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<br />Holzem Site, Elk River, MN June 19, 2024 <br />KER24001 1 <br />Introduction <br />On behalf of Kent Roessler, Landform is pleased to submit this application for concept plan review of the Holzem site <br />which includes the following PID numbers; 75-00869-0010, 75-00125-4101, 75-00125-4102, 75-00761-0040, 75- <br />00125-1100. The site includes five parcels that total 197.13 acres. Our concept plan was created to show a rural <br />residential development on well and septic rather than municipal sewer and water. We are excited about the plan <br />proposed for this site and look forward to discussing this proposal with the City. <br />Concept Plan <br />The site is currently guided Mixed Residential by the future land use plan and zoned R-1a Single Family Residential <br />on the zoning map. The land is also shown within the future urban service area. We are requesting a land use <br />change from Mixed Residential to Rural Residential and removal from the future urban service area. The concept <br />plan has been prepared consistent with the dimensional standards of the R-1b zoning district which is the zoning <br />change that would be requested with support of the land use and urban service area changes. <br /> <br />We are requesting a change to remove the project site from the future urban service area. The project site was <br />originally not part of the future urban service area, but the designation was changed as part of the 2040 <br />Comprehensive Plan Update adopted in 2021. LGI Homes came forward with a concept plan in 2022 to develop the <br />site with municipal services, which prompted the City to hire a consultant to perform a study for the expansion of <br />sewer and water into the future urban service areas, specifically the northeast area where this project is located. The <br />study showed the significant infrastructure necessary to serve the northeast area with sewer and water. A new force <br />main from the wastewater treatment site over 3 miles away is necessary to serve the northeast area and this project <br />site. This would require participation from several smaller adjacent properties to the south. The cost and additional <br />properties that need to participate make it not feasible for this site to develop with sewer and water. Following the <br />results of the study, LGI Homes decided not to pursue the development given the costs associated. <br /> <br />The City has the option to bond for the infrastructure project and assess the costs through the Section 429 process. <br />This would result in higher taxes for Elk River residents and large assessments for the benefitting properties in the <br />northeast district. This would involve a lengthy process and would likely receive pushback from many of the property <br />owners. Therefore, the discussion with the council was that all improvements would be a cost borne by the developer <br />as properties develop. <br /> <br />This project site cannot bear the infrastructure costs to bring a new trunk sanitary line from the wastewater treatment <br />plant, therefore we are requesting an amendment to the comprehensive plan to remove this site from the future <br />urban service area. We believe this is the only viable option to develop this site in the foreseeable future and we <br />request the City to consider amending the comprehensive plan to provide a path forward for the property to develop. <br />Summary <br />We respectfully request feedback on the Concept Plan to develop the Holzem site as a rural residential community <br />without sewer and water. <br />Page 179 of 197