Lake Elmo planning commission tables Inwood 'Eighth Edition' PUD after design, traffic and park concerns

The Lake Elmo Planning Commission on April 14 tabled consideration of MI Homes' Inwood "Eighth Edition" preliminary plat and planned unit development (PUD), and the related amendment to the city's 2040 comprehensive plan, after staff advised the commission that the preliminary plat and PUD, as submitted, did not meet the city's design standards.

City planner Nathan (staff) told the commission that staff "do recommend a denial of the preliminary plan and PUD plans as presented" but that staff supported approval of the comprehensive plan amendment to consolidate future land-use categories in the area.

The action came after a presentation from MI Homes' project representative John Raskin and public comment from nearby residents who cited traffic, pedestrian safety, park access and stormwater/water-supply concerns.

Why the decision matters: The application would redevelop four parcels south of Fifth Street North and east of Island Trail in the Inwood area into mixed high-density residential uses. The developer proposes 149 attached townhomes and a 123-unit apartment building on just under 19.5 acres; the proposal requests multiple PUD flexibilities including private roads, reduced lot-area requirements for the apartment site, reduced setbacks, and impervious-surface exceptions for townhome lots.

Staff findings and recommendation

Nathan, presenting staff's review, said the application comprises three requests: a preliminary plat, a PUD with multiple code deviations, and a comprehensive plan amendment to make the area uniformly "high density residential." He summarized the site's history, noting an earlier Inwood PUD approved in December 2014 and an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) that anticipated multifamily and townhome development in this part of the PUD.

Staff flagged several design and code issues: lot-area…