Opponents of a controversial development project east of Lake Harriet scored a win Monday night when environmental concerns delayed its first city hearing.
A local developer is trying to build a 5-story mixed-use building in Linden Hills called Linden Corner. The project has drawn fierce opposition from neighbors, partly because it would be two stories higher than normally allowed in the area.
They sent more than 1,000 e-mails and letters to city officials, and mailed booklets of petition comments to reporters.
They also filed a petition for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, noting that the project could pollute Lake Harriet. That petition derailed a City Planning Commission meeting Monday night, which was supposed to be the first hearing on the project.
Since the state's Environmental Quality Board certified the petition, it must be vetted to see if an EAW will be necessary. Statutorily, the commission cannot vote on the project until the city responds to the petition. That response will take place at the Zoning & Planning Committee on January 19.
"Although the rules do not prohibit taking public testimony today (only prohibits final vote to approve; can deny), in the interest of subject matter continuity and coherence, my advice to the Planning Commission is to continue any consideration of this matter today," wrote Assistant City Attorney Erik Nilsson.
