Scenic Hills Development · Inver Grove Heights
Keep Scenic Hills Scenic
Neighbors standing together for the community we chose
What’s Happening
The vacant property at 1401 80th St E — formerly known as the Abbott property — carries a future land use designation of High Density Residential (HDR) that predates the development of Scenic Hills entirely. This designation was in place before our neighborhood was built, before any of us purchased our homes, and before a single-family community was established on the surrounding land.
Now that the property has been purchased by its new owner, Kurt, that designation has become an immediate issue. Because the city has designated this parcel for high density use, Kurt is unable to develop it as a continuation of the single-family neighborhood that surrounds it — despite that being his expressed intention. The designation would instead allow for the construction of a 100+ unit apartment complex on approximately 5 acres of land situated in the heart of our community.
The Current Land Zoning
The zoning map shows a single HDR parcel surrounded entirely by LMDR (Low-Medium Density Residential) properties — our neighborhood.
High-density residential development DOES NOT belong in this location, and the city has viable alternatives.
What we are asking for
We are asking the city to rezone this property to Low or Medium Density Residential — consistent with every surrounding parcel and consistent with the character of the neighborhood that was built here. This is not a request to block housing development. There are multiple parcels of land in the areas surrounding Scenic Hills that are not embedded within established single-family neighborhoods and would be far more appropriate for high-density development. We are asking the city to pursue those options instead.
Kurt, the property's new owner, is in agreement. He has been working to convince the city council to change the designation so that he can develop the land as single-family homes — but has been unable to do so on his own. Organized, sustained advocacy from the Scenic Hills community is the most likely path to changing the city's position.
Why High density doesn't belong here
It is surrounded entirely by single-family homes
Every property adjacent to this parcel is zoned Low-Medium Density Residential. A 100+ unit apartment complex would be an isolated island of high-density development with no equivalent use nearby — incompatible in both scale and character with the neighborhood that exists here.
The road infrastructure cannot support it
80th Street has no sidewalk infrastructure, and a large apartment complex would introduce a significant and potentially dangerous increase in pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Adler Trail and Austin Path — the private roads within Scenic Hills — are maintained exclusively by homeowners through HOA dues. Cut-through traffic generated by a high-density development would accelerate deterioration of roads our residents already pay out of pocket to upkeep.
Parking overflow into the neighborhood
Apartment buildings are required to meet minimum parking ratios, but in practice resident and guest parking frequently exceeds what is provided on site. With Scenic Hills directly adjacent to this property, overflow parking onto our neighborhood streets is a realistic and significant concern — placing the burden of a high-density development onto our roads.
Stormwater and Drainage
High-density development significantly increases impervious surface area, which accelerates stormwater runoff. In a neighborhood setting this can mean increased flooding risk and strain on existing drainage infrastructure in a neighborhood that already struggles with this.
Emergency services may not be equipped
Water and utility capacity is unknown