1.3 Million Square Foot Industrial Park Is Coming to Lakeville
TLDR
- 145-acre industrial development approved unanimously by Lakeville Planning Commission on March 5, 2026
- Up to 1.3 million sq ft of warehouses and light manufacturing across 8 lots
- Located south of County Road 70, between Capari Ave and Jaqua Ave
- Developer: Crosby Development Partners; site work starts ASAP, first building within 12 months
- Full buildout expected in 3-4 years; heads to City Council March 16
Lakeville just moved a big one forward. On March 5, the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval of Prime 35 Industrial — a massive phased industrial development on 145 acres south of County Road 70. At full buildout, the project will add over 1 million square feet of industrial space to the city’s tax base.
What Exactly Got Approved
The commission gave the thumbs-up on what’s called a preliminary plat — basically the official map of how the land gets divided into buildable lots. And it’s worth knowing what that means: this vote was about lot lines, roads, grading, and stormwater, not specific tenants or buildings.
Commissioner Swensen made a point of clarifying that for the record. Individual buildings will go through their own review process later. If a use is a basic permitted use (like a warehouse) and it meets all city codes, it might not even need to come back to the planning commission. Only conditional uses or things that require variances would come back for another look.
The plat creates 8 lots and 4 outlots on the 145-acre site. Two of those outlots will be deeded to the city to protect wetlands on the property. The other two are retained by the developer for potential future development.
Who’s Building It and What’s the Plan
Jordan Silver with Crosby Development Partners presented the project. He was straightforward about the timeline: site work starts right away, and the goal is to have a shovel in the ground on at least one building within 12 months. Full buildout of all 8 lots is probably a 3-4 year process, market-dependent.
Building sizes range from about 70,000 sq ft on the small end up to 247,000 sq ft for the largest. All uses will be consistent with the I-1 zoning district — think warehousing, distribution, and light manufacturing. Lakeville already has neighbors like Amazon and FedEx in the County Road 70 corridor, so this development fits right into an established industrial hub.
The site also has an environmental review already completed. Because of the project’s size, state law required an AUAR (Alternative Urban Areawide Review — basically an environmental study for large developments) before the city could move forward. That was done and approved back in July 2025. What’s being proposed now is actually about 200,000 sq ft less than the worst-case scenario studied in that review.
The Tree Situation
This one caught some attention. Prime 35 is one of the first major projects to go through Lakeville’s tree preservation ordinance in full. Over 2,000 trees were inventoried on the site.
In the I-1 district, developers are allowed to remove up to 70% of trees. Prime 35 is going above that threshold, which means they have to replace trees. After accounting for preserved heritage trees, the required replacement comes to 280 diameter inches of new trees. The landscaping plan shows conifers and deciduous trees planted around parking lots and private drives, with a solid row of conifers along the western property boundary where it abuts a residential area.
What Residents Near the Area Should Know
If you live near the County Road 70 and I-35 corridor, this means more industrial activity — truck traffic, construction noise in the near term, and eventually a lot more activity on that stretch. The project will also construct 217th Street through the property, adding a new internal road.
The developer is working with the gas company (there’s a natural gas pipeline running through the site) and has received preliminary approvals for the grading work needed in that easement area.
For a look at how Lakeville has been growing as a development destination, check out our previous coverage of Lakeville being named one of America’s hottest neighborhoods for 2025 and the existing industrial development landscape on the County Road 70 corridor.
The Bottom Line
This project is happening. The planning commission voted 7-0 to send it to City Council, which reviews it on March 16. If council approves the preliminary plat (which is expected), the developer can move into final platting and then construction. Site work could start this spring.
For residents near the area, the biggest near-term change is construction activity. Long-term, it means more jobs and a bigger tax base for Lakeville — which is already one of the fastest-growing cities in Dakota County. For more on what’s been happening with big Lakeville developments, check out the environmental lawsuit over the nearby Olam industrial project.
FAQ
Where exactly is Prime 35 Industrial located?
It’s south of County Road 70, between Kapari Avenue and Jacquard Avenue — in the industrial corridor near I-35 on the east side of Lakeville.
What kinds of businesses will go there?
The I-1 zoning allows warehouses, distribution centers, and light manufacturing. Think similar to Amazon, FedEx, and Schneiderman’s already in that area. Specific tenants haven’t been announced.
When will construction start?
Site grading is expected to start as soon as possible. The developer is aiming to break ground on a building within 12 months.
Does the planning commission vote mean it’s officially approved?
Not yet — the planning commission makes a recommendation to City Council. Council votes on March 16. If they approve the preliminary plat, the developer can proceed to final platting and construction.
How big will the buildings be?
Building sizes range from about 70,000 sq ft on the small end to 247,000 sq ft for the largest lot. The total development could reach up to 1.3 million sq ft across all 8 lots.
