Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Staff Report and Commissioner Recognition
Elevare Second Edition Preliminary and Final Plat with Flood Plain Alteration Permit
Planning Commission Bylaws and Policies Review
Elections for Planning Commission Officers
Votes (5)
Report from Staff
Staff reported on the City Council's approval of the Oakland Woods Estates reapproval and the reappointment of Commissioners Minion, Maxwell, and Hansen. They announced the cancellation of the February 5th meeting due to incomplete applications and reminded members of the upcoming boards and commissions dinner. A significant part of the report was dedicated to a heartfelt tribute to outgoing Commissioners Henry and Hansen, detailing their eight years of service, the volume of applications reviewed, and the substantial development (housing units, commercial construction) their work facilitated, along with highlights of landmark projects during their tenure.
Preliminary and Final Plat with Flood Plane Alteration Permit of Elevare second edition at 25503 and 2550 Plymouth Road
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Hansen [0:44:03] · Seconded by Commissioner Henry [0:44:07]
Staff presented the project for a two-lot redevelopment, noting its alignment with city code and the intent to streamline previous easement issues through a subdivision process. Key discussions revolved around the relocation of driveway access from Plymouth Road to Emerald Trail, which was a recommendation from Hennepin County, and the details of flood plain alteration and stormwater management, which includes a net increase in flood plane capacity. The project's compliance with tree protection ordinances, specifically meeting exact removal thresholds due to its density, was also a point of inquiry. The applicant, Swanson Homes, provided clarity on construction access and the engineered stormwater system, assuring it would perform better than the natural state. No public comments were received.
Planning Commission Bylaws and Policies
Staff confirmed that no changes to the bylaws or policies were being recommended as they had undergone a major overhaul the previous year. Commissioner Henry proposed that the commission consider a future policy discussion, potentially in the zoning ordinance work group, regarding establishing maximum or minimum fill limits for properties to address extreme grading alterations.
Elections for Planning Commission Officers
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Waterman [0:50:54] (for Chair Maxwell) · Seconded by Commissioner Minion [0:50:56]
The commission proceeded with elections for Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Maxwell was nominated and re-elected as Chair with unanimous support, despite her joking desire to step down to participate earlier in discussions. Commissioner Waterman was nominated and re-elected as Vice Chair, also unanimously, ensuring continuity in leadership. The election for the Sustainability Commission Liaison was deferred until new members are appointed, allowing them an opportunity to express interest, though Commissioner Minion had initially volunteered.
Elections for Planning Commission Officers (Vice Chair)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Henry [0:52:43] (for Commissioner Waterman) · Seconded by Commissioner Banks [0:52:46]
Commissioner Waterman was nominated and re-elected as Vice Chair with unanimous support. The consensus was to maintain continuity in leadership, with commissioners expressing confidence in his continued service.
Notable Quotes (7)
Your review resulted in construction of over 3,000 um, multi-household units and 27% of those are affordable, which I believe Miss Wnack will tell you that our actual affordable housing policy is we want to get up to 20%. But we were um, beyond that in those eight years.
It's always been clear to staff and I think the community that both, uh, Commissioner Hansen, Commissioner Henry, that you were very thoughtful in your reviews of projects, even if you tried to be self-deprecating. Um, that you were very, uh, thoughtful. Your comments and questions really pointed to your desire to approve projects that are good for the city at large um that are appropriate and you worked within what are quite frankly the narrow parameters of the planning commission um to do that.
As proposed, they will meet them exactly, removing 15 high priority trees and 21 significant trees.
And uh during that review process, it became very clear um from residents in Emerald Trail that that was not um something they supported. And ultimately the the city council agreed with that. And so um it it was clear to at least city staff that there would never be a roadway connection, at least not in in the near term in in that area. And so we are comfortable with the vacation of the right of way.
So we add a media and a drain tile to help filter that that drainage and go through that system and then to a pipe. So it's more of an engineered system versus a natural um swale and basin that had been established. So we're re um as Bri had mentioned, we're adding more volume. So we're going to get more total volume and have an engineered system that's going to be maintained versus something that was just a low low area kind of in the back of the woods. So it be more of a maintained system.
Sometimes we talk about if a applicant likes to have maybe 10 ft of fill, there's currently no fill maximum or minimum that somebody can alter their property. And in some cases, it seems like it's rather extreme. So just floating it out there that if if the commissioner and city planning thinks that it may be beneficial for the development of the city to cap either a maximum or a minimum amount of fill. It could be looking worth looking into.
My opinion is that somebody who has experience as a planning commissioner, they step into the sustainability commission and it's a lot more seamless of a process versus somebody who's brand new to the planning commission and then they brand new to the sustainability commission, too. So, I was really grateful to see that you threw your hat in the ring and that you'd you'd be willing to serve on the on the sustainability commission. That would be, in my opinion, a much greater benefit than somebody who would step in brand new.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
Guidance document for land use decisions, balancing individual rights and community responsibilities.
City regulations governing land use and development, referenced for a potential workgroup discussion on fill limits.
City regulations governing the division of land.
Requests for which the commission makes final decisions.
Requests for which the commission makes final decisions.
Requests for which the commission makes final decisions.
Requests for which the commission makes final decisions.
Specific application type for Elevare Second Edition.
Existing agreement that will require alteration for Elevare Second Edition due to cross-development.
Existing agreement that will require alteration for Elevare Second Edition due to cross-development.
Existing agreement that will require alteration for Elevare Second Edition due to cross-development.
City code standard that the Elevare Second Edition project must meet.
City code standard that the Elevare Second Edition project must meet.
City code standard governing tree removal, which Elevare Second Edition meets by remaining within thresholds.