Planning commission recommends City Council approval for Havenwood phase one final plat and final PUD

The Forest Lake Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve the Havenwood final planned unit development and the phase-one final plat, subject to the findings of fact and the conditions listed in the staff report.

Staff planner Stephen opened the public hearing by describing the Havenwood site (previously reviewed as Chestnut Creek Second Edition) and said phase one would create 63 single-family lots on roughly 24.82 acres gross, with an estimated net developable area of about 16.74 acres and a net density of about 3.76 units per acre — within the city’s low–medium density guidance. He told commissioners the final landscaping plan shows 477 overstory trees, exceeding the minimum 464 trees required for the full 116-lot project, and summarized required conditions including a final PUD ordinance, a development agreement, financial securities, easement updates, a construction traffic plan, wetland buffer signage and buyer disclosures, and city acceptance of the park-dedication package.

A key issue at the hearing was park dedication. Staff said the phase-one dedication requirement is about 1.67 acres of net developable area but the applicant proposes a 0.58-acre neighborhood park at 208th Street North and Halter Boulevard North plus constructed amenities and, if necessary, a remaining fee. "The city would look at the combined value of the land, the park improvements, and any remaining fee," Stephen said, and staff recommended that the city accept the combined package for park dedication satisfaction.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on apparent lot-width measurements shown on inset maps (lots 16–19 and similar locations). Commissioner Susan pointed out map callouts that appeared to show 52.88 feet at the street for lot 19 while the PUD lists a 55-foot minimum; staff explained how the city measures minimum width (at the interior dashed line) and agreed to re-measure any lots that may fall short and report back with corrections before the plat is recorded.

Construction impacts were another focus. Commissioners asked about mud, truck routes and school-bus coordination; staff summarized a construction traffic safety plan the applicant provided that restricts construction access to Harrow Avenue through 208th Street North (precluding truck access via Greystone/207th Street North), requires temporary truck-hauling signage and a 15-mph construction speed, contractor briefings, and coordination with nearby schools. Applicant Ben Schmidt of Twin Cities Land Development told the commission his team will install a rock construction entrance to reduce mud on paved streets and said the intent is to proceed in two phases, with phase one this year and phase two the next.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing. After questions and clarifications, a commissioner moved to recommend council approval of the Havenwood final plat for phase one and the final PUD subject to the staff findings and conditions (conditions 1–15 and attachments 1–6); the motion was seconded and carried. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.

Next steps: staff will verify the disputed lot-width measurements, finalize any needed engineering and easement cleanup conditions, and transmit the commission’s recommendation and the park-dedication package to City Council for decision.