#16 - Highpointe Crossing Preliminary Plat and OP PUD

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Highpointe Crossing - 2298 Inwood Ave N – Lake Elmo – Preliminary Plat Narrative June 7, 2024 Page 8 8 We believe that the 42 Lot plan did meet the letter and intent of the OP zoning. We kept over 60% of the property in open space, fit the lots into the natural landscape of the property, created a community septic treatment system, a water reuse system for irrigation, plans to restore all of the open space, provide trails, etc. We felt very good about the plan until we realized that there was no way to pay for the project with the revenues we could generate from 42 lots. So, after we met with staff, we looked at what it would take to get a project to work financially and yet keep as many of the OP goals intact. What we came up with is a 65 unit project that continued to • to preserve a 200’ buffer around the property (except for the homestead lot), • to provide over 60% open space, and • stay within the same basic footprint as the 42 lot plan. City Council Sketch Plan Review On December 12, 2023 the City Council reviewed our sketch plan at a Council Workshop meeting. At that meeting we received feedback from a majority of the council that they liked our plan and would be in favor of us proceeding to a preliminary plat. There were some members that would have liked an alternative to the community septic system and after the meeting we spent a couple months exploring the option of a connection to the City of Oakdale. In the end we were discouraged by the City of Oakdale staff to pursue a connection to their City. They did not believe there would be City Council or even Met Council support for a connection to their City. Therefore, we continued our work testing and evaluating the property for a primary and alternative community septic system location. That system is included and described in greater detail later in this narrative and in a separate report provided with our preliminary plat submittal.