City considers high-density housing

Shakopee Valley News

As Shakopee grows, so does the need for higher-density housing.

The city has no zoning category for high-density housing, such as major apartment projects. 

However, some high-density housing projects have moved forward anyway, such as the Hy-Vee and Southbridge Apartments, which have a density of more than 18 and 25 units per acre.

So city officials have proposed allowing higher-density housing in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan that would likely allow up to 30 dwelling units per acre for multi-story, multi-family housing. Comprehensive plans need to be amended for density changes.

The higher density is needed as the Twin Cities metro area grows and spills into Shakopee, with more and more people looking for affordable housing, Shakopee Planning and Development Director Michael Kerski said.

Allowing higher density would keep Shakopee on par with surrounding communities and bring in more property tax revenue for the city, Kerski said.

"The impact is pretty significant from a property tax standpoint," he said.

The amendment would have to be approved by the City Council in a vote planned for Oct. 17 after approval by the planning and zoning commission.

Entertainment venues

The council is also considering changing the rules governing land use around its two major entertainment venues.

After an environmental assessment worksheet was done for the proposed Canterbury Commonsproject, the Metropolitan Council requested a definition for entertainment land use in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and future comprehensive plans.

Shakopee's two entertainment developments are Valleyfair and Canterbury Park.

"(There have been) significant changes in the last 25 plus years to this area as far as uses," Mars said during a recent city budget workshop.

The proposed amendment would allow restaurants, hotels, retail, offices and medium to high-density housing. 

Residential development would be limited to 20 percent of the total land with a maximum of 30 dwelling units per acre, according to a city memo.

City Councilor Matt Lehman said the memo is too broad.

"It's not really planning on what you want to see there," Lehman said.

The amendment is a draft right now and language could be changed before coming to council for a final vote.

The language would allow Valleyfair and Canterbury Park to plan for the future, Kerski said.

The land use is being debated because a past plan of creating horse-related retail — such as saddle shops — around Canterbury Park fell flat, Mars said.

"You have this big land all the way around and now... we're trying to figure out how to bring the best and highest use to the land that was planned for horsey horse horses," Mars said during the meeting.