FW_ Santa Vera Phase II PUD or historically referred to as Saratoga 3rd Addition PUD-R Agenda Item August 25, 2025From:Hokkanen, Laurie
To:Weidman, Amy
Subject:FW: Santa Vera Phase II PUD or historically referred to as Saratoga 3rd Addition PUD-R Agenda Item August 25,
2025
Date:Friday, August 22, 2025 11:13:43 AM
Can you add this to the packet for Monday? Thanks!
From: Deb Lloyd <deblloyd@usfamily.net>
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2025 7:34:52 AM
To: Ryan, Elise <eryan@chanhassenmn.gov>; McDonald, Jerry <jmcdonald@chanhassenmn.gov>;
von Oven, Mark <mvonoven@chanhassenmn.gov>; Kimber, Josh <jkimber@chanhassenmn.gov>;
Hokkanen, Laurie <lhokkanen@chanhassenmn.gov>; Schubert, Haley
<hschubert@chanhassenmn.gov>
Subject: Santa Vera Phase II PUD or historically referred to as Saratoga 3rd Addition PUD-R Agenda
Item August 25, 2025
Dear Mayor Ryan and Council,
For nearly 30 years various proposals for the development of this property have been on the City
Council agendas. It is fully understood that a total of 46 units has been approved for the site since
1998, 18 of which currently exist.
In the interest of full transparency I am questioning: What happened to the WETLAND
DELINEATION which has been part of the requirement for all proposals since 1998?
Why am I interested?
In 2008, Laredo Drive was fully reconstructed, the City Council Meeting minutes from January 28,
2008 the question was raised why the Santa Vera property was only being accessed one half of total
acreage of the parcel. The response by Paul Oehme, City Employee (page 10)…”the apartment
question she had, we did decrease the size of the apartment complex lot based upon our judgment.
That being a wetland our water resources coordinator did recommend that be looked at in the
future and preserved as a wetland potentially upgraded.”
Children in the 1960’s and 1970’s in our neighborhood recall visiting the wetlands to collect
tadpoles.
When was the hydrant placed on the property?
City Council Minutes July 11, 2022 page 5 (Santa Vera Concept PUD)
Mr. Henricksen (City Employee) : “this was a conceptual PUD and it is clear that the site
would enact many Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed rules and City rules regarding
storm water management practices. Because of the minimal or deficient stormwater
treatment in the area. Staff feels in order to offset the intensification of the site use it would
be reasonable to request to have more than what is standard stormwater treatment which
has been relayed to the applicant. It could mean a potential 50% increase over what they
would have to do by the letter of rules for the Watershed and City Ordinances. There are
city records that show two small wetlands on the south side of the site and the
delineation will have to be updated.”
In March of 2025 I visited the Chanhassen City Engineer’s office and was shown photographs
of the property and was told there were small wetlands on the site and that these wetlands
had not been delineated.
At the August 12, 2025 Planning Meeting Mr. Seidl (City Employee) referred to a process that
was done in 2017 to delineate the wetlands. That per the unofficial minutes I can’t fully
understand nor could I at the meeting.
Planning Case #2025-07 Santa Vera Apartments Phase II City Council Presentation states:
“No jurisdictional wetlands onsite: Depression area received an incidental wetland decision
= manmade/created by past project grading.”
What? Now there are no wetlands?
Please make this letter a part of the record for the Monday August 25th City Council meeting
on the subject matter.
Thank you,
Debbie Lloyd
7302 Laredo Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
References:
Planning Commission minutes 8/5/98
City Council Minutes 8/10/98
City Council Minutes 1/28/08
City Council Minutes 7/11/22
Unofficial Planning Commission Minutes 8/12/25