Lake Elmo council approves Primrose daycare permit, subdivision cleanup, street design work and U. of M. seed trial

Lake Elmo City Council took several land-use and project decisions at its June 3 meeting, approving a conditional-use permit for a Primrose Schools daycare at 11899 Upper 40th Street, adopting a four-lot minor subdivision and a zoning map amendment for the Birshins property, authorizing preliminary design and geotechnical work for the 2026 street and utility program, and approving a University of Minnesota low-input grass seed test plot including a temporary irrigation waiver. The council also approved the consent agenda and appointed Giovanni Boyer to the parks commission.

The Primrose Schools conditional-use permit: The council approved Resolution 2025-044 to allow Primrose Schools to build a daycare at 11899 Upper 40th Street in the Bridgewater Village area. Planning staff presented that the site is currently undeveloped, zoned commercial and guided for commercial uses in the comprehensive plan. The proposed one-story facility would include 12 classrooms, one indoor play area, two outdoor play areas and a capacity for 192 students with 28 staff. Hours of operation were presented as 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with peak drop-off between 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and peak pick-up between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The applicant proposed 56 parking stalls; staff said 55 were required.

Planning staff said agency review returned standard comments from fire, public works, the Valley Branch Watershed District and others; staff recommended conditions including that all city and other permits be obtained, subdivision improvements in Bridgewater Village be constructed and accepted before building permits are issued, and that the CUP would lapse if substantial construction had not started within 12 months. The planning commission recommended approval 6-0 and there were no public comments at the planning hearing. Marvin Wensman, development manager for Primrose Schools, told the council, "we never run a 100% at capacity" and said corporate minimum operational parking guidance is "40 to 45" spaces; he said Primrose is confident the proposed parking and drop-off procedures will work based on other franchise locations. The resolution was moved and approved by voice vote.

Birshins minor subdivision and zoning map amendment: The council adopted Ordinance 2025-11 and related resolutions (2025-045 and 2025-046) to approve a four-lot minor subdivision and correct a zoning map designation for property owned in trust by Jean and Janet Birshins at 9579 40th Street (four PIDs). Staff said the parcel is approximately 134 acres, currently guided as rural area development in the comprehensive plan, and largely in rural residential zoning except one parcel that remained labeled public facilities because a planned public works site years earlier was never built. The request reconfigures four lots (two north of 40th and two south), retains an existing homestead on lot 3 and does not propose new roads or new homes. Agency review included standard engineering, watershed and fire comments; staff reported the watershed permit had been obtained. Conditions of approval include obtaining all required permits, assigning addresses, satisfying the city attorney's plat opinion, and a condition limiting accessory-building rights for the homestead lot if it ceases to be used in common with adjacent ag property; special assessments from an earlier street project must be paid or transferred. The council approved the ordinance and resolutions by voice vote.

2026 street and utility improvements preliminary design authorization: The council approved Resolution 2025-043 to order preliminary design, geotechnical services and a feasibility report for the 2026 Street and utility improvements project, which staff said will focus on the Lake Elmo Heights neighborhood (streets on the west edge of town). Staff described the streets as reaching the end of their service life based on a 2023 rating and recommended reconstruction including new concrete curb and gutter, inspection and likely repair of storm sewer, and work on the existing public water main (installed in 2005). The project is outside the sanitary sewer boundary so no sewer extension is proposed at this time. Staff provided a Capital Improvement Program estimate of about $2,700,000 for the project and requested authorization for preliminary design services (~$60,000), geotechnical work (~$14,000) and feasibility and outreach (~$28,000) for a total near $102,000. Staff said the schedule calls for a neighborhood meeting in mid-August, a feasibility report and preliminary-design summary to council later in the year, a public improvement hearing in October, design over winter and bid advertisement in January. Council asked staff to check the condition and remaining life of on-site sewage systems in the neighborhood; staff said it would investigate and report back. The resolution was approved by voice vote.

University of Minnesota low-input grass seed test plot and irrigation waiver: The council approved a University of Minnesota proposal to establish a small research plot on city property to test low-input (lower-water, lower-fertilizer) turf seed mixtures and granted a temporary irrigation waiver for establishment. Director Prowers introduced Gary Deters from the University of Minnesota, who described a plot roughly 87.5 by 27.5 feet with four rows of plots and modular irrigation using EPA-approved MP Rotors. Deters presented an operational example (short irrigation cycles), told the council the university would pay for water hookups and that the project team would use rain sensors and adjust irrigation during establishment; he said the study aims for zero additional irrigation in years two and three. The council approved a motion to permit the study for 2025–2027 and to grant an irrigation waiver during the 2025 establishment period. Council members encouraged signage and outreach to explain the study to passersby.

Consent agenda and appointment: The council approved the consent agenda by voice vote; items listed in the staff packet included approval of disbursements and payroll; a security reduction and acceptance of Northstar off-site utilities; a cost-share agreement for SA-13 Inwood Avenue pavement rehabilitation (Resolution 2025-042); acceptance of quotes and award of contract for Reid Park parking lot improvements; approval of a city oversized cost payment for Northstar off-site utilities; release of warranty security for Northport third edition; and approval of a reciprocal fire service agreement with the Regional Firefighters Association. The council also moved and approved appointment of Giovanni Boyer to the parks commission for a term ending Dec. 31, 2026.

Other business and closed session: Staff reported upcoming projects and open houses, and the council moved to a closed session under Minnesota Statute section 13.05(d)(3)(a) for the city administrator performance review; the motion passed by voice vote.

What the council did not do: There were no public comments on the Primrose CUP or the subdivision items at their planning hearings, and no formal roll-call vote totals were recorded in the meeting minutes presented; all listed approvals were taken by voice vote with council saying "aye."