Woodbury approves two new businesses, celebrates environmental awards
The Woodbury City Council unanimously approved permits for an indoor playground and a classical academy on Wednesday, while also recognizing the city's environmental leadership through two major awards that highlight its commitment to sustainability.
The council voted unanimously to allow Good Times Park, a 20,000-square-foot indoor playground for children ages 1-10, to open at 7805 Hudson Road. The facility will operate seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will use remote monitoring with staff present only during private party rentals. Council members expressed support for adding more indoor play space in the community.
In a separate unanimous vote, the council approved a conditional use permit for Valor Classical Academy, a K-12 school that will operate inside Woodbury Community Church at 2975 Pioneer Drive. The academy will serve up to 70 students with a three-day-a-week classical liberal arts curriculum, with parents responsible for homeschooling on other days. Some council members raised concerns about traffic congestion from overlapping school times with nearby Lake Middle School, but the applicant clarified the hybrid model and confirmed sufficient parking exists.
The meeting also celebrated Woodbury's environmental achievements. The city received the League of Minnesota Cities Sustainable City Award and the Minnesota Green Step Cities Award for initiatives including 100% LED streetlights, 14 electric city vehicles (the most among comparable cities), and an ambitious water conservation plan. The Woodbury Waterwise implementation plan is projected to save 282 million gallons of water annually. The council also approved a $200,000 grant from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund to support this water-saving initiative.
In a separate gesture of community support, the council recognized a donation of 22 fire suppression tools from American Legion Post 501, Newport Masonic Lodge, and Woodbury Lions. These compact devices can extinguish fires within 30 seconds and will be carried by police officers as first responders. The Masonic Lodge contributed $600 per unit, with the Legion raising $300 per unit through fundraising.
The council also entered a closed session to discuss active litigation titled "Raymond Lee versus Steve Woodbury" in Washington County District Court, citing attorney-client privilege. A report on that discussion is expected at the September 25 meeting.
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Presentation of Sustainable City and Green Step Cities Awards
Woodbury was recognized for its significant environmental achievements. Kristin Morose detailed the city's continuous achievement of Green Step Cities Steps 4 and 5 since 2019, highlighting 100% LED streetlights, 14 electric city vehicles (highest among peers), extensive bicycle routes and park access, increased parkland, and 800 tons of material removed by street sweeping. Luke Fisher and Craig Johnson of the League of Minnesota Cities presented the Sustainable City Award for the 'Woodbury Waterwise implementation plan,' which projects 282 million gallons per year in water savings through various innovative programs. Both awards underscored Woodbury's strategic commitment to environmental sustainability through cross-departmental and community efforts.
Donation of Fire Suppression Units by American Legion Post 501 and Partners
Bob Dolan from American Legion Post 501, along with Steve Ingram from Newport Masonic Lodge and Mike Messing from Woodbury Lions, presented 22 Fire Suppression Tools (FSTs) to the Woodbury Public Safety Department. These compact devices are designed to be tossed into a fire, extinguishing it within 30 seconds without significant water damage. The Masonic Lodge contributed $600 per unit, with the Legion raising $300 per unit, and additional funds secured through a raffle. The units will be carried by police officers as first responders to quickly address fires and protect occupants.
Consent Agenda Items 6A through 6L, 6N
Moved by Councilor Morris [0:50:35] · Seconded by Councilor Wilson [0:50:38]
The City Council approved a block of routine consent agenda items. Notably, this included the acceptance of a $200,000 grant from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which will support the Woodbury Waterwise implementation plan, and a MET Council grant to continue the city’s toilet replacement program. These items were passed without separate discussion.
Conditional Use Permit for Good Times Park (Indoor Playground)
Moved by Councilor Morris [1:03:52] · Seconded by Councilor Date [1:03:59]
Patrick Griffin presented an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to establish Good Times Park, an indoor playground, at 7805 Hudson Road. The facility will occupy 20,000 sq ft within an existing building, adhering to the 15% commercial recreation limit for the B4 office warehouse district. It will operate 7 days a week, 7 am-9 pm, targeting children 1-10 years old. The business model is staffless with remote monitoring, except during party room rentals. The Planning Commission recommended approval, and council members expressed support for providing more indoor play space in the community.
Conditional Use Permit for Valor Classical Academy (School in Place of Worship)
Moved by Councilor Santini [1:16:35] · Seconded by Councilor Morris [1:16:40]
Jake Lee presented an application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Valor Classical Academy to operate a K-12 school within the Woodbury Community Church at 2975 Pioneer Drive. The academy will serve up to 70 students with 6 faculty, offering a 3-day-a-week (Tues-Thurs) classical liberal arts curriculum, with parents responsible for homeschooling on other days. Concerns were raised about potential traffic congestion due to overlapping school times with nearby Lake Middle School. The applicant clarified that it's an independent homeschool hybrid model, and that the site has sufficient parking. The Planning Commission recommended approval.
August Transportation Report
Chris provided updates on various transportation projects. Royal Oaks roadway rehabilitation (phases 5 & 6) completed pavement, with phases 7 & 8 underway. I-94/I-494 resurfacing, scheduled for fall completion, is causing significant congestion due to lane reductions and detours. New MnDOT ADA improvements on I-494 ramps are causing additional 3-week lane closures. The Metro Gold Line BRT project is on track for 2025 completion, with final paving on Bilenberg and Geyer Drive. Other updates included Bilenberg Drive and Correll Boulevard rehabilitation, Eagle Valley Golf Course parking lot paving, and water main installation near Gordon Bailey Elementary. The 'Name the Street Sweeper' contest, promoting the city's effective program that removed 840 tons of material, was also highlighted.
Administrator's Report
City Administrator Clint provided an update on upcoming meetings. These include a neighborhood open house for the Pioneer Drive and water treatment plant connection pipe project on September 19th, the annual budget workshop on September 11th, and a council workshop on September 25th to discuss 'Safe Streets' and updated strategic plan statements. Meetings for the Auto Investment, Parks and Natural Resource, and Economic Development commissions were also scheduled.
Closed Session to Discuss Active Litigation
Moved by Unknown [1:29:43] · Seconded by Unknown [1:29:45]
The City Council moved into a closed session to discuss active litigation titled 'Raymond Lee versus Steve Woodbury,' Washington County District court file number 82-CV. 23-4267. Mayor Burt cited Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.05 subdivision 3B, emphasizing the need for absolute confidentiality due to attorney-client privilege regarding litigation status and strategy. A report on the closed session is expected at the September 25, 2024, regular meeting.
Woodbury has been, um. has achieved steps 4 and 5 working on metrics since 2019, um, so every year since, um, even through COVID, so kudos to you for that.
100% of city owned street and traffic lights are LED. Uh, Woodbury at leased or owns a total of 14 electric vehicles on their C fleet, um, which is the highest of any of our step 4 and 5 reporting participants.
We are recognizing the project that staff mentioned earlier, the Waterwise program with components that could result in estimated accumulated water savings of 282 million gallons per year of water that is tremendously meaningful anywhere in the state and particularly In a part of the state where so much emphasis and pressure has been put on water supply.
These units are small, compactful. Uh, this is a used one... but these are the thing, this is, this is a state of the art unit that you toss it into the fire, uh, you pull your pin, toss it in the fire, and it knocks out a a fire within less than 30, 30 seconds.
I just need to expresses that these things do not take the oxygen out of the room. So it makes it a lot safer to for the police officer or whoever the first responder is to go in and get those. Kids, pets, adults, whoever out of there before the fire department gets there.
So hours of operation were open 7 days a week, 363 days a year, um, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day, so it's, it's a very accessible facility for people.
I'll just say that I took my kids to the good times Park in Egan once and the only reason I didn't bring him back is it's a little bit of a drive from Wberry, um, even though we'll have the Central Park indoor facility as well. I feel like variety is great and both will be very well used, you know.
Valor Academy anticipates having 65 students grades K through 12, and 6 faculty members, with a maximum of 70 students per post. The core instruction fields are given instructed at the site Tuesdays through Thursdays, so 3 days a week, and parents can choose Monday or Friday as a practice of preparation day at home.
So the parents are still acting as a homeschool family, so they still have to report back to the state, do all the state testing. Um, it just gives parents the ability that would like to still do some of their own forms of education, sports, arts to do it. And those other two days.
I, I don't even, I mean, I could go on and on about homeschooling, but that's would you like to make a motion? Can I? Yes. I don't think I've ever made one before, so I'm very happy. Wait, are we gonna put it up? I'm also nervous now. I don't know what to do.
I 94 eastbound has two through lanes split to the left with one additional lane from Century Avenue to Woodbury Drive, available to exit and enter the freeway. There is a detour needed for those eastbound and iPhone 94 from west of I-494 that would like to exit on radio Drive or Woodbury Drive to be able to stay in the entrance and exit capable lane on 94, and the map shows that detail.
Again, we partner with South Washington Watershed District and Ramsey, Washington Metro Watershed District to increase street sweeping done throughout Woodbury, which we were just recognized for and 840 tons of material moved from the roadways out of the out of the water we 40 tons 40 tons. It's a tremendous route.
The reason for the City council's action to close the meeting results from the City council's conclusion that a balancing of the purposes of the attorney-client privilege for discussion of litigation status and strategy against the purposes of the open meeting law and open dissemination of information demonstrates the need for absolute confidentiality as to this act of litigation matter.
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Other Topics from This Document
Donation of Fire Suppression Units
Conditional Use Permit for Good Times Park
Conditional Use Permit for Valor Classical Academy
Transportation and Infrastructure Updates
Active Litigation Closed Session
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