Neighbors Packed the Room and Eagan Said No — Here’s the Story Behind the Lake Lemay Apartment Proposal

TLDR

• A developer proposed a 100-unit, 3-story apartment complex on 6 buildable acres at 1360 Lone Oak Road, right on Lake Lemay.
• More than a dozen neighbors showed up to oppose it at the Feb. 24 planning commission meeting.
• The commission voted 6-1 to recommend denial, citing neighborhood incompatibility, environmental concerns, and sewer infrastructure questions.
• It still goes to Eagan City Council on March 3, 2026 — that’s where the final decision gets made.

If you want a picture of local democracy working, Monday night’s Eagan planning commission meeting had it. A developer proposed turning a wooded 17-acre property on Lake Lemay into a 100-unit apartment complex. The neighbors heard about it. They showed up. And most of the commission listened.

What Was Proposed

The property at 1360 Lone Oak Road is a unique piece of land — 17+ acres total, but only about 6 acres actually sit above Lake Lemay’s shoreline and can be developed. There’s a farmhouse from 1872 on it, a barn, a wetland to the east, and the lake to the south. The northwest and southeast corners are heavily wooded with significant hills.

The applicant proposed changing the land’s designation from “low density residential” (up to 4 units per acre) to “high density residential” (12-60 units per acre). The concept plan showed a three-story, 100-unit apartment building with 80 surface parking spots and underground parking, sitting within 50 feet of the Lake Lemay shoreline.

At 16.6 units per acre, it’s on the lower end of high density. The applicant argued this is actually the least impactful option — that townhomes would sprawl across more of the site and disturb more trees and topography.

Why Neighbors Were Worried

Environmental: Lake Lemay was removed from Minnesota’s impaired waters list in 2022 after years of restoration work. Neighbor Jennifer Conroy has been the only Lone Oak Road resident to participate in the city’s shoreland restoration program. Residents worried more impervious surface — parking lots, rooftops, roads — would push the lake back toward its impaired status.

Neighborhood fit: Every property directly surrounding 1360 Lone Oak Road is single-family residential. A 100-unit, three-story apartment would be visible to neighboring homes from as close as 30 feet away. “30 feet from their property line is gonna be a three-story building, and that’s all you’re gonna see looking out from their property,” Jennifer’s father Kevin Conroy told the commission.

Traffic: Lone Oak Road already carries about 11,000 vehicles per day. Dakota County projects it’ll hit 16,000 by 2040. Adding a 100-unit complex would bring an estimated 600 more trips per day. Neighbors also noted a recent fatal crash at the Lone Oak/Pilot Knob intersection and concerns about kids walking to Pilot Knob Elementary.

Infrastructure: The sanitary sewer lift station northeast of the site is near its operational limits. The city would need to study whether it could handle significantly more flow — and if upgrades are needed, the developer would pay for them.

Then there was the glove. Neighbor Larry Poplar brought a large and small glove to the podium, tried to slip the big one over the small one, and said: “If this doesn’t fit, do not permit.” Commission chair called it “possibly the greatest single comment” he’d seen. It brought the house down.

What the Commission Said

Most members were sympathetic to residents. Secretary Wagner said he couldn’t get past the adjacency issue: “If I lived next door to that place and somebody said, hey, let’s throw some high density housing — I would rightly be very frustrated.”

Member Walsh called the community’s presentation eloquent and agreed this wasn’t the right spot, though she noted apartments are fine places to live.

Member Turner was the lone yes vote. He argued the commission’s role is narrow at this stage: evaluate the land use change, not the specific building. He pointed out Lone Oak Road already has diverse housing types nearby, and that a 17-acre parcel with a single farmhouse is underutilized land someone will eventually develop.

Final vote: 6-1 to recommend denial.

What Happens Next

The recommendation goes to Eagan City Council on March 3, 2026. The council can accept the planning commission’s recommendation (deny) or override it. If approved, it then goes to the Metropolitan Council before any rezoning can happen. Follow along with all Eagan city news through the South Metro Scoop newsletter.

If you live near Lake Lemay or care about this property, March 3rd is the meeting to attend.

The Bottom Line

For now, the neighborhood won. The commission said this spot — tucked between single-family homes on a sensitive shoreland lake — isn’t the right fit for high-density housing. But the conversation isn’t over. The city council makes the final call, and something is eventually going to happen at 1360 Lone Oak Road.

FAQ

What’s the difference between “low density” and “high density” housing?

Low density is up to 4 units per acre — think single-family homes. High density is 12-60 units per acre — apartments and larger multi-family buildings. The proposal jumped straight from one to the other.

Does this mean no development will happen at 1360 Lone Oak Road?

Not necessarily. Even under its current low-density designation, the property could be subdivided for single-family homes. The developer could also come back with a different proposal.

What’s the Metropolitan Council’s role?

Any change to a city’s comprehensive land use plan has to be reviewed by the Met Council — the regional planning body for the Twin Cities metro. They review for consistency with regional goals before it takes effect.

Was Lake Lemay really on the impaired waters list?

Yes. Minnesota’s impaired waters list tracks lakes that don’t meet water quality standards, usually due to excess phosphorus. Lake Lemay was removed in 2022 after restoration efforts including new infiltration infrastructure along Lone Oak Road.

Can I attend the City Council meeting to speak?

Yes. The Eagan City Council meeting is March 3, 2026 at Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road. You can also submit written comments through cityofeagan.com.