Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

With each new year, new projections, resolutions and goals are made. It is also a time to revisit those goals and projections made the previous year. For the Forest Lake City Council and Planning Committee 2006 is going to be dominated with 2005 projects.

One of the biggest projects the city council will be concentrating on is the new Headwaters project.

While the council is working to move the project through, important community decisions need to be made before the actual production starts.

ìIf the city council okays the building of the community center then we need to figure out how to pay for it,î Robinson said.

In early spring the city council is expected to have a community wide phone survey/questionaire.

The purpose of the survey is to find out how the community wants to pay for the center. Possible options are selling bonds, donations, a referendum or an increase in property taxes.

The project also has plans for a government center and library with each building anticipated to open in May of 2006.

Along with a community center, the project will have two pools, three gyms, an aerobic center, cafe, track, meeting rooms and a two-sheet ice arena.

The city will also be working on several other projects from the planning stage to the execution.

New street lights, sidewalks and gutters are expected to be replaced along Lake St. and downtown. Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik & Associates will be working with MnDot on an I-35 overpass and a West Broadway project. The Lakeside park project will be finalized and the city plans to locate a new fire hall.

Community Development Director Doug Borglund will also be kept busy with several new residential developments that show no signs of slowing down.

ìInterest rates are driving the new market,î Borglund said. ìWe slowed toward the end of the year but I think we will continue to develop properties.î

On the map to the left are several of the developments expected to start in 2006.

1. The Headwaters Project will begin Phase I in June or July, with a total build out of four years. The 620 acre project has several residential homes and parks flowing in and out of each other, along with a new community center, government center and library.

2. Integra Homes is building a new development that is in the review process, but has the potential to start in 2006. The plot, that sits on Fenway and 202nd St. in the Landings at Summerfield development, has plans for 14 units of detached town houses.

3. Ivy Estates is a five acre development that sits at Goodview and 209th St. north. It has plans for six detached town homes and seven single family homes. The final plat is being reviewed by the city council and has a possible 2006 start.

4. Another development that has a potential 2006 start is Alpine Meadows. It sits on the corner of 202nd St. and Goodview, just south of the Sterling Oaks development. Alpine Meadows is 40 acres and has 60 lots with a mix of single family homes and detached town homes.

The West Side of Forest Lake, across I-35

5. On the other side of I-35 sits Forest Glen. This development has 27 acres for 15 single family homes. It is slated to start in 2006.

6. Westside Estates is another residential development on the west side of I-35. It sits east of West Broadway and 232nd St. The plans show room for four lots and a potential 2006 start. The city council just approved the final plat on this project.

7. In the spring of 2006 Gateway Greens will break ground just south of Menards on Everton Ave. south. Plans for this development show 42 unit condos and an assisted living facility with related commercial businesses.

The East Side of the Third Lake of Forest Lake

1. Timberlake has a residential development on the east side of Forest Lake that has a 44 acre plot and plans for 23 single familyhomes. Currently the city council is looking at preliminary plats.

2. Forest Lake Hills Farm is a 60 acre development that is being reviewed by the city council. Members have just started looking at the concept and plans for the development.

3. B. Jeans is another developer looking to start building in 2006. This 17 acre site has plans for 10 single family homes and is currently moving through the city council.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605