Lake Elmo council weighs property offers, development agreements in busy July stretch
Lake Elmo's City Council and Planning Commission held or scheduled several meetings in the first half of July covering property sales, development agreements, salaries, and zoning changes. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, so the items below reflect what was on each agenda rather than confirmed outcomes.
City Council
The council met July 7 to consider Ordinance 2026-08 regarding Mayor and Councilmember salaries, along with the Highpointe Crossing final plat and development agreement. Also on the agenda were contracts for 2026 seal coat and striping projects, first amendments to the Lake Elmo Elementary and Oak Land Middle School agreements, and a review of the Stormwater Utility Code. The council was also scheduled to review the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and discuss revisions to the city's purchasing policy. A separate closed session under Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.05 was set to discuss threatened litigation by Dresel Contracting.
On July 14, the council met at 3880 Laverne Avenue North to consider purchase offers for two city-owned properties: the old fire station at 3510 Laverne Avenue North and the old parks building at 11200 Upper 33rd Street. Both items were listed for closed-session discussion.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission held a July 13 public hearing on a zoning text amendment and conditional use permit for 9591 60th Street North. The request, submitted by Yamile Gonzalez (DBA QBAN Properties, MYP Landscape Supply, and Valdes Lawn Care and Snow Removal), seeks to allow landscape supply sales in the Agriculture district and to permit expansion of the existing facility at that address. The commission's recommendation is to go to the City Council for later consideration.
The commission also received City Council updates on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan amendment concerning density and on the Inwood Commercial preliminary plat. Upcoming Planning Commission meetings were listed as July 27 (canceled), August 10, and August 24.
Council Workshop
A July 14 council workshop included a presentation on the Old City Hall report, covering a space-needs study and parking-lot concept designs. The Public Works Director presented an evaluation of request-based parking restrictions. The Finance Director discussed a draft Capital Improvement Program and related strategic financial planning, along with a stormwater analysis. Future agenda items were also outlined.
Coming up
- **July 20 — Parks Commission:** Update on the 76-acre park development; review of a DNR grant proposal for buckthorn removal at Sunfish Lake; deer-hunting management presentation for Sunfish Lake Park; and consideration of three design options for a new playground and a barn at Ridge Park. Public comment follows the presentations.
- **July 21 — City Council (regular):** Consideration of a 2027 service contract with the Youth Service Bureau; an Inwood Neighborhood special event permit; a temporary liquor license for the Lake Elmo Rotary; a security reduction for Northstar 2nd Addition; and authorization of geotechnical services for a Section 16 Phase 2 sanitary-sewer extension.
- **July 21 — City Council (special meeting):** Closed-session consideration of offers to purchase real property identified by PID 1602921240002 and the parcel at 11052 34th St. N (PID 1302921320012).