2502 County Rd E

Project Background

On July 25, 2023, the City Council approved the plan from Element Design-Build to redevelop the property at 2502 County Road E.  This plan includes 9 for-sale townhomes in two separate 2.5-story buildings.  The two buildings include one 4-unit building facing County Road E and one 5-unit building (previously 6-units) facing Bellaire Avenue.  Links to the applicant’s project narrative and plan set are located on the bottom of this page or on the applicant’s project website - www.2502e.com. 

Questions about this project can be direct to the applicant through their website (www.2502e.com) or to the city through Jason Lindahl, Community Development Director (jlindahl@whitebearlake.org). 

Project Review Schedule.  The City review process for this project required rezoning from B-3, Auto Oriented Commercial to R-5, Single-Two Family Residential, preliminary and final plat to subdivide the townhome lots and a planned unit development (PUD).  Prior to this process, the applicant also went through the land use review process with a different proposal (see below) that did not gain support of the City Council and was ultimately withdrawn by the applicant and a concept plan review process.  The most recent process that resulted in approval of the 9 townhouse design is summarized below.   

• Neighborhood Meeting – The applicant held a neighborhood meeting on June 15, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3770 Bellaire Avenue.  The applicant’s summary of their neighborhood meeting can be found as an attachment to the July 11, City Council agenda packet by clicking here.    

• Planning Commission Public Hearing – The Planning Commission held a public hearing to review this proposal on June 26, 2023.  The Commission voted 7-0 to recommend the City Council approve this request.  Minutes from this meeting can be reviewed on the city’s website by clicking here. 

• City Council Review and Consideration – City Council review of these applications required a two-step process with a first reading of the rezoning ordinance on July 11, 2023 and a second reading of the rezoning ordinance and a vote on the rezoning, plat and planned unit development applications on July 25, 2023.  During the July 25, 2023 meeting, the City Council voted 5-0 to approve these applications.  Minutes from both City Council meetings can be reviewed on the City’s website by clicking here. 

Prior Submittal.  In April and May of 2023, the City reviewed a prior submittal from the applicant which include a 14-unit apartment building and 3-unit rowhome building.  While the Planning Commission vote 7-0 to recommend the City Council approve this request, ultimately the City Council did not support the proposal. As a result, the applicant decided to withdraw that application and resubmit the 10-unit rowhouse proposal detailed above. The site plan for this previous application can be viewed in the April Planning Commission meeting packet by clicking here.  

• Planning Commission Public Hearing – The Planning Commission held a public hearing to review the previous proposal on April 24, 2023.  The Commission voted 7-0 to recommend the City Council approve this request.  Minutes from this meeting can be reviewed on the city’s website by clicking here. 
• City Council Review and Consideration – The City Council reviewed the previous proposal on May 9, 2023.  Both minutes and the video recording from this meeting can be reviewed on the city’s website by clicking here.

Concept Plan Review.  Prior to submittal of the formal applications above, the property owner went through the city’s concept plan review process.  The concept plan review process does not result in any approvals.  Rather, the applicant requests feedback from neighbors, the Planning Commission and the City Council on the proposals so they can work toward preparing a future, formal application.  The concept plan review process schedule and minutes from those meetings are provided below. 

• Neighborhood Meeting – The applicant held their neighborhood meeting on February 2, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3770 Bellaire Avenue.  The applicant’s summary of their neighborhood meeting can be reviewed as an attachment to the February 27^th Planning Commission Agenda Packet by clicking here.    
• Planning Commission Review and Comment – The Planning Commission reviewed this item during their February 27, 2023 regular meeting.  Generally, the Planning Commission expressed support for the concept proposal.  Minutes from this meeting can be reviewed on the city’s website by clicking here. 
• City Council Review and Comment – The City Council reviewed this item during their March 14, 2023 regular meeting.  Four of the five City Councilmembers expressed general support for the proposal while one Councilmember stated they were opposed the concept plan.  Both minutes and the video recording from this meeting can be reviewed on the city’s website by clicking here.