Prior Lake City Council — Transcript

Monday, February 27, 2023

Prior Lake Revival 2: Preliminary Plat and Variance Request

Votes (2)

Preliminary Plat and Variance Request for Prior Lake Revival 2 Commercial Building

5-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Commissioner Cheddar [00:22:45] · Seconded by Commissioner Ringstead [00:22:48]

Staff presented a preliminary plat to combine two lots for the Prior Lake Revival 2 project and a variance request from the minimum 0.5 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the Town Center (TC) zoning district. The variance was sought because the site's proximity to County Road 21, lack of on-street parking, and residential areas behind it made a multi-story building with adequate parking challenging. Staff supported the variance due to these practical difficulties, noting a similar variance was granted for the adjacent Prior Lake Revival 1. The applicant highlighted the importance of sufficient parking for future tenants and praised recent improvements to Eagle Creek Road. Public comment focused on potential future road connections to the west. Commissioners expressed general support for the project as a positive addition to the community.

Approval of Variance from Minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in Town Center Zoning District

5-0 Approved

Dissent: None

Moved by Commissioner Cheddar [00:23:25] · Seconded by Commissioner Johnson [00:23:28]

Following the discussion on the preliminary plat and the variance request, the Planning Commission proceeded to vote separately on the variance. Commissioners reiterated their agreement with the staff report's finding that the variance criteria, specifically related to practical difficulties in providing adequate parking for a multi-story building on the site, had been met. General support was voiced for the project's aesthetic and its contribution to the community.

Notable Quotes (3)

however even though this is Zone Town Center as I said before it's not immediately within our town center as you can see and part of that reason for that is um it doesn't have that on street parking it doesn't have some of the other aspects to it that allude itself to more of a of a downtown feel commercial district and the proximity obviously directly adjacent to County Road 21 is one of those reasons as well as having residential in behind it if this was a little bit more of a multi-story building it would be a little bit more challenging to uh to figure out those nodes and still establish a good amount of parking directly adjacent to these commercial businesses because we obviously don't have on Street part working right on County Road 21 or directly to the South so they need to they need to provide for their parking they need to provide for other things and they couldn't provide for maybe an adequate amount of parking for a two or a three-story type of commercial building in this site

Staff (Jeff) [00:05:40]
Preliminary Plat and Variance Request for Prior Lake Revival 2 Commercial Building

we're building a smaller building than what the city's requiring and as much as we'd like to build a much larger footprint and a much larger building perhaps two or three stories we also want to make sure that we set up our business owners for success in the building and one of the challenges we have with our current building is that parking lot is full three or four days out of the are the week and we just want to make sure that there's enough parking available for these tenants otherwise their customers patients or clients they won't come back to visit if they can't find a place to park

Matt Schaefer [00:12:56]
Preliminary Plat and Variance Request for Prior Lake Revival 2 Commercial Building

what I can tell you is that ever since the county and the city did The Joint project on Eagle Creek Road improvements in front of our building it's been a huge success and certainly reduced accidents and certainly has kept traffic flowing very well since they've done that project so we appreciate that joint effort between the county and the City

Matt Schaefer [00:13:28]
Preliminary Plat and Variance Request for Prior Lake Revival 2 Commercial Building

Ordinances & Resolutions (6)

PDEBE 22-27Permit

Specific permit number for a project item under review.

PDEBE 22-28Permit

Specific permit number for a project item under review.

Preliminary PlatPlan

A plan to combine two existing lots for the Prior Lake Revival 2 project.

Variance RequestOther

A request for deviation from the minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirement.

Section 1152Ordinance

Specific section of the city's zoning ordinances governing variance criteria.

Town Center (TC) DistrictOther

Zoning designation for the project site, which typically encourages multi-story buildings.

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