cited potential local flooding, wildlife and wetland impacts, stormwater runoff, the intersection safety at County Road 10 and State Highway 13, outdoor lighting and increased noise. Planning staff and the property owner’s consultant said the letter of map amendment reduced the mapped floodplain in parts of the site and that the proposed frontage road alignment avoids mapped floodways. The watershed district asked the township and applicant to consider upstream storage and appropriate buffer and ditch crossing designs.
Next steps and conditions County staff said detailed site work is still required before lot creation or building permits: wetland delineations, floodplain and floodway confirmation, culvert sizing and specific traffic-impact analyses will be required as part of future plat and zoning applications. The township is conducting a larger land-use and transportation study of the quadrant between County Road 8 and County Road 10; staff said that study will further inform long-range planning.
Vote and process The planning commission recommended approval 6–1; the Board conditionally approved the amendment and authorized submission to the Metropolitan Council. The board’s conditional approval requires further project-level review as parcels move toward rezoning and platting.
Quote "This amendment allows those property owners a chance to do this type of development," Planning Director Brad Davis said, and he noted that the proposed frontage road design avoids mapped floodway areas.
Ending The Board’s action was preliminary: if the Met Council concurs, the county will return for final adoption and then accept applications for zoning and platting that would include more detailed environmental, traffic and drainage studies.
