The Hastings City Council agreed unanimously last Tuesday night that no further environmental study is needed for the proposed Walden at Hastings development.
Community Development Director John Hinzman stressed at the city council meeting that it doesn’t mean the project is being approved. Far from it, as no final plans have been submitted for city staff, planning commission or city council review.
He said he expects a plan from developers to be on a March planning commission agenda. If recommended for approval, it will move then to the city council for review and action.
The Walden at Hastings plan calls for 450 residential units on 71 acres at Michael Avenue and Hwy. 316. The first phase of development would start this year and a second phase in 2029. The development would consist of single family, twin home, town home, apartments and senior housing. All units would be rentals, the developer, LandEquity, LLC has told the city.
The council was acting on there not being a need for future environmental review, as it received an Environmental Assessment Worksheet with comment from state, county and federal agencies, as well as it being opened up for comments from the community.
“The EAW does not authorize approval of the development. Separate applications for land use entitlements including rezoning, plat and site plan would be considered upon conclusion of environmental review,” Hinzman wrote in a memo to the city council.
The EAW was necessary because of the size of the development.
Councilmember Jen Fox reiterated that the plan now starts the city approval process.
“What was the big headline? No development decisions are being made based on the EAW. I just wanted to say that again. We are looking into this as a potential development, and we wanted to make sure that the soil was ready to build on and safe to build on. We're not moving forward right now with any development because we've never seen a final plan. It has not come before planning. It has not come before council, and we are still looking for input from our community on that.”
