Planning commission approves 164‑unit Hadley Avenue apartments amid resident concerns over traffic, stormwater and schools

The Cottage Grove Planning Commission approved a comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning and site plan review that will allow Real Estate Equities to build a 164‑unit apartment building at 10015 Hamlet Avenue. The commission voted 7‑0 to recommend approval to the City Council, subject to the conditions in the staff report.

Staff told the commission the 4.7‑acre parcel is currently guided as medium‑density residential in the 2040 comprehensive plan (5–13 units per acre) but that density can be transferred from a nearby Department of Natural Resources parcel so the site can be reguided as high‑density residential (14–30 units per acre). Planning staff said the project, as proposed, works out to roughly 21 units per acre.

“High density development here would function as a buffer between the industrial area and the single family and townhouse residences,” a staff presenter said, explaining the proposed transfer of about 50 units of density from the DNR parcel. Staff also said the Metropolitan Council’s sector representative confirmed the amendment could be handled administratively because it meets the council’s criteria for administrative review.

The developer proposes a four‑story building with one level of underground parking. Enrica…