Fast-Growing Twin Cities Suburb Pauses Some New Housing Applications

LAKEVILLE, MN — One of the Twin Cities’ fastest-growing suburbs has temporarily paused some new residential development applications while officials study how new regional planning requirements could affect local housing rules.

The Lakeville City Council approved the temporary housing moratorium on April 20. The ordinance pauses the acceptance and approval of certain new residential plat, subdivision, rezoning and comprehensive plan amendment applications.

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City officials said the moratorium gives Lakeville time to study how Metropolitan Council Imagine 2050 requirements may affect the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan and related development rules.

The pause may last up to one year, ending no later than April 20, 2027. It could end sooner if the city adopts updated rules before then.

The moratorium does not stop all housing projects. According to the city, it does not affect:

• Complete preliminary plat applications already submitted and accepted by the city
• Residential developments that already have preliminary plat approval
• Properties already in the Alternative Urban Areawide Review process
• Existing homeowners seeking building permits for home improvements

Lakeville officials also said the moratorium also does not remove housing that has already been approved.

At this time, Lakeville has 675 single-family lots and 644 townhome units with preliminary or final plat approval that are not affected by the moratorium, according to the city.

Complete preliminary plat applications already submitted and deemed complete could also account for potentially up to 1,000 more units, officials said.

Learn more here.