Maple Grove City Council to Vote on Northwood Church, Townhome Proposal
The Maple Grove City Council is expected to vote Monday, Aug. 2, on a proposal for a new church.
Northwood Church is proposing to build on a rural site north of Highway 610 and west of Elm Creek Park Reserve. Northwood, a daughter church of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, currently rents space from the Maple Grove Community Center. It’s seeking to obtain a conditional use permit to build on the site, located at 16100 105th Ave. N.
According to Scott Fjellman, a representative of Northwood, the congregation bought 22 acres of property north of 105th Avenue in 2009 with the intention of building a church. The Maple Grove City Council originally approved a concept plan for the church four years ago.
“It’s just taking us a little bit of time to raise some money and to get our plans together,” Fjellman told the Maple Grove Planning Commission at its Monday meeting.
Fjellman says it’s the church’s goal to start building next year with the first of three phases. Northwood has about 250 members and hopes to grow its congregation.
Rendering of Northwood Church
Lennar Townhome Development Proposed Next Door
In addition to the church, a 72-unit townhome development by Lennar is proposed next door. The townhomes would include back-to-back and row townhomes.
Paul Tabone, land entitlement manager with Lennar, says the project is modeled after the success it saw with the Rush Creek Commons townhomes, located off Bass Lake Road in southwest Maple Grove. The townhomes usually have a three-bed, two-bath configuration, plus a basement and two-car garage.
“They sold out pretty quickly,” said Tabone. “They provide a good price point for somebody who wants some of the things of a single-family home, but it in today’s market, maybe can’t quite get there just due to price point.”
The Lennar plans also call for significant landscaping and a children’s play area at the site. Two existing single-family homes will be demolished to make way for the project.
The Maple Grove Planning Commission recommended approval for both the church and Lennar plans.
Rendering of one of the townhome models proposed by Lennar
