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Falcon Heights forms community advisory committee as University weighs buyers for Les Bolstad site
Summary
Falcon Heights convened a Community Advisory Committee on May 20 to guide master planning for the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course site; University staff said five developer proposals were received and a preferred buyer could be proposed to the Board of Regents this summer.
Falcon Heights City Administrator Jack Linehan convened a newly formed Community Advisory Committee (CAC) on May 20 to begin shaping a master plan for the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course site, saying the group will lead public engagement and advise city staff and the developer.
Leslie Krueger, assistant vice president of planning, space and real estate at the University of Minnesota, told the committee the university’s request for proposals closed in December 2025 and drew five offers. Krueger said proposals are scored on four categories—financial offer, alignment with Falcon Heights’ Goals and Guiding Principles, capacity and experience, and conformity with the purchase-and-sale terms—and that a preferred buyer could be proposed to the university’s Board of Regents this summer; Regents dockets, she noted, are posted the Friday before meetings.
The committee is advisory only; Linehan emphasized that final land-use and development approvals rest with the City Council. "The CAC will provide feedback to the developer and help guide the public process," he said, and staff will bring technical details back from a separate Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that will include watershed and regional agencies. The AUAR environmental review process will be led by Braun Intertec, Linehan said, while Bolton & Menk will support the master-plan timeline and public-engagement work.
The CAC’s membership reflects neighborhood and commission representation: Jake Anderson (Planning Commission representative) was selected as chair; other members include representatives from the Environment Commission, Parks & Recreation, Community Engagement Commission, and neighboring municipalities. Members used the introductions to flag priorities they want the CAC to consider—energy efficiency and the feasibility of geothermal systems (raised by Anderson), connectivity to nearby parks and developments (Eliza Swedenborg), alignment with the city’s Energy Action and Climate Action plans (Adam Keester), and ensuring school-district engagement (Merrissa McLean).
Committee logistics and legal limits were also reviewed. Linehan ran through Open Meeting Law basics, noting agendas and meeting packets must be posted at least 72 hours in advance and that the CAC has no individual decision-making authority. He said remote participation will likely be difficult for future meetings and asked members to notify staff by 3 p.m. on meeting days if they will be absent.
Looking ahead, the committee scheduled a June 17 walking tour of the Highland Bridge development in St. Paul to observe public-engagement practices and design elements the city may want to consider. Linehan said the City has retained the media firm Goff Public to help craft messages when the university makes a buyer announcement, and that staff will continue to post materials and dockets to the city website.
The CAC adjourned at 7:47 p.m.; its next meeting will be Wednesday, June 17, 2026, beginning with the Highland Bridge tour.
