Albany City Council approves Mennonite Village expansion, keeps public trail requirement amid pushback

Albany City Council voted 5–1 on Nov. 17 to approve a planned development replat, site‑plan review, floodplain and natural resource impact reviews for an expansion of Mennonite Village at 5353 Columbus Street SE while retaining a public multi‑use trail easement in the approvals.

The approved project would expand the continuing‑care retirement community with the construction described in the staff report as 98 duplexes (196 dwelling units), a community center and landscaped open space on a site staff described as 76.33 acres, subject to the list of conditions in the Nov. 10 staff report. The motion to approve was based on the staff findings and passed on a roll call with Councillors Smith, McGee, Newton, Van Germelein and McLeod voting yes and Councillor Thompson voting no.

The hearing focused less on housing and more on a condition in the annexation agreement and adopted plans that calls for a paved multi‑use trail on both sides of Oak Creek. Staff planner Jennifer Sodello told council that the trail requirement appears in adopted documents and that staff proposed 29 conditions for approval. Planning director Matthew…