The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, October 27. Here are the highlights:

• Outdoor Pickleball Coming to Bertram: The City was awarded a $254,170 DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant for improvements at Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park, including eight pickleball courts, parking, lighting, landscaping, and trail access. The grant is matched in funding by the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).
• Gas Franchise Fee for Street Maintenance: A new gas franchise fee is expected to take effect February 1, 2026, generating about $735,000 annually to fund street maintenance, reducing the City’s reliance on costly assessments to residents and businesses. 
• Park Designation in Progress: The city is pursuing regional park designation to highlight The Pointes at Cedar Recreation Area as a year-round recreational destination, qualify for state grant funding, and guide future park improvements.

To view the agenda, and minutes when available, visit the Agenda Center.

To watch the recorded meeting, stream it online or tune in on cable channel 12 (FiberNet), channel 997 (TDS), or channel 180 (Charter subscribers). The rebroadcast schedule is available here.

Although it may be winter, there is still activity occurring at The Pointes! 

Private contractors continue to remove material from what will be the central lake feature. It is expected that their work will allow for the full removal of material in the rough shape of the lake by late 2023.

On-Site Activity 

The City is continuing to work with private contractors to coordinate free excavation and removal of materials from the center of The Pointes, creating the lake feature that will be at the heart of the area. It is hoped that all three nodes of the lake will be formed by fall of 2023.

Master Plan for The Pointes’ Park & Open Space Adopted

In September of 2022 the Monticello City Council adopted the Master Plan for The Pointes. The Master Plan illustrates the full vision for the public spaces in the project area. The plan shows the central lake, its surrounding trail system, and a range of public amenities for the community. These public amenities are sprinkled throughout the three biomes – Populus (north), Tilia (central), Quercus (south). The Master Plan now serves as the foundation for the development of plans and specifications for the actual construction of the public spaces at The Pointes.

With this guide in place, the Council has directed the development of plans for the first phase of construction at The Pointes. The plans are to include completion of the final shape and size of the southern node of the central lake, and a looped gravel trail around the southern node. Prairie landscaping plantings are also included, consistent with the “Quercus” or oak savannah biome for this node. Those looking for parks spaces at The Pointes will be excited to learn that the plans will also lay out the first set of park improvements, which will occur on the west side of the Tilia biome.

Once the plans and specifications for this set of improvements is completed in 2023, City Council will determine a budget and construction schedule. Please continue to watch the Pointes at Cedar project page for more information as the project takes shape.

Compass Committee 

The Pointes Master Plan for the park and open spaces evolved from an engagement process which ran from November of 2021 through August 2022. A volunteer Compass Committee, including representatives from the Council, Planning Commission, Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC), and community at large, was engaged to provide guidance throughout the Master Plan’s development. In addition, numerous in person and online activities occurred during that time to gather additional input from the larger Monticello community. 

The Compass Committee helped to guide the vision for the public spaces at the center of The Pointes. Their work was instrumental in gathering additional public input and helping to refine the ideas for how The Pointes can be a truly distinctive Monticello asset. Many thanks to the dedicated community members who served on the Compass Committee!

Zoning Standards in Place for The Pointes

The Pointes at Cedar District (PCD) zoning code is now in place for the 100-acre area. The City Council adopted the new zoning district for The Pointes in April of 2022. The PCD zoning district establishes a consistent framework for applying the City’s goals for this area. The PCD zoning ordinance encourages development uses and design that compliments the public spaces at The Pointes. The PCD provides specific development standards for each of The Pointes at Cedar’s three distinct biomes, from building architecture to landscaping. Click here to view The Pointes at Cedar zoning district map.

What’s Next for The Pointes?

The City Council has asked that staff and the current project consultant begin working on the plans and specifications for the completion of the final shape and size of the southern node of the central lake. Also included in the plans will be a gravel trail around the southern node, along with important landscaping components. In addition, Council asked for plans for the first set of park improvements, which will occur on the west side of the Tilia biome. Once plans and specifications for this set of improvements is completed, the City Council will determine a budget and construction schedule. 

The Pointes at Cedar Project Updates - June 2022

The Pointes at Cedar is intended to be an all-season destination featuring  a mix of housing, commercial business, and public amenities where you can live, work, and play. The Master Plan for The Pointes is taking shape based on the feedback from all of you! We’ve had over 450 responses to our seasonal amenity and activity surveys and great responses to our in-person activities at the Farmers Market, MonticellGLOW parade, and the Senior Center. We can’t wait to show you how your ideas have helped inform the plan for the public spaces at The Pointes!

Walk & Rollers got a first glimpse of the draft Master Plan on June 11, 2022. There was great feedback on what residents are most looking forward to and what may still be needed to make this another great Monticello park. 

Master Plan for The Pointes’ Park & Open Space

Visit us this Wednesday at the Community Block Party at the MCC to see the completed draft Master Plan for The Pointes! We’re excited to share the plan and ask for your thoughts on which amenities at the park space should happen first.

The Block Party happens this Thursday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Monticello Community Center. The Block Party offers free food, fun and now a chance to see how The Pointes will look!

Looking to the future, it’s anticipated that the Master Plan will be brought to a joint workshop of the Planning Commission, Park Arts & Recreation Commission, and City Council on August 8, 2022, followed by formal Council review and consideration for adoption in September.

Compass Committee

The Compass Committee met on June 15, 2022 to review the draft Master Plan for the Pointes at Cedar. The group reviewed the overall draft plan and individual “vignettes” with images and concept drawings for small spaces within the planned park area. The group discussed how ideas from prior Compass Committee meetings and the public engagement have been incorporated into the plan itself. 

The Master Plan reflects the character themes for each of the three biomes within The Pointes at Cedar: Populus, Tilia, and Quercus. The Compass Committee had the opportunity to provide additional feedback on how to strengthen the plan’s relationship to those themes, providing additional suggestions for the more detailed project plans. 

The Compass Committee is helping to create and guide the public spaces at the center of The Pointes. The Committee is made up of a cross-section of Monticello community members. Their next meeting will occur on August 17, 2022 at 5 p.m.

How Can I Participate?

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer on the Compass Committee, you can also reach out to us at info@ci.monticello.mn.us. You can also give us additional feedback on our Draft Master Plan, by filling out the Design Features Survey!

Watch for more details on future events on the City’s social media and blog!