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Developers present Tamarack master plan for Grey Cloud area; commission opens concept review and public questions
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Summary
Tamarack Land Development presented a conceptual master plan Oct. 13 for about 250 acres east of Grey Cloud Island Trail proposing single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, neighborhood commercial space and parks; the commission and public raised traffic, utility and stormwater concerns.
Tamarack Land Development presented a conceptual master plan for roughly 250 acres east of Grey Cloud Island Trail at the Oct. 13 Saint Paul Park Planning Commission meeting, proposing a mix of housing types — single-family homes on a variety of lot widths, townhomes and apartment pads — plus a neighborhood commercial pad and parkland.
Reid Schultz, development manager for Tamarack Land Development, told commissioners the concept is at an early, pre-engineering stage: the plan is intended to show product mix and general phasing and to solicit commission and community feedback before an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW), engineering, and preliminary plat work begin. “We are looking for your feedback tonight … this is a very much conceptual plan,” Schultz said. He estimated the project could be phased over multiple years and that construction activity might begin as early as fall 2026, depending on engineering, permitting and market conditions.
City staff said the proposal generally aligns with the current comprehensive plan guidance for 3–5 units per acre in that area and noted the project will require an EAW, traffic and utility feasibility studies and city engineer review. Planner Nate Sparks said the developer will need to address utility routing, stormwater corridors, and multiple connections to the city’s north-side utility network rather than a single feed. Sparks also noted that the Met Council’s future density expectations are likely to be higher, which the city will consider during later stages of review.
Commissioners and members of the public raised multiple operational concerns. Neighbors and a Grama Township board member urged attention to roadway ownership and capacity along Grey Cloud Island Drive (a county road) and adjacent township-owned segments, potential transfer of maintenance responsibility if improvements are made, and safety at existing curves and intersections. A resident said the southeast corner of the site fills with water during spring melt and asked how stormwater would be handled.
Other issues raised included bedrock variability and the potential need for slab-on-grade construction where basements are not feasible, impacts on city public works and fire services and facilities, and the potential need for lift stations or additional infrastructure. Sparks and the applicant said those items would be evaluated during engineering and EAW processes; the applicant agreed to consider greenways, pocket parks and buffers to reduce single-family exposure to the railroad.
Tamarack’s concept shows approximately 950 dwelling units in total as a planning estimate; Schultz said that number could rise or fall as engineering and market factors are resolved. The developer indicated flexibility on the amount of commercial acreage (the concept shows about 5 acres but staff noted 10 acres had been contemplated in earlier plans).
The commission accepted public comment, asked clarifying questions about phasing and traffic routing, and closed the public hearing on the concept plan. No formal action was taken; staff and the applicant will proceed to technical studies — an EAW, traffic study and utility feasibility work — and return in future meetings with preplat and engineering materials.
