Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Minor Subdivision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lake Elmo planning commission recommends approval of Firehouse minor subdivision
Summary
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission recommended approval Feb. 9 of the ‘Lake Elmo Firehouse Addition’ minor subdivision to consolidate nine parcels into two at 3510 La Verne; staff noted required permits, a plat opinion from the city attorney, and a Valley Branch Watershed District permit approved Jan. 22.
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission on Feb. 9 voted to recommend approval of the Lake Elmo Firehouse Addition minor subdivision, a proposal to reconfigure nine existing parcels at 3510 La Verne into two lots.
City staff presented the application and told commissioners the site is about an acre and is guided and zoned for village mixed use (VMX). Staff said the subdivision would not add new infrastructure or streets, would meet VMX lot and building standards since buildings remain in place, and would consolidate the nine PIDs into two lots with an approximate 60/40 split (roughly 0.6 and 0.4 acres), with the larger lot containing the existing firehouse and the smaller including the Parks Building. “This application went out for agency review in early January. No comments from public works, the fire department, or the DNR,” said Speaker 3, the presenting staff member.
Staff outlined recommended conditions of approval: the applicant must obtain required city, state, and other governing-body permits; address the city attorney’s plat opinion prior to release of the plat for recording; and record the plat within 180 days. Staff also said the Valley Branch Watershed District required a permit for the project and that the city submitted the application on Jan. 9 and received approval on Jan. 22.
Speaker 2 moved to recommend approval based on the staff findings and conditions; Speaker 5 seconded. In discussion, commissioners praised the consolidation and right-of-way clean-up. “I don’t know in the years that I’ve sat on this commission if there’s been something that makes more sense than taking 9 parcels into 2,” Speaker 2 said. The chair called for a voice vote; several commissioners responded “Aye,” there were no opposing voices, and Speaker 1 declared the motion passed.
Next steps noted by staff include addressing the city attorney’s plat memo before the plat is released for recording and the recording of the plat within the 180-day window. The staff presentation referenced that the city council previously advanced the Tappan Ladder team as a finalist for redevelopment of the site; the subdivision is a ministerial step to clean up parcel lines ahead of future site work.
The commission also asked staff to confirm the number of mailed notices and the list of residents subscribed to automatic public-hearing notifications; staff said it would follow up.
