Met Council Signs Off on Parkview Land Use Change

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It was over almost before it started.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Council unanimously approved a proposed land use change for the Parkview Golf Course property in Eagan—setting the stage for the issue to return to the Eagan City Council for final approval.

The controversial land use change was attached to the Met Council's consent agenda. The item passed quickly without discussion—a departure from previous public meetings, where local residents gathered to loudly protest the proposed measure.

The battle over Parkview, Eagan's last 18-hole golf course, started earlier this spring, when developer Hunter Emerson announced plans to purchase the 80-acre golf course property and build as many as 175 new homes on the site.

Before the development can begin, however, the land use designation for the site has to be changed from "private recreational" to "low density residential" under the city's Comprehensive Guide Plan. Any guide plan amendment in Eagan must be reviewed and approved by the Met Council before it is implemented.

Hunter Emerson's proposal triggered a wave of community opposition; local residents posted "Save Parkview" signs in their yards, and the Eagan council was inundated with letters of opposition—and at least one death threat.

Earlier this month, the issue was reviewed by the Met Council's Community Development committee. The committee recommended approval after finding that the proposed land use change did not encroach upon the council's larger policies for the area.

Now that the Met Council review is complete, the developer must submit rezoning and subdivision applications for the property, Eagan Communications Director Tom Garrison said.

Once the applications are turned in, city staff and the the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission will take turns reviewing them, Garrison added. After the planning commission issues a recommendation, the Eagan council will vote whether to approve the rezoning and subdivision requests.

The whole process may take as many as 60 days to complete, Garrison said, and could be complete by the end of the year if the developer submits the applications in October.

Hunter Emerson representative Kurt Manley wasn't immediately available for comment.