Council approves Fox Run Seventh addition plat with conditions; second County Road K access planned

The New Richmond City Council on a vote approved the preliminary and final plat for the Fox Run Seventh addition, a subdivision that will create 38 single-family homes and 12 twin-home lots and add a second entrance from County Road K via a new Coyote Way.

City staff told the council the proposed addition lies north of County Road K off Squirrel Way and is guided on the future land use map for low-density residential. “The addition consists of 38 single family homes and 12 twin home lots,” a staff presenter said. The applicant will extend Coyote Way directly to County Road K, which staff said “will provide the second access point” and improve traffic flow and emergency access.

The nut of the council’s action is the set of conditions staff and the planning commission recommended. Staff noted the Saint Croix County Highway Department approved the County Road K access conditionally and listed six county conditions in the staff memo. The city-required conditions include constructing a 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk on the west side of Coyote Way to connect eventually to the County Road K trail (a trail the staff memo said the city had received a grant to build in 2027), additional pedestrian facilities on the east side, pedestrian crossing signage, pavement markings, curb ramps and a concrete traffic island in Coyote Way to slow traffic.

City staff said no parkland dedication is proposed with the plat; the applicant will pay park impact fees when building permits are issued. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval with 21 conditions. An alderman moved to approve the plat with those 21 conditions and the motion passed on roll call.

Council members asked staff for clarification about sidewalks and future connections. Staff explained that earlier phases of Fox Run did not require sidewalks; the city is requiring sidewalks in newer phases. Staff said a portion of Coyote Way constructed as part of Fox Run Second edition will have a west-side sidewalk that will eventually link to the Seventh edition sidewalk. Staff also said a segment of land between the new Seventh edition and the existing Second edition is not owned by the current applicant (JP Brooks group), so the applicant cannot be required to build a connection through land it does not own.

Council discussion also touched on how many different developers have been involved in the overall Fox Run area; an estimate offered in the meeting was “could it be a half a dozen.”

The council approved the preliminary and final plats by motion; staff recorded the approval and will work with the applicant on meeting the 21 conditions before final recording and building permits.

Less-critical details in the staff memo include phasing notes, sidewalk alignment, and the conditional county access approval. The planning and engineering review memos and the full list of conditions were included in the council packet.