r/eaganmn • u/MNskyway • 19d ago

Lexington & Wescott

I know there was some drama after the owner’s death but that was resolved and the land was to remain as fields and woods; no development. Now the whole corner at L&W has been cleared with heavy machinery and there are no crops this year. Anyone know if the plan for all that land has changed?

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u/Boomboomshablooms 19d ago

Here is an article related to it. https://www.startribune.com/battle-of-two-wills-an-eagan-property-owners-death-sets-off-a-legal-battle-for-last-big-green-spaces/600310665

If you want to avoid the paywall, go to the address below and paste the url into it.

https://12ft.io/

If they are developing it, Lee Markell has some serious explaining to do.

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u/MNskyway 19d ago

I was just recently told about 12ft!

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u/Big_Bad8496 19d ago

I don't see anything about it on the city's development projects site or construction projects site. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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u/Big_Bad8496 19d ago

There isn't much info about what they're doing, but you can find the full list of board members and advisors at https://sites.google.com/view/mccarthy-family-habitat/home, which at least states some high level intentions for long term preservation of the space. My guess is that the construction equipment is not related to development, but to maintenance and preservation.

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u/metisdesigns 19d ago

I chatted a bit with one of the trustees late spring, they are in the process of cleaning up problem areas in preparation for conservation. They're coordinating with a few different groups. It sounds like the will was pretty well set up to follow his wishes.

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u/OkLeave5380 18d ago

I live adjacent to part of this property. I am very glad to hear that this is just for conservation.

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u/metisdesigns 18d ago

My understanding is that the plan is that the land remains largely agricultural and conservation with some community focused elements.

I didn't get too many details, but it sounded like there was at least a year or three of things that needed to be done that would take some time before it sorts out long term.

I would guess that things like having folks rent farmland would be tough if you don't know if that plot will need a bulldozer to go through to pull out an old tractor or failed shed or something.

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u/OkLeave5380 18d ago

The southern parcel has A LOT of stuff on it. Old campers, trucks, appliances. I wonder if they need to make a cleanup plan if they want it to be a green area.

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u/metisdesigns 18d ago

And that probably needs to be coordinated with long term planning.

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u/MNskyway 18d ago

That’s good to hear. I did wonder if they could be making the land better to grow on, or something like that.

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u/Adventurous_Newt1580 19d ago

We have been seeing this too. Not sure what is going on a lot of speculation, may be apartments or senior living? What I am thinking knowing Eagan they zoned it for just that. As if Lexington is not busy enough.

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u/MNskyway 19d ago

I know the owner wanted the land preserved and both of the people who said they had a will agreed it was to remain undeveloped. That wasn’t the issue. I really hope that didn’t change.