Council approves MRCA permit for new home at 1867 Hunter Lane; building‑height review to follow

The Mendota Heights City Council adopted Resolution 2025‑57 on Sept. 2 approving a Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCA) permit for construction of a new single‑family home at 1867 Hunter Lane.

Community Development Manager Sarah Madden presented the application and told council the property is a vacant lot where a previous home was demolished in 2023. The proposal includes a new house footprint, retaining walls, landscaping and two engineered infiltration basins; the site lies outside the primary conservation areas but within the bluff‑impact zone mapped by the DNR. Madden said the proposed improvements are roughly 100 feet from the bluff impact boundary and that the planning commission reviewed the application at a public hearing (July 22; continued and closed Aug. 26) and unanimously recommended approval with standard conditions.

Councilors asked several clarifying questions. Councilor Paper asked what “low intensity” meant in the staff report; Madden replied the term referenced the distance of work from primary conservation areas, not the scale of construction. Paper also pressed about retaining wall heights; Madden said no wall exceeded about 4 feet and that staff requested walls be kept under 4 feet to avoid engineered wall submittal requirements. Madden noted a conditional use permit for building height will be filed and is scheduled for the next planning commission meeting; she said the height standard was not caught during the initial MRCA civil‑plan review and that the applicant will submit the height materials for the planning commission’s Sept. hearing.

Councilor Paper observed the proposed house footprint in the packet appeared large (the packet referenced roughly 9,000 square feet) and said the council would review height and roof‑pitch standards during the pending conditional use permit and staff’s upcoming zoning‑update work session. Madden said the applicant is revising architectural materials for the building‑permit packet, including roof pitch and height details.

Councilor Motzko moved to approve Resolution 2025‑57; the motion included an amendment to the findings to omit one clause referencing compliance with the zoning ordinance to avoid predicating later decisions on findings already to be considered in the pending conditional use permit for building height. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The MRCA permit approval carries standard conditions listed in the resolution and staff will continue processing the building‑height conditional use permit and building‑permit documents.

The council’s action does not waive subsequent approvals: staff and the applicant will complete the conditional use permit for building height and submit final architecture and engineered site plans before building permits are issued.