Parkview Homes of Minnesota Wins Extended Legal Battle with City of Lexington

by Patrick Revere

PParkview Homes, a 220-site manufactured home comUpon the settlement of the case, the city of Lexington munity in Lexington, Minn., was awarded a $435,000 issued a statement through its attorney, Justin Templin. settlement after five years of litigation regarding the local “The city had ongoing concerns about maintenance, preemption of 20 state permit applications for new homes. compliance with legal requirements and public health

In a closed meeting on July 16, the city of Lexington and safety in the park — particularly with regard to discussed the settlement related to the complaint Parkview the park’s aging private water system — that would be

Homes LLC v. City of Lexington. made more pressing by adding more units to the park,”

Parkview Homes, an Oregon-based owner and operator, Templin said. “The city attempted to engage Parkview in purchased the community in 2014 with anticipation of a discussion about those issues, but Parkview sued the city filling 35 vacant lots. The following year, Parkview filed and the matter has been in litigation for five years since.” applications for building permits to add 22 new homes. The city also agreed to the current use of the community

Two of the permits were granted, 20 were denied. water system through at least 2026. In addition to the

The company filed multiple complaints against the city monetary award, permitting, and operating provisions, for blocking the new homes, and those lawsuits made Parkview is entitled to repayment of expenses related their way through state and federal courts before the to the lawsuit. city opted to settle. In addition to the cash settlement, Templin followed by stating the parties have put in place terms include a provision requiring the city to issue the a “more expedient system to resolve any future disputes”. 20 building permits that had been denied in 2015. Parkview asserts that the city had used its permitting

The U.S. District Court of Minnesota had determined process to halt residential expansion as means to force the city’s preemption of state licenses for placing the a redevelopment plan that would change the property homes could be based only on construction standards and from affordable housing, and potentially to an altogether safety of the home itself, and not on operating condition different use. MHV of utilities in the community.