Forest Lake approves Garage Condos preliminary plat; council allows limited exterior storage with conditions

Forest Lake — The City Council voted Oct. 13 to approve the preliminary plat and planned-unit development for a 30-acre site on Forest Road North that would create contractor service-yard space and up to 121 individually owned "garage condo" units plus two 30,000-square-foot multi-tenant flex buildings.

City staff told the council the proposal is consistent with current zoning for limited-industrial uses but raised concerns about landscape shortfalls and the proposal to offer exterior storage behind the garage units. Staff noted that city code allows outside storage as part of a contractor service yard but not generally as an accessory to multi-tenant flex buildings; the Planning Commission recommended removing the exterior storage from the plan.

Applicant representatives said exterior storage is an important amenity for buyers of individual garage-condo units who need space for boats, trailers or recreational vehicles. Applicant representative Scott Peterson described proposed surfacing (crushed aggregate), screening and the intent that outdoor stalls be assigned and rented only to owners within the development. "We do think it's a need," Peterson said, adding that spaces would be delineated and subject to owners-association rules.

Council members voiced concerns about visibility from the nearby airport and adjacent commercial properties, potential uses of stored items, groundwater contamination risks and long-term enforcement. To address those concerns, the council amended the staff resolution: condition 1C was modified to require the developer to explore ways to minimize the exterior storage area's impacts and to limit types of material stored there; condition 1E was revised so that the owner's declarations must be submitted to the city for review and approval prior to final plat.

The council approved the preliminary plat and PUD with those modifications. Staff noted final site-plan review, landscaping enhancements and wetland protections will be required at the final‑plat stage. The applicant said the outdoor-storage layout and HOA declarations will be developed as part of final documents.

What happens next: Approval of the preliminary plat allows the applicant to proceed with engineering, final design and owner‑declaration documents. Final-plat and site-plan approvals (including landscaping and stormwater measures) will return to the Planning Commission and City Council for final signoff.

Why this matters: The project repurposes a 30-acre limited-industrial parcel into a mixed contractor/garage-condo development that will add taxable value and new commercial/industrial uses. The council sought to preserve that economic potential while imposing conditions to limit community impacts.