Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/2026 P & Z Minutes CITY OF LINO LAKES PLANNING &ZONINGBOARD MINUTES DATE: February 11, 2026 TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 8:53 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT:Isaac Wipperfurth, Nathan Vojtech, Michael Root, Suzy Guthmueller, Perry Laden, Neil Evenson MEMBERS ABSENT: Patrick Kohler STAFF PRESENT: Michael Grochala, Katie Larsen, Kris Keller, 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. onFebruary 11, 2026. 2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3.PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Root declared public comment open at 6:32 p.m. James Douthit, 11400 Whisper Breeze, San Antonio, Texas, with Valvoline spoke and introduced himself to the Board. Mr. Vojtech motioned to close public comment at 6:35 p.m. Motion was seconded by Mr.Evenson. Motion carried 6 – 0. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was updated to select a Chair and Vice Chair for the Planning and Zoning Board. 5. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Mr. Rootwas nominated for Chair and Mr. Laden was nominated as Vice Chair. A vote was taken for approval and it was unanimous approval. Planning & Zoning Board February 11, 2026 Page 2 6.APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Vojtechmoved to approve the January 14, 2026 and January 28, 2026 joint meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Ms. Guthmueller. Motion carried 6 – 0. 7.ACTION ITEMS A. Public Hearing: Valvoline (Clearwater Commons) Conditional Use Permit Ms. Larsen presented the staff report. The applicant, Valvoline Instant Oil Change Facility, is proposing to construct a Valvoline st Instant Oil Change Facility. The property address is 7104 21 Avenue North. James Douthit, Valvoline, was present to answer questions. Chair Root wanted to confirm that there would be no vehicles parked overnight on the site. Mr. Douthit confirmed that no vehicles would be parked overnight. The public hearing was opened at 6:44 p.m. There was no one present for the public hearing. Mr. Evenson motioned to close the public hearing. Motion was seconded by Mr. Wipperfurth. The public hearing was closed at 6:44 p.m. Mr. Laden asked if the site became available for purchase and wanted to start doing major vehicle repair, would that be allowed? Ms. Larsen stated they would have to come back in and present for the Board before making that change. Mr. Root asked if a condition could be added that no vehicles could be parked in the lot overnight. Mr. Evenson motioned to approve the Valvoline Conditional Use Permit with staff recommendations. Motion was seconded by Ms. Guthmueller. Motion carried 6 – 0. B. Public Hearing: Harvest Grange Rezoning and Preliminary Plat Ms. Larsen presented the staff report. Planning & Zoning Board February 11, 2026 Page 3 The applicant, Twin Cities Land Holding, LLC, is proposing a residential development in th the southwest quadrant of CSAH 54 (20Avenue South) and Cedar Street. The development contains three (3) parcels totaling approximately 25 gross acres and 86 housing units. Mr. Evenson had questions about how residents would access the future park. Ms. Larsen showed the current sidewalks and stated that in the future when the land was developed there would be a connection made. Mr. Laden had questions about the ownership of outlots on the property. Ms. Larsen stated that if there was an H.O.A. the City would prefer them to betaken care of by the H.O.A. Outlot C is proposed to be owned by the City since there will not be an H.O.A. for that portion of the development. Mr. Wipperfurth wanted to know why a neighborhood meeting was held and if this was a requirement. Ms. Larsen stated that this is not a requirement but that the meeting minutes would be available by the City Council meeting. Mr. Wipperfurth also spoke on the trails around the upper outlots. Ms. Larsen clarified those are not trails but access points for maintenance. Mr. Wipperfurth was curious if there would be a buffer required between the townhomes and the residential lot to the north. Ms. Larsen stated this would not be a requirement since this is not a PUD. Chair Root had questions about the traffic study and had concerns about access. Ben Schmidt, Twin Cities Land Development, was available for questions. Mr. Schmidt spoke on the neighborhood meeting and the challenges of coming up with a site plan that would meet the City density requirements. The public hearing was opened at 7:21 p.m. Rick Pike, 1919 Red Oak Lane, stated that he is not opposed to new development. He is concerned that there are no parks or trails for the children in area. Mr. Pike expressed concerns on traffic generated by the new development since there will be a right in right out and traffic will go through existing neighborhood. Ronald Dickson, 1955 Red Oak Lane, agreed with Mr. Pike regarding park access and traffic safety. Mr. Dickson would like to see a pedestrian crossing added to the area, th Avenue. especially on 20 Planning & Zoning Board February 11, 2026 Page 4 Danielle Ward-Lorenz, 1987 Norma Way, agreed with the previous speakers regarding park access and expressed concerns about the traffic and townhome density. Grace Chwialkowski, 6700 Heritage Avenue, worries about people who are tryingto th cross 20Avenue currently. Ms. Chwialkowski would recommend lowering the speed limit and adding speed limit signsto the neighborhood. Kyle Vadner, 6661 Heritage Avenue, had concerns about the walkability of his neighborhood. Mr. Vadner would like to see more walkable access and connections to existing trails. Mr. Vadner also had concerns about the traffic and the Amazon trucks that are coming out of the area. thth Avenue, also expressed concerns about crossing 20 Avenue and Ann Davis, 6795 20 worries for the kids who attempt to cross without a crosswalk. Bortnov Valeriu, 1947 Red Oak Lane, shared the same concerns that were previously mentioned. Mr. Valeriu had questions about the traffic study. Kevin Higgins, 6656 Heritage Avenue, had concerns about the right in right out and th Avenue. traffic. Mr. Higgins also had concerns about the size of the shoulder along 20 Steve Gitzen, 6681 Heritage Avenue, sharedthe same concerns about the traffic and the right in right out. Mr. Gitzen had concerns about traffic on Red Oak Lane. David Vickers, 6756 Centerville Road, had concerns about the wetlands and flooding in his farm fields. Mr. Vojtech motioned to close the public hearing at 7:45 pm. Motion was seconded by Mr. Laden. Motion carried 6 – 0. Chair Root spoke on the park access and stated this would be a concern best brought up with the Park Board. Mr. Grochala stated that the park fees are used for parks and trails in the area. The park dedication fees are used to purchase land and with the comments heard tonight the need for a park is apparent. Mr. Grochala stated that the City of Centerville does not want to connect to our trail system. Mr. Grochala stated that if this development comes, the City will look further into making these park connections and looking into development of a park to the East. Chair Root wanted to know how we could encourage the County to make changes to th Avenue. Mr. Grochala stated that the best way to do this would be for the local 20 community to bring this up to the City Council and the County. Planning & Zoning Board February 11, 2026 Page 5 Chair Root spokeon the ditch and the water flow that could potentially impact current property owners. Mr. Grochala stated that the developer would work to mitigate this with the grading plan. th Mr. Wipperfurth spoke on the traffic on 20 Avenue and encourages residents who spoke tonight to reach out to the Council. Mr. Wipperfurth would like to recommend that the City Councilreach out to the County. Mr. Grochala thinks this is a good idea to make this as a recommendation to show the Council how big of a concern this is for current residents. Mr. Vojtech would like to make a recommendation to buy the property to the North to avoid the right in right out. Chair Root stated that he thinks a lot is going into a small space and understands that there is pressure from the Met Council. Chair Root thinks this should all be zoned as R-2 with no R-3 to avoid adding too much to traffic. Chair Root stated that he also has concerns about the lack of trails. Mr. Laden motioned to approve the Harvest Grange Rezoning and Preliminary Plat with staff recommendations. Motion was seconded by Mr. Evenson. Motion carried 4 – 2. Mr. Wipperfurth motioned bringing to City Council a recommendation for a safe th crossing at 20 Avenue and fast tracking a park to the area. Motion was seconded by Mr. Vojtech. Motion carried 6 – 0. C.Public Hearing: Amending Comprehensive Plan to Provide for Municipal Utility Service to Public Works Building Site Mr. Grochala presented the staff report. Mr. Evenson wanted to understand why the houses along 14 would not be getting sewer. Mr. Grochala stated that there would be an obligation to connect for the current residents. The design is to just service the Public Works facility,and the pressure differential would not allow for a connection to a single-family home. Mr. Laden wanted to see where the current services end and how far it would need to be extended and the cost associated with this extension. Mr. Grochala stated it would be over a million dollars. The public hearing was opened at 8:27 p.m. There was no one present to speak for the public hearing. Planning & Zoning Board February 11, 2026 Page 6 Mr. Vojtechmotioned to close the public hearing at 8:27p.m. Motion was seconded by Mr. Evenson. Mr. Wipperfurthmotioned to approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendment with staff recommendations. Motion was seconded by Mr. Vojtech. Motion carried 6 – 0. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Lyngblomsten PUD Amendment #4 Mixed Use Concept Mr.Grochala presented the staff report. Lyngblomsten is considering a new proposal for the five-acre commercial corner. They intend to seek approvals for a four-story mixed-use building that would include first-floor commercial space with independent living units on the upper floors. This concept would require an amendment to the existing PUD. Mr. Laden wanted to know the requirement for a restaurant on this site. Mr. Grochala stated that there was no planned requirement at this time. Judd Fenlon, Grand Real Estate Advisors, 90 South Dale Street, St. Paul, was available for questions. Mr. Fenlon spoke on the funding aspect of the skilled nursing unit and the driving factor for wanting to get this application in the following months. Mr. Fenlon stated that there would be a need for an independent living space since there is currently a waitlist. Mr. Laden wanted to understand the current square footage of the current plan and how that would change with this amendment. Mr. Grochala stated that it would be around 20,000 square feet. Mr. Evenson wanted to clarify that to get the commercial to the area that there should be a residential aspect, he believes this is the correct way to go. Ms. Guthmueller wanted to know how many units there would be in this. Mr. Fenlon stated it would be 60 units. Mr. Laden stated that having retail on the first floor of a residential building has not worked in the past and what would make this site different. Mr. Fenlon stated that he understands that this has been an issue but with the correct design it can be very Planning & Zoning Board February 11, 2026 Page 7 beneficial. Mr. Fenlon stated that senior residents typically like having the restaurant on the main floor. Ms. Guthmueller would like a better understanding of how the space would be utilized and how many commercial units would be available. Mr. Fenlon stated that there could be seven to ten retail users, depending on the size needed for each space. The Board was generally in favor of the concept and looks forward to seeing plans come in. B. Project Updates Mr. Grochala provided project updates to the Board. Mr. Evenson moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Mr. Laden. Meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marissa Ertel – Community Development Administrative Assistant