Eagan council approves Veterans Village plans and clears HIA for Widgeon Woods

The Eagan City Council on Dec. 17 approved a set of land-use actions to clear the way for a 22-unit townhome project aimed at serving veterans and adopted an ordinance establishing a housing improvement area (HIA) for a separate Widgeon Woods townhome association.

In a series of unanimous votes, the council approved a comprehensive guide plan amendment to re-designate roughly 2.7 acres at 3920 Ron Road from quasi-public to medium density, rezoned the site to a planned development, and approved a preliminary plan and preliminary subdivision needed for the Veterans Village, a partnership involving Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) and Lennar Homes. Council members said deviations from several city standards were acceptable to advance the project’s goal of housing veterans.

The plan calls for six buildings with three to four units each (22 total), a mix of one- and three-bedroom units and parking configured with a combination of attached single-stall garages and surface stalls. City Planner Schultz noted deviations from lot-size, setback and parking-stall-width standards and said the proposal would remove a number of northern trees and require mitigation and easement agreements for storm drainage into nearby wetlands. The council approved the project subject to conditions listed in the Advisory Planning Commission minutes.

John Lobald, chief operating officer of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, described the development as permanent supportive housing with on-site staffing and case management. “It’s permanent supportive housing,” Lobald said, adding that MACV coordinates with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies to provide wraparound services and transportation for residents.

Public commenters included Whitaker Salts, a middle-school student who voiced support, and Paul Hirsch, a long-time neighbor who asked how the project would address safety concerns raised by veterans’ higher rates of PTSD and suicide risk. Lobald responded that MACV’s model includes staffing and case management to monitor residents’ stability and connect them with appropriate services.

Separately, the council closed a public hearing and adopted an ordinance establishing the Townhomes of Widgeon Woods HIA. Planner Schulz and staff told the council the association’s application identified roughly $2.435 million in construction and soft costs and a total estimated financing need of about $2.525 million, including issuance and administrative costs. The HIA proposal relies on an owner-imposed special fee to repay city-issued bonds; staff said the estimated annual fee per unit would be not less than $6,694 and not to exceed $7,452, spread equally across the 33 units in the project. The association submitted petitions signed by 25 of 33 owners, or about 75%, exceeding the city’s 65% petition threshold.

Jane Tunseth, identified as president of the Townhomes of Widgeon Woods board, thanked the council for considering the HIA and said the work would be “a really great enhancement” for homeowners.

Votes at a glance: The council unanimously adopted the HIA ordinance and resolution imposing the housing improvement fee; the council also unanimously approved the comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning to planned development, approval of the preliminary plan for the 22-unit Veterans Village and a preliminary subdivision related to the project. The council also approved a separate vacation of a drainage and utility easement in the Parkside Circle/Skyview plat.

The council noted several follow-up items required for the Veterans Village, including final planned development documents, review of tree mitigation and final easement agreements for stormwater discharge. The HIA ordinance becomes effective 45 days after adoption, during which time homeowners subject to the fee may file objections per state statute and city policy. The council authorized publication of a summary ordinance for the Widgeon Woods HIA following the veto period.

The meeting opened with a brief remembrance of Kevin Peterson, a nine-year Civic Arena and Cascade Bay employee who died Dec. 2, and included an award recognizing the city’s fleet supervisor as the Minnesota chapter APWA 2024 Supervisor of the Year. The council adjourned with instructions to staff on routine follow-ups and a code-enforcement inquiry from a resident about bulky waste.