The agreements were for the Land Haven Addition located at 2211 Jacobs Street and River Haven Housing located at 1800 North Highland Avenue and 1425-1625 Maplewood Drive.

Community Development Director David Schnobrich said both development agreements were the fourth and final step for securing a Planned Used Development (PUD) land use designation.

The first step was receiving approval of a general development plan. The second is have an ordinance approved to rezone the property to a PUD designation. The third is the approval of the final plat.

Schnobrich said for Land Haven Addition, this agreement will change the property zoning from planned industrial to a PUD. The district will be formally named Planned Unit Development -District 3 (PUD-3).

The New Ulm City Council approved the Development Agreement for the River Haven project at 1800 North Highland Avenue and 1425-1625 Maplewood Drive. The mixed-use housing project will include two apartment buildings each with 48 units, townhomes, twin homes and six single-family homes. This would create 118 dwelling units on the property. This housing project has been in development for three years and was previously known as the Dreamville Housing project. Journal File photo by Daniel Olson

It will allow the development of 28 lots with 22 serving as a combination storage and residential units called barndominiums. The remaining six lots would be use as storage garages only.

The developer will create a private road with utilities serving the property. Construction of Land Haven is scheduled to begin this fall.

City Attorney Robert Scott said the Land Haven development agreement was fairly typical of a development agreement, but said it was a little different because the improvements for the property were purely private. For that reason the agreement focused on the points in which the private infrastructure connects to the city existing infrastructure.

Councilor Larry Mack made the motion to approve the Land Haven development agreement with a second from Councilor Tom Schmitz. It was unanimously approved.

The River Haven Addition was first proposed in the fall 2022. The property was first rezoned and designated as a PUD in Jan. 2023. Schnobrich was the project ran into difficulties after it was rezoned. A new developer took over the project this year and an updated plan was approved.

The New Ulm City Council approved the Development Agreement for Land Haven Development. The property is located directly northeast of Walmart. The developers plant to create combination dwelling and storage facilities. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Schnobrich said the current River Haven project is the same as the one proposed in 2022. The project will include the creation of six town homes, six single-family dwellings, five twin homes and two four-story apartment buildings with a total of 48 units in each structure for a total of 118 units. The only difference between the 2022 project and the current development is the twin homes and single-family homes will not be built by the developer, instead being offered for sale. Area contractors will have the opportunity to build these homes.

Councilor David Christian asked if contractors building the twin homes and single-family homes could decide to build different types of homes on these site or if they were locked into building what was designated.

Schnobrich said the development plan stipulated what could be built on the site. In order for a contractor to make a change, they would need to come back to the city council for approval.

Councilor Mack made the motion to approve the River Haven development agreement with a second from Councilor Warmka. It was unanimously approved.

Following the meeting, New Ulm Mayor Kathleen Backer thanked the Land Haven and Riven Haven developers for helping solve the city’s housing needs. She said housing shortages continues to be New Ulm’s top issue and these housing developments will go a long way to alleviate the problem.

A map of the property showing the location of Land Haven Development, northeast of Walmart at 2211 Jacobs Street. Submitted photo