The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend approval of Ordinance No. 2025-67, which would establish the Harvest Grove planned unit development (PUD 24005) covering approximately 17.35 acres and proposing 136 single-family attached units.

Marcus Bastian, deputy director for Community Development, described the proposal as a PUD with a future land-use designation of medium-density residential (MDR). The submitted program calls for 136 attached units (60 front-loaded, 76 rear-loaded) and a proposed density of 7.97 dwelling units per acre, below the MDR maximum of 10 units per acre. Staff recommended approval of PUD zoning, preliminary master plan and final master plan, subject to the standard findings in the Land Development Code.

Applicant Cameron Bridal of Hanson Walter and Associates answered commission questions about internal road layouts, alleyways and fire-truck turning requirements. Commissioners focused much of their discussion on connectivity and traffic: the project will construct Puffin Road from the south project boundary northward and make required connections to Goldcrest Drive and existing neighborhoods; staff said Puffin Road’s full extension to State Road 192 will occur only as adjacent projects are constructed. A consultant’s traffic impact analysis (TIA) was included in the application materials; staff said the TIA indicated minimal impacts to Narcoossee Road and that required mitigation would be addressed by proportionate-share contributions if needed.

Several commissioners expressed continued concern that incremental "minimal" impacts from multiple developments could cumulatively burden nearby roads, particularly Narcoossee Road. Staff and the applicant said project-specific intersection improvements and proportionate-share funding requirements are part of the TIA and later plan reviews.

After debate, a motion recommending approval based on the 16 findings required by the Land Development Code passed 3-2. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council. Any subsequent subdivision, construction plans and PSP reviews will be subject to separate staff review and public hearings.