April 7, 2023 at 11:40 a.m.
Chisago City gives the nod to luxury car condos near Lake Martha
Chisago Lakes Car Condos will be built on the west side of Karmel Avenue across the road from the proposed Lake Martha Overlook housing project. Located in a light industrial zone within 1,000 feet of Lake Martha, the project meets all shore land regulations and requires no variances.
The structures, billed as “luxury car condos,” will be owned, not rented. The gated community will have a private drive and no public roads. No parking is proposed outside the car condo area. A 20-foot easement along Karmel Avenue will be provided for a future path or sidewalk.
Developer Don Skelly of High Pointe Land LLC explained that the project will involve 44 privately owned storage units in six car maximum condominium buildings and a club house to be built over a period of four years.
On March 2, Skelly told the city planning commission that one building and the clubhouse would be built first. However, Skelly’s printed handout states, “This site may not be quite large enough in terms of final unit count to defray the expense of a common ‘clubhouse like’ building. Developer would prefer to include one and is still evaluating its economic viability.”
What is a car condominium?
Skelly explains, “ A luxury garage condo is not a storage unit. It is an owned condominium unit where auto and sporting enthusiasts often gather to enjoy the company of like-minded people who own and appreciate fine or collectible automotive vehicles, settings to display them, store them, and work on them.”
All owners will become part of a condo owner’s association, which will provide landscape and snow maintenance, security cameras and monitoring, and future building maintenance. Skelly provided photos of similar facilities in Chanhassen, Medina and Big Lake.
He stated, ”Luxury condo communities are an affinity group, generally people with significant economic means, who…enjoy the company of like-minded enthusiasts.” Each “condo” is plumbed for water and sewer, and may have a kitchen, but is never occupied. They are not residential living units.
Both the city planning commission and city council looked favorably on the project with the only concern being possible problems if association members decide to hold a large gathering. Before the city council approved the conditional use permit, Council member Jeremy Dresel offered a friendly amendment requiring the condo association to obtain a special use permit if it plans to hold gatherings of 50 or more at the car condo site. The motion to approve the CUP and preliminary plat as amended then passed unanimously.
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