Planning commission approves rezoning, waiver and variance for property at 1120 Laureate Court

The Inver Grove Heights Planning Commission on June 3 voted 6-1 to approve a waiver of plat, a rezoning from A (Agricultural) to E‑1 (Estate) and a variance to allow a 2.47‑acre lot at 1120 Laureate Court, a property the record shows is currently about 4.97 acres.

Staff presented the application and said the owner wants to subdivide the parcel to create one additional lot for a single‑family home. The staff presentation explained the waiver of plat is necessary because the parcel is unplatted and lies along a private road, which makes it ineligible for the administrative subdivision process. Staff said the proposal otherwise meets zoning performance standards except for the small lot‑size shortfall: the E‑1 minimum is 2.50 acres and the proposed lot would be 2.47 acres — a difference of roughly 0.03 acres (about 1,300 square feet). The staff memo and presentation noted the applicant provided soil borings and percolation tests and that septic and well locations were shown to demonstrate the lot is buildable under city requirements.

The applicant, Corey Claren, told the commission he received the staff packet, had no questions and thanked staff for guiding him through the process. Two neighbors spoke in support at the public hearing. One identified herself as Imogene Bass and said her property is directly north; another, Becky Hopke, said she also supported the request and had emailed earlier.

Commission discussion ranged from whether the subdivision would create a change in neighborhood character to practical site issues such as gravel road access, a lack of a left‑turn lane on the nearby highway and whether well and septic locations could be accommodated on a 2.47‑acre parcel. Staff replied that the applicant supplied soil borings and percolation tests and had shown primary and alternate septic sites as part of the survey; final septic design would be determined at the building permit stage. A commissioner said several nearby parcels could legally be subdivided without a variance because they exceed the roughly five‑acre threshold the presenter discussed.

Commissioner Schaeffer moved to approve the waiver of plat, rezoning and variance with two conditions that staff presented; the motion was seconded and passed 6‑1. The conditions listed by staff and included in the commission’s action were (1) the subdivision, if approved, must be filed and recorded with the county, and (2) the applicant must pay park dedication prior to recording the subdivision; staff said additional conditions would be addressed at the council level.

The commission record shows the item will proceed to the City Council for final action; staff told the commission the item is tentatively scheduled for council consideration in late June (staff referenced a June 23 date in the packet) and the applicant was wished luck at council.

This public hearing took about 20 minutes of commission time and included the staff presentation, public comment in support, and questioning from commissioners about site access and septic capacity.

Votes at a glance: motion to approve waiver of plat, rezoning (A to E‑1), and variance to allow a 2.47‑acre lot — motion passed 6‑1. Two conditions were attached (record subdivision; pay park dedication before recording).