Maple Grove Council Rejects 2-Story Homes on Smaller Lots in Rush Hollow Development
The Maple Grove City Council stood firm on May 1 against a proposal to construct two-story homes on 60 small lots within the Rush Hollow residential development.
The Rush Hollow development is located on 148 acres north of County Road 81 and west of Elm Creek Park Reserve and Fernbrook Lane.
Past Plans in Maple Grove’s Rush Hollow
A map shows the location of the Rush Hollow housing development in Maple Grove.
In fall of 2022, housing developer PulteGroup proposed more than 500 total housing units in the large development.
The most controversial among the proposed homes was a group of 60 single-family homes on 50-foot wide lots. The homes were proposed to be a mix of one and two stories.
After council and community pushback, PulteGroup revised the proposal to include smaller, one-story homes on the small lots targeted at empty nesters.
The Maple Grove City Council approved the plan in a 3-2 split vote.
Council Rejects New Rush Hollow Proposal
Now, housing developer David Weekley Homes proposed purchasing these 50-foot wide lots.
The developer proposed constructing a mix of one- and two-story homes on the lots.
These homes would be targeted at empty nesters and first-time homebuyers.
Homes planned for the site would range in cost from the mid-$500,000 to low-$600,000 range, the developer said.
The council did not cast a formal vote on the project.
They did, however, largely speak against the prospect of large, two-story homes in the development.
“It seems to me that you’re unlikely to see us approve this here tonight,” said Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson.
Council Member Kristy Janigo said she had “concerns about the suitability of these two-story homes” for the age 55-plus population.
“If you’ve got a young family, a single level house is not a terrible choice for a young family either,” Janigo said, but she noted in this case, the cost would likely be too high for a young family.
Council Member Rachelle Johnson said that neighbors have spoken against the two-story concept in past meetings.
“I too felt really concerned about how do we explain to these neighbors who walked away feeling satisfied that we had actually worked very hard to get a better product,” said Council Member Judy Hanson. “To me, these houses seem like they’re pretty large.”
The developer plans to return with a revised proposal for the site based on council feedback.
