05-05-25 - Council Work Session Agenda

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Natures Refuge North Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development Plan Submittal INTRODUCTION M/I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC (M/I Homes) is submitting an application for a Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development (PUD) plan for land north of Natures Refuge. The proposed plan includes 93 villa homes on an approximately 59.30-acre site. The original concept plan for this development was reviewed at by the City in late 2023, and a neighborhood meeting was held in February 2024. With feedback received from both city staff and officials as well as the neighborhood meeting, M/I Homes presented a revised concept plan, consistent with the proposed Preliminary Plat and PUD plan. This revised concept plan was reviewed by the Environmental Board, Planning Commission and City Council in late 2024. That revised concept plan and this proposed Preliminary Plat and PUD Plan accomplish the following: Approximately 8.5 acres of open space adjacent to the Arena Acres neighborhood. o We revised the original concept plan to pull back lots from Arena Acres to the center of the development, increasing the buffer width from Arena Acres from 50 feet to 1 60-400 feet, and reduced the number of lots from 108 to 93 homes. • Approximately 34 acres of open space (58% of the site) and preserves natural features. o We provided 4 more acres of open space from the original concept plan. Providing this additional open space reduced the number of trees removed by 1,400. The site plan also takes care to avoid as many wetland impacts as possible. • A neighborhood plan and homes designed for empty nesters and seniors looking for single level living with association maintenance. We are requesting a PUD for this development to introduce a villa home option to the Natures Refuge neighborhood. Villa homes offer single level living and provide a low maintenance living option for older adults. Natures Refuge, to the south of this proposed neighborhood, has 80-foot-wide lots with traditional single-family homes. This neighborhood is proposed to introduce all 60-foot-wide villa lots with main -level living with association -maintained yards and snow removal. The City of Lino Lakes allows for development through a PUD if it results in public benefit as outlined in the City's PUD ordinance. Nature Refuge North provides the following public benefits: • Addressing growing demands for all styles of economic expansion, greater variety in lot size, configuration, home type, design, enhanced architectural standards, and siting of structures through the conservation and more efficient use of land in such developments. o The single level living provided by villa homes include association -maintained yards and snow removal and therefore are popular with our senior buyers who are looking for a low maintenance home. It is not financially feasible to offer association -maintained yards and snow removal in the current neighborhood given the size of the lots. o The configuration of the lots works to preserve as many wetlands and trees as possible, and avoids a gas line easement that spans the site diagonally. Preservation and enhancement of desirable site characteristics such as wildlife habitat, unique natural resources, existing vegetation, natural topography, geologic features and reduction of negative impacts on the environment. As mentioned, the site design preserves over half the acreage in open space, which preserves as many wetlands and trees as possible. Creative use of land and related physical development which allows a phased and orderly transition of varying land uses in close proximity to each other. o The development abuts rural lots, and smaller lots allow a significant buffer from the rural lots while continuing to meet density requirements. • Provision of a housing type that is desirable to the city. Page 1