New commercial and residential developments are in process for Cottage Grove, along with a church building addition, the details shared at the Monday, Feb. 23 Cottage Grove Planning Commission meeting.
As for the church, New Life Church is planning a building addition, located in South Cottage Grove.
As for commercial, a new Panera bread outlet is being planned off East Point Douglas Road South at the old Speedway location.
As for residential, the Cottage Grove Planning Commission heard proposals for both urban and suburban townhomes, as well as single family homes.
Associate Planner Kelly Becker presented for the city on New Life Church.
"Before you is a site review for a building addition to New Life Church," she said. "The subject site is located at 11245 Point Douglas Drive on approximately 10.13 acres." Zoned R-2 residential estate, the property is located south of Jubilee Christian Faith Center and east of River Oaks Golf Course, being north of a parcel zoned as Agricultural Preservation along Highway 61.
"The applicant is proposing a 5,184 square foot addition to the existing building," Becker said. "The addition will consist of lobby space, restrooms, and five new classrooms for youth related religious education." In order to accommodate the building entry, the project involves removing and replacing the bituminous circular driveway and concrete walkways at the front of the building.
"The primary days of operation will remain as Sundays and Wednesdays, and all required setbacks have been met for the building addition." she said.
Current city code requires one parking space for each four seats in the assembly hall, while schools require one parking space for each classroom and one for each 100 student capacity, making for 14 spaces needed with the classroom additions to present classrooms.
As such, New Life was proposing 14 proof of parking spaces with the application. Proof of parking designates space as set aside for parking if needed in future.
A shared driveway entrance is located off Highway 61, reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation with no changes required at present. The city is served by private well and septic, with these to be replaced with the addition.
"A sanitary sewer permit for a mound system has already been approved by Washington County and will be located on the west side of the building," Becker said.
As for materials, New Life has proposed a combination of brick, stone, and glass for the addition. Also included will be stucco along with metal flashing and engineered wood siding, all in line with city code requirements. Seven overstory deciduous trees, six coniferous trees, and 14 shrubs are proposed with the project. Staff recommendation is to have a tree inventory with the project. The site addition meanwhile will maintain 85 percent open space, or 55 percent more than required in city code. All lighting will be downward directed, located at egress doors.
The New Life Church application approved in turn by the Plan Commission, it was on tot the next project, a Panera Bread outlet planned for the old Speedway location on East Point Douglas Road South near 80th Street.
Planner Max Erickson presented for the city.
"C-8 Commercial Development has applied for a site plan and condition use permit for a drive-thru restaurant," he said. "Location is 7162 East Point Douglas Road South. The parcel is approximately 0.2 acres, and is located on the corner of East Point Douglas Road South, west of the 80th Street and Highway 61 interchange." A combination site originally platted with St. Paul Parks Acres in 1888, the site is currently zoned mixed use commercial, consistent wit the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Erickson said drive through restaurants are considered a conditional use in the mixed use zoning district.
"Drive through restaurants are considered a conditional use in the mixed use zoning district," he said. The site of the proposed Panera Bread outlet has three accesses at present and was previously used as an old service station and previous fuel station, approved in 1981.
"The old fuel station remains on site and signage was removed," Erickson said. Also removed were the fuel station canopy and gas pumps.
"A report has been conducted for the removal of the fuel tanks, and this report is currently under review by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,” he said.
As for Panera Bread site plans, they call for removal of the existing building, a reconstructed parking lot, construction of a new drive through operated as a Panera Bread with outside seating, and removal of one of the two southern accesses. Final plans for the outside seating will be required to meet city code requirements, as will parking onsite.
"New stormwater is proposed on the northern part of the site," Erickson said. "It will be implemented to capture runoff from the development. This will require a private stormwater agreement."
Access to the Panera site will see Eastern Access reduced from 30 feet to 24 feet, a proposed private sidewalk connection included as well.
"The applicant proposes to include a private pedestrian sidewalk, which will connect to an existing sidewalk," Erickson said. The proposed sidewalk encroaches slightly on public right of way and will require an encroachment agreement.
Drive through traffic at the site meanwhile will be counter clockwise, with the southern part of the parking lot to have two direction traffic. The new Panera Bread location will have 60 seats inside, with building colors described as being "earth tone," materials being in line with city code. The site will have 38 parking spaces, nine angled and 29 front-in spaces. Eight car stacking is proposed in the drive through. A total of 11 trees will be removed on site, with 14 proposed for planting. The business will have landscaped islands and bump outs, meant to break up large areas of pavement, as well a using the existing pylon sign to announce itself. Lighting will be provided in the parking area, not exceeding one foot candle at the property line, "per city code."
Three easements will be required, including a required 10 foot drainage and utility easement, required sidewalk easement, and required utility easement.
Plan Commission Terry Woodman had a question for city staff.
“The sign being used,” he said. “A, is it being lit? And B, has the city approached Panera to say ‘do you absolutely need that or can we abandon that?’” The current city code regarding pylon signs had been created to improve the look along Highway 61, and having the sign affected that.
Erickson answered Woodman.
“Mr. Chair, Commissioner Woodman. We have approached the applicant. This is a highly desired piece of the property to advertise to Highway 61. They have proposed to remove the lower cabinet to reduce overall the square footage of the sign. It is lit.”
Following more questions from commissioners and word from applicant representatives, the site plan review and condition use permit were approved.
Also covered was an application for a plat called Ravara Trails from Twin Cities Land Develpoment, presented by City Planner Samantha Pierret.
“The proposed development would have 575 total lots, with 306 townhome lots and 269 single family lots,” Pierret told commissioners. “The townhomes would be a combination of urban style with garage access on the rear side and the front door on the other side of the building, and suburban style, with front door and garage access on the same side of the building.
Included in the details for the proposed new neighborhood to become a reality off Keats Avenue between 70th Street South and 77th Street were a minor subdivision to split acreage from existing parcels and incorporate the land into the plat, a zoning amendment to change from AG-2 Agriculture to R-4, Transitional Residential, a preliminary plat to be called Ravara Trails, and a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the plat with reduced lot widths of 40 feet, as well as reduced side yard setbacks off five feet and reduced buffers behind urban townhomes along Keats Avenue and private streets.
Currently existing in five parcels, the site would see a 148.72 acre neighborhood take shape from farmland east of Cottage Grove Middle School. A meeting was held Feb. 3 with 10 residents, a major concern raised being increased traffic volume. Also raised were safety of pedestrians crossing Keats Avenue, school capacity, and density of townhomes.
“Staff and the applicant were available and explained the city’s communication practices with the school district, including monthly development updates of existing and proposed development patterns in Cottage Grove. The additional concerns raised will be addressed throughout my presentation,” Pierret said.
Included in things to consider as well for the property were a Northern Natural gas pipeline, several rights of way, a Met Council sewer interceptor, future part and water tower, and Stormwater pipe easement with South Washington Watershed District.
In exchange for the PUD the applicant would construct a paved trail over the gas easement, the site also falling in The East Ravine Master Plan of 2006 and Alternative Urban Areawide Review, last updated in 2025.
“A mitigation plan was developed and the new development is in conformance with the AUAR 2025 update,” Pierret said. The homes proposed at Ravara Trails would meet ongoing demand in the city’s housing market, determined in a 2024 housing needs study. Townhomes are proposed in those areas guided medium to high density residential in the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, with single family homes in areas guided as lower density.
Remaining acreage would be used for farmland and remain zoned as AG-2. Turn lanes will be added on Keats and 70th Street South to allow for access, with traffic flow considered to remain steady with the development.
“With the existing schools off Indian Boulevard traffic is heavier during school drop off and pick up times,” Pierret said. “However, while traffic is slower during these times an additional traffic control is not warranted due to the hours of peak traffic.” Pierret said the county had assembled a Technical Advisory Committee or TAC to study development on Keats from Cottage Grove to Woodbury, studying areas of future traffic control, including Ravara Trails. A segment of Ravine Parkway will be constructed as part of the development, extending between 80th and 70th STreet South. Private streets allowed in PUD would be used in the townhome area, while eight foot wide paved trails will be built along Keats and the Indian Boulevard extension, with sidewalks in the neighborhood and a trail on Ravine Parkway. A 4.15 acre outlet would be set aside for a future park and future water tower on natural high point. An additional total of 8.9 acres would be dedicated as park area to meet park dedication requirements, with trees removed from the 4.15 acre parcel. Lots less than 60 feet wide must two trees (one in each yard) while those lots larger than 60 feet wide must have three trees, including one in the front yard. Vegetative buffers will be used on Keats and Ravine Parkway to screen homes from the roadway.
Following question time the details were approved, moving Ravara Trails forward for Council consideration. Prior to voting Plan Commission Chair Ken Brittain asked whether the kids in the development would need to be bused across the road to Grey Cloud, his question answered in turn by Cottage Grove Public Works Director Ryan Burfeind.
“Regarding busing we would have to defer to the school district,” Burfeind said. “With past discussions I do know these higher speed roadways are seen as a barrier so it is something we have to talk about.”
“Ok. Thank you,” Brittain said.
Ben Schmidt spoke for the applicant on Ravara Trails.
“We started working on this about 18 months ago,” he said. Acknowledging the site complexity, Schmidt said they had worked with the city to work things out.
“What’s kind of fun is working closely with staff to work all that stuff out,” he said. “We’re looking forward to working within the city.”
Following presentation commissioners gave comment, presenting generally favorable remarks, passing the development on to council.
Next for consideration was Talcott Glen, a 177-unit single family home development of single family homes by Lennar to be located on a 69.5 acre parcel near St. Paul Park. With similar details to other developments, Talcott Glen was set apart by shallow bedrock and a slope on the west side, the development split between 50 and 65 foot lots. Five outlots were proposed to meet stormwater requirements, with deeding to the city. The development requires an extension of 95th Street towards potential future development area in St. Paul Park. The development west of Mississippi Dunes Estates would be on the city’s far west side. Road stubs on the north and south would allow for future housing expansion, with gated emergency access on the northeast side of the plat. An interconnected sidewalk and 20 foot access to an existing trail at Strawberry Fields is also included with the plan.
Before the night was over, the preliminary plat for Talcott Glen had been approved by the Plan Commission, passed on to the council for consideration. A neighborhood meeting was held on Feb. 10 to address nearby resident concerns, including planned tree removal and and an eagle roost.
“The city will ensure a review is conducted by the DNR to ensure no habitat is disturbed of nesting birds,” Erickson said. Trees will be removed with the development, with mitigation required and potential tree planting. Street crossings will be signed for pedestrians.
Also presented to Plan Commission Feb. 23 was a McHattie’s Landing, presented by Becker. McHattie’s Landing would be an 85-unit development of single family homes to be located across from Lochridge on Jamaica Avenue, a portion of Military Trail removed and a three way roundabout installed as part of the project. The developer will pay for 50 percent of the trail cost, the proposed home development to have one primary access from Ravine Parkway as well as street connections to Cardinal Reserve.
Currently zoned as R-4 Transitional Residential, the site for McHattie’s Landing is guided as low density residential, currently existing as tilled fields with two homes and agricultural buildings. Shallow bedrock is among the features of the site, resulting in a prior project not moving forward as a way was sought to build access given the bedrock. The subdivision to be built by M/I Homes includes a PUD, being located south of the Cottage Grove-Woodbury border.
Several outlots would be deeded to the city for stormwater, another deeded for a park and others to the Homeowner Association. Density for McHattie’s Landing would be approximately 2.66 units per acre. A neighborhood meeting was held Feb. 12 to address resident concerns, including included the impact of traffic on Jeffery Avenue, request to keep Military Road open until the county roundabout project is completed, and additional road connections to Woodbury are made. Also in concerns were impacts of grading actives, elevation of the site and homes, and maintenance of stormwater ponds.
Returning to Plan Commission Feb. 23, McHattie’s Landing was forwarded to the council for consideration.
The Cottage Grove Council was due to take up Panera Bread and New Life Church at the Wednesday, March 4 Council meeting, taking up the residential developments at its March 18 Council meeting. The public is invited to attend.