Planning Commission approves vacation of small right‑of‑way at 4301 Lake Street East

The Minneapolis Planning Commission voted 7–0 to adopt staff findings recommending vacating a small, additional dedicated public right‑of‑way behind the property at 4301 Lake Street East.

CPED staff told commissioners the request covers the narrow red rectangle shown on the applicant’s survey and does not include the concrete alley used for access to garages and trash pickup. Staff said Public Works reviewed the parcel and found it not needed for a public transportation corridor nor required for utility easements.

Neighbors who live adjacent to the parcel urged the commission to preserve the strip as a pocket green. Tyler Augustino, who lives at 3013/3015, said the adjoining lot has seen repeated, unimplemented development proposals and he does not want the city to foreclose future public options while a private owner has not followed through on redevelopment plans. Joel Mathias and Kathy Erickson said the area is used informally by residents and would benefit from formal green designation instead of transfer to a private owner.

Pete Healy, representing the applicant Left Lane Ventures, said the vacation is needed to clarify property boundaries before the owner can finalize a development plan; he said the portion to be vacated would not be subject to building setbacks and would remain open space within the site’s private plan.

Commissioners asked whether the city could later acquire the area as a pocket park; staff said that acquisition and park use typically fall to the Park Board and that the city does not routinely convert small slivers of excess right‑of‑way into parks. After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt staff findings recommending the vacation; the roll call vote was recorded as seven ayes and the motion passed.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council business committee, then the full council, and subsequently to Hennepin County, which will determine fee‑title distribution if the council approves the vacation.

Provenance: Staff presentation began 00:02:35 and public comment ran 00:07:51–00:13:05; the roll call on the motion occurred at 00:19:09.