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Lake Elmo council approves final plat and easement vacation for Inwood Townhomes; 54 attached units cleared
Summary
The Lake Elmo City Council approved a final plat and PUD and vacated an existing drainage easement for the Inwood Townhomes first edition, a 54-unit attached development proposed by MNI Homes. Staff recommended seven findings of fact and 11 conditions of approval; no members of the public spoke at the hearing.
The Lake Elmo City Council voted to approve a final plat and planned-unit development and to vacate an existing drainage easement for the Inwood Townhomes first edition, a 54-unit attached housing project proposed by MNI Homes, city planning staff said.
Planning staff told the council the property is zoned high-density residential under the Inwood PUD and guided as high-density residential in the city’s comprehensive plan. "In summary, staff is recommending 7 findings of fact related to consistency with the 2040 comp plan, the zoning district, subdivision regulations, preliminary plat and PUD, and design standards," said Miss Jensen, city planning staff, who presented the item. She said staff recommended 11 conditions of approval, mostly standard items such as satisfying agency review memos, entering required agreements, paying fees and obtaining permits.
The first-edition proposal calls for 54 attached units at a density of 11.7 units per acre, which staff said falls within the allowable high-density residential range. Jensen said the preliminary plat and PUD were originally approved in February 2014 and that the overall preliminary plat was approved for 271 units. The applicant is MNI Homes of Minneapolis.
Staff described an existing drainage/utility easement that crosses part of the site; the applicant asked to vacate that easement and to rededicate necessary easements on the final plat. Jensen said agency reviewers provided standard comments: the watershed agency indicated a permit is in place; the fire department provided comments on drive lanes, addressing and access; the landscape architect found the tree preservation and landscape plans met standards (with previously approved PUD flexibilities); the city attorney provided a plat opinion with revisions; and the city engineer requested revisions. Jensen also said staff had received a small number of resident inquiries about a future pedestrian crossing over Fifth Street to access Ivywood Park and that the city’s new crosswalk policy could allow a crossing design, which would be brought back to the council later.
Jensen said the easement vacation and final plat were noticed: published in the local paper on Sept. 26 and mailed to surrounding property owners on Sept. 22. "Staff has not received any formal public comment at this time," she said. The public hearing produced no speakers.
The council adopted Resolution 2025-066 to approve the easement vacation and Resolution 2025-067 to approve the final plat and final PUD. Both measures passed on voice votes during the meeting. The council’s action clears title issues for the applicant and allows the rededicated easements and final plat to be recorded subject to the conditions set by staff.
Next steps cited by staff include satisfying agency review comments, entering required agreements, paying applicable fees, obtaining building and signage permits, and recording the notice of vacation with the county if the easement vacation is finalized. Jensen said the crosswalk design, if pursued, would return to the council for review.
