Maple Grove Planning Commission Split on Plans for Apartments, Townhome Rentals
More than 350 apartments and rental townhomes may be coming to Maple Grove.
The Maple Grove Planning Commission heard a proposal to build 155 townhomes and a 200-unit apartment complex this week.
Members of the Maple Grove Planning Commission were split 3-3 on the project, which will advance to the city council for a final decision.
Along with housing, the developers also are proposing to construct a 9,000-square-foot retail building at the site.
Proposed by Norsq Cos., the development would be located south of the future Highway 610 extension — also known as Rush Creek Boulevard — and west of Interstate Highway 94.
The Maple Grove Planning Commission heard a proposal to build 155 townhomes and a 200-unit apartment complex this week. Above is a rendering of a townhome building.
Lawndale Lane borders the project area to the west, while 101st Avenue is just north of the 79-acre site.
The rental townhome units would be standard back-to-back style two-story homes build on private streets. Each unit would have a two-car garage. All the townhomes would have either a ground-level patio or a second-level deck.
The development would also feature a central clubhouse and amenity area with an outdoor swimming pool.
Fewer details are available for the apartment complex and commercial building, which are largely shown as concepts rather than fleshed-out proposals.
However, the bulk of the parking for the apartment would be located underground rather than on the surface.
Norsq asked the city to approve or make adjustments to high-level planning and zoning documents to move the project forward.
An overhead site plan for the Norsq housing development in Maple Grove.
‘We Have Catered to the Rental Market’
The Maple Grove Planning Commission tabled discussion on the project in August.
When discussion reconvened in September, the commission couldn’t come to a majority decision on the project’s future.
Maple Grove Planning Commissioner Mike Ostaffe said the city needs more single-family homes built with ownership in mind.
“We’re not building the lower-cost starting family-friendly homes,” Ostaffe said. “We have catered to the rental market, we’ve catered to the developers.”
Craig Lamothe, chair of the Maple Grove Planning Commission, said he agreed with Ostaffe. However, those decisions ought to be left to the Maple Grove City Council, he said.
“We’ve been predominately approving rental product,” Lamothe said. “That’s my biggest concern with the developments that we’re seeing, is that it’s maximizing the dollar based off the current market without regard for what’s best for the community as a whole.”
See also: Maple Grove Receives Proposal for Dave’s Hot Chicken, Hope Breakfast Bar
