Andover City Council Approves Scaled-Down Hartman Meadows Development — 12 Lots Instead of 23

Andover City Council Approves Scaled-Down Hartman Meadows Development — 12 Lots Instead of 23

ANDOVER, Minn. — September 16, 2025 — After months of deliberation and multiple revisions, the Andover City Council has unanimously approved the Hartman Meadows housing development, a single-family subdivision that will move forward at just 12 lots — nearly half of the original 23-lot proposal.

The decision marks the culmination of a lengthy planning process that weighed housing demand against conservation goals and neighborhood concerns. Proposed by SW Wold Construction, Inc., the project had been through several iterations since late 2024, including versions with 21 and 15 lots, before being reduced to the final 12-lot plan.

A Property at the Center of Debate

The 33.7-acre property, located near Ward Lake Drive NW, required a Planned Unit Development (PUD) designation to proceed. PUDs allow developers to deviate from underlying zoning standards in exchange for broader design benefits, such as conservation easements, open space preservation, or trail and street connections.

In this case, the density of the initial proposals quickly became a flashpoint. Councilmembers, planning commissioners, and residents voiced concerns that the higher lot counts clashed with the rural-residential character of the surrounding area.

Balancing Growth and Conservation

The ultimate reduction to 12 lots was framed as a compromise between the developer’s vision and the city’s broader planning goals. By lowering density, the plan preserves more open space and reflects the “reasonable trade-offs” that PUDs are meant to encourage.

City staff noted that the revised plan strikes a balance between allowing development on a mostly upland site and maintaining the low-density, rural feel that nearby residents and city leaders strongly defended. Conservation easements and potential trail or street connections were cited as added benefits of the final design.

A Compromise Approval

The council’s unanimous vote signals agreement that the scaled-back subdivision better aligns with Andover’s long-term planning objectives. While the developer initially sought to maximize use of the land, the approved version reflects the city’s insistence on protecting community character and natural resources.

The 12-lot Hartman Meadows development now advances to final engineering and platting stages before any construction can begin.

Bigger Picture

The Hartman Meadows debate underscores the ongoing tension in Andover and across the Twin Cities suburbs: how to accommodate growth and housing demand without eroding the open spaces and rural character that many residents value.

In this case, community input, city policy, and the PUD process combined to reshape the project into one that both adds new homes and preserves more of the land for the future.

MinneapoliMedia