Controversial Redevelopment Moving Forward

A controversial plan to add a new street and five new homes off of Minnetonka Boulevard near Cavell and Decatur avenues received final City Council approval on Monday, and construction is expected to begin later this year.

The plan revolves around the redevelopment of a large lot at 8849 Minnetonka Boulevard. Developer Rob Eldridge wants to tear down the existing home and put in five new lots—ranging from 10,744 square feet to 20,669 square feet in size—as well as a new cul de sac, which will be called Cobblecrest Court.

Council approved a preliminary plan in November, but only after hearing from nearby residents who expressed fear that the new construction will take away their scenic views and lower the value of their homes.

"What we bought as homeowners and what we're going to have are two different things," resident Kent Bowker told council at the Nov. 15 meeting. "I'd like for you to see what we're losing."

However, the council members' hands were effectively tied—if a sub-division plan meets all applicable city building codes, then the council is more or less legally obligated to approve, city attorney Tom Scott said.

Still, the plan did change somewhat since November, in part to better appease some of the nearby residents. Cobblecrest Court will only be 24 feet wide, as opposed to the originally designed 29 feet. In addition, five feet of land is being tacked on to homes at 3010 and 3020 Cavell Ave.—and a six-foot fence is going up—to create more separation between existing homes and the new construction.

One resident came to Monday's meeting to ask a few questions about the new land he would be getting, but the meeting was far less contentious than previous sessions.

Eldridge said he would like to begin construction on the cul de sac and several of the new homes by July. He added that he'd like to have at least half of the development finished by the end of the year.