Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Monday, January 5, 2026
Hiawatha Service Center Land Use Applications
Votes (1)
4755 Longfellow Avenue Land Use Applications
Dissent: Commissioner Garcia, Commissioner Jones, Commissioner Wagner voted against denying the application, indicating support for some form of approval or conditional approval.
Moved by Chris Meyer/President Meyer [1:04:47] · Seconded by Commissioner Gordon [1:04:55]
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) applied for three variances and several alternative compliances for an office building and 48-space parking lot at the Hiawatha Service Center. The variances sought to exceed the 100-space surface parking maximum (projecting 171 total), reduce the corner sideyard, and allow parking between the building and property lines. Staff recommended approval, citing the property's large size, existing conditions, and the facility's non-public-facing nature. Commissioners raised concerns about the overall increase in impervious surface, the visual impact of parking on Minnehaha Parkway, walkability, environmental impact on Lake Hiawatha, and the precedent set for future park board projects. The applicant emphasized the facility's critical role for maintenance staff, security needs, and budget constraints, stating denial would cause significant delays and costs. Several motions to approve with modified conditions or deny specific variances failed, before a final motion to deny the entire application was put forth.
Notable Quotes (7)
First, for each zoning lot... the zoning code limits to no more than 100 parking spaces total in all surface parking lots.
This is an extremely large zoning lot. This is probably one of the largest sets of land of of parcels that are owned by a single party in in the entire city.
This is within the Ncomomas Haywa regional park. Um that's one park. Uh there's also within that uh subsets... and then we have this maintenance facility which um is technically within the regional park but again it's it's its separate thing. It has its own address.
if all those windows and offices were facing the parkway, they'd have their backs to their employees... they wouldn't have that that um that connection um to the to the workspace at the uh at the site there.
this is a public space, a taxpayer funded space. Um we are not a a rich developer um who's trying to squeeze every every penny... We're not making money on this. We're dealing with a very tight budget.
if this this body were to deny um one or any of these variances, uh we'd be set back several years. Um and uh I would I would say over $100,000 at least has been spent on this in not you not counting staff time um but in consulting time.
it is about the increased amount of parking spaces and pvious surface in this park specifically... And I think just creating such a significant parking increase kind of goes against some of the principles that many community members and elected leaders have been pushing forward for this park.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Previous meeting minutes adopted at the start of the meeting
Report detailing staff analysis and recommendations for the land use applications
Regulations governing land use, including parking limits, setbacks, and site plan standards
Listing that includes the Hiawatha Golf Course, but not the project area
Master plan for Hiawatha Golf Course, approved in 2022, which impacts overall parking strategy
Another city administrative process for the project, involving public works review of stormwater
Detailed project documents available from the applicant
Civil engineer's report on stormwater management for the site