Community Members Fight Residential Development Plans

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When Pat Campbell moved to the neighborhood surrounding Parkview Golf Club in Eagan 18 years ago, he thought he'd found his own slice of "Shangri-La."

The neighborhood, anchored by the easy-going executive course, is quiet, walkable and well-maintained. And nearly every nearby resident has some emotional connection or story to tell about Parkview—the last 18-hole course in Eagan.

“It's our Buck Hill of golf, that's the way we look at it, because it’s a great intro course for kids," said Campbell, paying homage to Burnsville's ski resort.

That's partly why Campbell and a growing group of neighbors and community members are so opposed to a local developer's plans to convert the golf course into a 175-unit residential development.

On May 22, Eagan's Advisory Planning Commission is expected to hold a public hearing to consider a Comprehensive Guide Plan amendment request by Hunter Emerson, a company represented by local developer Kurt Manley.

If the planning commission recommends approval, the comprehensive plan amendment would go to the Metropolitan Council for approval before returning to the Eagan City Council for final approval. Before the development could move forward, the council would also have to approve a subsequent rezoning request, according to Community Development Director Jon Hohenstein.  

Manley, who wasn't available for comment, told Sun Thisweek Newspapers that Hunter Emerson has been weighing purchase of the golf course property for a long time. Home prices would range from $200,000 to $650,000, according to the newspaper. Hunter Emerson currently has a purchase agreement for the 80-acre property, according to City Planner Mike Ridley.

A preliminary concept plan submitted to the city calls for walking trails and trail connections to nearby parks, a common pool, and a density of 2.18 homes per acre. Development of a portion of the site could begin as early as this year, according to the preliminary plans. The golf course is currently zoned private recreational, but would need to be rezoned to low-density residential, Hohenstein said.

Editor's Note: To view a sketch of the preliminary concept plan, click on the PDF attached to this article.

Campbell and an array of community members have stringently opposed Hunter Emerson's plans for Parkview. At a neighborhood meeting on the back deck of a neighbor's home overlooking the golf course on Monday, Campbell and others voiced concerns about increased traffic and drainage issues if the housing development is approved.

But Campbell and others assert that the proposed development is also a community-wide issue. To get their views out, Campbell and other opponents have already started circulating a petition and created a Facebook page.

"Eagan is close to being fully developed, and so when a parcel like this becomes available, it’s not like Elko and Lakeville, where you might have a lot of property available,” Campbell said. "It’s not just a transaction at that point, it’s more of a decision by the city as to what are we going to do with this last piece of open property."

Campbell and his neighbors also wonder if Eagan's housing market can support a new housing development of this scale.

Hohenstein said Eagan's current housing developments, including Stonehaven, have seen quite a bit of activity. The city's proximity to major freeways and attractions means is still a "demand location", Hohenstein said.