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Council approves conditional use permit for 655 Callahan Place despite neighbor objections
Summary
Council approved Resolution 2026-25 allowing a 20-foot residential building height for a proposed 5,621 sq ft home at 655 Callahan Place after 3–2 vote; neighbors argued the house is out of character and too close to property lines, while staff said the design meets Code and stormwater controls are required.
The Mendota Heights City Council on April 7 approved a conditional use permit (CUP) allowing a residential building height of up to 20 feet at 655 Callahan Place for M&M Home Contractors, adopting Resolution 2026-25 by a 3–2 vote.
Community Development Manager Sarah Madden introduced the request (Planning Case No. 2026-04). Neighbors spoke in opposition: Brian Ross (653 Callahan Place) said the neighborhood’s “spacious and tranquil” character would be altered by a proposed 5,621-square-foot, 20-foot house that would extend roughly 39 feet beyond his home and sit about 10 feet from the property line. Dave Ross (651 Callahan Place) and Joe Husbands (659 Callahan Place) echoed those concerns, saying the footprint and scale were out of character and that residents had limited access to the applicant’s plans before the Planning Commission meeting.
Applicant Mike Fritz told the Council the design meets City codes and that the CUP request concerns only the roof height; staff explained that measurement of building height is based on the average front grade and that the plan measures about 17.6 feet using the staff method. City Attorney Amy Schmidt advised the Council that general neighborhood discomfort is not a legally sufficient basis to deny a CUP if the applicant meets Code requirements.
Councilors debated scale, precedent and potential impacts. Councilor Maczko said larger redevelopments have “priced residents out of the community” in other neighborhoods and said he could not conclude the proposal fits the neighborhood’s scale. Councilor Paper raised concerns about increased runoff and tree protection; Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek said the project would be required to implement a stormwater best-management practice and that the city expects a net reduction in runoff post-construction. Councilor Mazzitello emphasized constraints of the updated Zoning Code and said the CUP is a procedural mechanism that is difficult to deny when Code criteria are met.
Councilor Mazzitello moved to adopt Resolution 2026-25; Mayor Stephanie B. Levine seconded. The final recorded vote was Ayes: Mayor Levine, Councilor Lorberbaum and Councilor Mazzitello; Nays: Councilor Maczko and Councilor Paper (3–2). The resolution approving a CUP for residential building height at 655 Callahan Place passed. The Council did not identify additional conditions in the motion recorded in the transcript. The Council adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
