Planning Commission approves Fairway Commons zoning, land deal; council bond vote pending
The Falcon Heights Planning Commission on June 23 approved a planned unit development amendment for the 110-unit Fairway Commons affordable senior housing project and a resolution for the city to acquire a brownfield site at 1407 Larpenteur Avenue. The actions move the project forward as the City Council weighs a $22.79 million bond issue to finance construction.
Fairway Commons advances at Planning Commission
The commission’s approval of the PUD amendment clears a key land-use hurdle for the age-restricted rental project planned at 1670 Larpenteur Avenue. Separately, commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the city’s acquisition of 1407 Larpenteur for brownfield mitigation, a step that supports overall redevelopment of the corridor. The commission also reviewed and advanced a draft ordinance to establish low licensing fees for commercial parking lots that operate during special events, following a public hearing on zoning changes to allow such uses in business districts.
Council bond vote outcome still unknown
On June 22, the City Council held a public hearing and was scheduled to vote on Resolution 26-54, which would authorize up to $22.79 million in tax-exempt multifamily housing revenue notes for Fairway Commons. The agenda also included votes on vacating a storm sewer easement at the project site (Resolution 26-55) and approving loan documents with Fairway Commons, Limited Partnership (Resolution 26-62). Minutes from the meeting have not yet been published, so the outcomes of those votes remain unconfirmed. The council additionally set the stage for changes to snow-plowing guidelines: Resolution 26-60 would amend policies to include alleyways in city plowing routes. A contract amendment for WSB’s project management on the Community Park renovation was also up for consideration.
Fee schedule workshop tees up July 8 adoption
A separate council workshop the same evening discussed proposed updates to the 2026 fee schedule. Items included new administrative citation fees (amounts to be determined), a $35 commercial parking lot license, and Community Park Shelter rental rates of $100 for a half-day and $175 for a full day. Staff also recommended joining the Coalition for Safe & Stable Communities Phase II. No formal votes were taken; the fee schedule is slated for adoption at the July 8 council meeting.
Coming up
The Parks & Recreation Commission is not meeting July 6; that session has been rescheduled as a special meeting on Thursday, July 9.
On July 8, the City Council will hold a workshop on noise ordinance amendments covering construction hours, power tools, vehicles, and loudspeakers, and a proposed parking violation for car alarms that sound for more than four hours. That evening’s regular meeting includes votes on ordinances to amend city code for commercial parking lot licenses (Ordinance 26-07), a resolution to modify parking fines and establish the license fee, and a resolution to authorize purchase of Community Park furnishings (Resolution 26-63). The consent agenda lists general disbursements of $16,685.24, payroll of $19,969.54, and wire payments of $18,158.96 through July 2, as well as an encroachment agreement at 1670 Larpenteur Avenue for Fairway Commons (Resolution 26-65).
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.