Forest Lake City Council approved a preliminary plat and planned unit development (PUD) for a project called Amberly Woods, staff said.

Abby, planning staff, told the council that Twin Cities Land Development proposes about 56 single‑family homes on roughly 38.96 acres with a proposed net density of about 3.3 units per acre. Staff reported the site contains wetlands and wetland buffers that reduce the net developable area to about 17 acres; nearly 6 to 7 acres of wetland and upland are proposed for dedication to the city as parkland on the site’s east side. The proposal includes sidewalks, internal trails and utilities; staff requested recorded easements for utilities and a potential roadway connection through the dedicated parkland so future connections could be made if needed.

Abby said the developer requests 55‑foot‑wide lots for 25 lots; those lots are narrower than the city’s minimum lot area standard of 7,500 square feet. Under the PUD criteria staff evaluates concessions in exchange for public benefits; staff identified the parkland dedication and compliance with the comprehensive plan density target (low‑to‑medium density) as public benefits supporting the PUD application. The Parks Commission recommended acceptance of the dedicated land as a passive woodland/nature park, and the Planning Commission recommended approval but expressed strong opposition to allowing the 55‑foot lots.

Staff listed five conditions in resolution 10‑27‑25‑01: corrections per engineering comments; Watershed District approvals as required; payment of outstanding fees; final plat to include required easements; and execution of a development agreement with provisions for public infrastructure improvements, and future wetland buffers to be conveyed to homeowners as applicable. Staff also said the applicant will request a mass grading permit and an early release at a subsequent meeting.

Councilmember Larson noted Planning Commission concern about the proposed 55‑foot lots. Councilmembers discussed the tradeoff between smaller lots and providing housing that may be more affordable for some buyers; staff said they are continuing discussions with the Met Council about how developable acreage and density are calculated. After discussion, council moved, seconded and approved the resolution to adopt the Amberly Woods preliminary plat and PUD with the five stated conditions and seven attachments by voice vote.

Details not specified in the meeting record: the final layout and the exact number of units on the 55‑foot lots at final plat; the timetable for mass grading permit processing and ultimate construction schedule.