Development Updates
The Latest
Work Currently In-Process On the Site
Tract has recently initiated soil borings and the installation of temporary groundwater monitoring wells on the property to better understand the soil characteristics and model the baseline conditions of shallow groundwater. This investigation is necessary to evaluate how the project can best manage surface water in a sustainable manner, including the design and functionality of future detention areas that support groundwater recharge and protect local water resources.
In total, our consultant advanced 12 soil borings to collect soil samples and installed 6 temporary groundwater monitoring wells to measure groundwater elevations over time and evaluate how water moves through the subsurface. We anticipate these monitoring wells will be onsite for no more than four months and will then be removed. The wells are installed under monitoring-well permits issued by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Dakota County, and all work followed applicable regulations and standard operating procedures for environmental and groundwater investigations. The monitoring wells must have permits indicating “permanent” status, since Minnesota Statute requires them to be constructed to permanent standards if they will remain in-place for more than 72 hours, even though they will be removed/sealed in four months or less. A sealing notice will be submitted once monitoring is complete, and the wells will be sealed under MDH and Dakota County standards. City of Farmington permits are not required for this type of work.
Recent Updates
Development Status
Upcoming Work
Demolition of Existing Structures
As part of ongoing site preparation at the former golf course property, Tract intends to demolish the existing clubhouse and associated ancillary buildings, and remove the shed located at the southeast corner of the property. Demolition activities are anticipated to begin on May 26, and to be completed in June. All demolition, removal, and disposal activities will be completed in compliance with applicable Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and City of Farmington requirements. A Demolition Permit from the City of Farmington has been approved for this work.
Dead or diseased trees that are deemed a public safety hazard by the City in the vicinity of these structures may also be removed after all the required bird and nesting surveys have been completed.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup
During the initial review of the former golf course property, mercury concentrations above the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) regulatory standards for industrial development were identified in portions of putting greens. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has identified elevated concentrations of certain heavy metals in tee boxes and greens at golf courses across Minnesota. These metals are believed to be associated with the normal and legal use of certain pesticides, herbicides, and/or fungicides applied over many years as part of routine golf-course maintenance.
Because these conditions are associated with past golf-course operations, Tract is working with the MDA through its Agricultural Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup (AgVIC) Program. The property is being addressed through the AgVIC Program to facilitate appropriate investigation, cleanup, and regulatory oversight of agricultural chemical contamination. Participation in the AgVIC Program is intended to provide a framework for environmental review and, where applicable, liability assurance associated with the investigation and cleanup of the property.
The project is not pursuing classification of the property as a brownfield for the purpose of obtaining a tax benefit or other tax incentive. Rather, participation in the AgVIC Program is based on the need to appropriately address identified environmental conditions and provide regulatory certainty as the property moves forward with redevelopment. Any available tax incentives or brownfield-related financial assistance would be separate considerations and would not be the basis for participation in the AgVIC Program.
As part of this process, Tract’s environmental consultants conducted soil sampling in selected areas of the former golf course during June and July to better characterize the extent of the identified metals and confirm appropriate cleanup steps. A work plan was submitted and approved by the MDA before sampling began.
Tract started to receive raw data results in August. The data indicates that the identified impacts are limited to the following areas:
- one tee box
- an area south of the former clubhouse
- and various greens
Although the extent of impacts associated with the greens varies, the impacts are generally limited to the upper one to two feet of soil in these areas.
A Remedial Action Report and Corrective Action Plan will be submitted to the MDA for review and approval before cleanup or removal activities commence. The approved Remedial Action Report and Corrective Action Plan will be made available on the MDA website.
During construction, dust-generating activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements. A dust-control plan will be implemented, as required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), to minimize the generation and migration of airborne dust and protect workers and nearby properties. Any identified contaminated materials will be properly removed and managed before construction activities capable of generating dust begin. Additional dust-control and construction requirements are set forth in the applicable grading permit and its conditions.
It is important to note that the human risk pathway for mercury contaminated soils is through direct ingestion (e.g., commonly through direct handling of the soils during activities such as gardening) and not through dust inhalation.
Completed Work
Soil Borings and Temporary Groundwater Monitoring
Tract’s consultants conducted onsite work on the former golf course property in March and April 2026, including soil borings and installation of temporary groundwater monitoring wells on the property to better understand the soil characteristics and model the baseline conditions of the shallow groundwater. This investigation is necessary to evaluate how the project can best manage surface water in a sustainable manner, including the design and functionality of future detention areas that support groundwater recharge and protect local water resources.
In total, the consultants advanced 12 soil borings to collect soil samples and installed 6 temporary groundwater monitoring wells to measure groundwater elevations over time and evaluate how water moves through the subsurface. We anticipate these monitoring wells will be onsite for no more than four months and will then be removed. The wells are installed under monitoring-well permits issued by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Dakota County, and all work followed applicable regulations and standard operating procedures for environmental and groundwater investigations. The monitoring wells have to be permitted as “permanent” since Minnesota Statute requires them to be constructed to permanent standards if they will remain more than 72-hours, even though they will be removed/sealed in four months or less. A sealing notice will be submitted once monitoring is complete, and the wells will be sealed under MDH and Dakota County standards. City of Farmington permits are not required for this type of work.
Site Preparation
Tract intends to begin site preparation work in late Q2 of 2026 on the golf course property, which includes, fence repairs, structure demolition of the clubhouse and sheds, removal of dead or diseased trees in localized areas, and soil investigation of heavy metals due to previous golf course use.
Tract is committed to being a good neighbor, and as such, is planning to install landscape berms including tree plantings along the west and east sides of the golf course property to provide noise and visual mitigation prior to any larger construction activities. The landscape berms are in the initial stages of design, but the following renderings provide a visual representation of what the berms could look like and the screening they would provide once vertical construction is complete.
Tract is committed to working in partnership with the Farmington community and welcomes your ideas for the landscape and berm design. If there are features, plantings, or design elements you would like us to consider, please contact us to share your suggestions so that we can incorporate community priorities into the final design wherever possible.
Below are mock-ups of views from adjacent properties that are based on a conceptual site layout. Building locations are illustrative only and may change as the project is updated through detailed site investigations, design development, and the formal site plan review and approval process.
View from Calhoun Court, West of the Property
View from Neighbor's Porch on East Side of Property
Site Security
As construction begins at the Farmington Technology Park, Tract will implement appropriate site surveillance and patrolling, as needed, to help keep the area safe and secure for workers and the surrounding community. Any surveillance cameras that may be installed will be used solely to monitor activity within the project site and will not record areas outside of our property line. These measures are intended to support public wellbeing, protect construction personnel and equipment, and ensure that the site is managed responsibly throughout the construction process.