Based on the context provided and the roll call within the transcript, here is the formatted version with speaker identifications. [00:00:00] **Chair Frasier:** And welcome to Cottage Grove Planning Commission's meeting for July 22nd, 2024. At this time, we'll move to roll call. [00:00:10] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Commissioner Rasmussen? [00:00:11] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** Here. [00:00:12] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Commissioner Bot? [00:00:13] **Commissioner Bot:** Here. [00:00:14] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Commissioner Brittain? [00:00:15] **Commissioner Brittain:** Here. [00:00:16] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Commissioner Fischer? [00:00:17] **Commissioner Fischer:** Here. [00:00:18] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Chair Frasier? [00:00:19] **Chair Frasier:** Here. [00:00:20] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Commissioner Kanable? [00:00:21] **Commissioner Kanable:** Here. [00:00:22] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Commissioner Stevens is out. [00:00:25] **Chair Frasier:** All right, thank you. Item three on the agenda is approval of the agenda. Unless there are any additions or deletions, I would look for a motion to approve. [00:00:30] **Commissioner Brittain:** Motion to approve. [00:00:32] **Chair Frasier:** Motion to approve from Commissioner Brittain. Do I have a second? [00:00:34] **Commissioner Fischer:** I'll second. [00:00:35] **Chair Frasier:** Second from Commissioner Fischer. I haven't been away too long. Um, all those in favor say aye. [00:00:38] **Commissioners:** Aye. [00:00:39] **Chair Frasier:** Opposed say no. Motion carries 5-0. Item four is open forum. If there is anyone who'd like to speak on an item that is not on tonight's agenda, please step forward to the podium, state your name and address for the record. So at this time, I'll open open forum. All right, seeing none, we'll close open forum. [00:01:00] **Chair Frasier:** Item five is Chair's explanation of the hearing process. The Planning Commission is a volunteer advisory group to the City Council. One of the commission's functions is to hold public hearings and make recommendations on land use and zoning matters. The purpose of these public hearings is to provide an opportunity for each applicant and citizens to present information, ask questions, and express opinions. Since these proceedings are televised and recorded for the public record, anyone wishing to speak must step up to the podium and give their name and address before addressing the commission. Staff reports are prepared and provided to the applicant and Planning Commission in advance of the meeting. The first step in the hearing will be for staff to present the summary of the report. The applicant will then have the opportunity to briefly explain the proposal and provide additional information or comments. Anyone wanting to speak in favor or against the proposal will then be heard. Upon completion of the testimony, the hearing will be closed to public comment. The Planning Commission will then discuss and act on the matter. Two complete agenda packets are available for viewing on the back table; please do not remove those items. The City Council will act on the sole item on the agenda at their meeting on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024, which starts at 7:00 p.m. [00:02:30] **Chair Frasier:** With that, we'll move to item six. 6.1 is CP ZAP PUD P2024-015 Preserve at Prairie Dunes with Conor Jakes presenting. [00:02:40] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the Commission. Great to be with you. The four applications before you this evening are for a proposed residential subdivision that's currently referred to as The Preserve at Prairie Dunes. The four applications before you are a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, a Zoning Amendment, a Preliminary Plat, and a Planned Unit Development. The subject site is located just south of the major industrial area of the city, more specifically south of the current North Point development parcel. East of the site is Lenar’s Greymont Village, which is currently under construction—that's 45-foot lots—and to the west of the subject site is the Minnesota DNR's Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). The existing site is approximately 68 acres in size. Currently on site are tilled fields with vegetated windbreaks. Topography is relatively flat with minimal grade change. And then just to note, as part of the North Point development, North Point was required to construct 105th Street South and then that roundabout which is on the eastern side of the parcel where Hadley Avenue will connect and is under construction currently. [00:03:50] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Before we jump into the applications before you, I thought it'd be beneficial to walk through the background of the site. Many of the Commissioners will recall back in 2022, Summergate Development was before you with a Preliminary Plat that was relatively very similar. That Preliminary Plat consisted of approximately 100 acres including that parcel in the northwest, which is the Zivic 40 parcel as we refer to it. In that parcel there were four outlots that were proposed, given the realignment of Hadley Avenue and 100th Street South, and then the developer at the time was proposing 161 lots for single-family development. The northern portion of that project was proposed at 50 to 55-foot lot width and then the southern part at 65-foot lot width. And then just to note, the application before you is very similar. The two changes are: the northern part of that residential subdivision area is proposed at 45-foot lot width instead of the 50 to 55, and then at the time Summergate proposed the trail to run about halfway up that western property boundary. The applicant before you is proposing to run that along the entire western property boundary. [00:05:00] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** After Summergate Development received their Preliminary Plat approval from the Council, they did end up walking away from the project just due to various market conditions. However, if you recall at the time, Norhart Architecture was going through the approval process for that eastern parcel of the Zivic 40, and so in order for them to move forward with their project, they were required to complete the Final Plat. And so Norhart did complete that Final Plat which platted the Zivic 40 parcel, dedicated the right-of-way to the city for the realignment of Hadley and 100th Street, and then created that southern lot—the triangle parcel that's the subject site this evening—as a future outlot for residential development, which is the application before you this evening. [00:05:45] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** So the applicant has submitted a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The subject site is currently guided a mixture of Medium Density Residential, Low Density Residential, and Industrial. The applicant is proposing to reguide the northern portion of the site to a Low Density Residential in order to align with the proposed density on site. Proposed density is at three units per acre and the Low Density Residential land use allows for two to four units per acre—so right in the middle of that Low Density Residential. From a staff perspective, staff is supportive of the request given the Industrial and Medium Density land uses on that northern site really limit how developable that parcel is and the site as a whole. Shifting that to Low Density makes that more of a developable site as a whole. [00:06:30] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** The applicant's also proposing a Zoning Amendment to rezone the parcel from AG2 Agricultural to R4 Transitional Residential with a Planned Unit Development. Again, the R4 district is the transitional district where we have smaller lot width closer to our collector streets, and then moving away from it allows for that flexibility to have larger lot sizes as well, so it fits well with the collector roadways that are adjacent. Another aspect of the site is the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area, or the MRCCA. The southernmost section of the subject site is within the MRCCA, more specifically the SR (Separated from River) District. This district would and could allow for development; however, the applicant has proposed a stormwater pond and a recreational trail within that MRCCA overlay area on the southern tip of that site. [00:07:20] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** The Preliminary Plat before you this evening is to plat 162 lots for single-family housing. Lot widths range from 45 feet to 65 feet. The 45 feet in lot width is very similar and actually the same as our recently approved Settler's Bluff development and Greymont Village, which are both in the immediate area. The applicant's also proposing a PUD or Planned Unit Development to reduce the side-yard setback of the 45-foot lots from 7.5 feet to 5 feet. These standards do align with Settler's Bluff and Greymont Village and fall in line with those, and that's the only flexibility the applicant is requesting; all other 65-foot lots would meet the R4 zoning district standards. [00:08:00] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Access to the site is provided from that 105th Street and Hadley Avenue roundabout, as well as Hadley Avenue coming south with the realignment. The South District street and utility project is currently underway, which is that realignment and construction of Hadley and 100th. Utilities were extended via 100th Street with those improvements from North Point development. In terms of pedestrian connectivity, the applicant is proposing an internal sidewalk system of 5-foot sidewalks on one side of each street. The applicant's also proposing a transportation trail along Hadley Avenue, which is shown in orange on screen, and a recreation trail along the west edge of the property, which is shown in green on screen before you. All the proposed trails are consistent with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. [00:08:45] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Given there are a number of mature qualifying trees on site, the applicant is required to follow the tree mitigation ordinance. So the applicant has submitted a detailed tree inventory and tree preservation plan. The numbers and details are on screen before you, but just note the applicant is required to mitigate 53.25 caliper inches through replacement or fee-in-lieu. The method that's utilized will be memorialized in the development agreement with the final plat. The applicant has also submitted a detailed landscape plan that meets and exceeds all requirements of the landscaping ordinance. Just to note, the lot trees do differ based on the lot width: code requires two trees per lot for 60-foot and less lot width, and three per lot for 60-foot lots and wider. And then just one other thing to note, the applicant is boosting additional plantings adjacent to the roundabout just to provide additional screening from transportation. Before the recommendations on screen, there is an amended condition of approval before you this evening—condition number 13 in your packets, which is on page 17. 13A currently states the minimum attached garage floor area for dwellings shall be 440 square feet. Staff is requesting that that's amended to remove that requirement given the 45-foot lot width and the product that's proposed, and this condition would then align with Greymont Village, Settler's Bluff, and the other 45-foot lot width projects that have been previously approved. With that, the recommendation is on screen, but I'll invite up the applicant to give a brief overview of the project and detail on the proposed housing product. Thank you. [00:10:30] **Chair Frasier:** Any questions for staff? All right, thank you. The applicant, if you would like to step to the podium. [00:10:35] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** All right, thank you everyone tonight. My name is Haley Doty, I work with Pulte Homes obviously, and I'm the Manager of Land Planning and Entitlement. Also here today is Dean Lauder; he's our Director of Land Planning and Entitlement as well. As staff has said, I just wanted to give a brief overview of some of the homes we're building, give some more details on that. So the agenda should be pretty quick: just go over a quick overview of who Pulte is, our approach to the site, as well as our proposed homes. Briefly, we sell to all different types of people in the area. We started in 1950. This is a current map of our neighborhoods in the Twin Cities area that we currently build in. We're a national homebuilder in the United States. We focus on consumer-driven designs, and what that really means is we're just very survey-focused and we're always reaching out to consumers who've bought in the past and potential consumers to build homes and design homes that work best for the market conditions. In the Twin Cities, we sell homes under two brands: Pulte Homes and Del Webb. This proposed neighborhood would be a Pulte Homes neighborhood. [00:11:45] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** And so for our site approach, as staff mentioned, it is relatively similar to the previous proposal. This is just more of a zoomed-in view of the northern portion, which is mainly composed of 45-foot lots with some 65-foot lots, and then the southern portion of the site would be 65-foot lots. To talk more about our homes on the 45-foot lots, we would offer five floor plans with multiple elevations. They vary in square footage from just under 1,600 to under 2,200 square feet. There are two to four bedrooms offered as well as two to two and a half baths. We offer two-stall garages as well as different elevations with homes that can be one or two stories. These are just a few renderings of homes we built; the bottom left one is an actual house that we have built in the Twin Cities. As you can see, there's multiple different types of front-facing elevations, so it creates a really diverse community. Not all of the planned elevations we have are shown on this slide because we have multiple ones per plan. We offer a unique color package system, so there's multiple different types of colors that a homeowner can choose and pick for their homes. As well as the inside of the homes, we have tall ceilings, upgraded countertops, and cabinets, and so a variety of features that homeowners can customize to their liking during the sale process. [00:13:00] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** And then to talk a little bit more about our 65-foot homes, we offer six different floor plans with multiple elevations. These ones are geared towards more of a move-up buyer, so the square footage is a little bit larger—just under 2,400 square feet and just under 3,300 square feet. This one also does not include the basement square footage, so if there is a basement it will be a little bit larger as well. There's 3 to 4 bedrooms offered as well as 2 to 2.5 baths. Our 65-foot homes would offer a third-stall garage and this product does come in one or two stories as well. And again, here are just some different renderings of our proposed homes. There's stone offered on this one as well; there's different types of siding, accent siding, louvers, dormers—all types of different architectural features that make each home feel unique. And then again, with the inside of the home, it's just large open spaces, high ceilings, beautiful countertops, really focused on what the consumer would want in this area. So lastly, as discussed, we're proposing 162 homes. We have multiple product types and different elevations, different color packages, and we want to create a diverse community for everyone. We also would want to provide high-quality and aesthetically pleasing homes for everyone as well. And that's all I really have. [00:14:15] **Chair Frasier:** All right, thank you. Any questions for the applicant? [00:14:18] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** We've got two quick questions. Do the 45-foot lot homes, do they have basements or are they slab-on-grade? [00:14:25] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** Currently we are planning to build those slab-on-grade in order to hit the price point for this market. [00:14:30] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** All right, thank you. Second question, I think was answered by your last slide—I just wanted to confirm on the 65-foot lot width that your roads lined up with the development, I think it's Greymont Village, that's under construction? [00:14:42] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** That's correct. I think I see that on your drawing now, so it looks good. Great, thank you. [00:14:48] **Chair Frasier:** Any other questions for the applicant? [00:14:50] **Commissioner Fischer:** Hi, so will you build spec homes and then sell them, or will you sell them to individual people and then build as you sell? [00:14:58] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** Currently Pulte does a mix of both. There are some spec homes and then there's also some that are just based off a consumer. [00:15:05] **Commissioner Fischer:** Okay, thank you. [00:15:06] **Chair Frasier:** I do have one question for you. Maybe you can go back to the slide where you had the zoomed-up picture of the northern half... So it was my understanding from the packet that the entire northern part was going to be 45-foot lots, but it looks like the western edge that kind of leads down to the southern edge of that northern half—are those all 65? [00:15:30] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** Actually that is correct. So the more orange ones are the 45s and then the kind of tan-yellow are the 65s as well. [00:15:38] **Chair Frasier:** All right, so the 45-foot width lots are going to be kind of just to the northeast corner of that northern portion? [00:15:45] **Haley Doty (Pulte Homes):** That is correct. [00:15:46] **Chair Frasier:** Understood, thank you. All right, thank you very much. [00:15:50] **Chair Frasier:** At this time we will open the public hearing on the application. If there's anyone who's wishing to speak for or against the application, please step to the podium. [00:16:00] **Bonnie Matter (Public):** Yeah, I wish that a copy of that plan would have been in with the meeting materials, so maybe I can get a copy of that at some point. Oh, okay, sorry. Yeah, I'm Bonnie Matter, 6649 Inskip Avenue South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Thanks. And I just have a few questions. First of all—and I think I know the answer to it, it's just as I read through the materials I was confused—there was the diagram of the housing whether residential housing low, medium, high, and then there was another diagram on another page that was actually the zoning, and the color for the medium residential was the same color as the zoning. So if that could be maybe a different color for one, because I know it's all low density, correct? [00:17:00] **Chair Frasier:** Well, I think I recall from the presentation that right now it's AG2 for the zoning, so it's agricultural right now, but the Comp Plan is a mix of different uses at this point. So that's one of the applications is to amend the Comp Plan, and then there's another application to amend the zoning to come into conformance with the Comp Plan. [00:17:15] **Bonnie Matter:** Okay, but it would be low density? That is I believe the application, yes. Okay, I just want to make sure I understand that correctly because there was a meeting in 2022 and it got bounced back because the request was for low and medium, and medium was not acceptable to the Met Council. So I just want to make sure I understand that. That's number one. [00:17:35] **Bonnie Matter:** Number two: I talked about the land use versus proposed zoning color designation. Are there wetlands on the property? Where is the stormwater ponding located and is that a wetland or is that new stormwater? There's a recreational trail on the west bordering the Grey Cloud Scientific and Natural Area—what type of buffer area is planned between the property and the SNA? How will runoff be kept out of the SNA when grading? How will runoff be kept out of the SNA? Can the trail be made from a permeable paving material versus pervious? Who educates the homeowners about proper use of an SNA? Any SNA? Who keeps the dog poop, the lawn refuse, and other garbage away from and out of the SNA? What's the plan? And please provide the DNR contact notified with the current plans on June 17, 2024. Pulte is requesting a Planned Unit Development. The city recently just changed the zoning on the R4 to 45 feet. The objective was to eliminate the PUDs, but now Pulte is back for another PUD. What is Pulte providing the city for this Planned Unit Development? Tree preservation plan: calipers mean nothing to me, I'd like to know how many trees are actually being removed. Please submit the plans for this development to the appropriate representatives for review—and that means like the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area, this is a very special area in this city, and also to the Grey Cloud Dune Scientific and Natural Area Department of Natural Resources representative. And then I'd like to know what happens following this meeting. Those are my questions. Do you want me to go through them again? [00:19:25] **Chair Frasier:** Nope, I think we got them all, thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else wishing to speak for or against the proposal? All right, seeing none, we'll close public hearing then on the application. I don't know who'd like to start with responding? [00:19:40] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Mr. Chair, members of the Commission. Just to run through the comments provided by the public. To begin with, Comp Plan and zoning: that is correct, there are very similar colors. Just to clear things up, the land use chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is what guides development and guides density, and that's kind of your most broad overlay. And then within that, you have the zoning district standards—two separate overlays with similar colors. The Medium Density on screen is represented by the orange color, and then separately within the zoning district standards, the R4 is represented by orange as well, so just a difference in the overlays of that. And then just to talk through, the previous proposal by Summergate Development did propose that northern section to be Medium Density; however, per comments from the Metropolitan Council, they did recommend Low Density based on the density of the project previously. The proposed density before this evening being at 3 units per acre, so that does align better with the Low Density Residential. That's why the application before you is Low Density and not Medium Density. So staff has been in contact with the Metropolitan Council on this application as well, and they were in agreement that Low Density was still the preferred guiding of that northern part of the site. [00:21:00] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** To touch on stormwater ponding, there are currently no wetlands on site. The stormwater ponds are proposed to be created with the development. There's four of them located: one in the southernmost section that's within the MRCCA overlay district, one along the west property boundary, and then two separate ones with a dry pond on the north and a wet pond to the south of that. So four total stormwater ponds, no wetlands on site, and those stormwater ponds would be created and graded with the development. Along the west part of the site is the proposed recreational trail. That outlot—I don't know the specific width on that, but that does provide the buffer that the DNR requested and the burn break area that the DNR requested in their comment letter. Previously in 2022, the comments included really two major things: which was the preservation of mature trees along the western property boundary adjacent to the SNA, and then adding and providing a trail along the western property boundary to act as a burn break. So the applicant has attempted to mitigate those concerns through the preservation of trees along the majority of the western property boundary and then, again, that trail extending along the entire western property boundary when the previous application only had it about halfway. [00:22:15] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** In terms of runoff to the SNA, the applicant is required to have all water mitigated on site through their stormwater ponding and stormwater plan. In terms of notifying and working with residents on the SNA area and how that is to be treated, we work with the developer on that when new residents move in and give them the information to make them aware of the SNA, what it's meant to be, and then also communicate with the DNR on that as well, and all work together to ensure that residents are aware of that land and how that should be treated. The DNR was provided with a letter and a plan set for comment; no comments were received at this time from the DNR. In terms of tree preservation, 53.25 inches converts to about 11 additional trees that would be required if the applicant was proposing or does choose to utilize the replacement method on site instead of the cash fee, which I believe they're intending to do at this point—so planting those 11 additional trees. After this meeting, the August 21st City Council meeting is where this application would be heard before the City Council. [00:23:30] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** And then just to talk through the Planned Unit Development proposal. As part of the annual zoning code updates which was recently before you in May, the lot width within the R4 district was reduced to 45 feet to minimize any PUD requests; however, the side-yard setback was still kept at 7.5 feet, realizing that there's a variation of lot widths. So staff did not necessarily want to require or allow for 65-foot lot width to be closer to the property line than 12.5-foot separation between the two houses. So keeping that 7.5 feet keeps your 12.5-foot setback on your 65-foot lots and then in turn requires an applicant to request a PUD to reduce that for your 45-foot lot width and then require that extra application. So really trying to balance the range of lot widths within that transitional zoning district is part of that zoning district. I believe that was all the questions. [00:24:25] **Chair Frasier:** Okay, I just have a couple that I wanted to clean up with you, Connor. The rec trail—do we know what the proposal is for that? What is the makeup of that going to be? Is it going to be like a paved trail or crushed rock? [00:24:40] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Right now, I believe, Chair Frasier, it's proposed to be a paved trail along that western property boundary similar to our other recreation trails throughout the city. [00:24:50] **Chair Frasier:** Okay, and it sounded like from what you were saying that DNR had kind of asked for that plan as well, just because A) for it to be a trail, but B) because it then represents a fire break, just to make sure that their fire doesn't spread from the SNA to the houses or vice versa? [00:25:05] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Yeah, that's correct, Mr. Chair. [00:25:07] **Chair Frasier:** And then the other thing I just wanted to check—we did talk about caliper inches. I know you said the amount of inches that they're going to have to recoup on property is about 11 trees, but the reason why we talk about caliper inches is because the city ordinance is written in caliper inches, correct? [00:25:20] **Conor Jakes (City Planner):** Yeah, that's correct, Mr. Chair. [00:25:22] **Chair Frasier:** Okay, thank you. Any other questions for staff? Okay, thank you. At this time, any discussion by Commission on the application? [00:25:35] **Commissioner Fischer:** I'll just say one thing. I think it's nice that because we've seen a plan come through before on this property—and Bonnie had mentioned about the low density versus the medium density—it's nice to see one that will work that's lower density than what we saw before. And it's nice to take in, you know, what the Met Council says and then bring back a new plan that covers all those bases. So, I like that. That's all I've got to say. [00:26:05] **Chair Frasier:** Any additional comments or discussion? Okay, with that then, I would look for a motion. [00:26:10] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** I'll motion to approve per staff report. [00:26:12] **Chair Frasier:** I have a motion to approve the application subject to interests in the staff report by Commissioner Rasmussen. Do I have a second? [00:26:15] **Commissioner Fischer:** I'll second. [00:26:16] **Chair Frasier:** Second from Commissioner Fischer. Any further discussion on the motion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. [00:26:20] **Commissioners:** Aye. [00:26:21] **Chair Frasier:** Opposed say no. Motion carries 5-0. [00:26:25] **Chair Frasier:** Item seven is approval of the minutes. Unless there are any additions or corrections, I'd look for a motion to approve the meeting minutes from May 20th, 2024. [00:26:30] **Commissioner Brittain:** Motion to approve. [00:26:32] **Chair Frasier:** Motion to approve from Commissioner Brittain. Do I have a second? [00:26:35] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** Second. [00:26:36] **Chair Frasier:** Second from Commissioner Rasmussen. All those in favor say aye. [00:26:38] **Commissioners:** Aye. [00:26:39] **Chair Frasier:** Opposed say no. Motion carries 5-0. [00:26:42] **Chair Frasier:** Item 8 is reports. 8.1 is recap of June and July City Council meetings with Emily Schmitz. [00:26:50] **Emily Schmitz (Community Development Director):** Good evening, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. It's been a couple of months since we've been here, so I'm going all the way back to June 5th. So we'll work through the June meetings as well as the only Council meeting that was in July. Back to June 5th, I just wanted to highlight Real Estate Equities received Council support to apply for some bonding through the state for an affordable project that they're hopeful to work on—on the Zivic 40 actually parcel that they're interested in. They did not secure any funding for 2024, however, they are on the waitlist, so we anticipate hopefully some funding in that project to move forward in 2025. We also were able to get a match for our housing market study through Washington County Community Development Agency or the CDA, so they're matching that cost for that market study which is well underway this year. I would say we're about halfway done, so we're hopeful near the end of the summer that we'll have a final market study product. And then finally on that June 5th, Enterprise Energy—the community solar garden that was before you back in May—did receive its approvals at the City Council at that meeting. [00:28:10] **Emily Schmitz (Community Development Director):** Jumping ahead to June 26th, we did enter into agreement—I should have mentioned this—for the housing market study, or excuse me, the market study in the small area plan at Keats Innovation. So we're working with Stantec as the consultant who's going to work through evaluating the area, what the market is supporting at Innovation, and well, it will be at 100th as that project hopefully continues in the coming years. So creating a very long-term range vision for that area. We'll work through that through the remainder of 2024, likely a completed project at the end of this year. At that meeting, Council also approved the final phase of the Hawthorne Pines development—that's at 65th, kind of up in that northwest corner of the city. So those final 48 lots were approved at that meeting as well. [00:29:10] **Emily Schmitz (Community Development Director):** And then finally, July 17th, the two items that I wanted to note: there was an easement vacation at Oltman Middle School who was looking to work through their classroom addition as well as a cafeteria addition—not until 2025—but they do have to relocate a water main as a part of that project, and so we vacated that easement in anticipation of that project. That addition was approved as a part of their original approvals, I believe in 2017 when they were constructing the school, so it won't be an official application before you, so I wanted to just make you aware that that activity will be happening. And then finally, Summer Valley—some more easement vacations—but Summer Valley is that final piece of the puzzle there up by Park View Point, Rolling Meadows development area. So those 71 lots will kind of complete that area. They're grading away currently; grading should continue probably through middle of August, and then I would anticipate we might see some streets and things like that kind of forming and shaping out there. But that is the update that I have for you this evening. However, Councilmember Kata, of course, is here if he has anything to add or you have questions for him. [00:30:30] **Councilmember Kata:** Again, I just as always want to thank you guys for your dedication and time and make myself available for any questions you have. [00:30:38] **Chair Frasier:** All right, thank you. Any questions for Emily or Councilmember Kata? [00:30:40] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** Quick question on 70th Street, kind of east of Keats. There's that big utility-looking project going on. I can't figure out what's going on there. Do you have any updates or clues? [00:30:52] **Emily Schmitz (Community Development Director):** Mr. Chair, Commissioner Rasmussen, you're not the first one, and I actually had to drive out there to see this for myself. It's quite fascinating. I don't know the details of exactly what is happening, but Northern Natural Gas does have a substation just on the north side of 70th there. Across the way, some new pipe work happening, which my understanding is they need a lot of water as they navigate whatever this project is. The details of it, again, I don't know, but that's what's happening there: a staging area for a large amount of water to help with their new piping that they are putting in. [00:31:30] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** It's interesting, they almost have like a little water mini-water tower built or something. [00:31:35] **Emily Schmitz (Community Development Director):** Yep, yep. Swimming pool, if you might. [00:31:38] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** In Minnesota? Makes sense, I guess. Thank you. [00:31:40] **Chair Frasier:** All right, thank you. Any other questions for Emily or Councilmember Kata? Seeing none, we'll move on to 8.2, response to Planning Commission inquiries. I don't think we had any from the last meeting—I was trying to just go to the back of the packet here to see if there was one. [00:31:55] **Emily Schmitz (Community Development Director):** Mr. Chair, members of the Commission, we did add a response. We had some additional questions related to kind of the community solar process or existing projects that are out there. I'm hopeful that that memo kind of covered a little bit more detail that we were able to dig up as it relates to some of those additional questions, but of course, we can certainly add some clarification if needed at this point. [00:32:15] **Chair Frasier:** Okay, yep, page 82 of the packet. All right, so that one was resolved. [00:32:20] **Councilmember Kata:** I actually do have a few more comments that just kind of came back to me here. Before we exit, I did want to say since May, the city dealt with some pretty severe flooding. I think it's the eighth highest crest that's been recorded on the Mississippi. And because this is Planning Commission and we deal with infrastructure, I thought it might be a good idea to just tell you that our Emergency Management plan was utilized; our Public Works executed that plan very well. Two key pieces of infrastructure were at most risk, which were the causeway going onto Grey Cloud Island and the steel truss bridge going onto Grey Cloud Island as well. During that time, it was being monitored multiple times a day and we had Emergency Management protocols in place in order to evacuate somebody should there be a medical emergency on the island. And just really want to applaud our staff on being forward-thinking on that, and thankfully the water crested before it did any permanent damage to either of those structures. They were both inspected and they're back in service. [00:33:30] **Chair Frasier:** All right, thank you for that update. 8.3 then is Planning Commission request. Do we have any requests for staff at this meeting? Seeing none, we move on to item nine, which is adjournment. Do I have a motion to adjourn? [00:33:45] **Commissioner Rasmussen:** Motion to adjourn. [00:33:46] **Chair Frasier:** Motion to adjourn from Commissioner Rasmussen. Do I have a second? [00:33:48] **Commissioner Brittain:** Second. [00:33:49] **Chair Frasier:** Second from Commissioner Brittain. All those in favor say aye. [00:33:50] **Commissioners:** Aye. [00:33:51] **Chair Frasier:** Opposed say no. Motion carries 5-0. We are adjourned.