Lake Elmo reviews concept plan for 22-home open-space PUD north of Clear Lake; council seeks guidance on water, stormwater

City planning staff presented a concept plan to the Lake Elmo City Council on May 20 for an open-space planned unit development (OPPUD) north of Clear Lake that would place 22 single-family homes on roughly 48.7 upland acres and leave about 12–13 acres within Clear Lake as water.

The plan, submitted by Twin Cities Land Development, shows 22 units at “approximately 0.45 units per acre,” with lots described in the presentation as larger than 16,000 square feet and more than 100 feet wide. The project as drawn would include a community septic system, buffers around homes, two small stormwater ponds north of the lake and 50% upland open space, and a roughly 2,000-foot cul-de-sac with a proposed water main under the road. City staff repeatedly emphasized that the presentation was for advisory feedback only: “There is no action to be taken on this. We’re really just looking at this advisory feedback,” a staff member told the council.

Why it matters: council members said the concept raises infrastructure and environmental questions that must be settled before the development advances. The city’s shoreland overlay ordinance…