Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lake Elmo Council reviews two paths for High Point Crossing after septic tests fail
Summary
City staff and the developer presented two alternatives for the 80-acre High Point Crossing project after state-required tests showed the proposed community septic system would not meet MPCA requirements: extend sewer (requiring a comprehensive-plan/MUSA amendment) or redesign as larger-lot homes on individual septic systems.
City staff and the developer presented two alternatives Thursday for moving forward with High Point Crossing, a roughly 80-acre residential project previously approved by the Lake Elmo City Council, after state testing found the planned community septic system would not meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements.
At a council workshop, City staff member Nathan said the on-site soil testing showed “the community septic system, unfortunately, is not viable. It will not meet applicable MPCA requirements.” That finding prompted staff and the developer, Rachel Development, to identify two options for the site: (1) extend city sewer into the property and amend the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) / comprehensive plan to allow a sewered development under a proposed new Open Space Low Density Residential (OPLDR) district; or (2) reconfigure the project as a rural, large-lot development with individual septic systems.
The developer, Paul Robinson of Rachel Development, told the council his team had fully designed a package-plant community septic system and completed extensive testing, including mound and hydraulic connectivity studies. Robinson said the second round of…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
