The Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning Board unanimously moved to recommend a development moratorium that would halt the proposed construction of a Mosque-centered community.
Known as “Madinah Lakes,” the “Masjid-centric” community would would span roughly 150 acres, contain 434 housing units, and would be located in the northwest corner of Lino Lakes. A 48,400 square foot mosque would be the centerpiece of the community.
The proposed Madinah Lakes project has become a lightning rod in the northern suburb of the Twin Cities in recent months. Previously, a city council meeting about the development project was packed with opponents and proponents alike. At that gathering, residents of Lino Lakes and others spoke to city officials about their thoughts on the project.
Eventually, the council told city staff to begin the moratorium consideration process. In turn, the Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning Board met on Monday night to discuss whether a development moratorium should be implemented in the area of Madinah Lakes’ proposed construction.
At Monday’s hearing, the Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning Commission gathered to take public comments and make a recommendation to the city council. After a presentation from city staff and a lengthy period of public comments, the board considered an “interim ordinance” that would establish a one-year development moratorium for the area.
That interim ordinance was unanimously recommended by the planning and zoning board.
According to the ordinance, the moratorium will give Lino Lakes time to develop a master plan for the area that will “address land uses, transportation, environmental resources preservation, parks, surface waters, and utility issues.” Additionally, the moratorium will allow the city to run an environmental study of the aforementioned area.
Next week, the Lino Lakes City Council will begin its decision-making process on whether to actually implement the moratorium.
Should the council accept the board’s recommendation, the comprehensive master planning study of the area would take place during the one-year moratorium. After being completed and returned to the city council, that study would be used to guide decision-making in any future development proposals for the area.
If the city council approves the moratorium in the next few weeks, the measure would go into effect in August; an extension is possible.
In addition to halting the Madinah Lakes project, the moratorium would also prevent a nearby Pulte housing development from being constructed in the next year.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
