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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council - 04/21/2026 - WorkshopEden Prairie City Council Workshop Minutes – Approved 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026 City Center Heritage Rooms, Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES City Council Members: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey City Staﬀ: City Manager Rick Getschow, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle, Police Chief Matt Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Recorder Sara Potter WORKSHOP AGENDA Heritage Rooms 1. Design Standards Case explained two legislative issues have been progressing through the tax committee: an extension of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district deadline for Eden Prairie Mall, and a $2 million bonding request to house regional emergency equipment. the TIF district approved for the Eden Prairie mall has faced delays, the City is asking for a two year extension. Narayanan asked if the City requested funds for the Highway 4 and 5 intersection in the bonding bill. Ellis conﬁrmed it was not requested this year. Case asked how much was previously requested. Ellis answered $5 million for design and right of way acquisition. Toomey asked if a study was complete. Ellis conﬁrmed there was a concept plan and approval for an interchange was received. The City is now looking into details for the interchange. Case stated the Council has noticed some recent development projects seem to appear diﬀerent than the design that was approved. The Council requested a design guidelines review workshop session to provide feedback on design features and see if any guidelines should be modiﬁed based on Council preference. Klima explained the last design review process occurred in 2016. There was an extensive eﬀort to review building and site design guidelines. As a result the design guidelines document was created to proactively communicate the City’s expectations. This provides a menu of options and visual examples for developers early in the process. Toomey asked what feedback has been received from developers and asked if the design guidelines are unique to Eden Prairie. Klima conﬁrmed positive feedback has been received as developers come with a concept plan close to what the City is looking for. The guidelines help streamline costs and review and approval timeline. Other Cities do have similar design guidelines. Narayanan asked if the City has recourse for a developer not conforming to design guidelines. Klima stated the developers aren’t expected to follow every guideline, they can select guidelines that work for the site. The City Council did identify its highest design guideline priorities which were adopted into the City Code. Tonight the Council will provide feedback on features of recent projects that are viewed favorably or could be improved. City Code currently does not have building or architectural design standards for townhomes, but adding townhome standards can be discussed. Klima displayed a photo of the Fox and the Grouse in the Golden Triangle and asked for the Council to provide feedback. Freiberg asked if the light accents were wood. Klima conﬁrmed the light accents are a ﬁber cement type of panel. Case noted he liked the wood looking elements. Toomey noted she liked the windows. Nelson stated it would be helpful for developers to provide a rendering from nearby major roads. That view is seldom provided beforehand and would be helpful to see how most of the public will see the building. Nelson asked if the colors could be changed in the future. Klima stated based on inquiries submit on older buildings, the colors might be changed in redevelopment. Klima displayed a photo of the Elevate building and asked for the Council’s feedback. Freiberg noted the building ﬁts into the lot perfectly. Narayanan liked the uniformity of the building. Nelson stated the design is more classic and timeless compared to the Fox and the Grouse. Case provided the building looks good from the road. He enjoyed the color schemes, insets, and its deﬁned top, middle, and bottom sections. Case added the Council does not want all buildings to be expensive to build and therefore expensive to rent as aﬀordable units are also important. It’s a balancing act. Klima noted design often goes through several iterations between Planning Commission, City Council, and after. Nelson added it’s not a good idea for everything to look the same as the City will appear dated in a few decades. Klima displayed a photo of Martin Blu. Toomey asked who built it. Case answered the same group as Elevate. Narayanan noted he did not like the shade of brown used. Nelson liked the incorporation of trees and greenery. Toomey asked when the building was built. Klima conﬁrmed Martin Blu was built in 2014. Freiberg noted his dislike for the gas station close by. Case stated the gas station was there before the apartments were built. Case added that he liked this buildings uniqueness and deﬁned top, middle, and bottom. Klima next displayed a photo of the Ellie oﬀ Eden Prairie Road. Nelson asked if this building has aﬀordable units. Klima conﬁrmed 25 percent of units are aﬀordable. Case noted the building looks plain from Eden Prairie Road, the view from the courtyard is better. Klima next displayed a photo of Paravel. Case noted he liked the diﬀerentiation and stone features. It compliments the neighboring Flagstone nicely. Nelson noted she likes the landscaping and greenery. Narayanan liked the distinguished top but noted more accents should have been added to the solid white section. Klima next displayed a photo of Applewood Pointe. Toomey asked how old Applewood Pointe is. Klima conﬁrmed it was built in 2019. Toomey asked if the building is for senior living. Getschow conﬁrmed that is correct. Case noted he liked the traditional look of a gable pitched roof. Narayanan asked if a pitched roof is more expensive. Klima conﬁrmed a pitched roof is more expensive, which is why multifamily buildings often do not have gables. Narayanan noted there is too much beige and more contrast is needed. Nelson stated the porte-cochère adds livability so residents aren’t subject to the elements when getting into a car. Case added that Applewood Pointe compliments the nearby Trail Point Ridge/Common Bond building. Klima next displayed a photo of the Trail Point Ridge/Common Bond building. Nelson asked how many aﬀordable units are included. Klima conﬁrmed 90 percent of the units are aﬀordable. Nelson noted it looks very nice for the amount of aﬀordability included. Case stated he did not like the beige panels. Klima conﬁrmed the panels are ﬁber cement board, there has since been a code amendment this material cannot be the most dominant. Klima next displayed a concept rendering of the Roers City West apartment building that was approved but construction has not yet started. Nelson stated she liked the trees. Case noted he enjoyed the brick and would be interested in seeing a rendering from the road. Klima displayed a photo of Flagstone Senior Living. Freiberg commented the building looks better in person. Toomey noted it complimented nearby Paravel well. Case added the stone is high quality. Narayanan liked the deﬁned top. Klima next displayed a photo of EP Senior Living. Nelson noted there are many walkable amenities nearby. Klima explained the City is receiving more calls from developers regarding townhome development. There are currently no material or building standards required for townhomes. Klima displayed a photo of Sheldon townhomes and pointed out the pitched roofs and tuck under garages. Case noted he likes the design but the buildings are crowded. Nelson commented they look better in person. Klima displayed a photo of Kinsley townhomes oﬀ Dell Road. Toomey asked if the construction was complete. Klima conﬁrmed construction is nearly complete. Case noted the appearance would be improved with more brick. Most of the public sees only the solid white back of the townhomes from Pioneer Trail. More landscaping or color variation would have helped. Klima next displayed a concept rendering of Chestnut Townhomes which had a recent public hearing. Nelson noted she liked the trees. Klima explained Lennar Homes is currently in discussion to redevelop the CH Robinson property. Klima displayed photos of Lennar Homes townhomes in Rosemount, Waconia, Victoria, and Woodbury and pointed out architectural features. Narayanan asked if the City could ask the developer to add extra insulation for properties within a certain distance of Flying Cloud Airport to mitigate noise. Klima conﬁrmed that is a current requirement for properties within a certain distance of Flying Cloud Airport. Klima displayed townhome photos from another builder, DR Horton, in Rosemount, Shakopee, and Cottage Grove. Case commented its diﬃcult to build to a design that appeases everyone. Klima displayed a concept rendering of townhomes by Ron Clark Construction to be constructed in Plymouth. Nelson noted she did not like the outdoor stairs as they would get icy in winter. Case commented he lived the use of diﬀerent color grey and stone in the front. Klima explained Staﬀ has researched townhome design guidelines for nearby cities. Some cities have broad language such as materials shall be of good construction. Other cities get more prescriptive such as listing percent minimums and maximums of building material categories. Klima asked if the Council is interested in enacting townhome design guidelines for Eden Prairie. Case noted any design guideline enacted would likely raise the cost of homes at a time when aﬀordable housing is a priority. Getschow added the legislature could also remove the City’s ability to mandate design guidelines. Klima noted sustainability features also apply to many projects. Nelson stated she is more interested in pursuing sustainability features than design guideline features. Case expressed his interest in reviewing design ideas from other cities that have minimal cost impact. The Council summarized their interest in seeing more variation in townhomes, providing a variety of housing for al lincome levels, and seeing a concept drawing of future properties from nearby roads as this is the view most of the public sees. The Council thanked Klima for her time. Council Chambers 2. Open Podium – John Mallo, beneﬁts of red spectrum street lighting Mallo explained bat activity is hindered by white lights. Mallo explained studies showing the beneﬁt of red lighting for bat activity as compared to white lighting. Additionally, red lighting allows for better human visibility. Energy consumption is also lowered. Mallo asked the City to change park lighting to red spectrum, especially in parks near lakes and wooded areas. Case noted it sounds like a good idea and said the City can conduct further research. Case commented he found a risk for migratory birds in his research. Freiberg asked how expensive red lights are. Mallo conﬁrmed he did not know. The council thanked Mallo for his time. 3. Adjournment