HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/14/2026 PZ Combined Packet
PLANNING & ZONING BOARD AGENDA
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Broadcast on Cable TV Channel 16
and northmetrotv.com/lino-lakes-stream
ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, 6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers (televised)
1.Call to Order and Roll Call
2.Pledge of Allegiance
3.Public Comment (sign-in prior to start of meeting per Rules of Decorum)
4.Setting the Agenda: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items
5.Approval of Minutes: December 10, 2025
6.Action Items
A.2245 Tele Drive 3-Season Porch Setback Variance
B.Pine Oaks PUD Concept Plan Review
7.Discussion Items
A.Metropolitan Council 2050 System Statement
B.Public Works Design Update
C.Project Updates
ADJOURNMENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MINUTES
DATE: December 10, 2025
TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M.
TIME ENDED: 8:34 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:Isaac Wipperfurth, Nathan Vojtech,
Michael Root, Suzy Guthmueller, Perry Laden,
Patrick Kohler
MEMBERS ABSENT:Neil Evenson
STAFF PRESENT:Michael Grochala, Katie Larsen, Diane Hankee, Jessica
Eller, Marissa Ertel
1.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Root called the Lino Lakes Planning & Zoning Board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
on December 10, 2025.
2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3.PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Root declared public comment open at 6:31 p.m.
There was no one present for public comment.
Mr. Vojtech motioned to close public comment at 6:31 p.m. Motion was seconded by
Mr. Laden. Motion carried 6 – 0.
4.APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was approved as presented.
5.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Vojtech moved to approve the November 12, 2025 meeting minutes. Motion
seconded by Mr. Kohler. Motion carried 6 – 0.
6.ACTION ITEMS
DRAFT MINUTES
Planning & Zoning Board
November 12, 2025
Page 2
A.Continued Public Hearing: Peltier Ponds Comprehensive Plan Amendment,
Rezoning, PUD Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat
The applicant, U.S. Home, LLC (aka Lennar), is proposing a master planned residential
development located west of CSAH 54 (20th Ave N) across from Watermark, east of
Peltier Lake, and north of the City of Centerville border. The development contains four
(4) parcels totaling approximately 125 gross acres and 282 housing units. The proposed
development is called Peltier Ponds.
The Planning & Zoning Board held a public hearing on July 9, 2025 and recommended
continuing the public hearing to allow the applicant time to provide additional
information. The Board continued the public hearing again on August 13, 2025,
September 10, 2025, October 8, 2025, and November 12, 2025. The applicant submitted
revised PUD Preliminary Plans/Preliminary Plat on November 3, 2025.
Josh Metzer, U.S. Home, LLC, presented and was available to answer questions.
Mr. Wipperfurth had questions regarding Peltier Lake Drive and whether this needs to
be shown on the plans. Ms. Larsen stated that this is shown in the civil plans.
Mr. Wipperfurth wanted to know the plan for the trail along Peltier Lake. Ms. Larsen
stated this would be a City project using the funds from the park dedication fees. The
construction of the trail would be completed along with phase four.
Mr. Wipperfurth asked who would pay for the added roundabout. Mr. Grochala stated
that this would be a decision between the developer, the City and the County. Mr.
Wipperfurth wanted to confirm that the street width would not be changed.
th
Mr. Wipperfurth had questions about the extension of a trail along 20. Ms. Hankee
stated that this would potentially be completed with the development or along with
County Road reconstruction projects.
Mr. Kohler had concerns about stormwater management and not meeting standards.
Ms. Hankee did confirm that the developer has met standards since the first meeting.
Mr. Kohler had concerns about water supply for the area. Ms. Hankee stated that
mentioning the water supply is for the developer. Ms. Hankee stated that the City and
engineering is actively working on getting Well No. 7 running. Mr. Grochala stated that
the City is watching other wells being drilled closely in the surrounding area.
DRAFT MINUTES
Planning & Zoning Board
November 12, 2025
Page 3
Mr. Kohler wanted to speak on the neighborhood meeting concerns regarding water
and drainage issues. Ms. Hankee stated that along Rehbein Street there are issues the
City is aware of. The developer will be responsible for run-off from the site.
Mr. Kohler had concerns regarding the engineering comments from WSB. Ms. Hankee
stated that several of the comments have been addressed by the developer, and the
remaining are not of high concern.
Mr. Vojtech wanted to speak about the guest parking for the townhomes and worries
that much of the guest parking is located to the South. Ms. Larsen stated that the
developer is meeting the parking requirements.
Mr. Vojtech spoke about the shoreline and future park and pavilions.
Chair Root had questions about the comprehensive plan amendment and the lower limit
changing from 383 to 382. Ms. Larsen explained that this is a guideline and the City
worked along with the developer to meet the requirements.
Chair Root had questions about the roundabout. Mr. Root wanted to confirm that the
developer, regardless of the roundabout, would have to address traffic. Ms. Larsen
confirmed that the developer would address traffic and the City and County will be
working on the roundabout.
Chair Root wanted to address tree preservation, specifically along the North lot line. Ms.
Larsen stated that not all trees will be replaced, but tree preservation is a priority and
that the City will encourage trees be added along the north lot line.
Mr. Kohler had concerns about the homes that would be along the powerline
easements. Ms. Larsen stated that the lots do meet requirements and have mentioned
this to the developer.
Ms. Guthmueller had questions about the lots on the floodplains and worries for the
two lots near the lake. Ms. Larsen stated that the lots are not considered too close to
the lake.
Mr. Wipperfurth had concerns about the existing homes on the site and the driveway
access. Ms. Larsen stated that the developer will need to work with the homeowners,
and that one of those homeowners is the owner of the land.
Mr. Metzer spoke on the trees along the north lot line and stated that they would be
removing trees that are already dead or dying. This is also to ensure that the lots can be
properly graded so that there is no runoff to the existing properties.
DRAFT MINUTES
Planning & Zoning Board
November 12, 2025
Page 4
Mr. Metzer stated they are already in contact with the existing homeowners and are
working on the driveway concerns.
Chair Root wanted to address concerns from the neighborhood meeting and how they
plan to address those concerns. Mr. Metzer stated that they have not changed from the
neighborhood meeting, rather the existing concerns regarding drainage and brush. Mr.
Metzer stated the runoff would be reduced.
Chair Root wanted to comment on the entry sign and the renderings and wanted to
suggest adding “Lino Lakes” to the sign.
Chair Root opened the public hearing at 7:45 p.m.
Jerry L’Allier, 7601 Gordon Avenue, had concerns about the trees along the north lot
line and not being able to view the lake. Mr. L’Allier stated that the current trees are
doing a good job of preventing flooding and would like to see more screening. Mr.
L’Allier does not want to have to pay for his own trees and believes the developer
should have to pay. Mr. L’Allier also had concerns about traffic in the area and the
removal of the road along the lake. Mr. L’Allier believes this would make the area more
dangerous. Mr. L’Allier does not understand why the water supply is not being
addressed and believes we should not approve phases three and four until the well is in
place.
Mr. Laden motioned to close the public hearing at 7:48 p.m. Motion was seconded by
Ms. Guthmueller. Motion carried 6 – 0.
Mr. Metzer addressed the concerns regarding the trees, he stated there will be 70 trees
planted along there and many of the existing trees will not be removed.
Chair Root wanted to address the traffic concerns regarding closing Peltier Lake Drive.
Ms. Hankee clarified that the street is not being shut down, rather rerouted through the
site.
Chair Root addressed the water supply and how the City could approve development if
there would not be guaranteed supply for each phase. Ms. Larsen wanted to clarify that
this is a preliminary plat, and that before each phase this will be presented before the
board for each final plat where water supply would be addressed at that time.
Mr. Laden wanted to speak on the architectural standards. Mr. Laden is fine with the
flexibility for the larger lot sizes. Mr. Laden was not in favor of flexibility regarding the
garage façade and size. Mr. Laden would not be in favor of this for a single floor plan.
Mr. Laden wanted to make sure that the garage window on the rambler is included in
the recommendations.
DRAFT MINUTES
Planning & Zoning Board
November 12, 2025
Page 5
Chair Root wanted to clarify the recommendations. Mr. Laden stated that he would be
fine with the flexibility for the 55-foot lots if all flexibility is not on one single layout and
would not want the houses of the same layout to be next to the other.
Mr. Laden also spoke on the garage door styles and would like to see more variety.
Mr. Metzer stated that since the development of Watermark there is more variety in
garage door styles.
Mr. Kohler motioned to approve the Peltier Ponds Comprehensive Plan Amendment,
Rezoning, PUD Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat with staff recommendations.
Motion seconded by Mr. Wipperfurth. Motion failed 3 – 3.
Mr. Vojtech motioned to approve the Peltier Ponds Comprehensive Plan Amendment,
Rezoning, PUD Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat with staff recommendations and
the following Board recommendations:
Garage size must be a minimum of 520 feet for the 55-foot lots
Garages cannot be forward for the 55-foot lots
Motion seconded by Mr. Laden. Motion failed 2 – 4.
Mr. Laden motioned to approve the Peltier Ponds Comprehensive Plan Amendment,
Rezoning, PUD Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat with staff recommendations and
the following Board recommendations:
Only two of the four PUD flexibility be allowed per 55-foot lot
Windows over the garage for single-story homes
Adjacent houses on the 55-foot lots cannot have protruding garages
Garage door windows should have variety
Motion seconded by Mr. Root. Motion failed 1 – 5.
After much discussion regarding architectural requirements for the 55-foot lots, the
Board could not come to a consensus about a recommendation.
B.Public Hearing: Lyngblomsten PUD Amendment #3-Skilled Nursing Care Center
The applicant, Lyngblomsten at Lino Lakes, LLC, submitted a Land Use Application for
PUD Amendment #3. They are requesting an amendment to the PUD Preliminary Plan
(“PUD Amendment”) to change the 2-story skilled nursing care center to a 3-story skilled
nursing care center. The property address is 6070 Blanchard Boulevard.
Mr. Wipperfurth wanted to confirm the roof style. Ms. Larsen stated that the roof style
does not change with this PUD amendment.
DRAFT MINUTES
Planning & Zoning Board
November 12, 2025
Page 6
Judd Fenlon, Grand Real Estate Advisors, was available for questions.
Mr. Laden wanted to confirm that this skilled nursing unit is not already being done with
the existing units. Mr. Fenlon confirmed that this is not being done in the existing
buildings.
Chair Root opened the public hearing at 8:31 p.m.
There was no one present to speak.
Mr. Vojtech motioned to close the public hearing. Motion was seconded by Mr. Kohler.
The public hearing was closed at 8:31 p.m.
Mr. Wipperfurth moved to approve the Lyngblomsten PUD Amendment #3 – Skilled
Nursing Care Center with the staff and board recommendations. Motion seconded by
Mr. Vojtech. Motion carried 6 – 0.
7.DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.Project Updates
Ms. Larsen provided project updates to the Board.
Mr. Vojtech moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Mr. Laden. Meeting
adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marissa Ertel – Community Development Administrative Assistant
DRAFT MINUTES
PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
AGENDA ITEM 6A
STAFF ORIGINATOR: Katie Larsen, City Planner
MEETING DATE: January 14, 2026
TOPIC: 2245 Tele Drive 3-Season Porch Setback Variance
CASE NUMBER: VAR2025-002
APPLICANT: Lake to Lake Construction
Attn: Todd Wanka
rd
2152 3 Street, Suite A
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
OWNER: Kurt and Caryn Henriksen
2245 Tele Drive
Lino Lakes, MN 55038
INTRODUCTION
The applicant, Todd Wanka, is requesting a setback variance for the purpose of constructing a
3-season porch. The property address is 2245 Tele Drive.
Tentative Review Schedule:
Complete Application Date:December 4, 2025
60-Day Deadline:February 2, 2026
Environmental Board Meeting:N/A
Park Board Meeting:N/A
Planning & Zoning Board Meeting:January 14, 2026
City Council Work Session:February 2, 2026
City Council Meeting:February 9, 2026
BACKGROUND
The Land Use Application is for the following:
1
Variance
This staff report is based on the following submittals:
Applicant Narrative
Survey prepared by Lot Surveys Company, Inc. dated June 24, 1997
Construction Plans
ANALYSIS
The applicant is proposing to construct a 16’ x 16’ 3-season porch off the back of the existing
house. The lot is a corner lot. The rear lot line is opposite the front lot line along Tele Drive. The
rear lot line is not parallel to the front lot line.
Zoning and Setback Requirements
The property is zoned R-1, Single Family Residential. The required rear lot line principal building
setback is 30ft. The 3-season porch is considered part of the principal building. Per the survey
submitted with the variance application, the northeast corner of the porch will encroach 3.5ft
into the required 30ft setback. The northwest corner of the porch will not encroach into the
setback. No portion of the porch encroaches into the drainage & utility easement.
The applicant notes in the narrative that the “resident’s desired design cannot shift east or west
due to the existing windows and doors currently on the house”.
Option
A smaller 3-season porch could be constructed that meets setback requirements.
Criteria and Findings of Fact
Per City Code Section 1007.018(3)(a) Criteria and findings of fact. No variance shall be granted
unless it meets all the criteria in divisions 1. through 6. below, or unless division 7. below
applies. The city shall make findings regarding compliance with these criteria.
1.The variance shall be in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this chapter.
City Code Section 1007.000(2) details the purpose and intent of Chapter 1007: Zoning Code. The
variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this chapter.
2.The variance shall be consistent with the official City Comprehensive Plan.
Per the Comprehensive Plan, the property is guided for Low Density Residential land use.
2
The variance request is consistent with residential land use. The property is intended for single
family detached dwellings with 3-season porches.
3. There shall be practical difficulties in complying with this chapter. “Practical
difficulties,” as used in connection with the granting of a variance, means that the
property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by
this chapter. Economic considerations alone do not constitute practical difficulties.
Practical difficulties include, but are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight
for solar energy systems.
The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by this
chapter. The practical difficulty is created by the angle of the rear lot line. Only a portion of the
3-season porch encroaches into the setback.
4.The plight of the landowner shall be due to circumstances unique to the property not
created by the landowner.
The plight of the landowner is due to the circumstances unique to the property due to the angle
of the rear lot line. The plight was not created by the landowner.
5.The variance shall not alter the essential character of the locality.
The variance will not alter the essential character of the of the locality. The residential
neighborhood consists of single family detached dwellings with additions.
6.A variance shall not be granted for any use that is not allowed under the ordinance for
property in the zoning district where the subject site is located.
The variance is not being granted for a use that is not allowed under the ordinance. Single
family detached dwellings with 3-season porches are permitted uses in the R-1, Single Family
Residential zoning district.
7.In accordance with M.S. § 462.357, Subd. 6, variances shall be granted for earth
sheltered construction as defined in M.S. § 216C.06, Subd. 14, when in harmony with
the zoning ordinance.
Not applicable.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the following setback variance for the 2245 Tele Drive 3-season
porch:
3
A 3.5 foot variance to reduce the rear lot line principal building setback from 30 feet to
26.5 feet as shown on the submitted survey.
ATTACHMENTS
1.Site Location & Aerial Map
2.Applicant Narrative
3.Survey prepared by Lot Surveys Company, Inc. dated June 24, 1997
4.Construction plans
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PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
AGENDA ITEM 6B
STAFF ORIGINATOR: Katie Larsen, City Planner
MEETING DATE: January 14, 2026
TOPIC: Pine Oaks PUD Concept Plan Review
CASE NUMBER: PZC2025-0010
APPLICANT: M/I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC
Attn: Emily Becker
5354 Parkdale Drive, Suite 100
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
OWNER: Pine Acres Development Co
18183 Lansford Path
Lakeville, MN 55044
INTRODUCTION
The applicant, M/I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC, is proposing 82 single family villa
lots in a conservation subdivision. The development is approximately 75 gross acres. It is
located northeast of Natures Refuge North and is called Pine Oaks.
Tentative Review Schedule:
Complete Application Date:December 15, 2025
60-Day Deadline:February 13, 2026
Environmental Board Meeting:December 17, 2025
Park Board Meeting:February 4, 2026
Planning & Zoning Board Meeting:January 14, 2026
City Council Work Session:February 2, 2026
City Council Meeting:N/A
BACKGROUND
The Land Use Application is for the following:
1
PUD Concept Plan Review
Future land use applications may include:
Existing Pine Oaks Plat Vacation
Rezone property from R, Rural to PUD, Planned Unit Development
PUD Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat
PUD Final Plan/Final Plat
This staff report is based on the following submittals:
Applicant Narrative
Concept Plans prepared by Carlson McCain dated November 19, 2025
Rare Plant Survey prepared by Midwest Natural Resources dated December 11,
2025
History
Pine Oaks Addition was originally platted in 1980 with 49 lots; however, the
development was never constructed. The plat will need to be vacated.
The concept of Natures Refuge, which includes this Pine Oaks area, was first presented
to the City in 2006 as a conservation subdivision. The original site was 232 gross acres
(approximately 100 acres upland and 132 acres wetlands/conservation easements) and
278 single family units were proposed. A mandatory Environmental Assessment
Worksheet (EAW) was prepared because the 278 housing units exceeded the 250
housing unit Environmental Review Record (ERR) threshold. It was determined the
project did not have the potential for significant environmental effects and the Council
passed Resolution No. 07-06 making a Negative Declaration on the Need for an EIS.
The original Natures Refuge did not materialize past the EAW process due to the decline
in the housing market and no preliminary plat was ever submitted. A smaller phase
(Natures Refuge) was approved in January 2022 with 60 single family units on 95 gross
acres. A second phase (Natures Refuge North) was approved in May 2025 with 94 single
family villa lots on 60 gross acres. This last phase, Pine Oaks, proposes 82 villa lots on 75
acres.
Year# LotsAcres
Natures Refuge20226095
Natures Refuge North20259460
Pine Oaks20268275
2
TOTAL236230
Current Proposal
The proposed Pine Oaks is a continuation of Natures Refuge North with 82 villa homes
on 60ft wide lots. The villas provide a life cycle housing option with main-level living and
association-maintain yards and snow removal.
Wetlands, buffers, stormwater ponds, and borrow areas are integrated throughout the
development creating approximately 55 acres (73%) of open space.
See the attached applicant’s narrative for a detailed description of the project.
ANALYSIS
Existing Conditions
The site contains woodlands, wetlands, and rare plants. It is relatively flat with
elevations ranging from 904 to 908 feet mean sea level. A 100ft wide natural gas
pipeline easement runs east to west through the site. Nordin Manor to the northeast is
a residential subdivision that was platted in 1954.
Surrounding Zoning and Land Use
2040 Future
DirectionZoningCurrent Land Use
Land Use
NorthCity of Columbus City of ColumbusCity of Columbus
PUD LDR, Low Density
SouthAgricultural
(Natures Refuge)Residential
R-1, Single Family &Rural Residential & LDR & Park & Open
East
R, RuralWoolan ParkSpace
Rural Residential &
R, Rural &
WestSingle Family Urban Reserve & LDR
PUD
Residential
Comprehensive Plan and Housing Density
Planning District #2
The site is located in Planning District 2 which identifies Natural Resources such as
Woolan Park. The Comprehensive Plan states:
3
“The 17 acre Woolan Park Wetland Bank, located north of Main Street and west of Lake
Drive, is part of a larger 60 acre wetland complex. Opportunities to protect and restore
the balance of the wetland should be evaluated with any adjacent development.”
The proposed development is adjacent to this wetland complex. The site also contains
other wetlands and natural resources such as existing vegetation and trees and rare and
endangered species. The PUD, Planned Unit Development process provides the
opportunity to protect and enhance these public values (natural resources) with a
conservation subdivision and development standard flexibility.
Density
Per the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan the site is guided for low density sewered
residential development which requires 1.6 to 3.0 units per net acre. The proposed net
density is 2.76 units per acre which is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s guided
land use and density range.
The following chart implements Met Council’s formula for calculating net density.
Gross Area (acres)75.42
Wetlands & Water Bodies(31.02)
Public Parks & Open Space0.00
Arterial ROW0.00
Other (Utility Transmission Easement)(0.37)
Other (Wetland Buffer Area)(14.37)
Net Area (acres)29.66
# of Units82
Gross Density (units/acre)1.09
Net Density (units/acre)2.76
Zoning and Land Use
Current Zoning R-1, Single Family Residential
Current Land Use Vacant Residential
Future Land Use per 2040
Low Density Residential
Comp Plan
Utility Staging Area Stage 1B (2025-2030)
4
Zoning Requirements and Standards
The site is currently zoned R-1, Single Family Residential. The property will be rezoned
to PUD, Planned Unit Development, the same as Natures Refuge and Natures Refuge
North. A summary of PUD public benefit vs PUD flexibility is provided at the end of this
staff report.
Conventional Zoning Requirements vs. PUD Guidelines
Per City Code Section 1007.024(4) for PUD, Planned Unit Development, the
development guidelines for land guided low density residential development are either
R-1, R-1X, or R-2.
The following chart is from the applicant’s narrative. The R-2, Two Family Residential will
be the underlying conventional zoning district.
StandardR-2 Zoning StandardVilla Lots
Minimum Lot Size7,500 square feet7,500 square feet
Minimum Lot Width60 feet60 feet
Minimum Lot Depth125 feet125 feet
Minimum Front
25 feet25 feet
Setback
Minimum Side 10 feet (5 feet for Attached
7.5 feet*
SetbackGarage)
Minimum Corner
25 feet20 feet*
Side Setback
Rear Setback25 feet25 feet
Impervious Surface65%65%
Collector Road Right-
80 feet60 feet*
of-Way Width
Minimum 20 feet in width We agree to adhere to these
Garage Size
and 520 square feet in sizerequirements.
Garage shall not protrude
forward of the front wall of
the house, unless the house
includes a front porch that is
We are requesting this be waived
unenclosed, a minimum of
but agree that the garage cannot
Garage Designsix (6) feet in depth, and
protrude more than five feet
extends across 100 percent
forward the house.*
of the front façade of the
house. The garage shall then
not protrude forward of the
front porch.
5
The length of the garage
wall facing the street shall
not be greater than 50 Garage walls shall not be greater
Garage Designpercent of the length of the than 57 percent of the length of
entire front façade of the the entire front façade.*
structure for street-facing
garage doors
*PUD flexibility required.
Staff Comment:
1.Per the subdivision ordinance, minimum lot area for urban lots shall consist of
buildable land exclusive of utility transmission easements or water course
easements that encumber lot development.
a.Lots shall not contain rare plants, wetlands, or wetland buffers .
b.Lots that contain the powerline easement shall demonstrate they meet
the 7,500sf buildable land area requirement.
2.Similar to Natures Refuge North, the following PUD flexibility is proposed:
a.Garage shall be allowed to protrude forward of the house, without front
porch, a distance of no more than 5’, subject to conformance with an
anti-monotony plan that prohibits houses with protruding garages to be
placed directly adjacent to or across from one another.
nd
b.Unless 2 floor living space extends over the garage, the maximum
length of the garage wall facing the street shall not exceed 57% of the
front façade subject to the following:
i.Decorative garage doors with a strip of windows are required.
ii.Garage width in excess of two stalls will be recessed two feet from
the main garage facade.
iii.Total garage width will not exceed 32 feet.
3.The Net Area Exhibit shall include the lot numbers.
Subdivision Ordinance
Blocks and Lots
The proposed development provides 82 single family villa lots and several outlots that
will contain wetlands, buffers, stormwater ponds etc.
Streets and Alleys
Street A will connect to Pine Street and the Orange Street area. Street B is a
continuation of Haywood Drive. It is identified as a minor collector road in the
Transportation Plan and provides a north-south corridor from CSAH 14 (Main Street) to
6
eventually Pine Street. All proposed street right-of-way widths are 60ft and the paved
surface is 32ft wide.
Street connections are required by the following City Code Sections:
§ 1001.096 LAND REQUIREMENTS.
(2) Proposed subdivisions shall be coordinated with surrounding properties and/or
neighborhoods so that the city as a whole may develop efficiently and harmoniously.
§ 1001.100 STREETS AND ALLEYS.
(3) Streets, continuous. Except for cul-de-sacs, streets shall connect with streets
already dedicated in adjoining or adjacent subdivisions or provide for future connections
to adjoining unsubdivided tracts, or shall be a reasonable projection of streets in the
nearest subdivided tracts. The arrangement of thoroughfares and collector streets shall
be considered in their relation to the reasonable circulation of traffic, to topographic
conditions, to runoff of storm water, to public convenience and safety, and in their
appropriate relation to the proposed uses of the area to be served.
Staff Comments:
1.A traffic study shall be required.
2.Trails and sidewalks shall be incorporated throughout the development.
3.40ft of road right-of-way shall be dedicated along Pine Street.
4.Due to wetlands within the Nordin Street road right-of-way, further analysis will
be required to determine if a street will be constructed to Pine Street near Olive
Street and Orange Street.
5.It appears that a portion of Street A connecting to Nordin Street road right-of-
way is outside of the Pine Oaks Addition. This shall be evaluated.
6.Lot 82 will require vacating a portion of the Nordin Street road right-of-way. This
shall be evaluated.
Easements
Staff Comments:
1.Standard drainage and utility easements at least 10 feet wide shall be provided
along all lot lines.
2.Drainage and utility easements shall also be dedicated over stormwater
management facilities.
3.Oversized easements for stormwater management may not be included in the
minimum established lot size.
4.Conservation easements and wetland buffers shall be required over wetlands
and greenway corridors.
7
Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control
The concept plan shows several stormwater management facilities, ponds, and wetlands
throughout the development creating a multi-functional greenway corridor.
Utilities
Public water, sanitary, and storm sewer utilities will be installed within the
development. Water and sanitary will extend north along Haywood Drive.
The site is located in Sanitary Sewer District 2 (Sub-district 2K). Flow is collected
southward to MCES Meter M211 and Gravity Interceptor 8361 along North Road which
passes southwest through Circle Pines.
The development is located in Utility Staging Area 1B (2025-2030). By resolution, the
Council will open this staging area.
Municipal sanitary sewer and water also gets extended closer the Olive and Orange
Street neighborhood which are smaller (<0.5 acre) lots on private septic systems and
wells.
Parks, Greenways and Trail Plan
Per the City’s 2040 Parks, Greenways and Trails Plan, this development is within the
Arena Acres and Wollan Park service areas. Arena Acres is a smaller 1 acre
neighborhood park. Wollan Park is an 18 acre open space wetland and not an active
park. Lino Lakes Elementary School also serves as the neighborhood park.
Staff Comments:
1.Trail locations shall be evaluated to extend from the existing trail in Natures
Refuge North to Wollan Park.
Tree Preservation and Landscaping
A Tree Preservation Plan and Landscape Plan shall be submitted with the PUD
Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat submittal. In lieu of mitigation for each tree the
developer is proposing 3 trees per lot, restoration of existing protected upland, and
dedication of land and open space for future management. Additional landscaping may
be required as a condition of the PUD.
Traditional/Conventional Development vs Conservation Development
8
A traditional or conventional development uses the standard zoning district requirements
that can result in a street grid development.
Per City Code Section 1007.007: Subdivision Ordinance Definitions
CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT. The development pattern and technique whereby lots
are arranged in closely related groups to preserve the natural amenities of the land
through the creation of common open space.
Per City Code Section 1001.026:
(4) Yield plan. If the project includes a conservation subdivision or planned unit
development, the applicant shall submit a yield plan showing the maximum number of
dwelling units that would be permitted given the minimum lot size and lot widths for
conventional subdivisions and other requirements of the Lino Lakes Zoning and
Subdivision Chapters.
A conservation development is the same as a conservation subdivision.
Staff Comment:
1.The applicant shall submit a yield plan with the PUD Preliminary Plan/Preliminary
Plat submittal.
The purpose of using the PUD zoning is to create a conservation development that
establishes the defined public values of preserving and enhancing the on-site natural
resources. The PUD also creates and enhances the greenway corridor and trails that are
accessible to the public.
Environmental Review Record
As previously noted, in 2006 a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)
was prepared for the original Natures Refuge concept because the proposed 278
housing units exceeded the 250 housing unit threshold. The EAW thoroughly analyzed
potential impacts to wetlands, rare plant and animal species, floodplain, water quality,
noise, traffic and archeology. It was determined the project did not have the potential
for significant environmental effects and the Council passed Resolution No. 07-06
making a Negative Declaration on the Need for an EIS.
The scope and size of the existing Natures Refuge, Natures Refuge North, and proposed
Pine Oaks is smaller than the original 2006 proposal. A revised EAW is not required
because the 236 housing units do not exceed the 250 housing unit threshold.
9
# Housing Units
Natures Refuge60
Natures Refuge North94
Pine Oaks82
TOTAL236
Wetlands
Per the December 17, 2025 Environmental Board staff report:
Eight (8) wetlands were delineated onsite totaling 34.55 acres. Wetland 8 is an
extension of the Wollans Wetland. Extended buffers and upland should be provided
between proposed houses and wetland. A minimum of 50’ should be provided for
Wetland 8; no buffers should be included in the proposed lots. Avoidance of impacts to
large wetlands should be encouraged with the development. Proposed road will cut
through a portion of Wetland 3, ensure that hydrology is not impacted and the overall
wetland function is maintained in both lobes.
The proposed project areas fall within the RCWD Wetland Management Corridor (WMC).
Confirm that all buffers and management meet RCWD requirements within the WMC.
Staff Comments:
1.There shall be more separation and buffer between Lots 56-66 and the wetland.
2.No wetlands or wetland buffers shall encroach into any lot.
Rare Plant Survey
A Rare Plant Survey was prepared by MNR. Three (3) state-threatened species and one
(1) endangered species were detected on site. The proposed Pine Oaks layout avoids
these rare species.
Staff Comments:
1.Lot 12 shall be evaluated for proximity and potential impacts to the rare plants.
Floodplain
Per the December 17, 2025 Environmental Board staff report:
10
Floodplain - Floodplain is shown on the south and east edges of the site. Any impacts to
the floodplain will need to be mitigated for. A Letter of Map Revision will need to be
completed for any lots that are shown within the FEMA floodplain. Coordinate with RCWD
on impacts within the floodplain.
Shoreland District
The site is not located within the Shoreland Management Overlay District.
Additional City and Government Agency Review Comments
The Police Department reviewed the concept plan and had no objections or
suggestions.
The Fire Department received the concept plan and had no comments.
The Environmental Board reviewed the PUD concept plan on December 17,
2025. There was general support for the project. See attached Environmental
Memo for detailed comments.
The Park Board will review the concept plan February 2026. We anticipate the
Board will recommend a 100% cash dedication in lieu of dedicating land for a
neighborhood park. The cash dedication could be utilized for trails, providing
leisure opportunities at Lino Lakes Elementary, and making enhancements to
Arena Acres Park and Wollan Park.
The City Engineer provided comments in the attached memo.
PUD Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat
The City’s review and comments on the concept plan’s relation to the Comprehensive
Plan and development regulations does not grant any rights to the applicant to develop
the property as depicted by the concept plan.
A land use application for PUD Preliminary Plan/Preliminary Plat shall be required. The
developer should have a neighborhood meeting prior to submittal of a PUD Preliminary
Plan/Preliminary Plat.
PUD Public Benefit vs PUD Flexibility Summary
Per City Code Section 1007.024:
11
(2)The PUD, by allowing deviation from the strict provisions of this ordinance
related to setbacks, heights, lot area, width and depths, yards, etc., may be considered by
the City when it would result in one or more of the following public benefits:
(a)Implementation of a master plan consistent with the Planning District
objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
The need for a formal master plan was not identified for this area in the 2040
Comprehensive Plan. The proposed development is consistent with the 2006 EAW
concept plan for low density single family residential conservation development.
(b)Innovations in development that address 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.
The applicant is proposing a conservation development. The villas provide a housing
option with main-level living with association-maintain yards and snow removal which
addresses life-cycle housing. The project will include enhanced architectural design
requirements and an anti-monotony code.
(c)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.
The conservation development preserves and enhances desirable site characteristics by
minimizing wetland, woodland, and rare plant species impacts. The site will include
approximately 55 acres (73%) of open space preserved in a conservation easement.
(d)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.
Pine Oaks is a continuation of Natures Refuge North conservation subdivision.
(e)Efficient use of land resulting in smaller networks of utilities and streets
thereby lowering development costs and public investments.
The configuration of the lots preserves open space and as many wetlands as possible
and avoids a gas line easement that spans the site diagonally which results in a smaller
network of utilities and streets.
(f)Mix of land use types.
12
There is no mix of land use types.
(g)Provision of a housing type or target housing price that is desirable to the
City.
The villas provide a housing option with main-level living with association-maintain
yards and snow removal which addresses life-cycle housing.
(h) Other public benefits and values as recognized in the City’s Comprehensive
Plan.
Planning District 2 identifies Wollan Park as a natural resource that should be
protected. The proposed development strategically includes a stormwater
pond/open space buffer near the Wollan Park wetland complex. This is a critical
link to protecting this sensitive natural resource area.
A goal of the sanitary sewer plan is to provide service and capacity to developed
areas of the city currently served by on-site systems. Municipal sanitary sewer
and water also gets extended north which will eventually serve the Olive and
Orange Street neighborhood which are smaller (<0.5 acre) lots on private septic
systems and wells.
A goal of the Parks, Greenways & Trails Plan is to establish greenway corridors. A
multi-functional greenway corridor incorporating stormwater management,
trails and open space will be evaluated.
The project will include a stormwater reuse irrigation system reducing demand
on the City’s water supply system.
Summary
Public Benefit Gained:
1.Conservation development that protects and enhances the on-site natural
resources such as wetlands, woodlands, rare plant species, and open space that
are accessible to the general public.
2.Main-level living villa homes with association-maintain yards and snow removal
which addresses life-cycle housing.
3.Preserved wetlands and established wetland buffers/conservation easements
4.Efficient use of land resulting in smaller network of utilities and streets
5.Protection of Wollan Park wetland complex.
6.Extension of sanitary sewer to eventually serve Olive and Orange Street
neighborhood currently served by on-site systems.
7.Establish multi-functional greenway corridor and trail system that is accessible to
the public.
8.Cash fee in lieu of land dedication will be collected in addition to the open space
provided in conservation easements or City ownership.
13
Flexibility Provided:
1.Reduced minor collector road right-of-way width from 80 feet to 60 feet on
Haywood Drive (Street A).
2.Reduced corner lot width from 80 feet to 70 feet.
3.Reduced setback from street (corner lot) from 25 ft to 20 feet.
4.Side yard setbacks from 10ft/5ft to 7.5 feet.
5.Garage allowed to protrude forward of the house, without front porch, a
distance of no more than 5’, subject to conformance with an anti-monotony plan
that prohibits houses with protruding garages to be placed directly adjacent to
or across from one another.
nd
6.Unless 2 floor living space extends over the garage, the maximum length of the
garage wall facing the street shall not exceed 57% of the front façade subject to
the following:
(a)Decorative garage doors with a strip of windows are required.
(b)Garage width in excess of two stalls will be recessed two feet from the main
garage facade.
(c)Total garage width will not exceed 32 feet.
7.Tree preservation requirements offset by the following:
a.Developer shall grant the City a conservation easement over outlots.
b.Developer will plant 3 trees per lot in addition to open space plantings
around storm water management areas.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is requesting feedback from the Planning & Zoning Board:
1.Thoughts on PUD flexibility?
2.Should the applicant hold a neighborhood meeting prior to PUD Preliminary
Plan/Preliminary Plat submittal.
ATTACHMENTS
1.Site Location and Overall Neighborhood Plan
2.Applicant Narrative
3.Concept Plan with Aerial
4.Concept Plan with Site Data
5.Concept Plan with Wetlands
6.Concept Plan with Rare Plants
7.City Engineer Memo dated January 7, 2026
8.Environmental Coordinator Memo dated December 17, 2025
14
Main Street
Haywood Drive
Pine Street
CONCEPT PLAN
REVIEW
REQUEST
PINE OAKS
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
INTRODUCTION
M/I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC (M/I Homes) is submitting an application for a concept plan for a
Planned Unit Development (PUD) for land to the northeast of Natures Refuge North. The concept plan
proposes 82 lots on an approximately 75.42-acre site.
ABOUT M/I HOMES
M/I Homes has been in business for almost 50 years and has built over 150,000 homes in 17 markets within
the United States. We entered the Twin Cities Market in 2015 by purchasing Hans Hagen Homes. Hans
Hagen Homes was founded over 50 years ago and was one of the largest and oldest home builders in the
Minneapolis market.
HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT/REASON FOR STREET VACATION
The property was originally platted into 49 lots in 1980 but was never developed and has remained vacant
and heavily wooded with wetlands. The layout of the existing plat shows little regard for wetland impacts, as
a number of lots are mostly or totally encumbered by wetlands, and so the plan is virtually undevelopable
with current rules that have been adopted since the plat was recorded. As such, we will be requesting
vacation of the streets and easements on the plat with submittal of the preliminary plat and Planned Unit
Development (PUD) application. This would result in 49 lots with vacated streets, which would be referenced
with a new plat dedication. We will dedicate easements over existing streets so that access to the parcel
may be maintained.
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
We have seen a great demand for villa homes on smaller lots with main-level living with association-
maintained yards and snow removal with our Natures Refuge North development. As such, we are proposing
the same type of home in this development and requesting similar flexibilities.
The City of Lino Lakes allows for development through a PUD if it results in public benefit as outlined in the
’s PUD ordinance. We believe this proposed development 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.
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.
Provision of a housing type or target housing price that is desirable to the city.
o The main-level villa homes that have association-maintained yards and snow removal are
popular with our senior buyers or anyone looking for a more carefree living lifestyle. This type
of housing is not commonly found in the City of Lino Lakes. The smaller lots make it possible to
offer association-maintained yards, as it is not viable for an association to maintain a larger
lot. The configuration of the lots, as well as keeping the homes all slab-on-grade, works to
preserve as many wetlands, trees and rare plants as possible and avoids a gas line easement
that spans the site diagonally.
Other public benefits and values as recognized in the city's Comprehensive Plan.
o The first goal outlined in the City’s Sanitary Sewer Chapter of its Comprehensive Plan is to
serve the city’s residents and businesses with an affordable and safe sanitary sewer. A policy
developed from this goal is to provide for the capacity and extension of sanitary sewer to
Page 1
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
developed areas of the city currently served by on-site systems. The proposed development
will provide sewer connectivity to the properties to the east located on Olive and Orange
Streets and a portion of Pine and Maple Streets that are in the Stage 1B Planned Service
Areas as outlined in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These homes are situated on smaller lots
and are currently served by both well and septic systems. A lift station that was provided by
the development to the southwest, Natures Refuge North, allows these properties to be served
by this connection.
We believe the general requirements for a PUD are met in the following ways:
Public or common open space to meet minimum requirements established in the ordinance.
o The site provides approximately 55 acres of open space, which is just under 73 percent of the
site.
If PUD includes preservation of natural habitat, those habitats shall be permanently protected through a
conservation easement or other legally binding agreement.
o We recorded a conservation easement and WMC Buffer Declaration in Natures Refuge and
Natures Refuge North and are willing to record similar documents against the open space.
Homeowners Association Required.
o The lots will be governed by a homeowner’s association (HOA) as further explained below.
SITE PLAN/REZONING
The site plan proposes three street connections: one connecting to the west from Natures Refuge North’s via
Haywood Drive, one connecting to the north to Pine Street NE, and one connecting to the east to connect with
Nordin Street. Given the tree and wetland impacts as well as existing encroachments into the right-of-way, we
are not proposing to connect Nordin Street to Pine Street.
With submittal of the preliminary plat and PUD applications, we will be requesting a rezoning from the R-1
zoning district to the R-2 zoning district with certain flexibilities outlined below. As previously mentioned, this
zoning district and requested flexibilities are consistent with what was approved with Natures Refuge North.
StandardR-2 Zoning StandardVilla Lots
Minimum Lot 7,500 square feet7,500 square feet
Size
Minimum Lot 60 feet60 feet
Width
Minimum Lot 125 feet125 feet
Depth
Minimum Front 25 feet 25 feet
Setback
Minimum Side 10 feet (5 feet for Attached Garage)7.5 feet**
Setback
Minimum Corner 25 feet20 feet
Side Setback
Rear Setback25 feet25 feet
Impervious 65%65%
Surface
Collector Road 80 feet60 feet*
Right-of-Way
Width
Page 2
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
Garage SizeMinimum 20 feet in width and 520 We agree to adhere to these
square feet in sizerequirements.
Garage DesignGarage shall not protrude forward of We are requesting this be waived but
the front wall of the house, unless the agree that the garage cannot protrude
house includes a front porch that is more than five feet forward the house
unenclosed, a minimum of six (6) feet in (further explanation in the paragraph
depth, and extends across 100 percent below).
of the front façade of the house. The
garage shall then not protrude forward
of the front porch.
Garage DesignThe length of the garage wall facing the Garage walls shall not be greater than
street shall not be greater than 50 57 percent of the length of the entire
percent of the length of the entire front front façade (further explanation in the
façade of the structure for street-facing paragraph below – Garage Design
garage doorsStandards).
*This flexibility was granted for Natures Refuge and Natures Refuge North. Haywood Drive from Natures
Refuge was granted this flexibility, and the proposed development will extend Haywood Drive to the north.
This flexibility is being requested for both Street B and Street A. The street width will be the same width as
Haywood Drive.
**We will provide at least 15 feet between homes. The City currently allows a five-foot setback for garages
and ten feet for homes, so this is generally consistent with R-2 zoning.
GARAGE DESIGN STANDARDS
In order to minimize impacts to trees, wetlands, and wildlife, we are proposing lot sizes consistent with the R-2
zoning standard with a lot width of 60 feet. R-2 zoning has different garage design requirements than the R-
1 zoning district and does not allow the length of the garage to be greater than 50 percent of the length of
the entire front façade unless the second floor living space extends over the two-car portion of the garage;
the garage doors are decorative and have a strip of windows; garages in excess of two stalls are broken up
so the additional stalls are recessed two feet from the main garage stall; and garage width does not exceed
32 feet. Because villas provide single-level living, we cannot provide the living space above the garage on
all plans; we only have a few villa plans that are one and a half stories. We also request that we be allowed
some flexibility for some of our plans to have garages that protrude no more than five feet forward the
house façade. The reason for these requests in flexibility is we cannot get to the 520 square foot garage size
with meeting the design standards that are currently in place with single level living homes. In order to meet
these requirements, we would need to make the house wider, and we cannot do that with the smaller lots we
are proposing in order to conserve as much open space as possible.
In summary, we agree to comply with the garage design standards that were approved for Natures Refuge
North:
Garage shall be allowed to protrude forward of the house, without front porch, a distance of no more
than 5’, subject to conformance with an anti-monotony plan that prohibits houses with protruding
garages to be placed directly adjacent to or across from one another.
Unless 2nd floor living space extends over the garage, the maximum length of the garage wall facing
the street shall not exceed 57% of the front façade subject to the following:
Decorative garage doors with a strip of windows are required.
Garage width in excess of two stalls will be recessed two feet from the main garage
facade.
Total garage width will not exceed 32 feet.
Page 3
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
TREE PRESERVATION/ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
PLAN/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET
A formal tree preservation plan will be done and submitted with the preliminary plat application, and so at
this time, it is not known for sure how many trees will need to be removed on site. We have minimized tree
removal as much as possible by reducing lot sizes, opted for slab on grade homes to reduce ponding, and are
proposing deeper ponding in concentrated areas rather than spreading out multiple ponds to a larger area.
However, in order to avoid as much wetland impact as possible, we anticipate that a significant number of
trees will need to be removed in order to accommodate lots and ponding.
In order to avoid wetland, rare plant, and tree impacts, we are preserving a significant amount of open
space on the site – approximately 73%. Given that this property is densely forested, it is not feasible to
replace the number of trees required to be removed within the development or through paying tree
restitution. Therefore, we are proposing to perform ecological restoration on the site in order to offset the
effects of tree removal. We have engaged Midwest Natural Resources to develop an ecological plan that
will be submitted to the city along with the preliminary plat application. Such plan will include detailed
descriptions of the conditions documented at the time of the ecological survey for the avoided areas of the
site. The plan will propose management strategies, such as invasive species control, woodland management,
potential prescribed burning, or other methods to enhance those communities and maintain habitat for rare
plants and resources.
An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was done on the property in 2007. It spanned the subject site
as well as the properties that are now Natures Refuge and Natures Refuge North and contemplated a unit
count of 278. Natures Refuge has 61 units, and Natures Refuge North has an approved 94 units with
preliminary plat. With the addition of these 82 proposed units, the total proposed unit count (237 homes) for
the area on which an EAW was done is well below the EAW’s threshold.
DENSITY
The total site area is 75.42 acres with 31.02 acres of wetlands, 14.37 acres of wetland buffers, and a 0.37-
acre gas line easement. The planned density for this area is 1.6-3 units per acre. Netting out wetlands,
wetland buffers, and the gas line easement, we are proposing a density of 2.76 units per acre, which is
below the allowable maximum density of three units per acre. While we could get to the minimum required
density traditional R-1 zoning, the Comprehensive Plan mentions density transfer several times as an incentive
for conservation development. First, the Goals and Policies of the Land Use Chapter recognizes that density
transfer and bonuses can provide an incentive for achieving specific public values not achievable under
conventional zoning standards. The Housing Chapter contemplates density bonuses as an incentive to
developers to provide more affordable housing units within conservation subdivisions, as it recognizes that
allowing additional units on a site may make a conservation development more financially feasible. The Parks
and Trails chapter identifies density transfer as an incentive for setting aside land in a conservation easement
or greenway. Snips of this language from the City’s Comprehensive Plan are on the following page. In
addition to this, the Metropolitan Council has issued its 2050 Land Use Policy, which designates Lino Lakes as
a Suburban Edge community, which will require a minimum density of 3.5 units per acre in sewered areas
within the City when developed under the guidance of the City’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
Because a large portion of the site (over 60%) is encumbered by wetlands and their required buffers as well
as the gas line easement, and because wetlands, buffers, and utility easements are netted out in determining
density numbers, there are many challenges to developing the property with traditional R-1 zoning. Grading
costs will be more expensive on this site due to the wetlands and elevations, and the costs of streets and
utilities will remain the same regardless of the number of lots on the site. While impacting wetlands would
increase the amount of developable acreage on the site in terms of density calculations, we wanted to
conserve as many wetlands as possible.
Page 4
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
The conservation development plan that was originally proposed for this entire area in the early 2000’s that
included this proposed development, Natures Refuge and Natures Refuge North included 278 homes, and we
have only proposed a total of 237 homes (41 less homes than was originally contemplated). Additionally,
Natures Refuge had a net density of 1.68 units per acre, and Natures Refuge North had a net density of 2.99
units per acre. Looking at the total area of all development in the table below, the average density of the
overall site including all three developments is 2.43 units per acre, which is below the maximum 3 units per
acre.
Plat NameGross Wetlands Utility Public Net # of Gross Net
Area and Easement Parks and Area UnitsDensityDensity
(Acres)Buffers (Acres)Open (Acres)(Units/(Units/
(Acres)Space Acre)Acre)
(Acres)
Natures 94.7057.060.400.0036.26610.641.68
Refuge
Natures 59.305.310.0022.6031.39941.592.99
Refuge
North
Pine Acres 75.4245.390.410.0029.66821.092.76
Total/229.42107.760.8122.6097.312371.032.43
Average
Page 5
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
ELEVATIONS
Example elevations of our villa product have been provided. These are just an example of the many
elevations we offer. We also have anti-monotony requirements to ensure that very similar elevations are not
adjacent to one another within the community to preserve visual interest.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
The development will have an HOA that will provide for the maintenance of the overall common elements in
the community, including landscaping of the common areas as applicable and management of the natural
resources. The HOA will also provide lawn care and snow removal for villa lots. Additionally, restrictions will
be placed on outdoor storage and parking (no boats, campers, or trailers) in order to keep the community
looking orderly and well maintained.
REQUEST AND CONCLUSIONS
M/I Homes is requesting Board, Commission and City Council feedback and direction on the proposed concept
plan for Pine Oaks. We believe that the concept plan proposes a reasonable and high and best use of the
property in conformance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
We respectfully request that the Board, Commission and City Council provide direction and support of the
proposed concept plan with the following considerations:
1.The future PUD and neighborhood plan allow for 82 villa lots consistent with the attached
concept plan.
2.The proposed density allows the extension of sewer to developed areas of the city currently
served by on-site systems through conservation development, which is a goal that is
recognized in several chapters of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
3.The minimum lot width requirements conform to the R-2 zoning except as identified in the PUD.
4.In lieu of tree restitution, the City agrees to accept an ecological plan that will restore rare
species while controlling invasive species. This could include woodland management, potential
prescribed burning, or other methods to enhance those communities and maintain habitat for
rare plants and resources.
5.The open space be deeded to the City or to the HOA and protected by deed restrictions or
restrictive covenants.
Page 6
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
EXAMPLE ELEVATIONS – VILLAS*
*Note that these elevations do not include the garage bumpout proposed in the narrative
The Cedarwood II
The Cedarwood
The Willow II
Page 7
Pine Oaks Concept Plan Submittal
The Elmwood IV
Page 8
¯
UPs23a
OPn92a
STORM
POND
FDs37a
WMn82
BORROW
POND
FDs37a
STORM
POND
Legend
Site Boundary
RarePlants_Pt
RarePlants_Pt plus 25 ft
Structure_2025
#
*
Drainageway
Level 1 Wetland
Wetland Poly
OPn92a
No NPC Class
NPCCode
FDs37a
OPn92a
WMn82b1
UPs23a
OPn92a
WMn82
WMn82b1
Figure 3 - Site Plan with Mapped Native Plant Communities & Rare Species
Pine Oaks (KES 2025-101)
Lino Lakes, Minnesota
0500
Feet
Note: Boundaries indicated on this figure are approximate and do not constitute an official survey product.
Memorandum
To:Katie Larsen, Lino Lakes City Planner
From:Kris Keller PE, WSB
Diane Hankee PE, Lino Lakes City Engineer
Date:January 7, 2026
Re:Pine Oaks (MI Homes)
Concept Plan Review
032826-000
WSB’s review of the Concept Plans for the Pine Oaks (MI Homes) development in Lino Lakes,
MN, prepared by Carlson Engineering and received December 12, 2025. Our comments were
made on the following documents:
Pine Oaks Concept Plan prepared by Carlson Engineering, dated November 19. 2025.
The following review comments should be responded to in writing by the applicant.
Engineering
•General
The Pine Oaks development is a replatting of the same named development that was
originally platted in 1980. It includes 75 acres north of CSAH 14 (Main Street), west of CSAH
23 (Lake Street), and south of Pine Street adjacent to Natures Refuge North. The current
conceptual project proposes 82 single family villa lots and associated infrastructure. This
property was originally part of a larger development of which an Environmental Assessment
Worksheet (EAW) was prepared. The evaluation concluded that the project did not have the
potential for significant environmental effects.
•Grading
The Pine Oaks development includes site grading for the 82 units as well as extensions of
Haywood Drive and Nordin Street as well as a local street that is yet to be named.
•Stormwater Management
Stormwater management for the Pine Oaks development has not yet been proposed and
will need to be submitted for preliminary plat by the applicant. It is anticipated that the
development will include a storm sewer conveyance, rear yard drainage, and ponding
systems, consistent with the previous and adjacent developments. The systems shall meet
the City’s and Rice Creek Watershed District’s (RCWD) Stormwater Management
requirements. Stormwater reuse will be required for irrigation. Access to the ponds for
maintenance per City requirements will also need to be provided with plans.
Ms. Katie Larsen
01/07/2026
Page 2
•Water Supply
The Pine Oaks project is to be served by municipal water supply. It is anticipated that the
existing 16” DIP trunk main on Haywood Drive will need to be extended northeast through
the development to Orange Street. The City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan requires this trunk
line to be extended to the east. Applicant to verify water pressure is adequate for all
locations within the development.
Applicant is to provide water demand calculations so the City can evaluate available water
supply. The City’s water supply system well firm capacity is currently constrained by poor
water quality in some wells, and annual variability in water use due to drought and other
factors. Based on the water supply capacity and well trigger analysis completed in April
2024, the city may need additional well(s) to accommodate development within the City’s
existing 2040 Utility Staging Area. While the City’s Comprehensive Plan identifies the need
for additional wells to support continued growth, the White Bear Lake District Court orders
and ongoing litigation, currently prevents the City from implementing that plan.
•Sanitary Sewer
The Pine Oaks project is to be served by municipal sanitary sewer system. It is anticipated
that the existing 8- inch diameter poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) trunk main on Haywood Drive
will be extended north to serve the proposed addition. The development will be served by
the lift station, recently installed with the Natures Refuge North development. The trunk
sanitary sewer main will be extended to the northeast, consistent with the City’s 2040
Comprehensive Plan.
•Transportation
A general street layout has been proposed with the Concept Plan that differs from the
original 1980 plat which is now coordinated with existing adjacent developments. The
City of Lino Lakes’ Comprehensive Plan requires neighborhood street connections. The
applicant is showing a connection with rights of way to Nordin Street to the east and Pine
Street to the north. A traffic study will be required and reviewed with the preliminary plat.
Trails and sidewalks
No trails nor sidewalks are shown along any of the streets on the submitted Concept Plan.
Additional trail and sidewalk segments may need to be included throughout the site at the
direction of the City Planner.
•Landscaping
A Landscape Plan for Pine Oaks Addition has not yet been submitted. One will need to be
submitted and reviewed by staff and the City’s Environmental Coordinator. The
Environmental Coordinator will provide separate comments.
•Floodplain
The Pine Oaks Addition potentially impacts the existing floodplain and a letter of
map revision will be required.
Pine Oaks Addition Engineering Review
Ms. Katie Larsen
01/07/2026
Page 3
•Drainage and Utility Easements
Roadways are proposed within right-of-way and lots include standard drainage and utility
easements. Larger drainage and utility easements will be required to be provided over
any utilities outside the right of way and any surface water management features
Development Agreement
A development agreement will be required with the final plat.
Grading Agreement
Grading agreement not required at this time.
•Stormwater Maintenance Agreement
The stormwater maintenance for public facilities in the Pine Oaks development will be
covered under the City’s Programmatic Stormwater Management Agreement after the
facilities have been installed and accepted by the City. Borrow areas / Lakes area will be
maintained by the HOA.
•Permits Required
Required permits will be determined at the time of preliminary plat submittal. Potential
permits may include some of the following and others:
1.NPDES General Construction Permit
2.City of Lino Lakes Zoning Permit for Construction
3.Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Sanitary Sewer Extension Permit
4.Minnesota Department of Health
5.Rice Creek Watershed District Permit
6.US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit
If you or the applicant have any questions regarding these comments, please contact Kris
Keller at (612) 419-3083 or kkeller@wsbeng.com. You may also contact Diane Hankee at (651)
982-2430 or dhankee@linolakes.us.
Pine Oaks Addition Engineering Review
Environmental Memo
To:Katie Larsen, City Planner
From:Tom Hoffman, Environmental CoordinatorTom Hoffman, Environmental Coordinator
Date:December 17, 2025
Re: Environmental Comments – Pine Oaks Concept Plan
Environmental Board had recommended the following at their December 17, 2025 meeting:
1.Consideration should be given to the proposal to retain permanent open space
in lieu of tree mitigation subject to the 3 trees per lot requirement.
a.Outlots adjacent to Wollans park dedicated to the City.
b.Conservation easements over the remaining open space.
2.Open area landscape requirements should be adhered to in areas around
stormwater and borrow ponds.
3.A new rare plant and animal survey must be completed for the project area.
a.Updated NHIS letter from the DNR, 2007 listed Blandings Turtle.
Additional species of concern may be present since the last update.
b.Overlay threatened and endangered species map with concept plan to
show proposed impacts.
4.If rare species are found on site, design layout should be revised to avoid impacts
to these species.
5.Project narrative states 31.02 acres of wetland, delineation report has 34.55
acres of wetland shown. Staff will use the delineation report of 34.55 acres of
wetland. This should be reflected in all places within the next proposal for
accuracy.
6.If rare species are found on site and impacts are unavoidable, include features
that minimize impacts (ex: buffers around rare plant locations for any that can
be preserved, surmountable curbs to facilitate Blanding’s turtle movement,
restoration of undisturbed project areas). DNR permits may be required for any
impacts to rare species.
7.Coordinate with the Rare Plant Rescue group (contact Carrie Taylor at Anoka
Conservation District) to allow for transport of any rare plants for which impact
is unavoidable to a donor site, such as Wollan’s Park Wetland Bank in Lino Lakes.
8.Provide an updated tree inventory showing trees within the parcel. Provide a
summary of trees based on ID.
9.Tree protection zones in accordance with the City Tree Protection Fence Detail
must be shown for all trees that are being preserved. These zones must be
shown on the Tree Preservation Plan and Grading Plans submitted at the
Preliminary Plat phase.
10.Tree removal should be completed outside of the growing season. This will limit
impacts to nesting species and prevent the spread of oak wilt.
a.Dormant trimming and removal of oaks is highly recommended in this
area, not only to mitigate for potential spread of the fungus Bretziella
fagacearum. Also to reduce impacts on cavity nesting species which are
extremely common in this area.
11.Consider extension of trails into the upland areas.
12.Consider incorporation of a stormwater reuse system for lawn irrigation.
13.Site is located within the Rice Creek Watershed District Wetland Management
Corridor, wetlands and buffers will be required to meet the requirements for the
WMC.
14.MNR to provide a management plan for the protected open space. This plan
should include recommendations for management and maintenance. This
includes the contiguous area from Natures Refuge North as part of this plan.
a.Management of the entire open space/greenway system through the
adjacent developments should be incorporated.
15.Create an out lot following Wetland 7 & 8 to be deeded to the City for ownership
and future restoration of the wetland.
16.Shift Haywood Drive North to preserve additional buffers to the south around
Wetlands 7 & 8.
17.Limit stormwater and borrow pits to one area if feasible. Creating additional
impacts in one area is preferred to creating impacts in multiple locations,
specifically in the upland between lots 67-70. If this area can be decreased by
moving it adjacent to the wetland to preserve trees or combine it with proposed
impacts to the large basin to the west.
Page 2
PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
AGENDA ITEM 7A
STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director
MEETING DATE: January 14, 2025
TOPIC: Metropolitan Council 2050 System Statement
CASE NUMBER:N/A
APPLICANT: City of Lino Lakes
OWNER: N/A
REVIEW SCHEDULE: N/A
BACKGROUND
Minn. Stat. 473.145 requires the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) to adopt a comprehensive
development guide for the metropolitan area. Minn. Stat. 473.175 requires the Met Council to
review local government comprehensive plans to determine compatibility with this regional
development guide. These plans are developed and updated every 10 years.
In early 2025, the Met Council adopted Imagine 2050 as the comprehensive regional
development guide. It establishes the regional vision for the 7-county metropolitan area for
the next 25 years. The guide includes 5 policy plans:
1.2050 Land Use Plan
2.2050 Transportation Policy Plan
3.2050 Water Resources Policy Plan
4.2050 Regional Parks Policy Plan
5.2050 Housing Plan
On September 25, 2025, the Met Council issued the 2025 System Statement for Lino Lakes. The
system statement explains the implications of the policy plans for each individual community.
Pursuant to Minn. State 473.864, subd. 2, within 3 years after receiving a system statement
Lino Lakes is required to review its comprehensive plan to ensure continued conformity with
metropolitan system plans and amend if necessary. The amendment/update of the City’s
2040 Comprehensive Plan is due by December 31, 2028.
1
ANALYSIS
Community Designation
Imagine 2050 identifies Lino Lakes with the community designation of Suburban Edge. The
’s prior designation of Emerging Suburban Edge has been eliminated. Suburban Edge
communities include cities, townships and portions of both that are primarily located on the
edge of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) and primarily developed after the 1990’s.
Other Anoka County and surrounding communities that share this designation include
Centerville, Blaine, Andover, Ramsey, Hugo, and Forest Lake.
Residential density requirements
Communities designated Suburban Edge are expected to plan for forecasted population and
household growth at a minimum average net density of 3.5 - units per acre for new
development and redevelopment.
From Imagine 2050 Regional Development Guide: Local governments and land within the MUSA
receive a higher level of regional services and investments than those in the rural service area,
such as regional wastewater services, regional highways, transit service, and programs that
support redevelopment. In return, the Met Council expects jurisdictions in the MUSA to plan for
and build the higher levels of development that economically support those regional services.
Compact development also reduces the pressure on agricultural land areas and decreases the
impact of development on natural systems which helps manage the region’s land supply
consistently and more effectively.
As discussed with the City Council in the fall of 2024, the minimum average density was
originally proposed to increase from the existing 3.0 units per acre to 4.0. The 3.5 units per
acres was ultimately what was adopted by Metropolitan Council.
Forecasts
Imagine 2050 forecasts for Lino Lakes’ population, households and employment are:
2020 (actual)203020402050Change
Population 21,39924,60026,60029,2004,600
Households 6,9578,3009,20010,2001,900
Employment 3,7865,2005,6006,000800
2
Overall, the 2050 population and household forecasts show a decrease in what is currently for
in the 2040 plan. The following chart compares the City’s current 2040 Comprehensive Plan
projections with Imagine 2050.
Comp PlanThrive
20402050Difference
Population 31,10029,200(1,900)
Households 10,60010,200(400)
Employment 6,0006,000NC
The forecasted 2050 population projections decrease by 1,900 persons and 400 households
over what is currently forecasted for 2040. The reduction in forecasted growth is, in part, due
to the continued evaluation and study of the northeast metro water supply constraints.
Employment projections are expected to remain the same.
Housing Policy Plan
Communities are required to include a housing element and implementation program in their
comprehensive plan. Minn. Stat. 473.859, Subd 2(c) states:
“A land use plan must also include a housing element containing standards, plans and programs
for providing adequate housing opportunities to meet existing and projected local and regional
housing needs, including but not limited to the use of official controls and land use planning to
promote the availability of land for the development of low- and moderate-income housing.”
For 2025, the rental affordability limit is 60% and the ownership affordability limit is 80% of the
area median income (AMI). In 2025, the area median income for a household of four is
$132,400. The current affordability amounts are as follows:
2025 Rental housing
# Bedrooms30% AMI50% AMI60% AMI80% AMI
Efficiency$694$1,158$1,389$1,852
1 Bedroom$744$1,241$1,489$1,985
2 Bedrooms$894$1,490$1,788$2,384
3 Bedrooms$1,032$1,721$2,065$2,753
4 Bedroom$1,152$1,920$2,304$3,072
Ownership housing
For owner-occupied housing, the income limit includes principal, interest, property taxes and
home insurance.
3
Family Income LevelAffordable Home Price
80% AMI ($104,200)$306,500
60% AMI ($79,440)$225,300
50% AMI ($66,200)$183,700
30% AMI ($39,700)$98,000
The Region’s Total Future Need for Affordable Housing for 2031 to 2040 is forecasted to be
39,700 units. Per the System Statement, Lino Lakes’ share of the region’s need for low- and
moderate-income housing for the decade is 428 new units affordable to households up to 60%
of area median income (AMI) or below. In comparison, the Met Council’s goal for 2021-2030
was 515 units up to 80% of area median income.
Affordable Housing Unit Needs for Lino Lakes
Threshold# Housing Units
At or below 30% AMI207
31 to 50% AMI190
51 to 80% AMI31
Total Units428
To accommodate our share of the region’s affordable housing need, we are required to guide
residential land at densities sufficient to create opportunities for affordable housing. The City
may choose between two options:
Option 1: Guide sufficient land at minimum residential densities of 10 units/acre to support
your city or township's total allocation of future affordable housing need for 2031-2040
Or
Option 2: Guide sufficient land at minimum residential densities of:
• 12 units/acre to support your city or township's 2031-2040 allocation of future
affordable housing need at 30% AMI or less.
• 8 units/acre to support your city or township's allocation of future affordable housing
need at 31-60% AMI. This combines your city or township's allocation of 31-50% AMI
and 51-60% AMI.
The City chose to implement option 1 in the 2040 plan. However, staff notes that the densities
in Imagine 2050 represents a change from a minimum of 8 units/acre to 10 units/acre.
4
Under Option 1 we can guide 42.8 acres of residential land at 10 units per acre to satisfy our
affordable housing unit needs (428 units/10 units per acre = 42.8 acres). Alternatively, the City
could choose to guide 17.25 acres of residential land at 12 units per acre and 27.6 acres at 8
units per acre under Option 2 to meet the minimum requirements.
Currently the City’s Planned Residential/Commercial, and Signature Gateway Land Use Districts
allow 8-10 units per acre. The Town Center District allows 10 – 24 units per acre. The City
does not currently have a district that has a minimum density of 12 units per acre.
This requirement will require some modification to our individual land use district density
requirements.
Climate Policy
New requirements were added by the State Legislature in 2023 to address climate mitigation
and adaptation. This will include a plan that acknowledges statewide targets for GHC
reductions of 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050, greenhouse gas emission inventory and at
least one strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Transportation Policy Plan
The 2050 Transportation Policy Plan is the metropolitan system plan for highways, transit and
aviation to which local comprehensive plans must conform. The only major improvement to
the highway (I-35E, I-35W or CR 14), transit (Metro Transit) or aviation (Seaplane Base) systems,
identified in the System Statement, is the reconstruction of the I-35E/CRJ interchange currently
underway. During the comprehensive plan update, we will identify potential transit service
options and review any updates to Met Council’s aviation long term comprehensive plan.
Other plan considerations include Regional Bicycle Transportation Network, Minor
System/Functional Classification and Freight changes. The Regional Bicycle Transportation
Network (RBTN) identifies trunk arterials of the overall bikeways system that connect to
regional employment and activity centers. The RBTN identifies routes along CR 14 (Main
Street), CSAH 23 (Lake Drive) and CSAH 21 (Centerville Road) and through the Regional Park and
these routes have already been incorporated into the City’s Park, Greenway and Trail System
Plan. Lino Lakes will describe and map the functional classification of all existing roads and
identify any changes from the existing to proposed classifications. No freight terminals are
identified in Lino Lakes.
Water Resources Policy Plan
The Water Resources Plan takes an integrated approach to water supply, water quality and
wastewater issues and identifies key concepts to maximize the benefits of regional investments
into wastewater, water supply and surface water. Lino Lakes shall develop components in the
5
comprehensive plan to address wastewater, surface water and water supply issues. The City
currently will be updating its Surface Water Management Plan and Water Supply Plans in 2026-
27.
Regional Parks Policy Plan
The Met Council Regional Parks System includes 66 regional parks and 487 miles of regional
trails. Regional parks and trails within Lino Lakes are:
Park Reserves
o Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Regional Trails
o Bunker Hills-Chain of Lakes Regional Trail
o Central Anoka Trail
o Chain of Lakes – Otter Lake Regional Trail
o Rice Creek North Regional Trail
Anoka County is one of Met Council’s ten regional park implementing agencies and Lino Lakes
will continue to work with the County on regional park development. The above parks and
trails are currently addressed in the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
Discussion Only.
ATTACHMENTS
1.Community Designation Map
2.2050 System Statement
6
Imagine 2050 Community Designations
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2025 SYSTEMS STATEMENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
Regional Development Plan Adoption
On February 12, 2025, the Met Council adopted Imagine 2050 as a comprehensive
development guide for the Twin Cities metro region. Imagine 2050 includes regional systems
plans, including the 2050 Transportation Policy Plan, the 2050 Water Policy Plan, the 2050
Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan, and the 2050 Housing Policy Plan. The development
guide also outlines land use policies and community designations important for local
comprehensive planning updates.
The Metropolitan Council is now issuing systems statements pursuant to State statute.
Systems Statements
Metropolitan systems plans are long-range comprehensive plans for the regional systems –
transit, highways, and airports; wastewater services; and parks and open space – along with
the capital budgets for those systems. Systems statements explain the implications of
metropolitan system plans for each community in the region. They are intended to help
communities prepare or update their comprehensive plan, as required by the Metropolitan
Land Planning Act:
Within nine months after receiving a system statement for an amendment to a
metropolitan system plan, and within three years after receiving a system statement
issued in conjunction with the decennial review required under section 473.864,
subdivision 2, each affected local governmental unit shall review its comprehensive plan
to determine if an amendment is necessary to ensure continued conformity with
metropolitan system plans. If an amendment is necessary, the governmental unit shall
prepare the amendment and submit it to the council for review.
The system statement includes information specific to a community, including:
• community designation or designation(s)
• forecasted population, households, and employment through the year 2050
• guidance on appropriate densities to ensure that regional services and costly
regional infrastructure can be provided as efficiently as possible
• affordable housing need allocation.
In the following sections, this systems statement contains an overview of key changes and
updates to the policies and plans from the previous 2040 regional development guide and
specific system changes that affect your community:
• Transportation, including metropolitan highways, aviation, and transit
• Water Resources, including wastewater, surface water, and water supply planning
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTINTRODUCTION1
• Regional parks and trails
Regional Development Guide
The development guide adopted in February 2025 reflects the vision and plans adopted by
communities for a prosperous, equitable, and resilient region with abundant opportunities for
all to live, work, play, and thrive.
Regional values are shared core beliefs or principles that guide the work of developing and
implementing Imagine 2050. The values build on those identified in Thrive MSP 2040 and
incorporate what we’ve learned over the last ten years as well as the common values
expressed by local governments and partners across the region. These values guide the Met
Council in building partnerships and developing policies and programs to support Imagine
2050.
The Met Council has endorsed the following goals for our region to achieve through our
policies, practices, programs, and partnerships:
• Our region is equitable and inclusive.
• Our communities are healthy and safe.
• Our region is dynamic and resilient.
• We lead on addressing climate change.
• We protect and restore natural systems.
Dispute Process
If your community disagrees with elements of this systems statement or has any questions
about the process, please contact your Sector Representative, Emma Dvorak, at 651-602-
1399, to review and discuss potential issues or concerns. The Council and local government
units and districts have usually resolved issues relating to the system statement through
discussion.
Request for Hearing
If a local governmental unit and the Met Council are unable to resolve disagreements over the
content of a system statement, the unit or district may, by resolution, request that a hearing be
conducted by the Met Council’s Land Use Advisory Committee or by the State Office of
Administrative Hearings to consider amendments to the system statement. According to
Minnesota Statutes section 473.857, the request shall be made by the local governmental unit
or school district within 60 days after receiving the system statement. If the Met Council does
not receive a hearing request within 60 days, the statement becomes final.
Next Steps in the Regional Planning Cycle
Receipt of this system statement and the metropolitan system plans triggers a community’s
obligation to review and amend its comprehensive plan by December 2028. Local
comprehensive plans and amendments will be reviewed by the Met Council for conformance to
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTINTRODUCTION2
metropolitan system plans, consistency with Met Council policies, and compatibility with
adjacent and affected governmental units. Updated local comprehensive plans are due to the
Met Council for review by Dec. 31, 2028.
Forecasts
The Met Council uses the forecasts developed as part of Imagine 2050 to plan for regional
systems. Communities should base their planning work on these forecasts. Given the nature of
long-range forecasts and the planning timeline undertaken by most communities, the Met
Council will maintain on-going dialogue with communities to consider any changes in growth
that may have an impact on regional systems.
Imagine Forecasts for the City of Lino Lakes
2020 (actual) 2030 2040 2050
Population21,39924,60026,60029,200
Households 6,9578,300 9,200 10,200
Employment 3,7865,200 5,600 6,000
Housing Policy
The purpose of the Housing Policy Plan, adopted by the Metropolitan Council in February
2025, is to provide leadership and guidance on regional housing needs and challenges and to
support Imagine 2050. The Housing Policy Plan provides an integrated policy framework that
unifies our existing roles in housing and identifies opportunities to expand our role in
supporting safe, affordable and dignified housing in the region.
Consistent with state statute (Minn. Stat. 473.859, subd. 2(c) and subd. 4), cities and
townships must include a housing element and implementation program in their local
comprehensive plans that address existing and projected housing needs.
The Met Council has determined the regional need for low-income housing for the decade of
2031-2040 (see Appendix B in the Housing Policy Plan).
Based on regional forecasts, the regional need for future affordable housing units is 39,700.
Lino Lake’ share of the region’s future need for low-income housing is 428 new units of
affordable housing. Of these new units, the need is for 207 affordable to households earning at
or below 30% of AMI, 190affordable to households earning 31% to 50% of AMI, and 31
affordable to households earning 51% to 60% of AMI.
Affordable Housing Need Allocation for the City of Lino Lakes
Units
At or below 30% AMI
207
31 to 50% AMI190
51 to 0% AMI 31
Total Units428
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTINTRODUCTION3
Future Affordable Housing Need allocations may be updated throughout the decade if local
projected sewered growth changes.
Lino Lakes should consult the complete Housing Policy Plan when preparing its local
comprehensive plan. In addition, Lino Lakes should consult Imagine 2050 and the Local
Planning Handbook for specific requirements necessary for the housing element and housing
implementation programs of local comprehensive plans.
Climate Policy
In 2023, the State legislature amended the Metropolitan Land Planning Act (Minn Stat. §
473.859, subd. 2 and 7) to include new requirements that comprehensive plans address
climate mitigation and adaptation. In climate policy, mitigation strategies focus on minimizing
contributions to climate change through efficiency measures and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. Adaptation strategies focus on how to change policies and practices to adjust to
ongoing and future impacts of climate change.
The Met Council will assist communities in addressing climate mitigation and adaptation
elements by providing communities with greenhouse gas inventories and technical assistance
for identifying appropriate strategies.
Community Designation
Community designations group jurisdictions with similar characteristics for the application of
regional policies. The Council uses community designations to guide regional growth and
development; establish land use expectations including overall development densities and
patterns; and outline the respective roles of the Council and individual communities, along with
strategies for planning for forecasted growth. If there are discrepancies between the Imagine
2050 Community Designations Map and the Community Designation map contained within this
systems statement, communities should follow the specific guidance contained in this
document. Imagine identifies the City of Lino Lakes with the community designation of
Suburban Edge on the Community Designation map.
Suburban Edge municipalities are on the edge of the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA)
and primarily developed after the 1990s. While denser downtown or core areas are often
present, the predominate development pattern is low or medium density residential
subdivisions characterized by cul-de-sacs and limited access to major thoroughfares for traffic
movement. These areas also feature extensive undeveloped land planned for low to medium
residential densities along with some areas guided for industrial and commercial uses, often
near highway intersections. The planning challenge in Suburban Edge areas is to improve
street connectivity and integrate sustainable development practices, ensuring that growth and
conservation effectively coexist. Suburban Edge cities may have more than one community
designation based on forecasted growth and current or planned development patterns. This
happens generally when areas in a municipality either have an historic development pattern
more appropriate for a different designation or portions of the municipality are not currently
planned for future development and are still considered rural or agricultural in nature.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTINTRODUCTION4
Specific strategies for Lino Lakescan be found on yourCommunity Pagein the Local Planning
Handbook.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTINTRODUCTION5
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTINTRODUCTION6
2025 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM STATEMENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
Transportation Policy Plan Overview
The 2050 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) is the metropolitan system plan for transportation,
including highways, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, aviation, and travel demand
management, to which local comprehensive plans must conform. The TPP also includes
regional transportation objectives, supporting policies and actions, and regional performance
measures. The full TPP can be found at the following url:
https://imagine2050.metrocouncil.org/chapters/transportation.
This system statement summarizes the regional systems and any significant changes to them,
other important regional transportation considerations, and changes made to the 2050 TPP
since the 2040 TPP was adopted in 2015. Additionally, this system statement highlights those
elements of the system plan that apply to your community. The TPP incorporates policy
direction and new 2050 socioeconomic forecasts adopted by the Metropolitan Council in
Imagine 2050 and extends the planning horizon from 2040 to 2050.
Federal and State Requirements
The TPP is a document that meets both state requirements outlined in statute for a
metropolitan system plan, and federal requirements as a fiscally constrained long-range
investment plan for surface transportation. As the region has recently received a significant
number of new and increased sources of transportation revenue, the 2050 TPP no longer
includes an increased revenue scenario, but it does include additional opportunities for
investment. The plan also continues to assume competitive transportation funding (e.g., state
and federal discretionary programs like INFRA and Corridors of Commerce) will be sought and
amended into the plan as awarded.
Under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, local comprehensive plans are expected to conform
to the projects currently identified as funded in the fiscally constrained plan, which is the official
metropolitan system plan. The additional opportunities for investment may be identified
separately in local plans as unfunded proposals but are not required to be included.
Federal requirements also call for metropolitan transportation plans to be performance based,
so the TPPincludes objectives, policies, and actions for the regional transportation system.
These objectives, policies, and actions guide the Council and regional partners in their
planning and investment in the surface transportation system.
In addition to reviewing this system statement, consult the TPP to ensure that your
community’s local comprehensive plan and plan amendments conform to the metropolitan
transportation system plan. Communities should also review the Imagine 2050 Land Use
Policy for land use considerations near certain transportation infrastructure. The format of this
plan is different than past TPPs. The plan is no longer separated by chapter, rather each
modal plan is distinguished from each other as individual investment or system plans. If the
Council has a role in the funding of a regional system, the plan is identified as an investment
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTTRANSPORTATION7
plan, if not, thenit is identified as a system plan.There is no appendix in the 2050 TPP,
supporting documentation is combined directly with the specific investment or system plan and
identifiedas support documentation.
2050 TransportationPolicy Plan Regional Systems
Adopted by the Metropolitan Council in February 2025, the TPP identifies the regional
transportation systems, regional transportation objectives and policies, and other regional
transportation issues communities should consider when producing their own comprehensive
plans. This section will cover descriptions of each system and key changes made to these
systems in the TPP.
Regional Transportation Policies and Actions
In addition to identifying regional systems and investment needs, the TPP includes a set of
policies and related actions to guide investments, planning and priorities for the regional
transportation system. The policies and actions cover many topics including safety, highway
planning priorities, complete streets, non-motorized transportation, equity, climate and natural
systems. Communities are encouraged to incorporate regional policies in their local plans.
Regional Highway System
The Metropolitan Highway System is made up of principal arterials, shown in Figure 1 of the
Highway Investment Plan and included with this system statement. This system is federally
known as the National Highway System. The Metropolitan Highway System is a vital element
of the regional transportation system; while minor arterials are lower order roadways that
provide connectivity to and relieve congestion inthe principal arterial system. Principal and
minor arterials combined represent the Regional Highway System.
Key Changes from the 2040 TPP
A major shift from previous TPPs is that potential new revenues are no longer
considered a means to resolve unmet needs on the system. The 2050 TPP does not
have a current and increased revenue scenario as a result. Instead, the 2050 TPP
identifies funded projects in the fiscally constrained plan and additional opportunities
beyond what is funded. Multiple studies completed since the 2040 TPP identified
additional opportunities for investment, these are shown in figures 8 and 10.
The 2050 TPP identifies highway investments in five major categories:
o Safety: Figure 7 in the Highway Investment Plan shows regionally significant
safety investments.
o Spot mobility: Figure 8 in the Highway Investment Plan shows funded regionally
significant spot mobility projects alongside identified additional opportunities for
investment.
o Interchanges: Figure 9 in the Highway Investment Plan shows funded and
planned regionally significant interchange investments.
o Managed lanes: Figure 10 in the Highway Investment Plan shows the existing,
under construction and planned E-ZPass system. It also includes managed lane
corridors which are identified additional opportunities for investment.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTTRANSPORTATION8
o Targeted regional capacity: Figure 11 in the Highway Investment Plan shows
funded and planned regionally significant highway capacity investments. It also
includes potential future capacity enhancements identified in studies.
Modifications were made to the 2050TPPthat removed appendix naming found in
previous plans and reworks previous chapters. Support documents for the Highway
Investment Plan are now: Functional Classification, Preliminary Interchange Approval
Process, and Congestion Management Process. The project list appendix item is now a
separate section of the TPP, titled Long Range Highway and Transit Capital Project
List. This updated list identifies projects from 2025 to 2050.
Regional Transit System
The regional transit system iscomprised of the region’s transitways, regular route bus
services, demand response services, transit centers and park and rides, and transit
advantages. This system is operated by six different service providers in the region. The
COVID-19 pandemic upended transit, and some services vary dramatically from pre-pandemic
levels. Many routes were suspended in the region and are still in the process of restructuring.
Key Changes from the 2040 TPP
A major shift from previous TPPs is from new revenues raised to fill budget gaps in the
system. A new source of revenue for transit was created in 2023 to fund operations and
maintenance for the region. Similar to highways, the Transit Investment Plan no longer
contains a current and increased revenue scenario. The projects shown in the 2050
TPP are those in the fiscally constrained plan. Additional opportunities for investment
are also identified in the plan and these may be incorporated into local comprehensive
plans.
Several transitways have been implemented and opened and additional transitways
have been identified in the region. Multiple arterial bus rapid transit (BRT) routes have
been completed and put into operation, while more alignments have been identified in
studies for future implementation. The Transit Investment Plan identifies investments
planned to be implemented in the 2050 TPP:
o Two light rail extensions (Green Line Extension, Blue Line Extension)
o Two dedicated BRT routes (Gold Line, Purple Line)
o Five arterial BRT routes (B Line, E Line, F Line, G Line, H Line)
Modifications were made to the 2050 TPP that removed appendix naming found in
previous plans and reworks previous chapters. Support documents for the Transit
Investment Plan are now: Transit Design and Performance Guidelines.
Regional Aviation System
The regional aviation system iscomposed of Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, eight
publicly owned regional airports, and two privately owned seaplane bases. These regional
airports are owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and local
communities.
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Key Changes from the 2040 TPP
The MAC completed an update to the Long-Term Comprehensive Plan (LTCP) for the
Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport in 2024. This update moves the planning
horizon to 2040 with new operation forecasts, anticipated noise impacts and capital
project needs.
The Aviation System Plan now identifies all facilities where aviation activity may take
place in the region beyond regional airports. These facilities may be incorporated into
and considered in local planning.Aviation appendix items of the TPP are now included
as a single support document titled Aviation Supporting Information.
Regional Bicycle System
The regional bicycle system is identified through the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network
(RBTN). The RBTN is made up of alignments and corridors. Corridors are shown where more
specific alignments within those corridors have not yet been designated. The process used to
develop the RBTN, the general principles and analysis factors used in its development, and
studies done to analyze and update the network can be found in the Bicycle Investment Plan.
The RBTN was established in the 2040 TPP with the intent of achieving the following goals:
Establish an integrated and seamless network of on-street bikeways and off-road trails.
Provide the vision for a “backbone” arterial network to serve daily bicycle trips by
connecting regional destinations and local bicycle networks.
Encourage cities, counties, park agencies, and the state to plan and implement future
bikeways in support of the network vision.
The RBTN also incorporates regional bicycle barriers which are established in the TPP as the
region’s most significant physical barriers to everyday bicycle travel and include freeways and
expressways, railroad corridors, and secondary rivers and streams. They were developed and
analyzed through the Regional Bicycle Barrier Study, the map which displays these barriers
can be found here: Regional Bicycle Barriers Map.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
The RBTN has been refined and expanded since it was first implemented in the 2040
TPP. Requests from local governments to add and revise RBTN corridors and
alignments prompted the Regional Bicycle Guidelines and Measures Studywhich
developed specific measures used in reviewing update requests submitted by local
agencies.
The RBTN undergoes a formal update of alignments and corridors about every 2 years.
The next formal update will take place in 2025 prior to the 2026 Regional Solicitation.
Regional Freight System
The regional freight system is composed of interconnecting transportation modes, some of
which are unique to freight and some which overlap with passenger travel modes. There are
five distinct modes of freight transportation: highway trucks, railroads, river barges, air freight,
and pipelines. Combined with intermodal or warehouse/distribution terminals and supporting
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infrastructure these modes of transportationcomprise theregional freight system, known as
theMetropolitan Freight System.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
E-commerce has become an increasingly important segment of freight movements and
deliveries of goods to homes. The Urban Freight Distribution Study focused on e-
commerce trends and impacts or opportunities of last-mile parcel deliveries in regional
communities. The study notesthat as urban deliveries become more common local
communities are encouraged to create curb management policies, consider delivery
needs in their complete streets planning and identify microhubs for last mile parcel
distribution in addition to other recommendations.
Pedestrian System
The Council coordinates with local partners on pedestrian issues and trends, and aids in
funding for pedestrian needs in a variety of ways.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
In previous TPPs pedestrian and bicycle travel were combined into one chapter and
discussed together. The pedestrian system is now discussed and considered as an
independent investment section of the 2050 TPP.
To address rising pedestrian danger on our streets, the Council undertook a study to
create the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan,which was released in 2022. This plan
includes analysis of crash trends in the region, recommendations of actions to take to
increase pedestrian safety, and a weighted crash score on every road in the region to
aid in future safety planning and project prioritization. Communities are encouraged to
incorporate the plan’s findings into the pedestrian elements of their comprehensive
plans.
Travel Demand Management
Travel demand management(TDM)isthe application of strategies, programsand policies to
increase the efficiency of transportation systems by reducing travel demand, or redistributing
this demand in space or in time. These initiatives are intended to inspire new travel habits to
support infrastructure investments and a more efficient use of the transportation systemby
reducing the demand for personalvehicle trips.
Key Changes from 2040 TPP
TDM has its own dedicated investment plan and discussion in the 2050 TPP, which is
completely new to the plan. This section describes key partners in TDM in the region
and identifies roles and responsibilities for these partners. As a result of this new
investment plan, local communities are being asked to discuss how they include travel
demand management strategies in their local plans, since some of them have
relationships to land use controls and ordinances.
The Council conducted the Regional Travel Demand Management Study that concluded
with the Regional Travel Demand Management Action Plan in 2023. The Action Plan
outlines a structure for a regional TDM program to implement and operationalize
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strategies, programs and incentives that achieve reductions in single-occupant vehicle
trips, vehicle-miles traveled, and greenhouse gas emissions through travel behavior
change. The Action Planis summarized in the 2050TPPTravel Demand Management
Investment Plan.
System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community
Your community should consult the complete TPP in preparing its local comprehensive plan. In
addition, your communityshould consult Imagine 2050 and the current version of the
Metropolitan Council’s Local Planning Handbook (LPH) for specific information needed in its
comprehensive plan. Specific system plan considerations affecting your community are
detailed below.
Regional HighwaySystem
There are principal arterials located within your community:
Interstate 35E
Anoka CSAH 14
Anoka CSAH 23
The 2050 TPP includes the following regional highway mobility improvements in your
community as shown in the Highway Investment Plan Figures 8, 9, 10, 11:
Funded or Planned Interchanges
o I-35E at County Road J
Regional Transit System
Your community is located within the following Transit Market Areas:TMA 4 and TMA 5.
TMA 4 is primarilySuburban Edge communities along with portions of Suburban
communities. It is characterized by low population and job densities that do not support
frequent local transit service and a spread out, often circuitous, street network that
hinders efficient routing. Transit service in Market Area 4 is mainly peak-period express
and commuter service at park-and- rides which can effectively gather the lower density
transit demand into one spot. There are some suburban local routes, including suburb-
to-suburb connectors, although service is typically very infrequent. Non-regular route
transit, usually dial-a-ride, is generally available.
TMA 5 is primarily rural communities including rural centers but also some suburban
edge communities as well as freestanding town centers characterized by very low-
density development or undeveloped land not well suited for regular-route transit
service outside of limited peak-period express and commuter service.
Your community is located within the Transit Capital Levy District.
There are no transitways or high frequency bus routes in your community.
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Regional Aviation System
All communities must include an aviation element in the transportation sections of their
comprehensive plans. The degree of aviation planning and development considerations that
need to be included in the comprehensive plan varies by community. Even those communities
not impacted directly by an airport have a responsibility to include airspace protection in their
comprehensive plan. The protection element should include potential hazards to air navigation
including electronic interference. Local comprehensive plans can also begin to consider other
aviation uses which do not take place at airports, like drones.
Your community is within the influence area of Anoka-Blaine Airport and Surfside
Seaplane Base. The LTCP for the Anoka-Blaine airport is shown in the Aviation
Supporting Information document of the TPP. The full Anoka-Blaine LTCP can be found
here. The Anoka-Blaine LTCP has not been updated since the 2040 TPP was last
updated in 2020 but is planned to be updated and amended into the TPP in 2027.
Consideration and information for Surfside Seaplane Base should be updated in your
community’s2050 Comprehensive Plan.
Communities influenced by this airport should review the LTCP to ensure that the updated
comprehensive plan developed by the community remains consistent with the airport plans.
Consult the LPH for specific comprehensive planning requirements and considerations such as
airport zoning, noise and other environmental mitigation, airport development and economic
impacts, ground access needs, infrastructure requirements, and general land use compatibility.
Local communities should also consider other facilities which may generate aviation activity,
such as heliports or private air facilities. To see all aviation facilities in the region including
those that are not defined as a part of the regional aviation system, refer to Figure 6 of the
Aviation System Plan.
Regional Bicycle Planning
The RBTN is depicted on Figure 2 of the Bicycle Investment Plan. The network consists of Tier
1 and Tier 2 corridors and alignments. These are not intended to be the only bicycle facilities in
the region, and local units should also include local network plans in their communities.
In your communitythere are one RBTN corridors and three alignments. Your community
should incorporate the RBTN map within your local bicycle plan maps and use your
comprehensive planning process to identify suitable alignments within and along the RBTN
corridors for future incorporation into the TPP. In addition, agencies should plan their local on
and off-road bikeway networks to connect to the designated Tier 1 and Tier 2 alignments, as
well as any new network alignments within RBTN corridors to be proposed in local
comprehensive plans. Bikeway projects that complete segments of, or connect to, the RBTN
are given priority for federal transportation funds through the Transportation Advisory Board’s
biannual regional solicitation.
In your community there are one or more identified bicycle barrier crossings. To determine
which regional bicycle barriers and prioritized barrier crossing improvement locations occur
within your community, please review the Regional Bicycle Barriers Online Map. The tiered
crossing improvement locations are used as one alternative criterion in the Regional
Solicitation to distribute federal transportation funds. Communities are encouraged to analyze
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and address the need for new bicycle barrier crossings or improved bicycle facilities at existing
barrier crossings.
Regional Freight Planning
The Council encourages all local governments to plan for freight movement in their
communities. Trucks are the major mode of freight movement in the region and across the
nation to distribute consumer goods as well as move manufactured goods and commodities,
and they operate in every community.
The Metropolitan Freight System and the National Highway Freight Network are shown in
Figures 1 and 5 of the Freight Investment Plan, respectively. There is a freight facility in your
community: Interstate 35E. These networks and facilities should be incorporated into your local
comprehensive plan. The local plan should also plan for compatible adjacent land uses,
consider last-mile freight delivery needs and curb management strategies for local deliveries, if
applicable. Refer to the Urban Freight Distribution Study for specific guidance on how to
consider e-commerce and local deliveries on the local transportation system.
Other Transportation Policy Plan Considerations
Pedestrian Planning
The Council encourages local governments to address pedestrian needs for transportation in
their local comprehensive plans. The necessary planning for pedestrians can be done within
your community’s comprehensive plan. An adopted pedestrian, active transportation, or
multimodal plan can be included as an addendum to or in addition to the comprehensive plan.
This planning should also include ensuring your local community has a current ADA self-
evaluation that covers the public rights-of-way for transportation. Agencies with 50 or more
employees must also have an adopted ADA transition plan, not just a self-evaluation.
Travel Demand Management
The Council encourages local governments to address travel demand management needs for
areas which experience traffic congestion. Your community is served by Anoka County TMO.
Local governments should identify the transportation management organization which serves
their community and describe any policies, ordinances, practices or programs in place which
would aid in regional TDM work in their local comprehensive plans.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
State law directs the Minnesota Department of Transportation to establish targets to meet
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction for the seven-county metro to reach net-zero
emissions in the transportation sector by 2050. Your community must include plans or
strategies to limit GHG emissions on the surface transportation system in your comprehensive
plan to meet the designated regional targets.
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2025 WATER RESOURCES SYSTEM STATEMENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
Water Policy Plan Overview
The 2050 Water Policy Plan includes policies and strategies to achieve four objectives that
support our regional goals:
CLIMATE:The region’s waters and water services are protected from and made
resilient to the ongoing and future effects of climate change.
INVESTMENTS: Water protection, planning, management, and infrastructure
investments are optimized to ensure public and ecosystem health are fully protected
now and for future generations.
HEALTH: Natural waters, source waters, water services, and infrastructure are
managed, restored, and enhanced to protect public and ecosystem health that ensures
a high quality of life in the region.
EQUITY:The benefits of clean and abundant water and water services are defined by
local needs and environmental context, accessible, and justly shared by all residents
and communities.
These objectives help to protect our region’s groundwater and surface water, ensure the
sustainability of water sources and utility service providers, support public and ecosystem
health, and promote a thriving economy, sound development decisions, and a high quality of
life for all who call this region home.
The Water Policy Plan strives to generate innovative actions, including water reuse, resource
recovery, and nature-based approaches, that have multiple benefits at both the local and
regional scales. Additionally, the plan includes policies and strategies to address the impacts
of climate change, equitable access to water benefits, and water sector workforce concerns.
The region has a strong history of water planning and management, and the 2050 Water
Policy Plan continues this tradition. It progresses our organization and the region to ensure
clean and abundant water for current and future generations.
Key Concepts
Adopted by the Metropolitan Council in February 2025, the 2050 Water Policy Plan - including
the regional water policies, Wastewater System Plan, and the Metro Area Water Supply Plan -
outline the conditions for regional wastewater service, surface water management, and water
supply planning. Local comprehensive plans shall conform to these conditions. The Policy Plan
incorporates the following changes:
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Integrated Planning (next steps)
The Water Policy Plan is a guide for managing wastewater, water supply, surface waters, and
groundwater. It takes an integrated approach to water planning and management from local to
federal and Tribal levels, which helps to ensure a clean and plentiful water future. Water
planning organizations need to work together to address issues that transcend political
boundaries to achieve holistic water management.
Subregional Approach to Planning
The Met Council is committed to continuing and broadening the subregional approach to
integrated water planning. Subregional groups will be expanded to include stakeholders from
Tribal Nations, state agencies, county planning staff, municipal public works and planning staff,
watershed organizations, non-governmental organizations, and others who want to participate
in discussions about localized, integrated water concerns.
Water Equity
The Water Policy Plan prioritizes equitable access to clean water and water services,
especially for historically marginalized communities. Reaching these outcomes requires
initiatives such as prioritizing investments in overburdened communities, addressing historical
harms, creating accessible information and communications, and including diverse
perspectives of community members in water planning and management decisions.
Climate and Natural Systems
The Water Policy Plan includes climate and natural systems objectives, policies, and
actions, which guide the Met Council and communities to employ approaches that lead
to sustainable water and water services. This includes building water resiliency, limiting
risks, and benefiting a growing and a thriving economy through convening partners, new
tools and technologies, water conservation and protection efforts, and water planning
and technical assistance.
Considerations Affecting Your Community
Regional Sewer Service
The treatment of wastewater is foundational to ensure public health and protect the region’s
natural environments. Reclamation of water and byproducts from the wastewater treatment
process can help our region meet sustainability and climate goals. To operate and steward the
regional wastewater system, it is essential for the Met Council to understand local conditions,
identify current and future needs, and take innovative approaches to address the region’s
water sustainability challenges.
Local governments are required to submit both a wastewater plan element to their
comprehensive plan and a comprehensive sewer plan describing service needs from the Met
Council (Minnesota Statutes 473.513). A complete list of requirements for the comprehensive
sewer plan, depending on wastewater service methods in your community, can be found in the
Water Resources section of the Local Planning Handbook.
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Forecasts
The forecasts of population, households, employment, and wastewater flows for Lino Lakes
can be found on your Community Page in the Local Planning Handbook. These forecasts are
for sewered development. The sewered forecasts were estimated using Met Council’s census
block forecast data, individual and communal sewage treatment system data, Sewer
Availability Charge (SAC) data, annual city reports, current trends, existing and future local
wastewater service areas and other municipal information. The wastewater flows are based on
historical wastewater flow data, future wastewater generation rates, and the sewered
population and employment forecast data.
The Met Council will use these growth and wastewater flow forecasts to plan future regional
wastewater conveyance and treatment system improvements needed to serve your
community.
Lino Lakes, through its comprehensive planning process, must decide the location and staging
of development, and then plan and design its local wastewater collection system to serve this
development.
Wastewater Service
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (Environmental Services) designs, constructs,
and operates the regional wastewater system (Metropolitan Disposal System): a publicly
owned system of regional sanitary sewers and water resource recovery facilities(wastewater
treatment plants), for the conveyance, treatment and disposal of domestic waste, industrial
waste and other waste from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial users in the
metropolitan area. The regional wastewater system currently serves 111 communities and
through its work it protects public health, protects the environment, and fosters the economic
growth of the seven-county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
A Regional Sanitary Sewer System map is provided to assist in the completion of your
community’s comprehensive sewer plan. The map shows Environmental Services’ wastewater
infrastructure located within your community’s boundaries, if your community is provided
regional wastewater service.
A complete list of items required for inclusion in your community’s comprehensive sewer plan,
depending on wastewater service methods in your community, can be found in the Local
Planning Handbook. A comprehensive plan will be found incomplete for review if all submittal
requirements are not met.
If your community has multiple methods of wastewater service (including regional service, local
(municipal) wastewater treatment system, private communal systems, and/or subsurface
sewage treatment systems), review the information in each corresponding section and refer to
the Local Planning Handbookfor a complete list of requirements that must be included in the
comprehensive sewer plan for these systems. We strongly encourage you to include this
information in a water chapter of your comprehensive plan.
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Areas Served by the Regional System
Current wastewater treatment services are provided to the City by Environmental Services.
Wastewater generated within the City is conveyed by Met Council Interceptors 9106, 9708,
and 8361 with treatment at the Metropolitan Water Resource Recovery Facility in St. Paul.
Environmental Services has made investments in the area with the Blaine Relief Interceptor to
support the growth in the western portion of the City.
Regional Inflow and Infiltration Program
The Met Council is continuing implementation of its inflow and infiltration (I/I) reduction
program and will continue to establish I/I goals for all communities discharging wastewater to
the regional wastewater system. Communities that have excessive I/I in their sanitary sewer
systems will be required to eliminate the excessive I/I. Those communities will be required to
submit a work plan that details work activities to identify and eliminate I/I sources from both
municipal and private sources. The Met Council will not design future regional sanitary sewer
improvements or water resource recovery facilities to handle peak hourly flows in excess of the
allowable rate for your community. Increases in service may be limited in communities that do
not demonstrate progress in reducing excess I/I.
Two grant programs are currently available for communities with excessive I/I in their sanitary
sewer systems: The Municipal Inflow and Infiltration Grant Program and the Private Property
Inflow and Infiltration Grant Program. It is recommended that communities review these
programs and determine if participation fits into their I/I work plan. The Municipal Inflow and
Infiltration Grant Program is based on annual legislative action and funding amount and
availability may vary year to year.
Areas Served by Local Wastewater Treatment System
The requirements of this element do not apply because Lino Lakes does not have a local
wastewater treatment system.
Areas Served byPrivate Communal Treatment Systems and/orSubsurface
Sewage Treatment Systems
The Met Council’s position is that private communal wastewater treatment systems should only
be permitted in areas not programmed for regional sewer service in the foreseeable future and
they are provided for in a community’s comprehensive plan. The community is responsible for
permitting all private communal or cluster wastewater treatment systems consistent with
current Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080-7083).
The Met Council will not provide financial support to assist communities if these systems fail.
Communities with individual subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS), commonly known
as septic systems, must adopt a management program consistent with current Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency regulations (Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080-7083). A description of
the management plan and current SSTS ordinance must be included in the community’s
comprehensive sewer plan.
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Surface Water Management
The metro region consists of hundreds of miles of rivers, streams, thousands of acres of
wetlands, and nearly a thousand lakes. These surface waters define our region. They are
where we play, exercise, find peace, and celebrate with friends and family. They support the
region’s ecosystems and biodiversity. They provide drinking water for the region’s residents
and energy for industry. They are critical transportation corridors and places to recreate,
fueling local economies. Yet these waters are threatened by complex issues like ongoing
pollution stress, climate change, and unsustainable development pressures. Comprehensive
community planning includes surface water planning to ensure the region’s residents,
businesses, and ecosystems can benefit from clean and abundant water.
In 1995, Minnesota Statutes Section 473.859, subd. 2 was amended to make the local water
plan (often referred to as local surface water management plans) required by Section 103B.
235 a part of the land use plan of the local comprehensive plan. Minnesota Rules Chapter
8410, updated in July of 2015, includes the requirements for local water management plans.
All communities in the metro region must update their local water plan between Jan. 1, 2027
and Dec. 31, 2028. This means that Lino Lakes must update its local water plan as part of the
comprehensive plan update. The community’s updated local water plan should be submitted
to the Met Council for its review concurrent with the review by the local watershed
management organizations.
The Surface Water Features map shows the watershed management organizations, Rice
Creek WD and Vadnais Lake Area WMO, that have jurisdiction in Lino Lakes.
Failure to have an updated local water plan approved by your watershed management
organizations will result in the comprehensive plan being incomplete for review. Local water
plans shall be submitted to the Met Council for review in the timeframe described above,
comments are sent from the Met Council to the appropriate watersheds for inclusion in their
review and approval of the plan, and finally the plan is approved by the appropriate
watersheds.
Local water plans must meet the requirements for local water plans in Minnesota Statutes,
section 103B.235 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 8410. In general, local water plans need to
include a summary of the priorities and problems in the community; structural, nonstructural
and programmatic actions to take to address the priorities and problems; and clearly identified
funding mechanisms to fix the problems.
More detailed guidance for the local water plans can be found in Appendix A of the 2050 Water
Policy Planand in the Met Council’s current Local Planning Handbook.
Priority Waters List
The Met Council updated its Priority Waters List (formerly Priority Lakes List) in July 2022. This
new version includes rivers, lakes, and streams. With more than 950 lakes and hundreds of
miles of rivers and streams in the region, waterbodies needed to be prioritized to adequately
dedicate staff and financial resources. The Met Council uses the Priority Waters List to focus
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its limited resources. The list is also used in the environmental review process. The Surface
Water Features map and Priority Waters List table show the priority waters for Lino Lakes.
When using this Priority Waters List, for projects near a specific waterbody, we recommend
you connect with local residents to understand how they value and interact with the waterbody.
The Twin Cities region is home to many diverse communities with different cultural and
personal relationships to water, so it’s important to incorporate those perspectives in addition
to the Priority Waters List when working on local-scale projects. Communities should identify
the Priority Waters and the projects and/or programs that will protect or restore these waters.
The Water Contamination and Impaired Waters map includes any water bodies that are on the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s 303d Impaired Waters List.
Table of Priority Waters for City of Lino Lakes
Waterbody TypeName DNR Lake ID DNR Kittle Number
Amelia 02001400 ---
Lake
Bald Eagle 62000200 ---
Lake
Baldwin02001300 ---
Lake
Centerville02000600 ---
Lake
George Watch 02000500 ---
Lake
Marshan 02000700 ---
Lake
Otter 02000300 ---
Lake
Peltier 02000400 ---
Lake
Rice02000800 ---
Lake
Rondeau 02001500 ---
Lake
Rice Creek --- M-059
River/stream
Water Supply
Water supply is not a regional system. However, water supply information is required for local
comprehensive plan updates to meet statutory requirements and for consistency with regional
policy.
To ensure that there is a safe and plentiful supply of water–for a wide range of residential,
commercial, institutional, industrial, recreational, and other purposes–it is important to make
sure local water supply sources, infrastructure, and planned investments are aligned with
planned land use changes.
The Met Council recognizes the local responsibility and authority for water supply planning.
However, a regional perspective is also valuable, because the effects of local water supply
decisions do not stop at community boundaries. The Met Council provides regional planning,
guidance, and resources to support communities and help safeguard our shared water
resources.
Water supply plan-related requirements generally include:
Clearly identifying the locations of water sources and amount of water that is currently
used and is planned to be used for things like agriculture, homes, businesses,
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industries, and other public and private purposes. This includes areas that affect those
water sources, such as source water protection areas.
Creating a program for how to implement local rules and regulations about water
supply, including when and how these rules will be developed, adopted, and
administered.
Communities served by a municipal community public water supply system must fulfill part of
these requirements by attaching a local water supply plan approved by the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources as an appendix to the comprehensive plan.
The Water Supply Considerations map illustrates some key content for your community,
including Drinking Water Supply Management Areas, Special Well and Boring Construction
Areas, and Priority Waters qualifying as drinking water sources.
We strongly encourage you to include any required information that isn’t in the local water
supply plan—such as source water protection and privately-owned wells—in a water chapter of
your comprehensive plan.
A customized checklist of minimum requirements for your community is included in the Local
Planning Handbook, along with resources to help you meet and go beyond minimum
requirements.
Source Water Protection
Your comprehensive plan should consider water use (including water supply sources) as part
of land use planning, to promote land use practices and development decisions that protect
public health for your community and the region. Include information aboutthe location of both
groundwater and surface water source water protection areas and their vulnerability for all
community public drinking water source(s) within your community’s borders and associated
contaminant threats. Also include a commitment to collaborate with neighbors on source water
protection, when applicable.
Privately-Owned Wells and Nonmunicipal Public Water Supply Systems
Your comprehensive plan should include information about the current and planned use and
management strategies for privately-owned wells and nonmunicipal public water supply
systems, because people, institutions, and businesses in your community use those sources
for a wide range of agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial and/or other nonmunicipal
purposes.
If a new municipal community public water supply system is planned by 2050, a water chapter
of the updated comprehensive plan should include details about the planned system.
Municipal Community Public Water Supply Systems
Water Supply System Information
Because people, institutions, and businesses in your community get water through a municipal
community public water supply system, you must include information about that system and an
implementation program in your comprehensive plans, to demonstrate the availability of clean,
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safe drinking water to meet projected water demand consistent with the Met Council’s
forecasts.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-approved local water supply plan for
the municipal public water supplier providing service to your community must be attached as
an appendix to the comprehensive plan. To ensure that the DNR-approved local water supply
plan is consistent with regional policies and is compatible with adjacent and affected
governmental units, you should provide the Met Council and adjacent and affected jurisdictions
with the opportunity to review and comment on your draft local water supply plan update.
Failure to include an updated local water supply plan approved by the DNR will result in the
comprehensive plan being incomplete for review until the required plan is submitted to the Met
Council.
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REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS SYSTEM
STATEMENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
Overview of the Regional Parks and Trails System
The Regional Parks and Trails System includes 66 regional parks, park reserves, and special features,
plus more than 487 miles of regional trails that showcase the unique landscapes of the region and
provide year-round recreation. The Regional Parks and Trails System is well-loved by our region’s
residents and attracted over 69 million visits in 2023.
The organizational structure of the Regional Parks and Trails System is unique, built upon a strong
partnership between the Met Council and the ten regional park implementing agencies that own and
operate Regional Parks and Trails System units. The regional park implementing agencies are:
Anoka County Ramsey County
City of Bloomington City of Saint Paul
Carver CountyScott County
Dakota County Three Rivers Park District
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Washington County
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan advances the Imagine 2050 regional goals and core
values including Equity, Leadership, Accountability, and Stewardship by striving to:
Foster equity and belonging: Connect people with nature, community, and cultural
landscapes to better support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being
Take care of what we have: Reinvest in existing regional parks and trails to maintain and
enhance visitor experiences
Protect and restore: Protect and restore natural systems to safeguard the well-being of all
living things
Adapt and mitigate: Increase the region’s resilience to climate change through land
stewardship practices that mitigate greenhouse gases and adapt to future climates
Meet future needs: Meet the growing demand for regional parks and trails through strategic
and timely land acquisition and development.
Key Concepts in the 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan includes the following policies, each with specific
associated strategies:
System Plan policy: Maintain a robust and current set of data, maps, plans, processes, and
applications to support regional parks and trails planning.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS34
Natural Systems policy: Identify lands with high-quality natural features and/or with high
restoration potential that are desirable for Regional Parks and Trails System activities and put
these lands in a protected status so they will be available for recreational uses and preservation
purposes in perpetuity.
Climate Resilience policy: Adapt and enhance the Regional Parks and Trails System to
promote resilience to climate change, including the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Planning policy: Promote long-range planning and help provide integrated resource planning
across jurisdictions in order to create a seamless system that connects everyone to the
outdoors.
System Protection policy: Protect public investments in acquisition and development by
assuring that every component in the system is able to fully carry out its designated role.
Recreation, Facilities, and Programming policy: Foster a sense of belonging by providing a
wide spectrum of leisure and play opportunities while connecting people, places, and the natural
world.
Finance policy: The Met Council administers, provides financial oversight, and collaborates
with a range of partners to fund the ten regional park implementing agencies in support of the
Regional Parks and Trails System.
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan is the metropolitan system plan for regional recreation
open space with which local comprehensive plans must conform. This system statement highlights the
elements of the system plan which apply specifically to your community. Find the complete text of the
2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan at the following url:
https://imagine2050.metrocouncil.org/chapters/regional-parks-and-trails.
Key Changes in the 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
Adopted by the Met Council in February 2025, the 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan
incorporates the following changes:
Unit name changes
o Anoka County
“Northwest Search Area” changed to “Sugar Hills Search Area”
o Dakota County
“Lebanon Hills-Big Rivers Greenway Trail Search Corridor” changed to “Lebanon
Hills-Minnesota River Greenway Trail Search Corridor”
“Lebanon Hills-Mendota Greenway Regional Trail, Highway 62 segment”
changed to “Lebanon Hills Greenway Regional Trail”
o Scott County
“Scott West Regional Trail” changed to “Big Woods Regional Trail”
“Minnesota River Bluffs Extension and Scott County Connection Regional Trail”
changed to “Merriam Junction Regional Trail”
“Louisville Trail Search Corridor” changed to “Merriam Junction Regional Trail”
Portion of “Southern Scott Trail Search Corridor” changed to “Shallow Waters
Regional Trail”
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS35
Trail refinements
o Three Rivers Park District’s Dakota Rail Regional Trail Search Corridor Extension
moving the trail terminus from Highway 494 to Minnetonka City Hall
o Three Rivers Park District is transferring a portion of the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail
to Carver County
Future 2028/2029 system additions process candidates
o Ramsey County’s Rice Creek North Regional Trail Boundary Adjustment adding 2,407
acres to the current 792 acres at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant
o Three Rivers Park District’s 5.5-mile West Minnehaha Creek Trail Corridor Study Area
o Dakota County’s 58-acre Thompson County Park Study Area in West St. Paul serving
the outdoor recreational needs of the more than 50,000 residents who live in the
northern portion of Dakota County
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails System Plan Map is depicted in Figure 1. Lino Lakes should
consult the complete 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan in preparing its local comprehensive
plan. In addition, Lino Lakes should consult Imagine 2050 and the current version of the Met Council’s
Local Planning Handbook for specific comprehensive plan requirements.
2050 Regional Parks and Trails System Units
The Regional Parks and Trails System comprises four main types of units: regional parks, park
reserves, special features and regional trails.
Regional parks contain a diversity of natural features, either naturally occurring or restored,
and are typically 200-500 acres in size. Regional parks accommodate a variety of outdoor
recreation activities. In 2024, a total of 46 regional parks are open to the public.
Park reserves, like regional parks, provide for a diversity of outdoor recreation activities. One
major distinguishing feature is that the minimum size for a park reserve is 1,000 acres.
Additionally, regional park implementing agencies are required to manage at least 80% of the
park reserve as natural lands that protect the ecological functions of the native landscape. As of
2024, a total of 12 park reserves were open to the public.
Special features provide opportunities not generally found in the regional parks, park reserves,
or trail corridors. Special features often require a unique managing or programming effort. As of
2024, there are eight special features open to the public.
Regional trails: The Met Council has defined two major types of trails to serve the region:
destination or greenway trails and linking trails. Destination or greenway trails typically follow
along corridors with high-quality natural features that make the trail itself a destination. Linking
trails are predominately intended to provide connections between various Regional Parks and
Trails System units. As of 2024, 56 regional trails totaling approximately 487 miles were open
for public use.
2050 Regional Parks and Trails System Components
The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan identifies five components which together comprise the
vision for the Regional Parks and Trails System in 2050, as described below.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS36
Existing Regional Parks and Trails System facilities are open for public use and include land
that is owned by regional park implementing agencies. They may include inholding parcels
within the boundaries of these parks and trail corridors that have not yet been acquired. Existing
regional trails may include planned segments that will be developed in the future.
Planned Regional Parks and Trails System facilities (not yet open to the public) have a
Council-approved long-range plan and may be in stages of acquisition and development but are
not yet open for public use.
Regional Parks and Trails System boundary adjustments include general areas identified as
potential additions to existing Regional Parks and Trails System facilities to add recreational
opportunities or protect natural resources. Specific adjustments to park or trail corridor
boundaries have not yet been planned.
Regional Park and Special Feature search areas include general areas for future regional
parks and special features to meet the recreational needs of the region by 2050 where the
regional park boundary has not yet been planned.
Regional trail search corridors include proposed regional trails to provide connections
between Regional Parks and Trails System facilities where the trail alignment has not yet been
planned.
System Plan Considerations Affecting Your Community
The following Regional Parks and Trails System Components within Lino Lakes are identified in the
2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan:
Regional Parks, Park Reserves, and Special Features
Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve: This is an existing regional park reserve with an
established boundary. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, at nearly 5,500 acres, is
located in the cities of Columbus, Lino Lakes, and Centerville. It includes significant native
wildlife habitat, archeological sites, and family-friendly amenities such as a playground and a
beach on Centerville Lake. The regional park boundary as shown in Figure 2 should be
acknowledged in the comprehensive plan.
Regional Trails
Bunker Hills-Chain of Lakes Regional Trail: This is a regional trail that includes segments
that are open to the public as well as planned segments that will be developed in the future. The
regional trail travels through Blaine, Lino Lakes, and Centerville as it connects Bunker Hills
Regional Park, Rice Creek North Regional Trail, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, and
Central Anoka Regional Trail. The regional trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should be
acknowledged in the comprehensive plan.
Central Anoka Regional Trail: This is a regional trail that includes segments that are open to
the public as well as planned segments that will be developed in the future. The regional trail
travels through Ramsey, Anoka, Andover, Ham Lake, Blaine, Lino Lakes, and Centerville as it
connects Mississippi West Regional Park, Rum River Regional Trail, Bunker Hills Regional
Park, East Anoka County Regional Trail and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve. The
regional trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the comprehensive
plan.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS37
Chain of Lakes-Otter Lake Regional Trail: This is a regional trail that includes segments that
are open to the public as well as planned segments that will be developed in the future. The
regional trail travels through Centerville and Lino Lakes as it connects Rice Creek Chain of
Lakes Park Reserve and Bald Eagle-Otter Lake Regional Park in White Bear Township. The
regional trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should be acknowledged in the comprehensive
plan.
Rice Creek North Regional Trail: This is a regional trail that includes segments that are open
to the public as well as planned segments that will be developed in the future. The regional trail
travels through New Brighton, Arden Hills, Shoreview, Circle Pines, and Lino Lakes as it
connects Long Lake Regional Park, Rice Creek West Regional Trail, Highway 96 Regional Trail,
Lexington Parkway Regional Trail Search Corridor, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve,
and East Anoka County Regional Trail. The regional trail alignment as shown in Figure 2 should
be acknowledged in the comprehensive plan.
Please contact Anoka County for more information regarding Regional Parks and Trails System
Components in Lino Lakes.
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS38
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS39
2025 SYSTEM STATEMENTREGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS40
PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
AGENDA ITEM 7B
STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director
MEETING DATE: January 14, 2025
TOPIC: Public Works Design Update
CASE NUMBER:N/A
APPLICANT: City of Lino Lakes
OWNER: N/A
REVIEW SCHEDULE: N/A
BACKGROUND
The City is in the process of completing plans and specifications for a new Public Works building
to replace the existing facility at 1189 Main Street. Constructed in 1971, the current buildings
are substandard and no longer meet the operational needs of the City. This capital
improvement project has been under consideration by the City Council for more than 15 years.
A site analysis and needs study were completed in 2017, followed by an alternatives review in
2019. In 2025, the City retained Oertel Architects to design the new facility and RJM
Construction to serve as construction manager. The design phase is nearing completion, with
construction anticipated to begin in May 2026.
The project site is located within the Public/Semi-Public zoning district, where City facilities are
a permitted use. Site and building approvals are subject to administrative review, and staff is
currently evaluating the plans for conformance with applicable zoning requirements.
The proposed building is approximately 91,000 square feet and will include office and
community meeting space, a fleet garage, and mechanics bays. Staff will provide an overview of
the project at the upcoming Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
Discussion Only.
ATTACHMENTS
1
1.Existing Site Survey
2.Birdseye View
2