Planning commission recommends city council approve 9400 Highway 7 comprehensive‑plan amendment

The Minnetrista City Planning Commission voted to recommend the City Council approve a comprehensive‑plan amendment to change the long‑term designation of a roughly 68‑acre property at 9400 Highway 7 from permanent agriculture to residential low‑medium and to expand the metropolitan service (utility) area to allow sewer and water connections.

Nick, the city planner, told commissioners the applicant’s concept envisions about 230 units — roughly 3.7 units per acre — and that the proposed density meets Metropolitan Council guidance: “the required setback's 90 ft … the applicant is proposing to be at 52.7 ft” and, on the comprehensive change, “based on the information provided by the applicant, staff would say to make a motion to recommend the city council approve the comprehensive plan amendment.” The commission held the required public hearing, received neighborhood input, and then voted to forward the recommendation to the council.

Why it matters: the amendment would bring the parcel into Minnetrista’s metropolitan service area for sewer and water, enabling future subdivision and development; utility extension would be completed at the developer’s expense. Residents at the hearing raised traffic and safety concerns at new Highway 7 access points and asked whether MnDOT review would govern driveway and intersection approvals; staff and the developer confirmed that MnDOT control of Highway 7 access is a required part of the process.

Developer timeline and conditions: John Anderson, the developer representative, said his team has been coordinating with MnDOT on long‑range access studies and plans a staged approach (four phases were discussed). He told the commission the comprehensive‑plan amendment and preliminary plat processes could each take roughly 60–120 days and that, if everything moved quickly, development activity could begin in months rather than years.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Minnetrista City Council for final action; staff indicated the council hearing is expected in February (likely Feb. 18). The council will consider staff findings and any conditions the commission attached when the council votes.