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Mendota Heights keeps 500‑foot cul‑de‑sac limit, reviews 14‑lot concept for 750 Mohican Lane
Summary
The Mendota Heights City Council affirmed a 500‑foot maximum cul‑de‑sac length and reviewed a 14‑lot subdivision concept for 750 Mohican Lane from SD Custom Homes; councilors raised concerns about slopes, neighborhood character and a missing trail connection and discussed whether rezoning would be required for an alternate layout.
Community Development Manager Sarah Madden presented a second concept plan from SD Custom Homes for 750 Mohican Lane that reduces a previously reviewed 21‑lot layout to 14 single‑family lots and extends a cul‑de‑sac from Pueblo Lane. Sean Doyle of SD Custom Homes said the earlier 21‑lot concept would have required rezoning and a Planned Unit Development overlay; he told the council that the cul‑de‑sac idea had not been well received in prior discussions.
The council focused on lot size, topography and circulation. Madden said the new concept meets R‑1 setback requirements but that right‑of‑way frontage measurements have not yet been completed. Councilor Lorberbaum expressed concern about steep slopes on the cul‑de‑sac edge and several proposed lots; Doyle said it is too early to assess final grading. Councilor Mazzitello said the Friendly Hills neighborhood traditionally contains smaller lots and favored elements of the first plan, including a trail connection that is absent in the new layout. Councilor Maczko said he would prefer a connection to Pagel Road rather than extending a cul‑de‑sac, and described the project as infill adjacent to larger lots to the north and west.
Madden noted that adopting the first concept would likely require rezoning, while the 14‑lot plan complies with current R‑1 standards. The council did not take a formal vote on the concept plan itself but asked staff and the developer to continue vetting lot frontage and slope information and to consider preserving trail connectivity discussed during earlier review.
The discussion preceded a separate, councilwide decision to retain the city's existing 500‑foot maximum for cul‑de‑sacs in Title 11 (see related article). The council directed staff to return with further measurements and analysis necessary for any rezoning, right‑of‑way variances, or traffic and grading studies that would be required for final approval.
