CommonBond Communities has made application to Rezone property to R-4; Reguide property to High Density Residential; a PUD Amendment for an apartment complex, and approve the Preliminary Plat of Windermere East 2nd Addition. The subject property is approximately 3.25 acres, and is located South of Hwy. 169, west of Marystown Rd., north of 17th Avenue.

Attached to this report is the applicant’s concept plan for this development, which conceptually shows 60 apartments on one (1) lot, and an outlot for future commercial development. Regarding the multi-family lot, the R-4 zoning district was adopted by the City Council in December of 2015, which would allow (with a density allowance) 14-28 units/acre. The proposed density of this project is 18.46 units/acre. The outlot to the north will be further platted as commercial lots in the future.

CommonBond, in existence for over 40 years,  builds, owns and operates affordable housing developments throughout the Midwest.  They are a long term owner and operator.  The project is designed with brick and hardiplank and board.  The building design meets or exceeds our multifamily design standards.  CommonBond also works to assist their residents with training and assistance on site.  They have been successful in locating positions for many of their tenants.

The location in Shakopee will be near to move up housing, parks, trails, schools and employment.  In a community like Shakopee, tenants could be teachers, hospital personnel, employees of local grocers, disabled veterans, and retirees. 

This property was part of the West End Study Area, which staff, the public, the Planning Commission and the City Council have reviewed and approved. A smaller higher density development was approved originally in the West End plan but when the final plan was approved, the project was replaced with a lower density townhome project.  Since that time, D.R. Horton has found less of a potential demand for townhomes and is in the process of reconfiguring the original concept with this development and the BHS proposal also on this agenda.

The project as proposed for approval as part of the PUD (noted above) does not create a hardship on the City and County long range plans for this area nor create a hardship on the specific neighborhoods of this development; therefore, there is support for granting approval of their requests.

The project will be required to pay Park Dedication of $267,000 as currently configured.  It is recommended that those funds go into the proposed park improvements in Windermere.