The large Walden at Hastings proposed residential development is scheduled for review and possible approval by the Hastings City Council in April.
Community Development Director John Hinzman told members of the Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority at its meeting Thursday, March 14 that he expects the city’s Planning Commission to review the development April 8 and the city council at its second April meeting, set for April 15.
“We are in the process of reviewing the preliminary plat application and scheduling for Planning Commission review at this point. The earliest would be April 8. I believe that’s a pretty good date at this point. That would be for the preliminary plat site plan, really the whole development itself,” said Hinzman.
A public hearing will be held on the development before the Planning Commission.
“It would go to the council at the end of April at that point,” Hinzman said.
The city’s Parks & Recreation Commission is also reviewing park dedication options for the development.
“They reviewed it in February. They’re looking I believe to do some combination between a partial park dedication and payment of cash in lieu of land. We’re going to be discussing that with them further this month and then hope to have some formal action pertaining to that.”
The property is being developed by LandEquity, LLC, which plans to purchase it from Best Development, which has owned it for about 25 years and leased it as farmland.
A 17.5-acre portion of the plan that are Sand Coulee would be donated to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the DNR has responded it is eager to take control of that portion of the property.
Walden at Hastings is planned as “life-cycle housing,” meaning housing for every stage of life. The development would have trails and park-like amenities, according to plans. The environmental study states, “The project aims to incorporate family living in one development. Whether a person is owning their first, having their second child, living their active lives in their senior years or needs assistance and care, they are welcome. The goal is to have families living and thriving in the same development.”
Walden at Hastings will be developed in two phases, under the plan. This year, phase one would begin after city approvals. That would include 54 twin homes, 68 townhomes, 170 apartment units, 24 senior units, 80 active senior living units and 80 assisted living units.
Phase two is set for 2029 and would include 55 single family homes.
LandEquity plans for the development to be all rental units, with rents in the neighborhood of $2,000-$4,000 monthly.
The city approved annexation of the land into the city last spring.
Concerns have been raised by neighbors about the traffic the development will cause on Hwy. 316 and about the loss of the prime farmland.
As part of the process, Walden at Hastings was put through an environmental impact study that included a look at traffic that will be produced because of it.
The traffic study predicted that the development will generate a total of 2,709 trips each day, with 180 during morning peak hour and 226 in the afternoon peak hour upon full development. In addition to Michael Avenue, there will be a secondary access point 1,300 feet to the east of Michael Avenue.
Based on Minnesota Department of Transportation guidance, there will be 300-foot left and right turn lanes for Hwy. 316 approaches to Michael Avenue, and a 300-foot right turn lane for the westbound Hwy. 316 approach to the secondary road.
The traffic study states that with the new traffic, “All study intersections operate acceptably under their existing intersection control.”
