The Lake Elmo City Council voted to approve the final plat and final planned-unit development (PUD) for the Inwood Townhomes first addition and adopted an easement vacation requested by applicant MNI Homes of Minneapolis. The council adopted resolution 2025-066 approving the easement vacation and resolution 2025-067 approving the final plat and final PUD by voice votes.

City planning staff told the council the Inwood preliminary plat and PUD originally were approved in February 2014 and that first-through-fifth additions (single-family detached units) were developed between 2015 and 2017. The proposal before the council adds 54 attached units—about 11.7 units per acre—which staff said falls within the property’s High Density Residential (HDR) guidance in the city comprehensive plan.

Staff presented the final plat, which includes a private street (Outlot A), several outlots for future development and the requested easement vacation. The easement being vacated currently covers drainage and utility functions on part of the property; the applicant proposed rededicating any necessary easements within the final plat. Staff said agency reviewers—watershed, fire department, landscape architect, city attorney and city engineer—provided standard comments and requested revisions that will be addressed through the conditions of approval.

Planner Miss Jensen summarized staff findings that the application meets PUD minimum requirements and three specific PUD objectives: transitions between land uses, housing diversity and coordination of architecture and building form. Staff recommended seven findings of consistency (including with the city’s 2040 comprehensive plan and subdivision regulations) and 11 conditions of approval, largely standard items such as satisfying agency review memos, entering required agreements and securing permits.

The easement vacation required a public hearing; staff said the notice was published on Sept. 26 and mailed to surrounding property owners on Sept. 22 and that no formal public comments were received. During council discussion one member said they had raised density concerns during the preliminary plat review but that the final application remained the same and that member would vote in favor.

Council members adopted resolution 2025-066 (easement vacation) and resolution 2025-067 (final plat and final PUD) by voice vote. The motions were made and seconded on the record; the transcript records the roll call as voice “aye” responses only.

Council and staff noted an outstanding design question about a potential pedestrian crossing across Fifth Street to improve access to Ivywood Park; public works will evaluate that crossing under the city’s crosswalk policy and bring designs back to council later.

The approvals clear administrative and title issues and allow the applicant to proceed with plat recording, utility and construction permitting subject to the staff conditions and the standard recording requirement for any easement vacation.

The council moved on to other business after the approvals.