Lakeville Planning Commission Recap: 166 New Homes and Another Marketplace at Cedar Drive-Thru
TLDR
Lakeville's planning commission met June 4 and recommended approval on three development items.
A 166-unit apartment and townhome project near County Road 70 got the nod — and it's exempt from the city's housing moratorium.
A new drive-thru building was approved at Marketplace at Cedar.
The commission also cleared a plat that sets up storm water and wetland land for the housing project.
All three head to the city council on June 15.
Here's what went down at Lakeville's planning commission meeting on June 4. It was a development-heavy night — three items, all tied to growth on the city's edges, and all three got recommended for approval. None are final yet; the city council takes the real votes on June 15.
166 new homes near County Road 70
The biggest item: a 142-unit apartment building plus 24 townhomes — 166 homes total — planned for north of County Road 70 and west of Kenrick Avenue, right by I-35. It's a Bader Development project. The site already had approval back in 2024 for a different, 182-unit design. The new team reworked it into one apartment building and four townhome buildings, with a pool and a dog run. The developer said they manage about 15,000 units around the Twin Cities and wanted to add a different housing type here.
A neighbor asked the question on everyone's mind: doesn't Lakeville have a housing moratorium right now? Yes — but this project is exempt because it was already approved before the pause. Staff also confirmed a fence promised along the north property line is still required. It joins a wave of new Lakeville housing, like the recently approved Haven at Lake Marion.
Another drive-thru at Marketplace at Cedar
The commercial corner near Cedar Avenue and 179th keeps filling in. The commission recommended approval for a new roughly 8,500 square foot multi-tenant building with a drive-thru window — part of Oppidan's Marketplace at Cedar development. Two tenants are signed: a drive-thru restaurant and a dental office. Up to three more spaces are open. The only hold-up was a request from forestry staff for more trees near the drive-thru to block nighttime headlight glare — the developer will update the plan before the council vote.
It's the latest name on a growing list. We've tracked everything coming to Marketplace at Cedar, from Aldi to 7 Brew, and this adds one more.
A plat for storm water and wetland
The third item is the technical backbone for the housing project. The commission recommended approval of a preliminary plat called "Authentix Lakeville Second Edition" — three outlots on the parcel just east of the apartment site. In plain terms: one outlot becomes a storm water pond, one is wetland that gets handed to the city, and one is set aside for future commercial use (which would need its own approval later). The plan switched storm water from underground pipes to an open pond. The city forester signed off on the tree plan, which includes planting birch and swamp white oak.
Also on the Agenda
The meeting opened with the usual housekeeping — roll call, approval of past minutes, no announcements. All three public hearings drew little or no public comment, except the one neighbor who spoke up about the housing project.
The Bottom Line
It was a green-light night for Lakeville's builders, but remember: the planning commission only recommends. The Lakeville City Council makes the final calls on all three items at its June 15 meeting. If any of these projects are near you — especially that 166-home development — that's your chance to weigh in. Lakeville has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the metro for years, which is a big reason the moratorium exists in the first place. The next planning commission meeting is June 25.
FAQ
Are these projects approved for sure? No. The planning commission only recommends. The city council takes the final votes on June 15, 2026.
How does the housing project get around the moratorium? It was already approved before the moratorium started, so it's exempt. The pause only blocks brand-new applications.
What's going in the new Marketplace at Cedar building? A drive-thru restaurant and a dental office are confirmed, with room for up to three more tenants. The restaurant brand hasn't been announced.
What's "Authentix Lakeville Second Edition"? It's a plat that carves out land for a storm water pond, wetland, and future commercial use next to the new housing project. It mostly supports the apartment development.
When's the next meeting? The city council meets June 15. The next planning commission meeting is June 25.
