Edina Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Story
Edina Planning Commission approves public safety training facility
Lincoln Londondary Small Area Plan Open House Feedback
City Services and Infrastructure Concerns
Votes (1)
Public Hearing: Conditional Use Permit and Building Height Variance for South Metro Public Safety Training Facility
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Aler [25:06] · Seconded by Unknown [26:20]
The Planning Commission reviewed an application from the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility for a Conditional Use Permit and a building height variance at 7525 Brar Boulevard. The variance sought to increase the building height from 20 ft to 27 ft 9 in to accommodate two-story tactical training scenarios and allow for proper air circulation and exhaust. Staff and the City Manager (also Chair of the facility's board) presented the project, noting its location within the larger Brar parcel, its non-visibility from public rights-of-way due to natural screening, and its compliance with all city code and comprehensive plan criteria. The project is fully funded by two $1 million state grants. An additional condition was added to ensure compliance with the city's Sustainable Building Policy, which aligns with state-mandated B3 standards.
Notable Quotes (5)
The South Metro Public Training Facility is requesting a conditional use permit and a building height variance from 20ft to 27ft 9in to build a 5,536 ft tactical Center center training facility at 7525 Brar Boulevard.
the training center building needs a minimum interior clear height of 20ft to be able to create twostory scenarios inside whether they're training for residential or commercial scenarios the training involves going up and down stairs and includes all elements or all different elements of stairs and that additional height allows for overhead observation and teaching from above.
The purpose of the proposed facility is to expand the training capabilities of the facility so we can meet current and future training needs of the First Responders that serve our emergency medical and our law enforcement needs.
the project received two rounds of grant funding from the state of Minnesota's bonding bills once in 2020 and again in 2023 both grants were for a million dollar the training center staff and Consultants are working closely with the State's Department of Public Safety on design and construction standards for the building we expect the $2 million in state grant funding to cover the entire cost of the building.
this sustainability uh Sustainable Building condition was added in during the presentation but it wasn't technically on the staff report we were given so that would of course be added to this motion of course right yes and um if it's included in the motion tonight it will be included in the staff report for city council.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
Requested for the establishment of the tactical center training facility.
Requested from 20 feet to 27 feet 9 inches for the tactical center.
Guiding document; the property is guided as open space and the project is consistent with it.
Governs criteria for conditional use permits and variances.
Requires certain conditions to be met for granting a variance.
State of Minnesota legislation that provided $2 million in grant funding for the project.
Document outlining the findings and conditions for the conditional use permit and variance.
Added condition for the project's approval, applicable with coordination with the city's sustainability division.
State grant funding condition for building design and construction standards.