Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Monday, February 2, 2026
Site Plan Review and Alternative Compliance for 760 3rd Street North Spa
Nominations for Executive Offices
Votes (1)
Site Plan Review for 760 3rd Street North Spa and Wellness Use
Dissent: President Meyer voted 'no', indicating dissent from adopting the staff recommendation to deny alternative compliance for the windows.
Moved by Commissioner Shepard [Timestamp] · Seconded by Vice President Baxley [Timestamp]
The discussion centered on the applicant's request for alternative compliance for first-floor window requirements on the Third Street North and 8th Avenue North facades. Staff recommended denying this specific alternative compliance, proposing a condition requiring 30% glazing. The applicant argued that windows would compromise patron privacy, create an unsafe environment, and interfere with the controlled spa ambiance, offering architectural design elements and future removable panels as alternatives. Residents expressed concerns about neighborhood safety, aesthetics of a blank wall, and the long-term viability of the business, citing potential mold issues and other local business failures. Commissioners debated the balance between the applicant's specific business needs and the broader community benefit of transparent street-level facades, ultimately voting to uphold the staff recommendation.
Notable Quotes (6)
Staff recommends denying this and adds a condition of approval requiring that that 30% windows are met.
So imposing the 30% window coverage would allow people from the street to peer in to augle the undressed patrons and making them feel very uncomfortable.
Our business is really designing best-in-class, best in the world facilities. In order to do that, these amenity areas, which is on the first floor, it's really important that they're done the right way so that customers can have the best experience possible.
I like many others in our community and concerned about this lack of windows in the building especially that it will reduce neighborhood safety and that it could be a potential liability um in trying to lease the building in the future should the bath house development not be successful.
Transparency to the street is valuable for many types of businesses, but in a bath house setting, privacy is just not a preference. Um, sorry, I lost my place. Um, privacy is a fun is fundamental to the purpose of this space.
The purpose of a zoning ordinance is that the good of the community supersedes the good of one individual business on it, particularly since no businesses are permanent. So I I find that kind of a difficult bridge to cross.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Primary application for the spa development at 760 3rd Street North
Submitted by applicants for the spa project
Governing standards for blank walls, window requirements, and landscaping
Zoning code standard requiring facade breaks; alternative compliance supported by staff
Zoning code standard requiring 30% glazing on first floor; alternative compliance denied by Commission
Zoning code standard; alternative compliance supported by staff