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Council approves Prairie Oaks zoning change and preliminary plat for 37‑lot subdivision
Summary
Council approved a zoning map amendment and a preliminary plat for the 15‑acre Prairie Oaks development by Oak Grove RST LLC, directing staff to prepare an ordinance for first reading and approving the subdivision with nine conditions.
Rochester — The City Council approved a zoning map amendment (CD2025‑006ZC) and a preliminary plat (CD2025‑041) submitted by Oak Grove RST LLC for a project called Prairie Oaks, which would divide roughly 15 acres into 37 single‑family lots (plus two outlots).
Anthony Cheeky of Community Development presented staff’s recommendation to change the site from AG (agricultural) to R1 (single‑family residential) and to direct the city attorney to prepare an ordinance for first reading. The application packet and staff report note the proposal is consistent with the city’s low‑density land‑use designation. An applicant representative said the planning commission recommended approval of the zone change 5–1 and that staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat with nine conditions.
Neighbor David Hank Oyer spoke in opposition, saying the site was historically agricultural, raising concerns about density (he described 37 houses on a 15‑acre site), traffic and safety at the 60th Street/Highway 52 intersection, and alleging the zoning commission failed to address multiple subdivision irregularities and a potential council conflict of interest.
Applicant counsel responded that the site is within the city’s urban service area, and the proposed density is below staff guidance (approximately 2.5 lots per acre vs. typical 4–7 units per acre). Council members discussed general development plan timing, stormwater/stormwater management submittals, and conditions addressing final engineering. Council member Palmer moved to approve the zone change and direct the city attorney to prepare the ordinance for first reading; the motion was seconded and the council approved the zone change. The council then approved the major land subdivision resolution for Prairie Oaks with nine conditions.
The approvals were granted subject to the conditions in the community development memo; staff said stormwater details and final construction plans will be reviewed with the final plat to ensure stormwater management and compensatory storage requirements are met.
