City planning staff and the developer asked the City Council to consider re-approving the preliminary plat for the former Macy’s furniture store site on France Avenue after the one-year county filing window expired.

Victor Teague, planning staff, said the site plan approved in 2024 remains in good standing but the preliminary plat was not filed with Hennepin County within the required year, so Enclave Companies seeks a new preliminary plat. "The action tonight is actually to hold the public hearing and close the public hearing at noon on November 23 and then continue action to your December 2 city council meeting," Teague said.

Patrick Grama of Enclave confirmed a scheduled property-closing date in December (he gave a specific date to council), and the planning commission had recommended approval. Residents at the hearing urged caution: Jim Grotz called for a no vote, saying the plan would cover the site with hardscape and create a heat-island effect; Laurie Grotz echoed concerns that the developer should secure financing before formal approvals.

Council members probed plat details, including whether proposed promenade and plaza areas were shown on the plat and how ADA access would be provided if an underpass is built. Staff explained that the promenade and similar circulation areas would be established as public easements recorded against the title rather than as dedicated public streets on the plat; easements would be recorded and enforceable but would not impose city street construction standards.

The council voted to close the public hearing at noon on Nov. 23 and to continue action on the preliminary plat to the Dec. 2 council meeting to give residents and staff time to review ADA access, promenade depiction, and related documentation.

Next step: public hearing record closes Nov. 23 at noon; council action on the plat was continued to Dec. 2, 2025.