Planning Commission recommends rezoning and approves preliminary/final plat for Eliana Estates

Shakopee — The Shakopee Planning Commission on July 10, 2025 unanimously recommended approval of a zoning map amendment and the concurrent preliminary and final plat for Eliana Estates, a proposed 31-lot single-family subdivision on roughly 14 acres west of Mystic Lake Drive.

City staff presented the application and recommended forwarding an ordinance to rezone the property from agricultural preservation (AG) to urban residential R1B and forwarding a resolution approving the preliminary and final plat. Staff said the proposal includes two cul-de-sacs, two outlots (one to be a stormwater pond and the other a wetland to be dedicated to the city), sidewalks to connect to an existing trail system, and utilities available to the site.

During the public hearing staff described tree-preservation and replacement requirements and said the applicant must replace a substantial amount of caliper inches either on-site, in a city park or by paying into the city tree fund. "I think it's 6 to 700 inches that they have to replace," staff said. Applicant engineer Rick Osberg said the site inventory listed about 590 inventoried trees totaling about "6,300 caliber inches" (transcript) and that about 45 percent of those trees were excluded from replacement counts because they were damaged or affected by emerald ash borer.

An applicant representative, who said he was representing developer Bill Ryan, described density and design trade-offs: the developer said keeping the project at or above the city's minimum of three units per acre required the proposed cul-de-sacs and lot layout. The developer estimated home prices in the project would range approximately "between 700 and $9.50" (transcript) — clarified in discussion as roughly $700,000 to $950,000 — and said model homes and early permits could allow initial occupancy in late summer or early fall 2026, with full build-out over two to three years.

A Valleycrest neighborhood resident spoke during public comment concerned about trees along the trail and construction traffic. Staff and the applicant said trees located in drainage and utility easements typically cannot remain and that engineering and the developer were exploring moving some replacement plantings to the south of the trail or into the adjoining Valleycrest park; staff noted Lot 8 includes an extended sidewalk to connect residents to the trail.

Commissioner Adams moved to recommend approval of ordinance O2025-018 to rezone the property from AG to R1B; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll-call vote. The commission then voted to recommend approval of resolution R2025-075, the preliminary and final plat, by unanimous roll-call vote. Both recommendations will be forwarded to the city council for final action.

The commission also discussed a brief item for the next meeting: extending the MUSA for an SMSC healing center located outside city limits at the Met Council's request; commissioners agreed to meet at 6 p.m. on August 7 to handle that item and then proceed with a tour.