Planning Commission - 04/25/2022APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Frank Sherwood, Andrew Pieper, Ed
Farr, Rachel Markos, Carole Mette, William
Gooding, Robert Taylor, Dan Grote
CITY STAFF: Julie Klima, Community Development Director; Matt
Bourne, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Rod
Rue, City Engineer; Kristin Harley, Recording
Secretary
I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. SWEARING IN OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS
A. DANIEL GROTE
B. FRANK SHERWOOD
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL
All commission members were present.
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Taylor moved, seconded by Mette to approve the agenda. MOTION
CARRIED 9-0.
V. MINUTES
MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Kirk to approve the minutes of February 14, 2022.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0 with three abstentions (Sherwood, Grote and Gooding).
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. SUITE LIVING OF EDEN PRAIRIE
Request for:
• Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 2.85 acres
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April 25, 2022
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• Planned Unit Development Amendment with waivers on 2.85 acres
• Site Plan Review on 2.85 acres
• Preliminary Plat of one parcel into one lot and two outlots on 2.85 acres
Jeremy Larson, of Suite Living, presented a PowerPoint and detailed the
application. He gave the background on Suite Living, which was an Assisted
Living and Memory Care facility with seven communities open throughout the
Twin Cities and another six under construction. Larson displayed the site layout,
which was divided between assisted living and memory units. The building would
have 32 units, 20 of which would be assisted living units and 12 which would be
memory care units. The building would be secure, as would the patio area, and the
Memory Care facility would have 24-hour supervision. He displayed the
rendering and explained the SmartSide and stone material choices. The
development incorporated dormers for a more residential look. Trees did have to
be removed; trees would also be planted and screening incorporated. He displayed
a photograph of the Little Canada development showing the same type of
elevation and interior renderings of the units, nursing station, and amenities.
Residents would be allowed to bring in their own furniture. He played a video that
further explained life in the proposed development.
Farr asked if the required move of the underground stormwater chamber had been
addressed. Larson replied this was a condition of approval. Mette asked for a
sense of the facility’s place along the expense spectrum, and Larson replied this
would be a more affordable facility. Due to the high care nature of care, there
would not be the amenities provided, such as a workout room or a cinema, that
other, more expensive facilities would offer.
Larson replied residents stayed in the assisted living facility an average of two to
four years, then moved over to the Memory Care. Mette asked if he foresaw
transportation issues with emergency or larger vehicles. Larson replied he did not
foresee the use of firetrucks or ambulances at this building.
Pieper asked if there was neighborhood input, and Larson replied a neighborhood
meeting was held, and there were no major concerns. He pointed out there were at
least two neighbors present at this hearing. Taylor asked if there could be more
skilled nursing at the facility. Larson replied that was a possibility and could be
accommodated if needed, although their facilities did not provide the level of care
up to the nursing home care level.
Klima presented the staff report. The applicant was proposing to construct a 32-
unit assisted living and memory care facility. The parking conformed to the
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April 25, 2022
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zoning requirements. The waiver requested additional density on the site of 11.2
units per acre which was in the range of density allowed by the Comprehensive
Plan. The landscaping proposed exceeded the City requirements and the tree
replacement complied with City Code requirements. Staff recommended
approval.
Mette asked why the property was not being rezoned. Klima replied the density
relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance was a
complicated equation. The current application requested a PUD waiver to allow
the density that is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. This was the
mechanism and the process the City had utilized for medium and high density for
some time. Kirk added the prospective population was equivalent to the density
allowed in the zoning district , as this would be one resident per unit and would
never increase, so it fit into the current zoning district.
Mike Amundson, resident at 9565 Garrison Way, spoke in favor of the
development. He did not foresee traffic problems and found the development
attractive. He did have a concern as to where the building was located; he
proposed it be more centered in the property.
MOTION: Markos moved, seconded by Gooding to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 9-0.
Mette asked if the developer could address the location of the building onsite.
Larson replied the engineer was not in attendance but to his understanding the
grading of the site drove the building’s location.
Kirk stated this was the third proposal seen on this property and to his thinking
this seemed to be a good fit. Gooding noted there was a number of existing ash
trees that would stay that needed treatment, and he asked staff if this was a
requirement. Bourne replied this was a new requirement. For those trees to be
counted as having been saved they would have to be treated in the future. Taylor
asked if the mature trees at the rear would be kept as a buffer for the neighbors.
Larson replied the goal was to cut as few trees as possible.
Pieper echoed Kirk’s comments regarding the merits of this project. Klima added
to the south of the property there was an open space outlot maintained by an HOA
so there would not be backyards abutting this project to the south.
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Markos to recommend approval of the
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 2.85 acres; Planned Unit
Development Amendment with waivers on 2.85 acres; Site Plan Review on 2.85
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April 25, 2022
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acres; and Preliminary Plat of one parcel into one lot and two outlots on 2.85
acres based on plans stamp dated March 26, 2022 and the staff report dated April
21, 2022. Motion carried 9-0.
PLANNERS’ REPORT
MEMBERS’ REPORTS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Sherwood moved, seconded by Taylor to adjourn. Motion carried 9-
0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.