Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Community Development Annual Report
Flood Plane Management and Regulations
Office Market Changes and Redevelopment Strategies
Votes (4)
Preliminary and Final Plat of Carlson's Liner Road edition at 1923 and 1939 Liner Road
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [19:54] · Seconded by Banks [20:01]
This item was part of the consent agenda and received no requests for separate discussion or comments from commissioners or the public. The staff recommendation for City Council adoption of the resolution approving the plat was moved directly to a vote.
Request for a Flood Plane Alteration Permit and a Conditional Use Permit to construct a pool at 2348 Ford Road
Dissent: None
Moved by Minion [28:16] · Seconded by Banks [28:22]
Staff explained the intricacies of flood plane, wetland, and stormwater regulations, clarifying that while wetlands cannot be altered, flood plane storage volume can be managed. The proposal for a pool within a 100-year flood plain was supported because it increased flood storage volume and met all permit standards, with no history of flooding reported by the homeowner. Commissioners noted the thoroughness of the plan.
Items concerning the former Opus buildings at 10350 and 10380 Bren Road West
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [44:54] · Seconded by Sher [45:00]
The property owner requested to amend the Master Development Plan and plat the site into two lots, allowing for the demolition of one office building due to changing market demands for corporate campuses. Staff and applicant clarified that the amendment does not authorize new construction, only demolition and subdivision, with any future development requiring additional review. Public and commissioner concerns focused on the future use of the site (with a preference for commercial/retail over residential) and the demolition process, including noise, dust, and environmental mitigation (stormwater, recycling). The applicant detailed plans for dust control, stormwater management, and extensive recycling of materials.
Preliminary and Final Plat for former Opus buildings at 10350 and 10380 Bren Road West
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [46:02] · Seconded by Sher [46:09]
Following the approval of the Master Development Plan amendment, a separate motion was required and passed for the preliminary and final plat to legally divide the property into two distinct lots, facilitating the sale and eventual demolition of one of the buildings.
Notable Quotes (7)
Flood plane storage volume is protected by city code. And what I mean by that is the flood plane location and its shape on a property can be manipulated so long as the storage volume is maintained. And that's really an engineering uh function. It's a it's an equation. Show us that you have the same amount of of volume.
We haven't had any flooding. We've only lived there 2013 and 14. So nothing within a decade.
I like the fact that it's kind of at a zero near net. They're actually increasing the uh volume a little bit.
First and perhaps foremost is that this amendment to the master development plan does not authorize a new land use or construction on that northerly lot. Um, if a buyer purchase this property and they propose even building another office building there, that has to come back before this body and go to the city council only or also, excuse me. So this only approves uh removal of that building.
Um, so yeah, anything from residential to office to commercial would be things that the city would um would entertain.
Um as far as dust control, uh you described it pretty well. It is pretty much fire hoses. um we either have fire trucks on site or connect to a fire hydrant and um water down the the demolition work as it's happening so that we're not generating dust and polluting the air with that.
Yeah, given, you know, the state of the economy and the and the market changes that have happened over the years, I think this makes a lot of sense. Um I like the idea that um you guys reached out to the neighbors there and had communications with them.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
Foundational planning document for the city, guiding land use and development.
Regulates land use and development within the city.
Rules governing the division of land into smaller parcels.
A general overview of development on a property, typically including several plans (grading, site, landscape).
Preliminary and final plat for property division.
Required for modifying land within a designated flood plain.
Required for specific uses allowed only under certain conditions, such as a pool in a flood plane.
Amendment to the existing plan for the Opus site to allow for property division and building removal.
Plat to divide the Opus property into two lots.
Environmental review process for large development areas like Opus Park.
Required plan to control erosion and water runoff during construction/demolition.
Fund for supporting affordable housing initiatives, financed by tax increment pooling.
City plan outlining strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.