Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Story
Minnetonka approves trail project, climate plan, senior housing
Sustainable Minnetonka Awards
Arbor Day Proclamation
Earth Day Proclamation
City Manager and Council Member Reports
Votes (4)
Bids and agreements for the Hopkins Crossroad Trail improvements project
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Wilburn [0:50:35] · Seconded by Council Member Sha [0:50:48]
The council considered bids and agreements for the Hopkins Crossroad Trail Improvement project, which includes an off-street trail, ADA improvements, and pedestrian refuges along Hopkins Crossroad. The project received significant grant funding from the Metropolitan Council, MN DEED, and Hennepin County. The low bidder, Park Construction, was recommended. Construction is planned for Spring-Fall 2024, with Hennepin County overlaying the road in 2025. Council members lauded the project for its collaborative funding, improved community connectivity, and support for human-powered transit.
2024 Sustainability Commission work plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Calbert [1:06:05] · Seconded by Council Member Ra [1:06:21]
The council discussed the 2024 Sustainability Commission work plan. Comments included identifying gaps in addressing general pollution (e.g., trash, chemicals, pesticides), advocating for partnerships with schools on initiatives like adopting drains and encouraging carpooling. There was a strong emphasis on ensuring equitable outreach to lower-income communities and providing tailored education and support. The plan was praised for its comprehensiveness, and the Mayor urged individual responsibility for reducing litter.
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Wilburn [1:32:05] · Seconded by Council Member Calbert [1:32:16]
The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) was presented, detailing an 18-month development process involving staff, consultants, and diverse community engagement. The plan sets ambitious goals: a 63% per capita greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2030 (from 2018 levels) and Net Zero by 2050, aligning with global and state targets. Key strategies focus on energy efficiency, electrification of buildings and transportation, and waste reduction. Council members praised the plan's user-friendliness and acknowledged the significant commitment required for implementation, emphasizing education and outreach. Concerns included potential resident resistance and the need for compensating actions from engaged residents.
Items concerning Greco Minnetonka at 15407 and 1549 Wayzata Boulevard
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Ra [2:01:21] · Seconded by Council Member Kley [2:01:35]
The council reviewed a proposal from Greco for a 121-unit independent living building and a 40-unit memory care facility at a former nursing home site. The project requires a guide plan amendment from institutional to high-density residential and a tree removal variance. It includes 15 affordable units (9 at 50% AMI, 6 at 60% AMI) in independent living and one elderly waiver unit in memory care. Extensive neighborhood engagement led to design adjustments, including lower building heights near homes. Residents expressed urgent need for redevelopment due to vandalism at the vacant site, though some residents behind the property raised concerns about the visual impact of the new four-story building and requested additional buffering. The developer confirmed solar-ready roof designs.
Notable Quotes (10)
I'm so proud of this project and the way it's come together and one of the first things when I was on the Planning Commission we had an issue and it was talking about this trail that was going to come sometime in the future so it's so exciting to see it come and it's so as the mayor said it's not free money but it's money that we've contributed to other sources that we're bringing back into the city so um that's it's just incredible and I'm I'm very excited to see this finally get wrapped up so thank you
when you look at the collaboration and the different sources of funds now... it is very exciting and very refreshing when we have worthy projects and the state is willing to contribute the Met council is willing to contribute... this Trail along um Hopkins Crossroad is going to really make a difference um in terms of connection in our community and um there's a lot of amenities um that this Trail will tie to
I just want to make sure that we are really reaching um population lower income population and just really um I see like things that we're going to do but I just want to get more specific on how are we going to reach um lower income communities and making sure that we are intentionally bringing them along with us
when I go for a walk around in the neighborhood and I see a piece of trash laying over in the in the ditch over there or on across the street do I walk over and pick it up and I'm really trying to be mindful Sayes I do but I always didn't do that and I think we there's things that we can all do to make our city better we don't have to necessarily sign up to be you know to Adopt A Highway although that's not a bad idea but you know if you see trash around pick it up if you care about how your city looks take responsibility and pick it up even if even if you didn't put that trash there
an area that we lacked that I think was really lacking in this area was addressing a bit private ownership properties ones that are already developed that are already there and then also a really holistic plan that includes a lot of different areas
what we wanted to do is design basically here are the things that you can do here are the high impact things here's how much it might cost relative to other action and go ahead and make a list for yourself
I did the dangerous thing and I read the comments and um and you know there are a certain element in our in our city and in our in general that said well this is hogwash I don't believe it and I'm not doing it sick it you know up your nose with a rubber hose basically and uh and you know so then to get to 63% we we have to we we have other the rest of us are going to have to do more um to get to the type of reduction that 63% represents because there are people who are not going to do it
on the 121 unit building on the left side of side or the west side that would have been 12 units total on the memory care the 40 unit that would have been 4 units total so in the end what they're doing is proposing to add more units to the 121 so they're up to 15 affordable as you see on the screen and then adding the one for a total of 16 which would have been the overall requirement with four and 12
we are our property is right next to the the proposal and um we addressed the city council two years ago when when this when uh Eaglebrook was trying to come in everything else and we're glad where we are here today... Josh and Greco have been working with the neighborhood very well... however we've had some challenges which you probably are all aware of with the break-ins it's been almost every other weekend... it's become an unsafe neighborhood because of that so we're hoping to move this along so that the building can be taken down so that we're not calling the police every other day
I feel like there's been very little involvement with the people who back up to what is is now going to be a four-story building looking into my backyard... my ask is for the people who do live behind the property to have similar feedback on this large scale building that is going to be in our backyard... I'm looking for some more building shading some more large trees like pine trees um that would provide me with some shading from that property
Ordinances & Resolutions (17)
An addendum item for the agenda, later read as an official proclamation.
A resolution under item six, later read as an official proclamation.
Minutes from a previous study session, approved.
Minutes from a previous regular meeting, approved.
Annual awards program recognizing community sustainability projects.
Work plan for the Sustainability Commission, presented for approval.
A comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change in Minnetonka.
A predecessor plan to the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, focusing on energy.
A report detailing the current state of the city relevant to the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
An inventory of emissions for city operations and community-wide, part of the CAAP development.
City's long-term vision and land use designations, requiring an amendment for the Greco project.
Required permit for the Greco Minnetonka development project.
Required permit for the Greco Minnetonka development project due to site conditions.
Required permit for the Greco Minnetonka development project.
A variance needed for the Greco Minnetonka project due to 38% tree removal.
An ordinance adopted to approve the Greco Minnetonka proposal.
Resolutions adopted to approve the Greco Minnetonka proposal.