Getting the go-ahead to move forward with development is not always easy. Developers may feel as if they have a strong idea for the use of certain property, but zoning laws may prevent those idea from coming to fruition. It is also possible for companies to face zoning issues from the city in which they are developing even after construction begins.
Minnesota readers may be interested in zoning concerns that recently affected a project in another state. According to reports, Hexagon Properties had purchased property to develop in 2017, at which time the company proposed to build a private club on the property. However, the local neighborhood association did not feel that it was appropriate for the area, so Hexagon Properties changed their proposal and, after gaining approval, began construction on luxury condos.
Because the property is in a Groundwater Conservation Overlay District, the architect had to state that the work would not be done below the no-harm threshold for GCOD. However, the executive director for the local groundwater trust noticed an issue when passing by the construction site and found that a change to the proposed 2018 design had occurred that resulted in deeper digging than previously approved. As a result, the developer had to dewater the area, which reportedly violated the zoning agreement. In the end, the problem reportedly did not cause any issues that warranted drastic action.
Though these zoning issues were addressed without much conflict or major setback, that is not always the case. Some developers can face pushback from the cities in which they want to build, and in some cases, that can lead to lawsuits. If Minnesota companies do face legal action from cities or other governmental agencies, they will certainly want to find out their best options for defending their businesses against claims.