Maplewood Oct. 27, 2025 The City Council voted unanimously to approve a Planned Unit Development (PUD) and related land‑use actions for the Century Ponds project at 601 Century Avenue South, authorizing a re‑guiding of the former Ponds of Battle Creek golf course to low‑density residential and clearing a preliminary plat for 133 detached single‑family homes and 73 townhomes.

The votes followed a staff presentation and a developer briefing from D.R. Horton that described the proposals conservation approach: the plan preserves roughly 43.14 acres of natural area and wetland complex (about 46.77% of the site), establishes public conservation easements to be held by the city, and provides 1.73 acres of new parkland, roughly 1.8 miles of public paved trails and connections to adjacent neighborhoods.

City planning director Danette Parr told the council the overall site is "just over 92 acres," with approximately 10.5 acres of wetlands and a total of 42.57 acres in outlots and preserved open space. The developer said the single‑family lots will be 55 and 65 feet wide with two‑ and three‑car garages depending on model; the townhome portion will be private streets with two‑car garages and dedicated guest parking areas totaling 28 spaces. Staff and an independent engineering consultant reviewed traffic and concluded predicted peak‑hour volumes and intersection queues would remain within the citys collector roadway capacity.

The councils approvals comprised six separate actions: (1) an amendment to the 2040 comprehensive plan to re‑guide the property from park to low‑density residential; (2) adoption of an updated ordinance establishing "PUD‑One Century Ponds" as a planned unit development district and related PUD standards; (3) authorization to publish the PUD ordinance by title and summary; (4) approval of a wetland buffer variance to allow grading, trail relocation, stormwater and limited encroachments into buffer areas (the requested variance area totaled 77,418 square feet against a required buffer of 714,514 square feet); (5) approval of the preliminary plat; and (6) approval of design review subject to conditions and the developers compliance with the design review board requests.

Staff told the council the conservation easement areas will initially be maintained by the developer and will transfer to a homeowners association later; the city will retain the easement to ensure long‑term protection if the HOA fails to perform. Public notices were mailed to 220 property owners within 500 feet; the design review board, planning commission and Environmental and Natural Resources Commission all recommended approval with conditions. City attorney Ron Beatty reminded council members that the comprehensive plan amendment requires a two‑thirds vote of the full council and that any dissenting votes should be articulated on the record because those reasons would form the basis for the citys action if the decision were challenged.

Councilmembers thanked staff, the developer and community participants for extensive outreach and revisions to the plan. Several members emphasized the environmental protections and the preservation of large open spaces and trails as reasons for support.

Votes at a glance

- Comprehensive plan amendment (park to low‑density residential): moved by Lee, seconded by Cave; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Ordinance to establish PUD‑One Century Ponds (updated): moved by Cave, seconded by Lee; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Resolution authorizing publication of the ordinance by title and summary: moved by Juneman, seconded by Cave; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Wetland buffer variance (77,418 sq ft variance area): moved by Cave, seconded by Juneman; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Preliminary plat approval: moved by Lee, seconded (record shows second); outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Design review approval (subject to conditions set by CDRB/staff): moved by Cave, seconded by Villa Vicencio; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).

What happens next

If the councils approvals are implemented, the developer will proceed toward final plat and a developers agreement that will specify construction timing, conservation easement management and HOA responsibilities. Staff said the final plat should closely mirror the preliminary plat brought forward and that additional construction‑management requirements (hours, dust control, signage and communications plans) will be enforced through the developer agreement and permits.

Key details

- Site: former Ponds of Battle Creek Golf Course, southwest quadrant of Lower Afton Road and Century Avenue South (about 92 acres).
- Proposed units: 133 detached single‑family homes and 73 townhome units (net density ~4.15 units/acre within the proposed low‑density range of 2.6–6 units/acre).
- Open space and wetlands: ~43.14 acres of natural/open area; wetlands ~10.5 acres; public park ~1.73 acres.
- Wetland buffer variance requested: 77,418 sq ft variance area; required buffer area 714,514 sq ft.

Speakers (selected)

- Danette Parr, Planning (first reference 20:56).
- Deb Ridgeway, D.R. Horton (developer) (first reference 66:37).
- Ron Beatty, City Attorney (first reference 62:58).
- Councilmembers: Mayor Abrams; Councilmember Cave; Councilmember Lee; Councilmember Juneman; Councilmember Philip Asencio.

Authorities referenced

- Ordinance (zoning chapter amendment establishing PUD‑One Century Ponds): referenced by action "establish_PUD".
- Resolution (publication by title and summary): referenced by action "publish_ordinance_by_title".
- Resolution (wetland buffer variance): referenced by action "wetland_buffer_variance".
- Preliminary plat resolution: referenced by action "preliminary_plat".

Provenance

- topicintro: transcript excerpt at 41:34 where Ms. Parr begins the Century Ponds overview: "Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. I will present tonight, but it is a collective team effort..."
- topfinish: transcript excerpt at 88:04 where the council completes the final design review vote: "Any opposed? That motion passes unanimously as well. Welcome, to Century Ponds to the development in Maplewood. 6 years, in the making."