Delegard Apple Villa Properties LLC wishes to construct a new 28-unit apartment building on the property located at 7800 Whitney Drive. The property currently has three apartment buildings with a total of 48 units. The petitioners would like to demolish the two existing detached garages and construct the new apartment building on the northwest side of the site. One single-loaded 12-unit garage would be reconstructed on the southwest edge of the site.

Comp Plan Amendment: The Comprehensive Plan currently guides the development of the site for “MD” (Medium Density Residential, 6 to 12 units/acre) but the site is zoned “M-7C” (Multiple family, 12 to 20 units/acre). The existing apartment development has a density of 12.6 units/acre. By adding 28 units to the site, the owners would like to increase the density to 19.9 units/acre. A comprehensive plan amendment to “HD” (High Density residential, 12+ units/acre) would be required in order to increase the density to 20 units/acre.

The property located to the east of the subject property, Oaks Whitney Pines, is also presently guided for medium density residential, but zoned for high density residential uses.  The Oaks Whitney Pines has a density of 22 units/acre while the proposed Apple Villa development would have a density of 19.9 units/acre.  The requested comprehensive plan designation is consistent with the existing zoning on the site and compatible with neighboring land uses.

The petitioners seek authorization to submit the Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Metropolitan Council.  After the Met Council takes action on the amendment, the full project land use actions would be brought back to the City Council for consideration.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project at their meeting of July 6, 2016.