Title
A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF DULUTH TO RECLASSIFY AREAS OF LESTER PARK GOLF COURSE.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that:
(a) The city council adopted the Imagine Duluth 2035 Duluth Comprehensive Land Use Plan on June 25, 2018, via Resolution 18-0240R, which outlined the desired arrangement of land uses throughout the city for the next 20 years; and
(b) The city council committed the city to conducting a land use study for the former Lester Park Golf Course Area via Resolution 25-0845R.; and
(c) The city planning division, which implements the comprehensive land use plan through zoning regulations, has prepared the Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan, a land use plan for the former Lester Park Golf Course, that includes amendments to the future land use map of the comprehensive land use plan; and
(d) Based upon review of the study and plan, staff recommended to the city planning commission that the Lester Park Land Use Study and Vision Plan (Attachment 1) be adopted as an amendment to the comprehensive land use plan and that the future land use map be amended as below and shown in the map (Attachment 2):
1. Amend the future land use map of the city of Duluth comprehensive plan to change approximately 1 acre in the southwest corner of the site from Low-Density Neighborhood to Neighborhood Mixed Use.
2. Amend the future land use map of the city of Duluth comprehensive plan to change approximately 13 acres in the area near the existing clubhouse from Open Space to Neighborhood Mixed Use.
3. Amend the future land use map of the city of Duluth comprehensive plan to change approximately 7 acres along the northern edge of the site from Rural Residential to Open Space; and
(e) The city planning commission has reviewed the Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan and the proposed future land use map amendment, conducted a public hearing on August 13, 2026, at a special planning commission meeting, and recommends the proposed future land use map amendments and adoption of the Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan, with the following recommendation (the “Additional Recommendation”): the land use study recommend that the city evaluate a development model where the infrastructure and utility improvements necessary to support future developments are funded by the developer or development benefitting from those improvements to the greatest extent possible, and;
(f) The city council shall make a decision, based on whether the proposal promotes the best interests of the city and the general health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Duluth, to adopt, modify or not adopt such plan or amendment which such action shall be by resolution, with the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of those members constituting quorum required to take action.
(g) The Development Agreement between the City and the Duluth Economic Development Authority ("DEDA") contains provisions addressing property identified through the Land Use Study, including Sections II.F and II.G, which provide mechanisms for addressing property that is not appropriate for development and for modifying the property subject to the Development Agreement; and
(h) The approximately 207 acres identified as Open Space are not identified for development under the Land Use Study; and
(i) The City Council finds that retaining these approximately 207 acres as City-owned Open Space is consistent with the Land Use Study and the public interest.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that city council hereby adopts the findings of the planning commission and concludes that the Duluth comprehensive land use plan is hereby amended by adding to it the Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan, as amended by the Additional Recommendation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the adopted future land use map amendment to the comprehensive land use plan, is amended as identified on Attachment 2.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council requests the City Administrator to initiate and complete the actions necessary under Sections II.F and II.G of the Development Agreement to remove the approximately 207 acres identified as Open Space from the property subject to the Development Agreement and retain such property in City ownership.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Administrator is requested to bring forward any necessary amendments to the Development Agreement, legal descriptions, surveys, conveyance documents, or other instruments necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Administrator is requested to initiate the necessary legislative process to zone the approximately 207 acres P-1, Park and Open Space, consistent with the adopted Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan and applicable requirements of the Municipal Planning Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no portion of the approximately 207 acres shall be conveyed to DEDA or included in a development disposition under the Development Agreement unless and until the City Council takes further action expressly authorizing such disposition.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: City Council committed the city to conduct a land use study for the Lester Park Golf Course. This resolution accepts the findings and conclusions of the land use study, amends the City’s comprehensive plan to incorporate the results of the land use study, and amends the future land use map of the comprehensive plan. The proposed amendments to the future land use map designate approximately 207 acres of the site as Open Space and approximately 63 acres as Neighborhood Mixed-Use.
At a special meeting on August 13, 2026, the planning commission held a public hearing on the proposed Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan and future land use map amendment, reviewed associated staff conclusions (Attachment 3) and discussed and deliberated the matter as a commission. The planning commission considered a motion to recommend to city council the Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study and Vision Plan and future land use map amendment as amended by the additional recommendation, with the motion passing on a vote of 5 yeas, 0 nays and 0 abstentions. This motion to amend rejects the Planning Commission’s Additional recommendation.
Date of application: N/A
Action deadline: September 30, 2026