Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Monday, July 14, 2025
Story
Minnetonka approves apartment complex despite design concerns
City Updates and Community Events
Citizen Concerns and Public Comment
Votes (6)
Consent Agenda Items (Grouped)
Moved by Council member Shack [0:38:39] · Seconded by Council member Romey [0:38:49]
Council Member Shack highlighted ongoing concerns regarding Metro Transit service quality and expressed optimism about staff's openness to exploring alternative providers or partial contracts in the future, citing potential models like Southwest Transit. The remaining items were routine approvals.
CIP Amendment for Major Equipment Purchase
Moved by Council Calbert [0:40:53] · Seconded by Council member Foster Bolton [0:41:03]
This was a routine approval of a Capital Improvement Plan amendment. No discussion or questions were raised by the council members, indicating broad agreement and lack of controversy.
Introduction of Ordinances: Marsh Run 3 (Rental Apartment Development at 11800 Wisetta Boulevard)
Moved by Council member Wilburn [1:09:56] · Seconded by Council member Mey [1:10:04]
Staff presented a revised proposal for a 44-unit apartment building, not requiring rezoning. Key discussion points included exploring variances (wetland setback, front yard setback, FAR), design concerns about 'blockiness', and a significant focus on parking issues, particularly overflow from existing Marsh Run developments. The applicant detailed plans for high-efficiency and sustainable building practices, and financial viability. Council expressed a desire for the Planning Commission to explore design creativity, parking management, and compare variances to neighborhood precedents.
Preliminary Plat with Lot Area Variances for Formanol (14705 Glendale Road)
Moved by Council member Shack [2:01:46] · Seconded by Council member Foster Bolton [2:02:01]
The application proposed splitting a 0.9-acre lot into two for single-family homes, requiring a variance from the 22,000 sq ft minimum lot area. Staff recommended denial due to inconsistency with neighborhood character and state statute. The Planning Commission made no recommendation. Council discussion centered on the 'McMansion policy' to limit house size on subdivided lots, the impact of required right-of-way dedications, and the broader goal of increasing housing while maintaining neighborhood character. Despite staff's recommendation for denial, the council voted to approve, reasoning that two smaller, restricted homes were preferable to one potentially much larger, unconstrained house.
Opus Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Special Legislation
Moved by Council member Wilburn [2:09:59] · Seconded by Council member Romey [2:10:14]
This item concerned a resolution to formally adopt state legislation that extends the timeframe for spending tax increment funds within the Opus Business Park TIF District. The extension was necessary due to 'timing issues' related to 'five-year' and 'six-year' rules governing TIF expenditure deadlines, ensuring the city can honor commitments for public improvements and affordable housing projects within the district. No new TIF districts were added, nor were the purposes of the funds changed.
Pathways to Home Ownership Program (EDA Meeting)
Moved by Commissioner Romey [2:17:34] · Seconded by Commissioner Kley [2:17:53]
During the Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting, commissioners approved two actions: accepting a transfer of an additional $200,000 in funds for the Pathways to Home Ownership program from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and approving a new agreement with the Center for Energy and Environment (CE) to continue administering the program.
Notable Quotes (9)
I think we all acknowledge that we're not receiving the service necessarily that would be optimal for the city. And there's some changes coming and I and I'm really optimistic about that. I was very appreciative in the staff report the reference to in the future considering um alternatives such as partial contracts maybe with metroransit and other providers.
I recall and and I when I see this building, I think back to initial concepts of the Burke and kind of one of the critiques at that time was just kind of the blockiness and the mass of it. And I see that here. I also recognize that you there are some limitations because of sight size, but that's not really our issue, you know, and it does kind of just look like a building plunked there in some of the images.
The question I ask when we're confronted with something like this is if not this what? because it's clear that, you know, you've got 1.9 acres on um um I 394 um surrounded by housing. Um you know, there's a pretty high likelihood that it's going to be housing. Um the the question is um you know, what should that housing look like?
Interest rates are an issue. Uh hard costs for construction right now. If you can get a project going, they're actually they have modulated which means they're not increasing. Doesn't necessarily mean they're decreasing. It just means that the r the rapid rise has slowed down and sub some sub contractors are willing to narrow their profit margins on product electrical plumbing whatever trade you want to go to.
Staff recommended denial of the proposal based specifically on the lot area variance and the finding that it did not meet the variance standard as outlined in state statute and city codes. Specifically that the variances would not be consistent uh with neighborhood character.
My understanding is that there's three items that we need to to be able to approve a variance. The first one is, is the intended use reasonable? I I think we all agree that having two homes there is reasonable that that is there. Um, the next one is, is there something unique that is not self-imposed here?
If I look at planning principles and say this is the driver for me, I would I would vote to um not support this and and I salute staff for staying true to their principles. Um the challenge for me is um we as a city and we as a um as cities in our region are spending a lot of time talking about housing...
This is a situation where I think we could really I I think honor the character of the neighborhood by really having these smaller homes. I mean, I look at some of the homes that are going in in my neighborhood that are so big um and would would really be stark on this on this lot. and we and there's nothing, you know, we somebody could sell the lot or or these developers and put one of those 8,000 9,000 ft² homes on there, no problem. And that would to me, as as council member Foster Bolton indicated, not be consistent with the character of the neighborhood.
I just revise one thing. You said you said you were extending the tip district. We're not extending the tip district. We're extending the time frame in which you can spend the increment within the district. Yeah.
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
City of Minnetonka's official declaration for Disability Pride Month (July 1-31, 2025).
Federal civil rights law commemorated during Disability Pride Month.
Online platform used for residents to provide feedback on the city's zoning rewrite.
Resolution for storm sewer infrastructure upgrades.
Agreement for public transit services.
Program to assist residents in achieving homeownership, funded by the EDA.
Permit for temporary educational facility at a school.
Agreement to address a property nuisance issue.
Capital Improvement Plan amendment for purchasing equipment.
Mentioned in context of a prior application for Marsh Run 3; the current Marsh Run 3 proposal does not require one.
Required for redevelopment within the I394 zoning district, applicable to Marsh Run 3.
Required for Marsh Run 3 due to fill and recreation of flood plane.
Required for Marsh Run 3, including variances for wetland/flood plane setback, front yard setback, and floor area ratio.
The existing zoning for the Marsh Run 3 property, under which the current proposal is being reviewed.
Application to subdivide a property into two single-dwelling lots, requiring variances from minimum lot area standards.
City policy (floor area ratio of .22) to restrict the size of homes on lots requiring variances.
Resolution approving state legislation extending the expenditure timeframe for the Opus TIF district.
Fund used to provide additional support for the Pathways to Home Ownership program.