Commission backs amendment to CUP for mixed housing and vacates 207th Street right‑of‑way

On June 4 the Lakeville Planning Commission voted to recommend City Council approval of an amendment to conditional use permit 24‑09 and to vacate a right‑of‑way for 207th Street, allowing a revised residential plan on the previously approved lot.

Will O’Keefe, speaking for Bader Development and Elevage Development Group, described the proposal: "We are proposing a 142 unit apartment building and then 24 townhomes." Planning staff summarized prior approvals and explained the revised site plan includes two levels of underground parking providing 161 spaces plus 123 surface spaces so the project meets the two‑spaces‑per‑unit requirement.

Staff noted the amendment pertains to a previously approved preliminary plat and reiterated that earlier exceptions for exterior materials and building height remain applicable. Staff recommended approval of the amendment to CUP 24‑09 and the vacation of the 207th Street right‑of‑way, subject to three stipulations in the May 28 planning report and the findings of fact dated June 4.

Nearby property owner Robert Powell expressed two concerns: whether the council‑approved moratorium still applied and whether a previously discussed fence along his north property line remained in effect. Powell said he lives due north of the property and recalled a prior developer agreement on fencing. Staff responded that the city council’s moratorium exempted residential projects that already had preliminary plat approval, and that the fence approved along the north property line remains a requirement because it was part of the prior preliminary plat approval.

A commissioner moved to recommend City Council approval of the amendment and the right‑of‑way vacation, subject to the three stipulations in the May 28 planning report; the motion passed on the commission's vote. The item is scheduled for City Council consideration on June 15.