Planning Commission - 03/25/2024APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Frank Sherwood, Andrew Pieper, Ed
Farr, Carole Mette, Robert Taylor, Dan Grote,
Charles Weber; Phou Sivilay
CITY STAFF: Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner; Carter Schulze, City
Engineer; Matt Bourne, Manager of Parks and
Natural Resources; Kristin Harley, Recording
Secretary
I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Acting Chair Kirk called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL
Commission member Taylor was absent.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Grote moved, seconded by Weber to approve the agenda. MOTION
CARRIED 8-0.
IV. MINUTES
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Sivilay to approve the minutes of February 12,
2023. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 with one abstention (Farr).
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. EDEN PRAIRIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS - UNFI
Request for
• Approval for Guide Plan Changes to Public/Semi-Public and Parks
and Open Space on 60.91 acres
• Approval for Zoning Change to Public and Parks and Open Space on
60.91 acres
Sherwood recused himself.
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March 25, 2024
Page 2
Kyle Fisher, Safety Director at Eden Prairie Schools, displayed a PowerPoint and
detailed the application. The application requested a change to the Comprehensive
Plan and Zoning District of approximately 60.91 acres to facilitate the use of the
existing office building for educations programming by the Eden Prairie School
District. He played a video of the proposed TASSEL program which served
students 18-22 years old. At the end of the summer the program’s lease would not
be renewed in its existing building and the applicant proposed to move this
program to the office building in question. The Nine Mile Creek Watershed
District was involved and had a positive response to the proposal.
Dirk Tedmon, executive director of marketing and communication for Eden
Prairie School District, explained the “Designing Pathways” process and
explained the need for a large property to respond to perhaps 200 students’ needs,
which included the issues of increasing enrollment and the need to outsource
some teaching opportunities. He explained the community outreach done toward
this end.
Kyle Fisher explained the development involved 165,000 square feet on Bryant
Lake and stated this was a great opportunity to work with the Watershed District
to provide nontraditional learning. The school buildings were almost at capacity
This would have a centralized warehouse area in the lowest level.
Farr asked for and received confirmation the purchase agreement was contingent
on District approval. Other uses included environmental learning outdoor spaces,
a play area, et cetera, and program were not set in stone but could evolve. There
would also be programs for the community and special events with enough
parking for all. Fisher stated this was like any other program at Eden Prairie
Schools. Farr noted enrollment was not dropping in Eden Prairie. He asked if the
westernmost driveway off Valley View required a shared access agreement.
Fisher replied his understanding there was conversation on the use of this as a
second drive. Unfortunately the design engineer was not able to attend tonight’s
meeting.
Farr anticipated questions from the public regarding taxes. Students did not pay
tuition so he asked how it was funded. Tedmon replied there was a lease levy
purchase for less than a dollar a month, with no major tax impact. A bond
referendum was possible in the future. Shawn Hoffman-Graham, community
education, detailed the funding. She was the first connection to events, many of
which were fee-based, and the schools would be able to find expanded learning
for students, filling the voids and gaps for Eden Prairie citizens.
Grote asked if there were any plans to use Bryant Lake. Fisher stated there was no
official plans and did not know in what capacity it would be used.
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March 25, 2024
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Barnhart presented the staff report. This was a map change in the Comprehensive
Plan and land use guidance. This was a unique request; typically, some
construction is anticipated. Any changes to the exterior or to the landscape would
be subject to city review. There were certain stipulations and conditions on the
use of the lake (docks, moorings, et cetera). There were no lakeside or lake
improvements proposed at this time, and any change to that would also have to go
through a review process. The proposed use was also in keeping with
environmental conditions with no negative impacts. Staff supported the change to
the Comprehensive Plan.
Sivilay asked for Phase I environmental assessment results. Fisher replied one
was completed and the only potential concern was an underground 10,000 gallon
storage tank. Subsequent tests were not yet back, but at this time no leakage was
indicated.
Farr asked if the traffic would increase as the program evolved and grew. Schultze
replied the study’s goal was to document the existing condition, and compare it to
the demand, and did not see an increase of traffic even if the program were to
triple. Any major increase would also go through the public review process.
MOTION: Grote moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 8-0.
Mette spoke in support of the project, not finding traffic a concern. She noted this
would take a tax-generating property off the tax rolls, and she suggested the
school district to explore selling off the excess land in order to help put money
back on the payroll and raise funds for major renovations.
Kirk seconded Mette’s support and stated he saw no real downsides. The public
processes in the future would allow appropriate input.
Sivilay stated his only concern was the recommended mediation in Phase II.
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Weber to recommend approval for Guide
Plan Changes to Public/Semi-Public and Parks and Open Space on 60.91 acres
and for Zoning Change to Public and Parks and Open Space on 60.91 acres as
represented in the March 25, 2024 staff report. Motion carried 7-0 with
Sherwood and Grote abstaining.
B. CODE AMENDMENT – OFFICE USE IN INDUSTRIAL FLEX TECH
Request for
• Approval for Guide Plan Changes to Public/Semi-Public and Parks
and Open Space on 60.91 acres
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
March 25, 2024
Page 4
• Approval for Zoning Change to Public and Parks and Open Space on
60.91 acres
Barnhart presented the staff report. This was to incorporate the goals of Aspire
2040 applied to the industrial area known as the Industrial Flex Tech area,
specifically the I-2 and I-5 Zoning Districts. The change would remove the 50
percent cap for office uses in those districts. Over the years there have been a
handful of waivers for extensions and this would remove an unnecessary
regulation that did not gibe with the Plan’s goals. It would add more employment
and aid to the business community without negative impacts. The commission
might see more parking waivers because office parking was greater than
warehousing or manufacturing. . This did not change the I-Gen use distribution
where there was still the 50 percent cap; heavier industrial uses being more
appropriate in these areas. Staff recommended the change as proposed in the staff
report.
MOTION: Mette moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 8-0.
Farr stated he could vouch for the demand for this change. Kirk also voiced his
support. Mette agreed; to her it reiterated why the Flex Industrial Zone was
created in the first place.
MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Sherwood to recommend approval for the
text amendment to Chapter 11.30 as drafted in the March 25, 2024 staff report.
Motion carried 8-0.
PLANNERS’ REPORT
MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Pieper announced this was Mette’s last meeting. Mette thanked the commission
members and bid them farewell.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Mette moved, seconded by Kirk to adjourn. Motion carried 8-0. The
meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.