Edina approves tactical training center with height variance
The Edina Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit and building height variance for a new tactical training center at the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility on March 15. The 27-foot-9-inch building will expand training capabilities for first responders across multiple jurisdictions.
All eight commissioners voted to recommend city council approval of the project at 7525 Brar Boulevard, which will add a 5,536-square-foot tactical training center to the existing facility. The building exceeds standard zoning height limits by about 7 feet 9 inches, a variance the commission found justified by operational needs.
Staff presented detailed findings showing the building's height is necessary to create two-story training scenarios with 20-foot interior clear heights and overhead observation areas for instructors. The pitched roof design helps remove heat and smoke from the facility. Because the building sits within an existing fenced area and is screened by a wooded hill, it won't be visible from public roads, staff said.
The facility is jointly operated by Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission through a Joint Powers Authority. The $2 million project is fully funded by state grants approved by the Minnesota Legislature and Governor in 2020 and 2023. City Manager Scott Neil noted the project has been reviewed and endorsed by all partner city councils and state agencies.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about the height measurement (to the roof peak, not exhaust stacks), material reflectivity, and facility usage. Staff clarified the current facility operates six days per week, while the new facility is estimated to be used only one to two times weekly. Commissioners also confirmed the project complies with the city's Sustainable Building Policy and state B3 building standards required by the grant.
The commission approved the project with conditions requiring compliance with those sustainability and building standards. No public comments were submitted in person or remotely. The recommendation now goes to the Edina City Council for final approval.
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Votes (3)
Approval of Meeting Agenda
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [Early in meeting] · Seconded by Unknown [Early in meeting]
Standard procedural approval of the June 12, 2024 Planning Commission agenda.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes (May 22 Special Work Session)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [Early in meeting] · Seconded by Unknown [Early in meeting]
Minutes approved with minor spelling corrections to names noted by one commissioner. Liz (staff member) to make corrections before finalization.
Public Hearing: South Metro Public Safety Training Facility - Conditional Use Permit and Building Height Variance
Dissent: None. Motion to recommend city council approval of conditional use permit and height variance subject to findings and conditions in staff report, as amended to include Sustainable Building Policy compliance (Condition 5) and B3 standards coordination.
Moved by Commissioner David [During deliberation] · Seconded by Unknown [During deliberation]
Staff presented comprehensive analysis of the tactical training center proposal at 7525 Brar Boulevard. Emily Drimple (staff) detailed the project's compliance with all five conditional use permit criteria and variance requirements under Minnesota statute. Key points included: (1) Building height of 27'9" is necessary to create two-story training scenarios with 20-foot interior clear height and overhead observation areas; (2) Pitched roof design facilitates air exhaust and smoke removal; (3) Building located within existing fenced facility area, not visible from public rights-of-way; (4) No additional traffic generation; (5) Existing utilities adequate; (6) Site chosen near wooded hill for screening. City Manager Scott Neil testified regarding the Joint Powers Authority structure, state grant funding ($2 million total from 2020 and 2023 bonding bills), and coordination with Minnesota Department of Public Safety on B3 building standards. Commissioner Quincy raised questions about height measurement (to roof peak, not exhaust stack) and material reflectivity concerns regarding corrugated steel siding. Staff clarified that wooded hill screening and building location beyond the hill mitigate any reflectivity issues affecting highway visibility. Commissioner Pia inquired about facility usage frequency (current facility 6 days/week; proposed facility estimated 1-2 times/week), tree removal (minimal, mostly brush removal on wooded hill), and cost (fully funded by state grants). Commissioner Smith asked about Sustainable Building Policy compliance; City Manager confirmed B3 standards compliance as grant condition. No public comments received in person or via remote dial-in.
Notable Quotes (12)
The height of the building at 27' 9 in is required to be able to create two-story residential commercial training scenarios and to allow for teaching from above in those scenarios and the pitch of the roof is important and included to help move air to the peak of the building to help EX air exhaust points and help facilitate heat and smoke removal
The board of directors of the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility is requesting the conditional use permit and building variants uh from 20 to 27 ft 9 Ines in order to build the 5,500 squ ft tactical Training Center facility 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 was reviewed and endorsed by the city councils in Adina Eden Prairie Bloomington and the board of the Metropolitan airports commission it was reviewed in quite some detail uh by the capital investment committee so the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate and ultimately approved by the by Governor walls twice
um just a question on the height does the height go up to the peak of the roof or to the stack the highest point so not the not the um exhaust pipes off the top but to the highest point of the roof
um how um often is this facility used the current facility or yeah or and po fa the proposed facility as well
The land is still maintained and owned by the city of Adina uh the building we operate and own together as a as a jpa
I know it's been pretty rainy uh these last couple weeks and I know there's a lot of soccer games in the Parks and everything like that and I don't know if you guys noticed but there's a lot of mosquitoes and so I know the city um does a lot of spring and trying to manage that
most spraying in in DIN and throughout the metro area is done by the mosquito control district so a separate level of government um they have they have a schedule that uh uh they use and we should be in it right now if they're hatching and and out like they are
is it possible to look into how we could have the dial in password code number be less lengthy um having had the opportunity to dial in myself it it is cumbersome um and a and certainly a lot of digits to get through
we did have our open house for Lincoln londondary uh last night from 5:30 to 7:30 uh I was was able to take along on the bike ride or be one of the tour guys for the bike ride so that went really well uh we had good attendance I I thought it was impressive turnout um Claire and David both showed up um we had a couple of City Council Members also show up as well uh residents I gave a lot of good feedback
I watched I guess the the the final I guess discussion with the captain who kind of shared the update afterwards in a lot of the community was just asking what they could do next time to help prevent such a tragedy and really one of the main takeaways seem to be you know as a community just if you see something out of the ordinary to say something and do something about it and likely no one did no one saw something likely but it's just that reminder you know even to like how we use our land the more we get people out and about and we build better places where people are in community more you end up having eyes on things more often
I met a lovely uh resident and her son that is their neighborhood park um I don't know if you're familiar with it but it has a basketball court in the kind of middle of of the parking lot such that you couldn't throw a basketball without hitting the cars I mean the the hoop dumps straight on
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Permit request for operation of a public safety training facility within R1 zoning district
Variance request to exceed standard accessory building height limit to accommodate two-story training scenarios and roof pitch for ventilation
City policy added as Condition 5 to the approval; requires coordination with city sustainability division
Building design and construction standards required as condition of state grant funding; project will comply with these standards
Community planning initiative with engagement through Better Together Dino website; open house held June 11, 2024
Online platform for community feedback on planning initiatives including Lincoln Londonderry small area plan
Governing agreement between Cities of Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and Metropolitan Airports Commission; established 2004
Two rounds of $1 million grants from Minnesota Department of Public Safety; total $2 million fully funds the tactical training center construction
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Lincoln Londonderry Small Area Plan - Community Engagement
Parks and Recreation Infrastructure Issues
France Avenue Traffic Management and BRT Station Construction
Community Safety and Land Use Planning
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