Overshadowed by Councilman Ken Gilbert replacing Shawn Fletcher as Deputy Mayor, the St. Cloud City Council postponed a final decision on the zoning amendment and preliminary subdivision plan for Thomason Estates, a proposed 30-home development on 10.31 acres, during last Thursday’s City Council meeting.
The project, formerly known as Clark Properties, seeks to rezone the land from agricultural to single-family residential, and would develop a subdivision with a density of 2.9 dwelling units per acre. The Council voted 5-0 to continue both items to the July 10 meeting to allow for further discussion and review.
The proposed development, located south of Fertic Road and east of Michigan Avenue, has drawn opposition from area residents, particularly from the Michigan Estates neighborhood. Key concerns include existing drainage issues, traffic congestion on Michigan Avenue—a two-lane road serving three major schools— and the proposed extension of South Delaware Avenue through the subdivision. Residents argued that the development would worsen flooding and safety problems.
Sam Duhs, representing residents of Michigan Estates, recounted a September 2024 meeting where similar concerns were raised. He voiced frustration that a subsequent meeting between residents and the developer, Mark Stehli of Poulos and Bennett, yielded no resolution, and that staff appeared to disregard resident input.
“It’s disappointing to hear that staff continued on to not just discuss the zoning, but also a preliminary subdivision plan,” Duhs said, urging the Council to reconsider the proposal. “It’s as if our concerns were no were of no concern to the City.”
Jarom Fertic, whose family owns adjacent property, also criticized the proposed Delaware Avenue extension, which would run close to his mother’s homestead. He questioned the necessity of the road, noting that staff had previously assured him it would not be built.
“I have emails since 2023 that you knew what roads I was trying to vacate,” he told City staff.
Referring to the proposed Delaware extension, resident Scott Glasscock said, “It will just be a speed zone for everyone else. It’s already a nightmare. You add a speed zone in there … it’s just going to cripple our community.” He concluded, “I know that the building is going to happen. I’m going to have to live with that and it’s going to impact me more than I would ever want. We’ll have to live with whatever comes. But Delaware and the access and all the easements … it just doesn’t seem right. It does not fit into a small-town community. It’s way overboard.”
Developer Stehli defended the project, stating that a detailed drainage report showed a 70% reduction in runoff to the west and zero discharge to the east, exceeding city and water management district standards.
“We meet all the City’s criteria … as well as the Water Management District’s criteria,” he said.
He also argued that the 30lot subdivision would have a negligible impact on traffic, and that clearing vegetation would resolve sight-line issues at Michigan Avenue. However, residents remained skeptical, with Glasscock warning that increased impervious surfaces would push water onto his land.
