Mendota Heights council approves zoning amendment for Lexington Heights with conditions for turnaround and design

The Mendota Heights City Council on Jan. 20 approved a zoning amendment and preliminary development plan for the Lexington Heights property at 2300 Lexington Avenue, adding conditions requiring a vehicular turnaround on the north side of the new building and additional architectural design details to improve compatibility with existing buildings.

The proposal from Chase Real Estate would replace portions of parking and roughly 14,000 square feet of grass with a new four-story apartment building. "We would reutilize a parking area and 14,000 square feet of grass to create additional housing units," said Joe McElwain of Chase Real Estate, who presented the application and cited recent housing reports showing a roughly 1% vacancy rate and high demand.

City staff traced the site's approval history to a PUD and a density variance dating from the 1980s. Community Development Manager Sarah Madden said the original approval allowed roughly ten units per acre under the older approach, while current guidance typically projects six to nine units per acre for similar zoning categories.

Councilors pressed the applicant on circulation, parking and visual compatibility. "My concern is that this would be tight on the site," Councilor Maczko said, raising issues about emergency-vehicle circulation and the proposed layout producing a long dead-end that could require backing maneuvers. The applicant said staff and the Fire Department have discussed turnarounds; the Council modified the approval to require turnaround capability to the north section of the new building prior to final development-plan approval.

The Council also asked for steps to make the new building visually compatible with the three-story existing buildings in the development. Councilor Maczko successfully moved to add a condition directing the applicant to "provide additional architectural design details to better integrate and coordinate with existing buildings." Community Development staff noted some materials and color schemes proposed are compatible but said more detail will be required in subsequent reviews.

Applicant John Riley said redevelopment will include expanded onsite stormwater treatment and landscaping. "We would improve the water quality and treatment onsite," Riley said, and added that removed trees would be replaced per City Code and that interior and clubhouse updates are planned.

The Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-06, including the amended condition and the turnaround requirement (motion by Councilor Mazzitello; second by Councilor Paper; amendment by Councilor Maczko; Ayes: 5, Nays: 0). The action directs further review at the final development-plan stage where detailed engineering, drainage and architectural materials will be reviewed.

Next steps: the applicant must provide the required turnaround design and the additional architectural details in the final development plan submission; staff will review those materials and return them for approval under the PUD amendment process.