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Planning Commission recommends concept plan for 207‑unit Hollisk subdivision, flags Savannah Way safety and noise analysis
Summary
The commission recommended that City Council approve PY Homes’ concept plan for 207 owner‑occupied units on the Hollisk property, subject to 12 conditions and further coordination on Savannah Way access, noise mitigation along Highway 212, stormwater for a retained 12.8‑acre parcel, and design standards including porch depth and exterior materials.
The Chaska Planning Commission voted on Jan. 14 to recommend City Council approve a concept plan for the Hollisk property at 4245 Big Woods Boulevard submitted by PY Homes. The plan covers roughly 41.5 acres of a 54‑acre parcel and proposes 207 owner‑occupied units — 98 townhomes, 63 detached single‑family homes, and 46 twin homes — to be developed in up to two phases.
Why it matters: The project sits adjacent to a planned 52‑acre Southwest Community Park and a future elementary school site and will rely on the extension of Savannah Way for primary access. Commissioners and staff emphasized that coordination on road alignment, pedestrian crossings, stormwater and noise mitigation must be addressed before preliminary and final reviews.
Staff described the concept as the first of Chaska’s three review steps, used to identify issues for later technical review. Key project facts presented in the meeting: the development area is about 41.5 acres (12.8 acres of the larger property will be retained by the Hollisk family), the concept proposes 207 units (98 townhomes, 63 detached single‑family, 46 twin homes), and the applicant anticipates pricing in the range of high $300,000s for townhomes up to roughly $450,000–$500,000 for single‑family units depending on options. Staff said sidewalks will be provided on both sides of internal streets and that park‑dedication fees will apply; the concept also shows four proposed access points along the future extension of Savannah Way.
Commissioners focused on pedestrian safety and traffic flow along Savannah Way, which will connect the development to the Southwest Community Park and the future school. Several members asked that staff and the developer prioritize safe crossings — including marking potential crossings and exploring traffic‑calming treatments — and that a noise analysis be completed to identify mitigation measures for Highway 212. Staff said four stormwater ponds are proposed and that stormwater design must account for the 12.8‑acre parcel the Hollisk family is retaining.
Design flexibilities requested by PY Homes drew particular scrutiny. PY requested two exceptions for the detached single‑family product: reduction of porch depth from the ordinance minimum of 6 feet to 5 feet and approval to substitute LP SmartSide with a combination of vinyl, cultured stone, and two siding types on front elevations. Staff noted a similar LP SmartSide alternative had precedent in a Del Webb community but said the city must ensure any alternatives meet anti‑monotony and design quality objectives in chapter 5, policy 9 and section 152.8290 of city code.
PY Homes representative Haley Daily Severs presented product examples and said the townhomes would typically range about 1,800–2,000 sq ft, twin homes would be single‑level slab units, and detached single‑family homes would range from about 1,800 to 2,500+ sq ft. Severs told commissioners the firm can meet most anti‑monotony standards and described the porch and siding requests as cost‑and‑design tradeoffs that preserve articulation and aesthetic variety.
The commission moved and seconded a recommendation to City Council to approve the concept plan subject to the staff‑listed 12 conditions. Commissioners asked staff to continue close coordination on Savannah Way design and align access points, require a noise study and applicable mitigation, confirm stormwater responsibilities for the retained parcel, and clarify how construction traffic will be routed if Savannah Way is not fully built when grading/construction begins. The motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: The recommendation will be forwarded to the Chaska City Council on Jan. 26. Staff and the developer will address the 12 conditions during preliminary and final reviews, including the alignment of Savannah Way, required noise analysis and potential mitigation, landscaping and anti‑monotony treatments, and stormwater design that accounts for the adjacent retained parcel.
