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Home My WebLink About07-17 CITY OF LAKEVILLE. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES July 17, 2025 Chair Zimmer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given. Members Present: Chair Christine Zimmer, Vice Chair Scott Einck, Pat Kaluza, John Swaney, Jason Swenson, Amanda Tinsley, Mark Traffas, Ex-Officio Jeff Hansen Members Absent: None Staff Present : Tina Goodroad, Community Development Director; Kris Jenson, Planning Manager; Zach Jorgensen, City Forester; Grace Benson, Forestry Technician; Dawn Erickson, Community Development Recorder. 3. Approval of the Meeting Minutes The June 26, 2025 Planning Commission meeting minutes were approved as presented. 4. Announcements Planning Manager Kris Jenson stated if the agenda items are not tabled they will move forward to the August 4 City Council meeting. 5. City of Lakeville - Tree Preservation Ordinance Chair Zimmer opened the public hearing to consider amendments to Title 10 (Subdivisions) and Title 11 (Zoning) of the City Code relating to tree preservation. Community Development Director, Tina Goodroad presented the Tree Preservation ordinance outline. Ms. Goodroad stated the proposed ordinance outline has been discussed by City Council, Planning Commission and the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Committee in previous work sessions. Ms. Goodroad introduced Zach Jorgensen and Grace Benson from the Forestry department. Chair Zimmer opened the hearing to the public for comment. Bob Erickson, 19081 Inndale Drive, raised issues related to the definition of mixed use and how recent developments would have been impacted by the proposed ordinance. Motion was made by Kaluza, seconded by Tinsley to close the public hearing at 6:09 p.m. Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes – unanimous Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, July 17, 2025 Page 2 Chair Zimmer asked for comments from the Planning Commission. Ms. Goodroad noted that mixed use refers to the zoning district mixed use. There are two mixed use zoning districts, both of which include multi-family residential uses.  Commissioner Kaluza asked for clarification about what happens if the site is constrained and doesn’t allow for tree preservation. Ms. Goodroad stated that if a site exceeds the removal threshold, any required buffering or screening trees then count towards the reforestation requirement; the fee in lieu would be used if there was no room on the site.  Commissioner Einck raised issues about the impact of the ordinance on smaller lots, particularly the inch for inch replacement requirement and the associated costs. Ms. Goodroad stated that section of the ordinance would require revised language to address the concerns raised.  Commissioner Swaney asked how the ordinance affects diseased trees required to be removed; Mr. Jorgensen noted that diseased trees are exempt.  Chair Zimmer asked for clarification of what activities are considered to be land disturbing. Mr. Jorgensen stated that land disturbing is also known as mass grading, an activity common to large development sites.  Commissioner Einck asked if there are restrictions on tree removals by homeowners outside of construction projects. Mr. Jorgensen stated there are not and it is allowed.  Commissioner Traffas agreed that some residential limitations make sense, but concurred with other Commissioners’ concerns about impacts to homeowners.  Commissioner Swenson asked for examples of how this ordinance would apply to recent developments. Ms. Benson presented reviews of Caslano and The Preserve of Lakeville. She noted that the proposed ordinance has a lower replacement level than other metro cities.  Commissioner Traffas asked whether there is still significant woodland in Lakeville to be preserved. Ms. Benson stated there is significant woodland areas west of Interstate 35. Ms. Goodroad presented the Commission with two options. The item could be tabled to so that staff can discuss revisions to address Commission’s concerns regarding the impact on single family properties or the Commission can recommend approval of the ordinance, with the stipulations that staff revise the ordinance to address the concerns related to single family properties. After discussion, the Planning Commission concurred that they would table the ordinance to the August 4 meeting and review proposed revisions at that time. Motion was made by Kaluza, seconded by Einck to table the proposed ordinance amendments to Title 10 (Subdivisions) and Title 11 (Zoning) of the City Corde relating to tree preservation. Ayes: Traffas, Kaluza, Zimmer, Einck, Swaney, Swenson, Tinsley Nays: 0 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, July 17, 2025 Page 3 6. City of Lakeville - Development and Residential Districts Chair Zimmer opened the public hearing to consider amendments to Title 10 (Subdivisions) and Title 11 (Zoning) of the City Code, relating to development and residential districts. Daniel Licht, The Planning Company, presented the draft of the ordinance. The bulk of the proposed amendments are intended to address regulations that impact ‘Missing Middle’ housing, which are units attainable by median or lower income households. Community Development staff acknowledge that the proposed changes won’t suddenly making housing affordable, but the intent is to provide flexibility that may expand the range of housing prices available in Lakeville. The Planning Commission discussed Missing Middle housing issues and potential development regulation amendments at a work session on December 5, 2024. Based on that discussion, City staff began drafting language to amend the City’s existing development regulations. This effort was set aside until after the conclusion of the recent legislative session to ensure that any modifications wouldn’t conflict with statutory requirements that may have been approved and signed into law by the Governor. With the legislative session adjourned, the amendments are being brought forward for consideration. Mr. Licht reviewed and highlighted a number of the proposed amendments. Chair Zimmer opened the hearing to the public for comment. Bob Erickson, 19081 Inndale Drive, raised issues relating to the fiscal sustainability of proposed amendments, whether the RH density changes will affect Lakeville Schools, and changes to the antennae definition. He also asked about the amount of RST-2 land still available for development. Motion was made by Swaney, seconded by Kaluza to close the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes – unanimous Mr. Licht responded to the issues raised, indicating that the amount of land guided and zoned for RST-2 in the entire city on the future land use plan is approximately nine percent (existing and future) of the city’s area. The density range for areas guided high density is nine to 26 dwelling units per acre. The minimum of 5,000 square feet per dwelling unit equates about nine units per acre, while the proposed change to 3,800 square feet per dwelling unit equates to about 11 units per acre. The 2040 Land Use plan is based on meeting a minimum overall density of three units per acre while the upcoming 2050 Land Use plan will require an overall density of 3.5 units per acre for new development. No changes were made to the definition of antennas. Chair Zimmer asked for comments from the Planning Commission.  Commissioner Kaluza thinks Lakeville needs to respond to concerns regarding ordinances without having them dictated by others. He added that it’s appropriate for Lakeville to craft ordinances specific to Lakeville and he will support the ordinance.  Chair Zimmer stated she also agrees with Commissioner Kaluza in supporting the specific Lakeville ordinances. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, July 17, 2025 Page 4  Commissioner Traffas asked for clarification of the reduction of the minimum size of garages for dwellings that don’t have basements. Mr. Licht stated the proposed amendment would remove the requirement for a larger garage space for units without a basement. There is space to park a vehicle in a driveway, and the RM districts also have guest parking requirements within the townhouse development. There is no change to the garage width requirement. Motion was made by Swenson, seconded by Tinsley to recommend to City Council approval of the proposed ordinance amendments to Title 10 (Subdivisions) and Title 11 (Zoning) of the City Code relating to development and residential districts. Ayes: Kaluza, Zimmer, Einck, Swaney, Swenson, Tinsley, Traffas Nays: 0 7. Staff Notices The next Planning Commission meeting will be on August 7. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dawn Erickson, Community Development Recorder