Walmart, Liquor Stores Discussed at Lakeville's Council Meeting

The Lakeville City Council played to a nearly-full house on Monday evening as a slew of agenda items, and others not on the agenda, attracted a wide range of public comments and heightened interest in the proceedings.

Among the range of topics that elicited attention were the potential listing for sale of the and a discussed by the council during a previous work session and a proposal for hiring of a police department records technician.

The strongest comments, though, were centered on the potential privatization of the city’s municipal liquor stores. The council has discussed doing a study on the issue and is in the early stages of doing a full review on the issue, and the issue is showing signs of being a polarizing topic.

“I don’t think a municipality has the right to operate a business, whether it’s flowers or liquor,” said Tim Ross during the citizen comments portion of the meeting. He advocated privatizing the liquor stores to reduce the size of government.

Other comments made by citizens ranged from support for keeping the liquor operations as is to blaming them for losing out on potential development.

The vocal outpouring prompted Mayor Mark Bellows to clarify the current state of city’s liquor store discussion.

“There is a multi-factor equation that needs to be studied,” said Bellows “We are in the process of doing a comprehensive study.”

Bellow stated some of the issues that had to be examined before any decision could be entertained were current state legislative trends, actual profitability and how to address future development situations that might be hindered by the municipal liquor statutes which prevent competition.

“The final story is not in,” said Bellows. “I thank everyone for their comments. I found it all very helpful and refreshing.”

The council then turned their attention to a full agenda slate that featured welcome news of expansion plans for a variety of businesses.

Plans for two senior housing facilities were presented to the council and approved for development on the recommendation of city planning officials.

Developers for presented plans that would add nearly 200 combined units to Lakeville for memory care, assisted living and independent living seniors. Representatives from both facilities stated their market feasibility studies indicated there was a growing need for such housing and expressed confidence in both projects’ long-term potential.

Highview Hills is currently the only facility in Lakeville that provides similar services to seniors.

The council also approved a Wetland Replacement Plan on behalf of of opening a 152,000-square foot retail and grocery store west of Interstate 35 and north of county road 70 on Keokuk Avenue.

Just less than an acre of wetlands on the 15.95 acre site would be impacted by the development and Dave Olson, Lakeville’s Community and Economic Director, stated that Walmart looked at a variety of options to avoid impacting the wetlands on the site including repositioning building plans and eliminating features such as a drive-thru pharmacy and outdoor lawn and garden department.

In the end, said Olson, the plan presented to the council was concluded by multiple agencies as having the minimal amount of impact.

“These are fairly degraded wetlands,” Olson told the council prior to the vote. “They are not in pristine quality. A wetland is a wetland, but there are different degrees of wetlands. It’s not in good condition.”

The plan calls for Walmart to create almost two additional acres of wetlands to replace the .97 acres impacted on the development site. City staff recommended the plan’s approval and the council voted unanimously to follow suit.

City Administrator Steve Meilke clarified that this step would make the site usable and that the council was not being asked if Walmart could build, only if their plans met the city codes.

Mayor Bellows commented that Walmart had not sought or asked for any concessions or special provisions from the city. The company will next bring development plans to the planning commission for approval.

The council also passed a resolution approving the distribution of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Airlake 70 Industrial Park.

That move is the first step in clearing the way for development on a 66-acre portion of land east of Cedar Avenue and south of the planned county road 70 extension.

Dan Regan from Airlake Development, Inc. briefed the council on plans for up to 920,00 square feet of additional manufacturing and industrial development in the park.

“This will allow us to accommodate the demand that exists out there today,” said Regan. “We think the timing is right to push this through so, when the economy does turn, we’re there ready to go to provide a place for new jobs.”

Regan said anticipated jobs created by the expansion would create valuable head of household jobs and will help to increase the tax base “quite a bit.”

The move authorizes notification and distribution of the development plan to a host of 20-plus agencies including the DNR, Department of Transportation, Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for review and opportunity to comment.

The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for March 21.