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Lakeville Planning Commission recommends approval of Taco Bell conditional use permit at Marketplace at Cedar
Summary
The Lakeville City Planning Commission voted unanimously Oct. 2 to recommend City Council approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a Taco Bell with a drive‑through at the Marketplace at Cedar, subject to four stipulations and recording of the final plat.
The Lakeville City Planning Commission on Oct. 2 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Taco Bell restaurant with a drive‑through at the Marketplace at Cedar, a planned commercial parcel south of 170 Ninth Street and east of Cedar Avenue.
The CUP recommendation, moved by Commissioner Kaluza and seconded (second not specified in the record), was made after staff presented site plans showing a roughly 2,800‑square‑foot building, 32 parking spaces, and drive‑through stacking that meets the ordinance requirement of 180 feet. The motion recommended approval of the findings of fact dated Oct. 2, 2025, and approval subject to the four stipulations listed in the planning memo dated Sept. 25, 2025.
Planning Manager Chris Jensen explained that the site is in the M2 Mixed Use Cedar Corridor District, which allows commercial uses and higher‑density residential uses. Jensen said the Marketplace at Cedar plat is expected to be on the City Council agenda for final plat approval on Oct. 20, and staff noted the CUP will be subject to recording of that plat because there is no buildable lot until the plat is recorded.
The applicant representative, Mr. Dolling of Marvin Development, said Marvin has worked with the overall development manager on site location and orientation and believes the Taco Bell is a good fit for the property and neighborhood. He described operations standards for the chain and said Taco Bell generally does not plan for separate “pull‑forward” waiting parking and expects most deliveries to occur early in the morning before opening.
Commissioners asked about customer circulation during peak periods and delivery truck movements if the adjacent western parcel is not developed. Mr. Dolling said deliveries typically occur before opening and that Marvin and the development manager have discussed interim circulation and would work to provide additional site entry options if the adjacent parcel does not develop as planned. Staff noted truck turning movements were shown on the plan and that the site includes a second drive lane intended to allow vehicles to bypass the queue if necessary.
Staff recommended approval subject to an updated landscape plan addressing city forestry comments (additional evergreens and an additional overstory tree to meet spacing and mitigate headlight impacts), updated screening for the menu board and transformer, and that the landscaping plan be revised before the item goes to City Council. Staff also noted signage will require separate permits.
The roll call vote on the recommendation was recorded as Kaluza—Aye; Zimmer—Aye; Eink—Aye; Swaney—Aye; Swanson—Aye; Traffes—Aye. The commission recorded the motion as passing unanimously and thanked the applicant for the investment in Lakeville City.
The commission’s recommendation moves the CUP to the City Council, which staff indicated is expected to consider the final plat and related approvals at the Oct. 20, 2025, Council meeting. The CUP approval at the council will remain contingent on the plat being recorded so that a legal lot exists for the development.
