HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission - 05/27/2025 (2)Agenda
Eden Prairie Planning Commission Meeting
7 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2025
City Center Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
ATTENDEES
Planning Commission Members: John Kirk, Andrew Pieper, Ed Farr, Robert Taylor, Daniel Grote, Frank Sherwood, Charles Weber, Phou Sivilay, Trisha Duncan
City Staff: Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner; Carter Schulze, City Engineer; Matt Bourne,
Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
MEETING AGENDA
I. Call the Meeting to Order
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Approval of Agenda
IV. Minutes
A. Approval of the minutes for Planning Commission Meeting held on April 28, 2025.
V. New Business
A. Dell Road MUSA Line Boundary (2025-05)
1. Amendment to Comprehensive Plan adjusting the Municipal Urban Service
Area (MUSA) boundary and updating the land use designations within the
MUSA boundary for nine properties along Dell Road and Turnbull Road.
VI. Planner’s Report
VII. Members’ Reports
VIII. Adjournment
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Frank Sherwood, Andrew Pieper, Ed Farr, Trisha Duncan, Robert Taylor, Dan Grote, Charles Weber; Phou Sivilay
CITY STAFF: Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner; Sarah Strain, City Planner II; Carter Schulze, City Engineer; Matt Bourne, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary
I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL
All commission members were present.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Grote moved, seconded by Kirk to approve the agenda. MOTION
CARRIED 9-0.
IV. MINUTES
MOTION: Taylor moved, seconded by Weber to approve the minutes of February 24,
2025. MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. AKHTAR/PETERSON VARIANCE (BOA 2025-03)
• Request for approval for variance to allow a 100-foot shoreland setback from Mitchelle Lake for an addition to a single-family home where a 150-foot setback is required.
Alex Peterson and Nadia Akhtar displayed a PowerPoint and detailed the application. Alex Peterson explained the lot was originally purchased in 1993 by his father-in-law, and the family had believed the variance had already been
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 28, 2025
Page 2
granted. They maintained this understanding while planning an expansion for
their growing family but then found out in December 2024 that they actually did
not have the setback allowance. Akhtar explained that the neighboring house sat 10 feet from their home, and the shoreline was at an angle relative to the house. They displayed an overview of their request and images from the site. She explained the unique features of the house and the site, which presented
challenges to any development following City Code for setback.
Akhtar summarized the improvement to the site: 100 trees planted 30 years ago, and a planned native landscape to improve the shoreline. The applicants were happy to comply with the City’s requirements. Alex Peterson explained the main
story was in the “basement” and there were no master or main bedroom in this
1950s home without accessing stairs. The addition was needed to care for Akhtar’s special needs brother. This was a reasonable use of the property that would bring it more into character with the rest of the neighborhood. In addition, the well in the front yard, a shared driveway and easements with the neighbors,
made this site challenging. The proposed plan would preserve sightlines from the
lake and the owners had worked with their neighbors on this application. Akhtar and Peterson displayed the survey results and also photographs of the site, including views from their neighbors looking toward their house. They included a
view from the lake and emphasized that from the water only the first story could
be seen, which is why building upward would disrupt the view and be more obtrusive. Strain presented the staff report. The applicant was requesting a setback variance
to accommodate an addition to the house, which predated all shoreland
ordinances. There had been a complicated history with this property. In 1993, three lots on Shamrock Trail went through the subdivision process and variances for setback and lot widths had been requested at that time. This multilayered process resulted in the approval of 105-foot setback of the lot by the Planning
Commission and by the City Council, but the Board of Adjustment and Appeals
subsequently denied it, resulting in current restrictive language for this property. Staff found the proposed development consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and City Ordinances, and the setback was in fact not much larger from today’s
current standards. There would be a buffer and plantings which would improve water quality that were consistent with the intent and purpose of the Shoreland Ordinance. The general viewer would not notice the difference in the house setback while on the lake. This proposal would also protect natural resources while allowing residential investment, a goal of the City. The applicants wished to
make the house consistent with the character of the rest of the neighborhood; at present, this house sticks out. The setback request was not out of line with other houses that predated and came subsequently to the Shoreland Ordinance. The house was a single-family home and would continue to be used as such. In
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addition, the inlet on Mithcell Lake impacted all houses on Shamrock Trail and
contributed to the restrictiveness of the language. Staff recommended approval
subject to the conditions outlined in the staff report. Taylor asked if the Watershed District could impact an approved permit. Strain replied the Watershed District would in that case work within its own permitting
process. Barnhart added the District could comment but had no approval power
here. He was confident staff had addressed all the issues on which the District would comment, if it were to. Farr asked for and received confirmation the applicants working collaboratively
with a contractor and City staff would be responsible for the vegetative buffer and
planting plan. Barnhart added the vegetation would include low- to medium-height native species to stabilize the shoreline and provide habitat for birds and pollinators.
Chris Bedtke, an Eden Prairie resident who lives across the road from the
applicant, commended the applicants as assets to the neighborhood, and spoke in favor of the application. Paul Vogstrom, a contractor for this project, explained the vegetative plan for the
property and the applicants’ aims and goals for the property. The runoff would be
directed toward the buffer zone to slow it down. The driveway would be built up a bit and a piping and gutter system installed to allow runoff to slowly run into lake via the buffer zone. He offered himself as a resource for any questions.
Dave Jackett, of 17800 George Moran Drive, explained he was a 12-year resident,
a Michelle Lake Association member, and a neighbor across the street from Akhtar and Peterson. He commended the applicants’ inclusivity and openness in seeking neighbors’ input and stated he was looking forward to the improvements along the shoreline.
MOTION: Duncan moved, seconded by Grote to close the public hearing. Motion carried 9-0. Weber commended the shoreline buffer zone improvement, saying this
outweighed any small objections to the design that could exist. Kirk agreed. Taylor commended the project, and Farr concurred this would bring the property into agreement with the other properties’ vegetative buffer zones. MOTION: Duncan moved, seconded by Kirk to approve the variance to allow a
100-foot shoreland setback from Mitchelle Lake for an addition to a single-family home with conditions recommended by staff as represented in the April 28, 2025, staff report. Motion carried 9-0.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 28, 2025
Page 4
PLANNERS’ REPORT
MEMBERS’ REPORTS VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Taylor moved, seconded by Grote to adjourn. Motion carried 9-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
Planning Commission Agenda Cover Memo
Date: May 27, 2025
Location: Dell Rd/ Turnbull Rd
Subject: Comprehensive Plan Amendment
From: Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner
Applicant: City of Eden Prairie
ITEM DESCRIPTION
This amendment adjusts the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) boundary for several
properties at Dell and Turnbull Roads. The adjustment adopts the Metropolitan Council’s
records for the MUSA boundary, correcting an error in mapping.
Additionally, the land use designation for the properties is adjusted, shifting the boundary
between low density residential and rural to correspond to the MUSA boundary, with low
density residential being north of the MUSA boundary line.
REQUESTED ACTIONS
• Comprehensive Plan Amendment for MUSA boundary line adjustment and from Rural to
Low Density Residential on 6 acres over 8 properties
BACKGROUND
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT
During the review of a routine sewer extension permit as part of the Dell Road improvement
project, it was noted that several of the parcels are not within the MUSA boundary. A property
must be within the MUSA boundary to receive sanitary sewer services. The MUSA boundary
observed by the City of Eden Prairie differs from that observed by the Metropolitan Council. This
discrepancy impacts the 9 parcels illustrated below.
Staff report – Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Dell Rd May 27, 2025 Page 2
The maps below show the existing land use (yellow is low density residential, rural is light green)
and the existing MUSA boundary (brown line). The proposed MUSA line is shown in orange; this
line corresponds to the MUSA boundary observed by and on record with the Met Council.
Current MUSA and Land Use
Staff report – Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Dell Rd May 27, 2025 Page 3
Proposed MUSA and Land Use
This amendment does not support or represent a plan for additional development in the area.
Protections for the bluff and other sensitive environmental features remain. This amendment
corrects inaccurate information regarding the MUSA boundary, and the land use changes reflect
this adjustment.
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AND RESIDENT INPUT
Letters were sent to the impacted property owners prior to the public hearing notices. To date
no comments or questions have been received.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment as presented.
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