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LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL <br />REGULAR MEETING <br />MINUTES <br />DATE: <br />May 12, 2025 <br />TIME STARTED: <br />6:30 PM <br />TIME ENDED: <br />8:03 PM <br />LOCATION: <br />City Council Chambers <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: <br />Mayor Rafferty, Councilmembers Cavegn, Lyden, Ruhland <br />and Stoesz <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: <br />None <br />Staff Members Present: Interim City Administrator Dave Pecchia, City Clerk Roberta Colotti, <br />Human Resources and Communications Manager Meg Sawyer, Community Development <br />Director Michael Grochala, City Engineer Diane Hankee, Public Works Superintendent Justin <br />Williams, Chief of Police Curt Boehme, and Fire Chief Dan L'Allier. <br />The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rafferty at 6:30 p.m. <br />Mayor Rafferty provided an overview of the Rules of Decorum. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT <br />Mayor Rafferty opened the public comment period at 6:32 p.m. <br />The City Clerk reported that written comments had been submitted by 14 residents regarding <br />the M/I Homes of Minneapolis, LLC and the proposed Nature's Refuge North (Phase 11) housing <br />development consisting of approximately 93 homes. They stated that they are residents of Phase <br />I of the Nature's Refuge development, consisting of approximately 60 homes. They are concerned <br />about the increase in automobile traffic, particularly as it relates to access and traffic safety on <br />Haywood Drive. They requested the City Council require that Stret B become a second fully <br />accessible public entrance and exit for the Phase 11 development vs. being designated as an <br />emergency vehicle only street. <br />The City Clerk stated that there was a second letter submitted for public comment this evening. <br />The letter was from Catherine Decker, 614 Pine Street, Lino Lakes. She reported that her property <br />borders the northern side of the proposed Natures Refuge North Development. She expressed <br />her strong opposition to the rezoning request from Rural Executive (R-X) to Planned Unit <br />Development (PUD) with 1/3-acre parcels as it is currently proposed. She stated that Pine Street <br />and the Arena Acres neighborhood to the southwest are characterized by larger and 10-acre <br />minimum lots creating a rural environment that many value deeply. She stated that several of <br />her neighbors on Pine Street keep horses, and Arean Acres itself is so -named after the 30,000 <br />square -foot horse riding arena, a landmark that highlights the rural, agrarian nature of the <br />community. The proposed dense, small -lot development completely undermines the established <br />rural charter. She described the wildlife that inhabits the area. In conclusion she urged the City <br />Page 1 of 9 <br />