Eagan City Council Reverses Course on Carriage Hills Golf Course Development

In a stunning turn of events, the Eagan City Council has voted unanimously to reject developer Terry Wensmann's request to amend the city's comprehensive plan and allow for homes to be built on the Carriage Hills Golf Club. This decision comes on the heels of a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling in favor of Mendota Heights in a similar lawsuit over a proposed golf course development. Additionally, another Eagan golf course owner and developer had requested a land-use change to build houses, prompting the council to reevaluate its stance. The council had previously agreed to consider Wensmann's proposal, but a new application from Parkview Golf Course to build residential units on its property has further complicated the issue.

Key Takeaways:

• The Eagan City Council voted unanimously to reject Wensmann's request to amend the comprehensive plan, effectively appealing a Dakota County District Court ruling in a lawsuit brought by Wensmann and the golf course owner.
• The council's decision comes after a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling in favor of Mendota Heights in a similar lawsuit over a proposed golf course development.
• The Council had agreed in November to consider Wensmann's latest development proposal in a process that could have led to a settlement of the dispute.
• If the city loses, not only could the golf course be developed, but the comprehensive plan - the city's main planning document - could lose some of its force.
• The settlement agreement proposed by Wensmann and golf course owner Ray Rahn included similar designs to the original proposal, but with a nine-hole golf course.
• Dozens of residents who packed the City Council chambers on Jan. 17 gave the council a standing ovation after its vote, expressing concerns about traffic and limited open space in Eagan.
• Council members cited the recent ruling in the Mendota Heights case and the new application from Parkview Golf Course as reasons for their change of heart.

Statistics:

• 480: The number of housing units originally proposed for the 120-acre Carriage Hills Golf Club.
• 316: The number of housing units proposed for the 80-acre Parkview Golf Course.
• 9: The number of holes in the golf course proposed in the settlement agreement.
• 120: The number of acres of the Carriage Hills Golf Club.
• 80: The number of acres of the Parkview Golf Course.

Sources:

• Mendota Heights lawsuit: Minnesota Court of Appeals.
• Eagan City Council meeting on Jan. 17: City of Eagan.
• Carriage Hills Coalition: www.carriagehills.org.
• City of Eagan: www.cityofeagan.com.