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Council approves Bluff View PUD amendment to add 25 lots, preserve bluff land
Summary
Shakopee City Council approved ordinance O2025-001 and resolution R2025-004 to amend Planned Unit Development District 10 (Bluff View) and the preliminary plat, increasing lots to 247 and reserving bluff/open space; councilors raised concerns about bluff preservation and stormwater runoff.
The Shakopee City Council on March 4 approved changes to the Bluff View planned unit development that add lots and formalize open-space protections while drawing questions from councilors about bluff access and runoff management.
City planner Mike Kirsky reviewed the amendment to PUD District 10 and an amended preliminary plat for the Windermere neighborhood. The developer (D.R. Horton, with Pulte handling an adjacent final plat) is proposing 247 single-family lots, up from the 222 lots approved in 2022. The amendment adds narrower product types — some 52-foot lots and 18 lots at 42 feet wide — to broaden housing options, and it dedicates roughly 24 acres of bluff/open space as part of the project.
Kirsky told the council the project will be built in two phases, with road construction coordinated with an adjacent Palomino Trails phase and the developer’s timetable calling for neighborhood roads to be completed by 2026. The city is negotiating to purchase portions of bluff land from the Ties family; staff said an appraisal is under way and that acquisition work would likely conclude later in the year.
Council discussion touched on several recurring concerns. Council Member Whiting and others said the council’s earlier vision called for public-facing boulevard and bluff amenities and asked whether the amendments effectively privatize bluff views by extending backyards. Engineering staff and the planner said the lots are located on the flat area above the bluff and that the nominated purple area on the development map represents dedicated open space; staff noted endangered species were found in the area during review and said large disturbances would be avoided.
Councilor Contreras moved to approve ordinance O2025-001 amending PUD District 10; Councilor Lara seconded the motion and the council approved it. Councilor Lara then moved approval of resolution R2025-004 amending the preliminary plat; the motion was seconded by Mr. Delaney and the council approved the resolution. No roll-call tallies were read into the record; the mayor called for voice votes and announced the motions passed.
Council members also requested extra attention to stormwater and bluff runoff during engineering and grading; staff said they will apply stricter engineering review during grading and final plat stages. The council approved the ordinance and resolution during the meeting’s business session.
