by Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers

In a year-long battle between a housing developer and neighborhood activists, the developer emerged victorious from Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The council unanimously approved Toll Brothers' plan to put a mix of 37 single family homes and 58 townhomes on the 38-acre former Diamond T Ranch.

The plan was altered several times throughout the process to incorporate feedback from residents and the council.

"I haven't seen a single plat get as much review and discussion as this one,î said Council Member Mike Maguire.

The development met resistance from the start as neighbors voiced concerns about the site's history of pollution and the environmental impact of the project.

Some neighboring residents worried about their pond, called LP 7.2, which comes within 41 feet of the development. They expressed fears that construction could cause the pond harm, and that the townhomes are too close to the edge of the pond.

But perhaps the most contentious part of the project was the proposed extension of a cul-de-sac on Wellington Way into a through street.

Although the City Council had previously insisted that Wellington Way remain a cul-de-sac, the plan was approved with the extension.

Dakota County refused to approve an access point on Pilot Knob Road unless there was a second access point in the development.

Director of Public Works Tom Colbert told the council that Pilot Knob will exceed its capacity within the next 20 years, and the county eventually plans to expand it to six lanes. A second access point would keep local traffic on neighborhood streets and relieve Pilot Knob.

Emergency access to the development was also a factor in the council's decision.

Colbert said that Wellington Way was always meant to be a through street, but the developer never filed the plans with the county when the area was originally platted in 1985.

"Wellington Way has been platted as a through street for over 20 years,î said Mayor Pat Geagan.

Wellington Way residents said they were never told about the possibility of an extension, and extending Wellington Way would bring more traffic, noise and crime to their street.

"This isn't about 14 people on Wellington Way complaining,î said resident Tina Meiklejohn. "Our petitions consist of over 200 people within a mile of Wellington Way.î

But several people who live in surrounding neighborhoods spoke at the meeting in favor of the extension, saying it's not fair for their streets to shoulder all of the traffic.

"If you don't extend that road through, the rest of us are going to suffer even more traffic and more safety issues,î said a resident who lives on Thomas Lane.

Some council members expressed regret at having to extend Wellington Way, but said there was no way around it.

"I hate the fact that Wellington Way will have to open ... but we've got an instance here where we're going to get into a pissing match with Dakota County. If we don't do it, they'll have us do it anyway,î said Council Member Cyndee Fields.

The plan was approved with 35 conditions, 32 of which were recommended by the Parks and Planning commissions. Many of the conditions are environmental requirements.

"This plan is certainly one of the most environmentally reviewed documents I have ever seen,î Geagan said.

Maguire said the council did its best to balance the interests of all the stakeholders.

"We have listened to your concerns,î Maguire told the crowd, "and quite frankly, we've tried to accommodate a whole lot of them. Inevitably you're not going to make everybody happy, and there is a developer and a property owner who have rights we need to balance as well.î

Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

Top of Page

Check out this week's newspaper for more about your community.

Thisweek Newspapers
12190 County Road 11, Burnsville, MN 55337
Telephone: 952-894-1111 Fax: 952-846-2010