Rosemount Just Teed Up More Commercial on County Road 42 Near Aspen Fields
TLDR
Planning Commission recommends changing 1.94 acres from high-density housing to community commercial.
City Council takes it up Tuesday, Sept 8, 2026.
Most of the site stays high-density — the concept shows about 9 acres for that piece, with a senior housing buyer under contract.
This is not a green light to start building yet. Plats, rezoning, and site plans still come later.
If you live near Connemara Trail, Acer Avenue, or along County Road 42 by Dakota County Technical College, pay attention. At Tuesday's Rosemount Planning Commission meeting (Aug 25, 2026), commissioners recommended flipping a strip of land to commercial. It's a small acreage. But it sets up a much bigger rebuild of the Aspen Fields / Emerald Isle edge.
What exactly got recommended?
Aspenfield LLC asked the city to amend its comprehensive plan — the long-range map that says what kinds of uses belong where. The ask: redesignated 1.94 acres of Outlot B in Emerald Isle Second Addition from high-density residential to community commercial.
Staff planner Anthony walked through why this comes first. A comprehensive plan amendment has to go to nearby cities and agencies for about 60 days, then to the Metropolitan Council for review. Rezoning is usually quicker. So the developer is starting the slow step now.
The site sits about 0.36 miles east of Akron Avenue, right on the east side of Aspen Avenue, north of County Road 42 / 145th, and south of Connemara Trail. Life Time and Aspen Fields commercial sit just west across Aspen. Homes on Acer / Connemara sit to the north. A pipeline easement cuts through the land and has shaped every plan so far.
Commissioner Reid made the motion. Commissioner Bugai seconded. It carried on a voice vote. Next stop: City Council on Sept 8.
Why this land, and why now?
Back in 2024, DevCo got approval for 192 apartments in two buildings. Those apartments sat on the north side. The south strip along 42 never worked well because of the pipeline and ponding. That project isn't moving forward.
Aspen Field already has commercial and a daycare (Crystal Cuttlebugs) under construction on land to the west. City staff had basically told them: talk to the owner east of you and assemble a cleaner site. That's what tonight was about.
Developer rep John Anderson said a senior housing company is under contract for the high-density pieces (parcels A and B on their concept). A pet hospital is under contract for a commercial lot. Other commercial users are looking. He expects plat and rezoning apps in about two weeks, likely showing up in early September packets.
Staff also noted the abandoned gas line easement. Aspen Field has an encroachment agreement that allows paving and limited building into the south half of the easement. Pulling the line out entirely would've cost "hundreds of thousands," Anderson said, so they didn't.
For more on how this corridor is filling in, the city's development progress page is worth a look — and so is our coverage of the nearby Connemara and Akron roundabout.
What neighbors said
Staff got a written comment letter before the meeting. Big themes: lower property values, more crime, more traffic, more noise, and "there's already empty commercial in Rosemount." The notice map showed the whole site, not a tight outline of the 1.94 acres, so some worry may have been about apartments closer than what's actually on the table tonight.
Robert Elliot of Acer Avenue asked the key clarifying question: are we only voting on that commercial strip tonight? Yes. Future plans for A and B come back later with their own hearings.
Melvin Evans said he objected to the 192 apartments in 2024 and wanted commercial instead — but he's worried commercial will keep creeping east and that noise from DCTC and 42 will get worse. He asked about trees or fencing as a buffer.
Staff's answer: land further east is already guided and zoned commercial. Stormwater ponds make some of it hard to build. Buildings and landscaping can help with noise. County noise walls along 42 aren't something staff expects here.
One more process note neighbors pushed on: does public comment even matter if commissioners already got a packet? The chair said packets go out the week before, commissioners visit sites, and they can continue an item if they need more time. "I do want you to know that your voice… is heard when you come here."
What happens next
City Council — Tuesday, Sept 8, 2026 — yes/no on the comprehensive plan amendment recommendation.
If council says yes, it still goes through adjacent-jurisdiction review and Met Council authorization.
Then come plat, rezoning, and site plan reviews for the commercial pads and the senior housing campus — each with notices to neighbors within 500 feet (and you can also sign up for Planning Commission agendas).
Traffic studies show up with site plans, not tonight.
Staff was clear: if someone brought a code-compliant high-density plan on land already zoned for it, the city would have a hard time saying no. Zoning sets the rules. Site plans still get public hearings when they need approvals or variances.
The Bottom Line
This vote doesn't put shovels in the ground. It does nudge County Road 42 toward more shops and services next to a senior housing campus instead of stretching apartments all the way to the highway. If that trade sounds good — or terrible — Sept 8 is your next window.
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