City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody. February 23rd to the flag of the United States of America to the stands nation. Council member Hatfield here. Council member Bennish here. Council member Chevlin here. Council member Gra here. Mayor Hubard here. All right. Next, we have adoption of the agenda. Does anybody have any additions or corrections on the agenda? Otherwise, I'd entertain a motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt agenda. All right. We have a motion from council member Chevlin. Second. And a second from council member Benes. Uh all those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Agenda is adopted. Next, that brings us on to visitor presentations. We have one on our calendar here, so I will have uh Representative Jim Nash come on up and uh take it away.

Good evening, Madame Mayor, members of the council. Thanks for having me. Sorry I couldn't join you last time. I had some obligations that took me away from stopping by, but uh happy to come and chat with you and answer any questions you might have. As you know, we've just started back into our legislative session uh last week. And uh you know, this is a nonbudget year, so we are typically dealing with policy only and we may often times in other years, maybe not this year, deal with bonding projects. Uh but in general, we're uh we're looking at doing policy issues that are going to be to the benefit of places like Chaza and and other parts of uh Carver County. wanted to give you sort of a a look ahead and the mayor and I have been talking about about some of these and uh you know we're hoping for better news on Friday of this week but we are going to be receiving the February forecast this Friday as many of you have looked at the November forecast there was a a look ahead that we are effectively looking at could be up to a $6 billion or more structural deficit that starts in calendar or fiscal 27 and fiscal 27 starts in August August of this year. So that's going to be a fairly challenging effort that we at the capital are going to have to reconcile as to how do we address a $6 billion structural deficit. And you know I'm not going to be overly partisan but decisions made in previous bianium are making realities come true for this biania and for biania moving forward. and we're going to have to figure out how to do that. U today, a little bit about me. I've been in the legislature for 12 years. I have the good fortune of serving as the chair of state government finance and I am our caucus' whip. So, I'm at our senior leadership team. Um, and I'm always grateful to receive information from folks because we can

actually make that into policy quite quickly. Um, again, this is a policy year and I'm happy to work on things that are easy or easier. Uh, the mayor and I and a number of your folks have talked about things like a social district. My personal perspective on social districts is it has been working in other cities. It seems to be a good idea. Uh, the the businesses and the city work very well together. So, I would rather stop having people carry individual bills to give one city something over here and picking a winner and telling the city over there, you're not smart or pretty enough and we don't want to give you this. My perspective is let's pass it into the statute. Let's make sure that the deficiencies that we may have seen rising to the top are addressed and then let cities decide from there and figure out how to implement that and then get out of the way. What I think is cities like Chaza or Wakonia where I live and served as mayor, they are built well for something like that. All you have to do is come to the various festivals that you go to or uh a fair and realize that we have the capacity and have the ability to make these things happen and people will come out and they will infuse the economy as I call it. So they're going to they're going to come and spend money. They're going to go from business to business and you know, maybe they buy a piece of art, maybe they buy some jewelry, maybe they have a beer from somewhere and they responsibly go from place to place. Sounds great to me. Let's get out of the way of those businesses realizing that. Uh so, so that I know that is I think on your agenda of things that you want to become reality.

Yeah. Um I I will say bonding is always a topic of conversation and madame mayor, we've talked about this.

Yes, we have. the practical reality that as I can see it being a finance chair and a longtime leader in our caucus is what we're going to see on Friday may make it so that we don't actually have a bonding bill this year uh in so far as and I I heard Bob groan um but what it what may happen become reality is that we don't have the cash to service the debt and that's just the way it is u if it's otherwise I'm going to argue for Carver County projects uh that are critical infrastructure or that will have a direct impact ability into growing that local economy. Um

we have two that could you know check both of those boxes off. Yeah. And you know I'm happy to to advocate for them and and we do uh again Friday is going to tell us so much

and we'll be able to to give direction from there. So, uh, you know, I will say that having had municipal experience, I love working on municipal issues. Uh, Madame Mayor, you and I were talking about some of the other things. I know that your LGA is zero. Um, and one of my pet projects has also been to uh, eradicate fiscal disparities. It is. And for those of you that aren't policy nerds, um it's an old and somewhat antiquated notion where cities that have a great business district will peel off x% of their business taxes and give them to other cities in the metro area. And that's a simplified version of of what it does, but uh Carver County cities are a net exporter of fiscal disparities. And what it does is it is it hobbles that particular city from being able to keep that inside of the city that it originated in and allow it to be developed uh or spent to develop that that downtown area. Um when I was mayor in Waconia, we went to the capital and I don't know how many different ways of being told no that you could have could have done, but I think that there's an appetite maybe to begin having those conversations. Uh, I know from Madame Mayor that you are sort of a a wash out, but many of our our sister cities here in Carver County are paying through the nose for fiscal disparities. Um, and if you if you think about it, if you're a wash through, you're effectively handing each other $10. Let's maybe have a conversation around how valuable is that that uh that program. So, um, policy issues that I think that have passed in the last number of years that will have an impact here in not just the city but also Carver County. Uh, I was very pleased to have gotten uh been asked to carry the project to fix our

state's child welfare um software system that will actually have a huge impact here in Carver County. Um, so it's called SSIS. if I don't know if anybody have heard about it but uh it's a 19 it's the best the 1980s has in software to offer to us today um I was able to get that done I work in the technology world and uh not everybody knows I spent 17 years of my life as an abused kid so I have a special place in my heart to fix these things um the software is so antiquated and old that many of the people who work in the government center just up the road spend endless hours in overtime wasting time wasting effort wasting ing really the ability for them to help other children uh in the system. And some of those many of those children are our shared constituents that need a little bit more attention from the state uh and somebody who who actually gives a dang. Uh so I did that. I expect for that to be up and running within the next year and a half or less. Um and it's going to have great impact for uh Carver County residents. I've done a couple of other things that have sort of revolutionized the uh the way mandatory reporting works here in the state. Um that's been something that I've I've championed for the last five years. I'm very pleased to get that done. Um, something that I did this last year, u you might have heard we have a little bit of fraud in the state of Minnesota. And one of the projects that I worked on created a uh a greater amount of fiscal oversight and programmatic oversight for the state through the office of the legislative auditor. And what we are hearing back already from the different parts of the administration is what it has done is has forced reports to go back to say this recommendation was implemented, this one was not. and it's driving greater internal controls. And I'm sure you all do a fantastic job of nailing

down absolutely everything that you create as policy and then making sure that it gets implemented. The state not so much and we're trying very hard to make sure that that gets done. So, um, again, I I can come back in another a couple of other weeks to talk about the impact of what the November or the February forecast is going to be, but I I would say if we were all driving in a in a truck somewhere, I would say that the the watch would be braced for impact because it's going to be very very messy quite quite potentially. So, and with with all presentations, I'm happy to take questions. Um, in fact, I appreciate them because then I can know exactly what's on your mind.

Uh, yeah. Does anybody have any questions for Representative Nash? I would say that our chair of the Suburban Transit uh, Southwest Transit might have maybe a comment or question.

Yes, I um, as you probably know, we're joint powers agreement Chanhass and Eden Prairie and Chaska with Southwest Transit. Um there is the potential there's been talks of an elimination of the sub suburban transit providers um and would love your support in helping make sure that doesn't happen. The RCEO sent you an email today outlining some key facts which include Southwest Transit is more efficient than uh Metro Transit. Um where it would save amount of tax data. doesn't really save technically any money when you look at uh infrastructure and all of those things that it would take to eliminate and our constituents would be um harmed with the elimination of suburban transit. So the I think we're being lumped together with some other agencies unfairly. Um and it would be uh too bad if that was impacted the constituents here and um we will still pay all the same taxes, motor vehicle sales tax, regional sales tax, but we will not get the benefit um of something we've worked hard to to build and to have and to make sure runs efficiently being mindful of taxpayer dollars. So um that email is out there for you to look over. Um, and I'm sure you've heard already about it, but I would be remiss not to just mention it while we're we're here. So, it's important. Um, I know for our community it is it's more than just a bus that goes downtown. It is how people get food. It is how people get to their medical appointments. It is how people stay connected. Um, so it is more than a green bus. It is it is people's livelihood. So,

well, Madame Mayor and Council Member Hatfield, uh, you didn't need to ask for my support tonight because I've been giving it for the 12 years that I've been there. Thank you.

And from my perspective, anything that the Met Council tells us that they can do better, I'm going to be very suspicious. Um, and the reality of it is going back to when Len Simich was there, I I've seen a very detailed, deep dive on the impact of Southwest. I've ridden them as I think we all have. But for me, living in Waconia, we don't have a regular bus route there. But we do have their their pointto-oint. Uh, and I think that's a very innovative way to go. I met with a CEO uh in Wakonia at Mocha Monkey talking about just how important this is. This is not something that we want to allow to be absorbed into the behemoth that is the Met Council. And while the Met Council does own the buses in the underlying uh agreement, honestly, I'll the mayor may have told you I'm a little on the blunt side. Um

me too. Thank you. I don't care that they would like to get rid of this. Um and they will have a fight with me and my caucus and for those of us that are actually in their footprint of service along with the other uh suburban transit uh groups. You know, here's the deal. Uh the Met Council has not been able to actually run things efficiently uh for a very long time and Southwest has done a fantastic job. Uh their buses are always clean, their buses are always on time. Uh if you hop on it to go to the fair, you get a firsthand examination on how great they're doing their job. And then you begin easing yourself into, well, you know, maybe I'll I'll take that ride from here to there. They do a great job, and I am going to fight biferously to make sure that they don't go away.

Well, I appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah, of course. I knew that you would be an ardent supporter of it, so I figured I'd launch into that, but it is out of fairness, I thought would give everyone my same spiel. Yeah. Well, and and to be fair, Madam Madame Mayor, a number of years ago, I I actually fought on behalf of Southwest when the Met Council was trying to take uh the bus station in Eden Prairie and I I made them spend more money uh than they wanted to to to actually pay Southwest was its market rate. Um, so take that for what it is. Uh, they they the Met Council knows me well and they know that I will fight them tooth and nail to make sure that they don't rake Southwest over the coals. Sure. Thank you.

Does anybody else have any questions for Representative Nash? I do have happy to answer whatever I do. Oh, okay. Uh, forgive me if this isn't directly correlated to Carver County, but it indirectly could affect Carver County. The potential closure of HCMC um and the ballpark sales tax that is being proposed to be redirected for HCMC. Um where do you stand on that given the potential of the closure of a major metropolitan level one trauma center and where would its patients go if that were to happen?

Yeah. And not only that, but the uh ambulance services surrounding the area that HCMC ambulance covers would be inundated with over 100,000 runs a year that would not be made up for. So where do you stand on the ballpark sales?

Well, Madame Mayor and Council Member Bench, uh I have been talking with the Ridge View CEO about that as well. Um, you know, again, you'll you'll if you know anything about me, you know that I don't weigh in on something until I see a bill on how it would shake out. So, uh, you could say, Jim, how do you feel about puppies and kittens? And until I see the bill, I'm not going to weigh in on that because the devil is in the detail. I I not only am I Well, I'm a policy nerd. Uh, I'm a giant policy nerd and until I see what the bill says, I don't usually weigh in on that, but but generally speaking, we need to keep health care assets up and running and online. Um, what I know is that a huge number of regulations that have been uh dropped onto healthcare organizations are driving costs to the point where they are talking about making drastic moves. Um I think very much that we want to look at those look at the impacts that they have on on public policy and the intersection of running a business. So that becomes very problematic for a lot of them. But uh when we see what the details would would look like in a bill then again I'm happy to come back and I'm not trying to be evasive. I'm just trying to be very honest. I don't ever my mom could call me and say how do you feel about this bill? I'm like, "Mom, the bill doesn't exist." And once I read it, I will tell you. Um, so that not any Well, the ma madam mayor will tell you I don't I don't run away from issues. I I'm happy to give you a blunt answer once a solution has been proposed.

I appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah. Uh, I do have my little handout for you. Would you like to run through that, Madam Mayor? Yeah. Well, you touched on a couple of them. So the social district legislation, we we're we're fierce advocates for that because like you had said, there are some cities that already have this enacted and one of the cities is right across the river and so that kind of puts it us at at an unfair advantage. Plus, we're more fun than they are.

Yeah, we are more fun. Um but this this will open up th those opportunities for our downtown area to to have that implemented and to be kind of that social dist district that kind of helps our businesses. Um, and we were able to do something um, on a temporary basis this last uh, Christmas or holiday season and it was really wellreceived um, by both the businesses and the patrons that kind of just thought it was like, wow, this is a really nice added amenity while I'm out and about. Um, so it would be really great to see that through all the way. We did talk about City Square West. I know a a girl can dream. Um, but it it is something that, you know, would be right across the way here and it's something that has just been years in the making and that would just really make us a really great regional destination just tie in the rest of our downtown for that redevelopment piece. Um, having a plaza, having um housing above and having a marcado and and retail uh just and in proximity to the rest of our downtown features would just be amazing. And we just h need a little bit to cross us over the finish line. Mhm.

But as part of that request is that TI tiff extension request which doesn't cost bonding dollars. It's more of like yes, I'm all in favor of things that don't cost money. So if it's truly going to be beneficial, but as I'd said, Madame Mayor, it is very difficult to to sign up for something when we don't know what the forecast and the economic future of the state of Minnesota is going to look like. Um, you know, people would throw rocks at me if I voted for something that put us into a deeper hole fiscally because that's just not what we need right now. Um, and as as great as a project might be, uh, much like we tell our kids things that may disappoint them, sometimes we have to make decisions at the state that aren't always super popular locally.

Sure, I understand that. I respect that. Um, it's also a reinvestment piece, you know, of the money coming back from the money that we contribute as citizens in this area that we like to see as infrastructure improvements in our downtown. So, that would be my one advocation. And then obviously, we had kind of um offline discussed the utility extension. We do have an industrial park that's going to be coming online, which will be of great benefit um tax- wise to our whole entire community. And so having that uh dollar put towards, you know, infrastructure improvements to be able to see that come online would be very helpful.

And that's that's uh unless I missed anything. Okay, I did not miss anything. But I do I do have, you know, got this handy dandy sheet in case you can put it on your desk every time you're at your office and think about CHASA and and our legislative priorities. Um I working in the IT world, I hate paper. So, if you could send me something as a PDF, I can also email it to you. Be happy to do that. That would be fantastic. So, yeah. Otherwise, I mean, I appreciate you taking the time to come out here and and visit. I um I I know that with redistricting from the the last census, we kind of Chaza became part of your district. And so, it's nice to see you here

and be able to advocate another strong supporter of our community. And

I will leave you with your request that you you sold so passionately. I'm not a no on your bonding request, but um again, as a realist and as our caucus whip, I sometimes have to deliver unpleasant news in sometimes very straightforward ways. If we don't have the money, there isn't a project uh that rises to the top that that uh spends money that we don't have. So, uh, you know, the the regrettable piece about what does a $6 billion structural deficit look like? Uh, we have on paper what looks like a um 26 cash surplus, but um, we have to see what that looks like. And, you know, it's fiscally imprudent if you know that, let's say it's the two days away from from fiscal 27 starting. Why would you spend a giant bag of cash in fiscal 27 when you know that you're looking at a structural deficit in the next year? So, it it all comes down to fiscal prudence.

I understand. I wouldn't be doing my job though if I didn't advocate for the things that better our communities. So, you have a question.

I have one I have one more ask to um and I asked this of Lucy Ree last week. So, just because Jessica is split, I'm asking it of you two. when the education bill comes up, could we please um be very thoughtful about how that money that is now aotted to the nonpublic education, it provides busing and school nurses to our private schools. Um and that was on the table to be taken away last year. It was a huge source of um debate, let's call it that, um for all private school parents. And I think we very nicely handled that. But I would really like if when that vote comes back, we think about the hundreds and hundreds of kids that are in the non-public school system um and what that would mean to them if we cut. It's 0.5% of the education budget. So it is really not that much, but it means a ton to them to be able to get to school and to have a school nurse.

Yeah. Well, council member Sheldan, you'll if you look back, you'll uh you'll find that I was one of the louder voices uh on both on the floor for that and I know you were. Yeah. My caucus was very straightforward about things like that. That a student who attends one of the many fine private schools here in Carver County has every right to ride a bus as does somebody who goes to one of the public schools. Uh they have every right to have the state provide their textbooks and I think it was a hundreds of dollars if less. Yeah, it was very it's very minimal. It was so I I don't know why the governor proposed that. Uh I believe that the governor would still like to try to make that a reality. uh he would that's why I'm asking for your support in for all of

Yeah. And for for those watching at home that that didn't know we are in a tie in the Minnesota House. So uh I will tell you that that's not going to happen while we're there. Um, I also think that in speaking to a lot of my DFL colleagues, they also recognize that that was uh a very foolish way to try to balance spending on the backs of school kids who uh they just want to know that they have a school nurse and good good textbooks and a bus that's warm to hop onto to go to the school that they go to. Wonderful. Not not a crazy request. No. But you have a you have a a firm advocate in both myself and my caucus.

I appreciate it and I know all the families that I represent that have friends of ours and and our own kids alone very much appreciate that you are standing up for them too because we pay our tax dollars in for the public schools and we all vote yes for referendums. The little bit that comes back would be is very appreciated. It's my pleasure to do it. I'm going to pick on council member Growl. Everyone's everyone else has asked a question. Uh that's fair. Uh I the last two that were here I I commented more on just uh civil discourse.

Um you know we live in an environment right now that is everyone's right and everyone's wrong and there's no middle ground. Um and I am a firm believer I was a political science major and when you really start looking at details there's a lot of purple in between there. a lot of people are there and we just need to have open conversation and show empathy and sympathy and conversation and and it starts with our leaders right and and I just like I said I'm an advocate I'm not accusing I'm not celebrating I'm just it's more of a statement because I do think more and more uh everyday people look to our leaders to be a role model and and sometimes at lots of different levels of organizations we are not seeing that this day and it and it's um again it's just about being we're all human. We're all individual. So that's that was my comment to the individuals prior, our other representatives, and I'll mention it to you. Just, you know, be that example and yeah, doesn't mean we're not going to disagree. It's not going to mean we're going to get everything we want, but just making sure we're we're, you know, setting that example for, you know, because I'll be honest, there is moments with my I have a 13-year-old and 11-year-old and I look at the world we live in these days and I don't know if I'm making it a better place for them to live than where I live right now and that bothers me a lot. Um, because that is always the dream as a parent is that you leave the world better than for your kids than you did. And I I don't know if we have that right now. And um, I think it starts with our leaders. So, I appreciate your service and your time and uh it's not an easy role to have either right now and I understand that because um people see a letter by your name and either like you or hate you because of that and that's truly not fair either truthfully. So,

well, Madame Mayor and Council Member Growl, sorry, it's a process that we go through. We always we always speak through the chair. I know. Um what I will tell you is a couple things.

Um I referenced the the the child abuse bills that I I brought over the last number of years. I couldn't have done it without people like my friend Kelly Mhler who is a Democrat. I'm Republican. You all know that. Um I couldn't have made it happen without her. And what I will tell you is when you see Republicans and Democrats getting along, there's never film at 11, right? It never gets the attention of the news media to say, "Wow, Nash and Muller made a good thing happen for Minnesota." What they do put on the on the TV news is the times where we actually clash. Why? Because everybody needs their little their little hit on social media. They, you know, they they want to say, "Oh, this is so good." And look, my job is to create clash of ideas. Um, but if you ask anybody at the capital, I only work against an idea or for an idea. I have never made anything personal. And one of the jobs that I have as whip and as the floor leader uh for debate is I drill it into the heads of every one of my members that if you ever go after a member personally, you're going to have a little time in my office where I will put you straight. We go to St. Paul to talk about ideas. And the best thing that you can do is if you want your idea to move forward, you have to get somebody else to vote for it. And if you in a tie want to get something to become law, you have to convince a 68th person to put up a vote. And that means that we we have to go, as I call it, shopping on the other side of the aisle. And if you're incapable of doing that, then maybe you should get better at your job, which is my words to them. Um, but I would say if you if you came down regularly and were to watch committee or floor session or whatever, you would see Republicans and Democrats working together far more than the news media

might tell you. Um, and even when we do clash, do it in such a way that you don't look like uh a crazy person. You know, last week there was a bill in the committee of which I'm a co-chair. The other side tried to uh bring an amendment that none of us had ever seen and I simply said no. I did it very calmly and what we wound up doing is we have hit the reset button. Uh we will do we will have if you're a political science major you uh remember the person named Fuko who talked about discursivity. The concept of discursivity is that we made we make policy advancements through talking to one another. So that is my perspective on things. Um, sometimes you'll see people looking a little angry, but you'll never see Representative Jim Nash looking like Nikita Kruev banging my shoe on the table because that just takes away from all of us.

Thank you. Well, on that note, um, no never want to be Nikita Kruev. No, no. So, well, thank you for having me. Thank you. So, I get chastised by by Capital Security. I I give out my my phone number is published to the internet. So if you have need of getting a hold of me, the the mayor has my phone number. I was going to say I have I have called you and you Yes, you are very responsive. So I really do appreciate that. And I will say this is in departing, come down to the capital to visit. We we run precipitously low on normal people at the capital sometimes and it would be great to have people come down and visit

and I I will be seeing you in a couple of weeks. Yes, ma'am. Sounds good. All right. And I'll look for that as an attachment in an email. Yes, I'm going to get on that after the meeting. Very good. Thank you all so much. Have a great night. Thank you.

All right. Wonderful. Okay. So, Representative Nash was the only one uh on the agenda, but is there anybody else here for visitor presentation that's not here for a uh agenda item? If if so, come forward. If not, we are going to move right along to our consent agenda. These are items that receive little to no discussion, although something can certainly be pulled off of the agenda. Oh, I skipped over the minutes. Thank you. Uh I like me keeping me accountable over here. Sorry. Backing up. We're going to approve the previous meeting minutes for both the meeting minutes of uh January 26, 2026 and also February 2nd, 2026. Uh, does anybody have any addition or corrections to either of those minutes? Otherwise, I would entertain a motion.

Motion to approve previous meeting minutes. All right. So, we have a motion from Council Member Hatfield. Second. Oh, a second from Council Member Gra. Sorry. All right. Any discussion? Otherwise, all those in favor say I. I. Opposed.

All right. The minutes are passed and then let's move on to consent items. And like I said, little to no discussion unless someone wants to pull anything off or if anybody has a question on a consent item. Just a couple quick comments. Um excited to see the um final site and building plans for the PV business center coming um through consent. And then also just always exciting to see the music festival festival and River City Days getting their um on sale liquor licenses in order because that means summer is coming and we're really excited about that. So um those are just my only two comments. But that's all I have.

Yeah, those are wonderful comments. All right. All right. Well, with that I would entertain a motion to approve the consent items. Motion to approve consent. All right. We have a motion from council member Venes. Second. And a second from council member Hatfield or sorry Shlinlin. All right. Any discussion? Otherwise, all those in favor say I.

I opposed. All right. The consent items are adopted. And then let's move on to our Thank you gentlemen for being here. Um action items. We have a few. First is 8A public hearing for adopt resolution number 2026-16 approving the easement vacation on 1525 Clover Preserve Way Dr. Horton PC number 2026-05.

Miss Hansen.

Yes, we we are we have no Matt here today. So, go ahead and take it away. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor. We have a conservation easement vacation request this evening for the property at 1525 Clover Preserve Way, also known as uh lot one block lot one of block five of the Oak Creek development. Uh so this property is located in Oak Creek, which is a Dr. Horton development that stems off of uh Clover Ridge. Um, so it's nearby the Clover Ridge neighborhood off of Clover Preserve Way, um, which is, um, two culde-sacs on that roadway. Uh, 1525 is highlighted in, um, the blue lot that's in the middle aerial exhibit on your screen here. Um, the property was approved as a part of the development Oak Creek back in 2022. Uh during that time a conservation easement was put in place with the development uh with the purpose to preserve and protect trees uh within the development. Um so there were a lot of significant trees um that were protected as a part of that conservation easement um uh both on private properties and common areas within the development. Um this property in particular had one large oak tree in the back yard of the uh property. Um in 2024 uh the city did some normal site visits of the development and did uh tag this tree as having um some signs of distress during that time. And we did inform the developer uh of those um uh signs uh and the tree having some hazard to both the property and the adjacent trail um that

is alongside the tree. Um so at that time we uh basically gave uh a verbal uh agreement or approval to the developer to be able to take down the tree since um there was future hazard uh likely to happen. um and the developer did choose to take down that tree. Uh the conservation easement is still in place out there. The only way you can um get rid of a conservation easement is if you vacate it. So that is what the developer is requesting this evening is to vacate the easement that is in the backyard of this property where the tree was. Um since the tree has already been removed, there's really no purpose for the easement back there. Um as the purpose of the easement was to protect the tree. Um in this case um it came through city approval or city um understanding to take down the tree due to the um health of the tree being a hazard to the property and the adjacent trail. Um so with that um again that is what uh what the request includes this evening is to vacate that conservation easement on the property at 1525 Clover Preserve Way also known as lot one block five of Oak Creek um and a motion to adopt resolution number 2026-16 which would be approving the conservation easement vacation. Um, this request is being heard at the council, so a public hearing is required as a part of a an easement vacation request. Um, with that, um, I can answer any questions. Otherwise, we do have a representative here from Dr. Horton, too.

All right. Does anybody have any questions for for staff or for Dr. Horton at all? Just to state the obvious, the easement there is protecting nothing anymore because the tree is not there. Correct. It's a great a great comment. Just stay in the audience because No, that's good. That's good to put that out there. Yep.

All right. Um All right. Well, with no questions, we move this along and do open the public hearing. So, let's go ahead and open the public hearing at 7:38. Is anybody in the audience would like to come forward to speak on this matter at all? Nobody coming up. All right. Oh, if you start the motion, you got to complete the whole way through. No. Okay, fine. I'm just trying to kill a little bit of time here so I can say that we are going to close this public hearing then at 7:39. Um, seeing that no one's come forward to speak on this matter. Uh, and so that is that is we don't

Okay, but now we need to make a motion to approve it. Okay. Sorry. All right. So, uh, so that is the I mean it's pretty straightforward. So, anybody, uh, entertain a motion? I'll make a motion to adopt resolution number 2026-16 approving the easement vacation on 1525 Clover Preserve Way, Dr. Horton, PC2026-05. Nice. All right, we have a second for that. Second. All right, so we have a motion from uh, Council Member Hatfield and a second from Council Member Chevlin. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I.

I opposed. All right, motion carries and it passes. All right, so that moves us along to our second action item 8B, which is motion to adopt resolution 2026-11 approving the concept plan for the N/ community asset foundation PC number 2026-03. Uh, am I okay? Mr. Kitt,

take it away. Mayor, council members, mayor said, the item in front of you is a concept plan for the inn, as the project is called. Um, this is at Yellow Brick Road between Chesca Boulevard and Cross Town Boulevard. Sorry, I'm just trying to organize my screen a little bit. So, you can see the subject property on the title slide here. This is concept plan. So you're all very familiar with our process at this point but um just to provide a little more it's it's high level review uh looking at the general project overview trying to identify issues um get your feedback here tonight um so we can give direction uh to the developer um on the proposal of things that they should work on as they move forward. So, some background and previous approvals uh as they relate to this location. Um the Brickyard Villas was approved as concept plan in 2009. Um at the time, this is about 46 detached dwelling units in this area, 180 rental units. Um and three apartment buildings were considered at that time on 57 acres. Um and so as things have proceeded um you know things have changed a little bit from that original concept plan in 2014. Klein Brickyard 13th edition uh was done at that time. Uh the final plan had 20 lots on it. Um there were six lots identified on the east of Yellow Brick Road which is where uh the proposed development this evening is located. um lots one through six block three were to develop into one-story detached dwelling units uh with shared driveways and utility connections. And so that is how uh these six lots were envisioned. Um the item in front of me tonight is really concentrated on two of those six

lots that were originally guided uh for those detached uh units. the zoning ordinance uh was amended or the deszoning ordinance was amended in 2019. At that time that amendment was done to reduce and clarify the rear yard setbacks um from 30 feet to 20 ft with the idea being that that would um you know enable these villas to go forward. As a part of that there were evergreen trees that were um allotted as part of that approval to provide additional screening. Uh if you've been back here there are There is a town home development that exists um kind of to the east or behind where these lots are located and the screening was intended for for those. So existing conditions on the lots that we're talking about which is these two kind of southern lots of the six on the east side of yellow brick road um site in total the two lots combined is about 32 acres um grading and tree clearing occurred around 2014. So, you can Oops, getting rowdy. There we go. You can see 2013 aerial uh on the upper kind of corner of the screen showing the trees that were there. Those were cleared. That was all done um you know under the the process. Um and so sidewalk connections were created as part of that. And um and then there's our existing Boulevard trees that were plotted or planted um along Yellow Brick Road at the time. The concept in front of you tonight um is a little bit different than the existing approvals and so we can talk

through the process of what that will entail um to go to get there um if this project is to move forward. Uh so the concept in front of me tonight as you can see on the screen is uh consists of combining the two lots that I've been talking about um for a new building and you can see the pad as it's sketched out uh in the upper corner of the screen. Um and then with a parking lot to serve the building. Uh the building is proposed and you can see the front elevation of it on the lower corner um to be two stories in height about 20 feet tall. um about 3,840 square feet total. So with a footprint of half of that with it being twotory building. Um there would be four units, so it's effectively a quad. So two units on the lower, two units above. Um each of them with two bedrooms. The upper levels would have balconies on them with storage. And then the lower levels would have a patio um and storage allocated to them separately. land use review. So currently the land use plan in the comprehensive plan calls for this area to be it's guided as low density residential. Um so low density residential can mean a number of things. Detached single family dwellings are often what we see, but they also it does allow for in that in that land use guidance for mid-rise multiple dwelling unit um developments to occur. There's a very low density range in this in this guidance for two to five dwelling units per net acre. Um and so that is something that we are working with uh the developer on to further analyze the density. Um if we are to look at this as

just the two uh lots together, that density with four units on about a third of an acre um far exceeds the two to five. Um but there's maybe an approach to take a different look at how does the development as a whole look from a density perspective? um and is there density that you know could be allocated to this this particular corner by still staying within you know what that range of what um a low density residential area would be. So we'll be working through that as we move into preliminary is the well maybe I'm getting too far ahead of myself is the plan because it's only taking up two of the six is the plan to add more eventually.

So yeah the what would under what's being pursued right um would be to develop these two lots under with the four. So you would end up having one, two, three, four additional lots that are not built. Yeah. Um the current eligibility would be or if this were to go forward, right? These other lots would continue to be guided as that concept plan, that approved plan, right in the zoning. Okay. As it's been amended would apply here. So be for those those detached there. Okay.

Yep. So, looking at the zoning that's established on the site, um PRD 57 currently exists. That is the district that includes the town home development that exists uh to the east of this site. The six lots that we're talking about and the two um that are proposed for development under this under this proposal. And then um the lots that you see over here um in the darker shade of yellow um which are more of the villa type product um that was originally kind of approved, right? Those are the ones that got built off of Brickyard Drive. Um so it establishes standards for that. Uh there's there's open space included in that. Um multi-dwelling units are included already. Uh low density detached dwelling as I was talking through. Um, so those are the sort of units that are permitted. Special use would allow for a detached two-doing units. Um, so there would be a zoning ordinance amendment that would be required to allow for a 4unit um, development in this location. So, the plan process um or proposes a new twostory building as I mentioned earlier um the square footage of about 3500 square ft total with a footprint of just over 1,900 square feet. Um the building does not exceed the district's max building height and would comply with applicable setbacks. The facade materials that are shown uh are to be brick or hardy board siding which aligns with um you know generally aligns with the direction that our code would would require. Um as the plans come into you know greater focus we'll need to make sure that we're meeting um continuing to meet

that under the zoning code. Um the city's anti- monotony requirements would apply to this site. Um so this means that as a corner lot 360 degree architecture would need to apply uh to this facility. Um this has been included as a condition of approval site configuration. Uh so as I've talked about this is currently two separate lots. Um the idea would be to combine the lots and that's an action that we can work with the county to do. An easement would need to be vacated. So presently we have drainage and utility easement um along the property line as we typically would along the property line. With this being um combined we would need to take care of that as part of the next step in the process. One of the things we're looking at here um as we move forward is the parking. Um presently it's under the current zoning requirements. Um so zoning would dictate that or would would say stipulate that there should be two parking um uh spaces per unit. Um there are different ways that we've looked at that recently. We've done it one per bedroom. In this case with them being twobedroom units, you end up with the same outcome. Um, one of the things that we're considering is the nature of this particular facility um is is for um uh with partnership with an organization called Beyond New Beginnings um which uh you know serves young mothers single mothers with children obviously because they're mothers they have children but they're still working through school and so they're looking for some supports and things. Uh Beyond New Beginnings has been um a great um partner and they currently operate uh in downtown. They have a facility where they are doing something very similar to what's being

proposed here. Um but I think you know one of the things we'll work through is the nature of the tenant in this building um you know wouldn't typically have two cars. We also need to think ahead though um you know in the case of maybe this facility changes hands or changes purpose and focus um to the fact that you know you could have a different tenant um at some point in the future and how does this facility set itself up um for the long term. Um so I think that's something that we're considering and trying to figure out here as we'll work with with the applicant as they move forward. One of the things we've done in the past is to say well why don't we make sure that we um you know can accommodate those spaces parking parking and just build what you need uh to serve the current use. Um so that may be an option to to look through. Uh some of the things that we look at is parking lot setbacks from Yellow Brick Road in order to meet current guidance or current zoning um need to be moved back. Um so looking at trying to achieve uh the current zoning screening uh we would look for additional screening of the parking lot um that is needed um especially under the the current assumption that we would have you know single family units being built right next door. We want to make sure that um you know they would have that appropriate uh buffer um and screening to the parking lot and grading. Uh right now uh the way that the project is being proposed there's a likelihood that a grading would need to extend into um you know a lot that is not part of this development. So we would look to try to minimize that um not eliminate that um through the next through the steps of the process in the preliminary look at that grading plan a little bit more deeply. driveway and utilities. Uh previous plans approved um or previously approved plans showed shared driveways uh for the

southern properties in a centralized utility location to minimize the impacts on the yellow road. Um, so you can see here, this would be the two lots as were con um conceptualized in the currently approved plans and how there's a single driveway um to limit the access points onto Yellow Brick Road and then shared utilities um to those units. Um the concept plan shows the utilities in the same centralized location. However, we do as staff want to try and work with the developer to think about how could we set this up um to serve and set up the other remaining lots for development and hopefully limit the number of cuts into that existing road um to extend those utilities. So, is there is there an opportunity to share those utilities across um more than just the two lots here? Um that would be uh you know a benefit to the preservation of the road. So, we'll continue to work on that um with the developer as they move forward. Uh so, landscaping uh the applicant will need to enhance the landscaping plan uh to align with the previously approved landscaping plan and current landscaping and screening requirements. Um, so it's I mean it's not atypical at a concept level that we don't have a fully vetted and fully formed landscaping plan at this point. Um, but what we what we would say at this point is that there were um, you know, conditions for some screening in the back of the yard relative to the town homes. Um, we do want to see, you know, adequate screening relative to the parking lot and ultimately the landscaping plan is going to have to meet our zoning code requirements. So, the planning commission uh reviewed this at the February 11th meeting just to provide a little bit of the discussion summary. The applicant described the details of the concept plan. Uh the connection to beyond New

Beginnings program, I see they're here tonight. So, if you're interested to learn more about that, I'm sure they can answer some questions. Um the parking was discussed. Questions about available on street parking in the area. Parking setbacks were discussed. Um the planning commission generally concurred that side parking is going to be important um in this location um just given the nature of what Yellow Brick Road is. Yeah, that was my one one of my questions was I know that you can park along Yellow Brick Road a little bit farther down, but can you park along the road in that area of the Yellow Brook Road? I think that's something that we'll want to verify um as we move forward here just to understand, you know, what that current situation is. Um

I don't know off the top of my head exactly how we have that signed out there. I know there are segments that are signed as Yeah, because I feel like over by where the apartments are, you can but I can't I'm trying to visualize that and I didn't go down there unfortunately. I didn't have time. Is this closer to the Lions Park up farther of yellow? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I was trying I can't even quite place it in my head. Yeah. Um and then the sidewalks I think you know generally we support the sidewalk connections that are there. U making sure that you know as this project is implemented that those connections continue to exist

um and ultimately planning commission recommended approval of the concept plan um subject to the conditions that staff proposed in the staff report. Is there room on the lot to you know like the ones um what are they called Meadows or whatever by Costco the um home developer spring yeah you know how they have like their units actually look similar to this but they have like separate garage units for parking like um to the side is there's some way you could do something like that on this where there's like a separate parking yeah I I guess I'd maybe look to the applicant to speak to that a little bit is there room um potentially I you know, I mean, it would have to be full garages like up there, but just like a parking pad that would be, you know, might not be right in front of it, but off to the side.

It's not necessarily something that our zoning code would require has to happen. Um, with a development like this. Um, would it be a great amenity for the users? I was going to say I think that would add significant cost to what they're trying to do because a garage is going to be But like not a garage, just like a outdoor carport. Certainly something you can ask. The ones up at the meadows have their separate garage stalls, but these could just be even a just a concrete pad with four stalls on it or you know what I mean? Like it' be enough to be fancy, but it would get around this whole parking issue.

Um so some of the things to work on for next steps um would be there may be a need for an additional neighborhood meeting. Um the applicant there is a requirement as you all know in our zoning code um prior to concept submission um that a neighborhood meeting be held. Um I do understand that there was a meeting held. The issue um was in that uh staff was not um requested or or was not did not end up providing um the mailing list for that. also there's some mismatches to the the invitations that went out compared to what the staff provided mailing list would required. Um so we're wanting to make sure that everyone achieve you know receive adequate notice um through that. So, I think we'll continue to work with the the applicant to make sure that those notices are happening um and whether you know another neighborhood meeting is going to be required. Um density uh within that 2 to 5 units per acre as I mentioned earlier, we're going to continue to evaluate that um if we there may be an opportunity or maybe an outcome right where where a comp plan amendment would be required if we can't um you know get to that that density number. Um zoning zoning ordinance amendment um to allow more than the detached single dwelling units um will be uh required here. A vacation to uh of the DNU easement will be ne necessary. Um continued collaboration on the driveway uh access locations in addition to the utility um the shared utility opportunity to try to reduce the number of cuts into the the street. Um and then site plan revisions to meet setbacks, provide screening to meet landscape requirements, parking requirements, um and and any other necessary requirements at this point. Um so with that, I'd entertain any questions. The motion requested this evening is to recommend approval of the

in concept plan subject to the conditions um in the approving resolution. All right. Does anybody have any questions for Nate or staff? Is the neighborhood that's right over there, the yellow brick, are those owner occupied or those rentals? Talking about the town homes? Yes. Um I'm That's a good question. I don't know. They are rentals. Okay. I thought they were, but then I I started to second guess myself. Okay. Um, does anybody have any questions for the staff? Otherwise, the applicant was say,

come on up. Tell us all about Beyond New Beginnings. We We want We want you I guarantee you I will not tell you all about New Beginnings. Wait, first of all though, does this does this make you nostalgic at all? What's that? I said, does this make you nostalgic at all being here? You know, I was going to comment about the performance review. I had a list of things for the administrator, but uh that's okay.

Now, I'm Dave Piccorn. I'm with the Community Asset uh Foundation. I'm here with Bob Repky, who's also uh with the foundation. Um and uh so the foundation will be the owner and developer of the building. Uh once it's up though, we pro hopefully we will have very little involvement. Uh it'll be a project that will be run uh by our partner in this project which is Beyond New Beginnings. Um it our goal is to develop a building that can serve uh young mothers who are at least housing stretched. I don't know. I want to say they're homeless, but they struggle with housing. Um, and we think that one of the the goals in our project is to do something that um, not only provides that housing, but can be something that both the community uh, the residents and the foundation can be proud of. Uh, as you're probably aware, our group did develop uh the West Creek apartment, and that was one of our board's kind of bottom lines is they did not want to go out and buy an old building and renovate it and have that be where uh young adults who are struggling with housing living. Uh, very much similar to this. Uh we got involved in this project uh actually in talking with people from uh Beyond New Beginnings and uh they inquired whether uh young mothers could potentially be tenants in West Creek and quite frankly the answer is no. Uh that building is designed and really set up to uh house uh single adults, both men and women, but as uh they're all uh studio uh apartments. And so that's the

goal uh with this project. Um you know, back there was a time I do remember going to these kind of meetings and the staff was always glad when developers would get up and say we agree with all the conditions. Uh we do agree with all the conditions. Uh we're working through those. Um um I think we all knew that uh uh this would require an amendment to the um PR PRD 57 uh which is really the zoning. So that will deal with the setbacks. So, for example, under the other uh multifamily buildings all along Yellow Brick Road, their parking is a 10-ft setback. Um, and that's because they're in a planned residential district. Uh, if the overall density of the PRD 57 is well, it's way below four units per acre. So the density once we amend the uh PRD57 um then the density issues will will not be an issue. The rest of the things we're working on uh getting those plans together, landscaping plan uh we hope to submit that as early as next week. One piece that I would ask you about though uh is the second uh neighborhood meeting. Um so the reason uh when we did the first neighborhood meeting we were under the erroneous assumption that we had to prepare the list. Turns out the staff would have given us a list of people within 500 ft. Uh and when uh we compared our list to their list, we found that there were four property owners that did not receive a notice. Uh we did send them a second uh letter uh telling them that we would be glad to

meet with them prior and we did that prior to the planning commission. Um and I'll note that we had one person come to the um neighborhood meeting. That person was in support. Uh I we did meet with the homeowners association from yellow brick road. I actually live in that association. I live right across the street from uh from and anyways the homeowners association was very supportive of the project. Um of the four people that we that didn't get a notice, I didn't get a notice. Bob Repky didn't get a notice and the property owner DDK Construction who is the one donating the land didn't get a notice. So there was really one person uh who didn't get a notice. Now we'll do that. Um it just seems like it's kind of overkill.

Is the one person in the rental side or are they okay on the other? No, it's one of the persons in the No, they were they're in the brickyard. Sure. Um that didn't get a notice. They're they're one of the detached town homes. Um so again, we'll do that. Um we would prefer not to just because I expect that we're going to go to meetings and be the only ones there. It's

a possibility. We've just in the past we've had a lot of people that have said, "Wait a minute, what is this? Why haven't we been provided this sort of information?" So, it's just been really prudent on us to make sure that we're allowing people the transparency of what's coming. And I I don't know is the sign I know is there a proposed development sign that's over there on that property now? There should be. Okay. So, have you seen it? There's nothing. I don't know that there is one. Okay. I mean that's another kind of thing that we've implemented too because that visual like wait there's been developed here um

and and and in fact there was pro there was one person who didn't get the notice that person got a personal letter inviting them to meet and I sent them the full set of plans uh I did not hear from them okay I appreciate you doing that too but um other than that I would like to invite Molly who's with Beyond New Beginnings. I was going to ask for the director and just have her give you a background on what this project is and why it's really we think a really a community asset.

Thank you, Madame Mayor and Council. Thank you very much. My name is Molly Quamaki and I'm the executive director of Beyond New Beginnings. We have a site that's owned by the Carver County CDA. It's at Second in Walnut. It has four two-bedroom apartments in a large program area. We serve four families at a time. So the the apartments can serve uh can have a mom and up to three kids. So we have very active to Monday night. Tonight is our program night. And so there's a lot of activity going on over there because a lot of the moms come back, the moms that have left the program and are living successfully on their own. Monday night's their night to come back and mentor and help out the younger moms, the newer moms to the program. So, if you're ever in the area, uh, Second Walnut on a Monday night, stop in and and you'll see a lot of really fun activity and a lot of good energy going on. We have more families that need our help than we can uh accommodate. And that's why when we were approached by the developer with a very generous offer to work with us for this new forplex, we were very, very happy. And we are very excited because we know that the need is out there and we know that the difference that it makes for the moms and for the kids, too. So, we're serving actually two two generations at once. Madame Mayor, you've been to our site and um you know that it's a very happy place. It's not a sad place. It's a very energetic. people are making progress when they're there. They come in, they have stable housing. That's the very first thing. The importance of stable housing, especially for the kids, the stable housing. The kids aren't being uh taken from place to place every couple of weeks. Their toys and everything are in the same spot for, you know, a year and a half, two years, however long them families are in the program. And that makes a world of difference in that child's behavior and in their ability to learn and their ability to um to have a brighter future. We are uh very happy to answer I'm very happy to answer any questions that you

might have. So is the this building going to have kind of the same setup where they'll have the programming at that location on Mondays and that maybe somebody that one of the units will have will be kind of an RA or or guy the others or is it a little different is

madam mayor thank you for the question. We do we are looking right now we are working with a developer to provide that on-site uh program area because that is very important that um based uh projectbased programming site is very important. We met with a developer uh just recently and we have some good discussions going on how we can accommodate that. So that is that is going forward and um I did D.

Yeah, I think I mean I think you kind of answer the question is it's kind of like a you know it's same sort of uh taking what works and moving and also having it at this other location as well. But just that like you had touched on that the need is great and that you want to be able to accommodate more more moms that that need stable housing and and obviously development of of independent skills that you know create that success story that generational success story. So

we we plan on uh using the same model that we're currently using and that is the the moms meet every month with the family coach. They have mentors. They uh the moms decide what their objectives are, what they want to accomplish, and when. They set their own time frame. So, we walk alongside the moms. We help them. We don't direct what they're going to do, but we're there with them. And I can just tell you, it's amazing when you can see the confidence that um the moms gain when they learn particular parenting skills or life navigation skills or uh financial literacy skills. And you can actually see it, Madame Mary. You can actually see it in the way they care themselves and their confidence. And um it's worth every effort that we put into it to really help these young women because it helps their children too. A happy mom is a happy kid. So we all know that.

So does anybody have any questions for Molly at all? I I just think what you guys do is wonderful and the impact that you have on so many lives, you know, and seeing that you have you've I I think was it 2020ish maybe when when you guys first um moved into your first home here and now to hear that you have like alumni. That's that's wonderful. I mean that is a success you know that you've that people have kind of moved through that and kind of carried through the program. So it's what a what an opportunity

it is and we did start in 2020 u madam mayor and we do have that alumni component. We now have an alumni on our board of directors and so it's really having having the moms come back as I mentioned earlier and having them work with the newer moms makes all the difference in the world and so it's a scary life can be very scary. So when you see the moms that have blaze that trail then it gives that younger ones hope. Yeah. Wonderful. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Oh, I was coming up to the podium.

City Council, it's great to be here and uh talking about this project. Uh um you know, if you've heard the stories from New Beginnings and now beyond new beginnings, I mean, they're incredibly inspiring challenge that uh these young women are facing. And then the results after these programs, the impact it's had are are just so motivating here. They've gone on to incredible success. But I think one thing that is really unique about this program and also for West Creek is the community support that was provided to each of those projects and made them a reality. Um and and for this project, the end, you know, it's a it's kind of a was a unique opportunity that uh an incentive for affordable housing, which this project identifies with, and uh it was a tax credit program. So, if people contributed to this project, and as an example, if they would give uh contribute $10,000 to to this project, uh they'd get an 85% tax credit uh on that $10,000. So, when they filed their 26 taxes next year, they'd get a certificate that gave gave them uh $8,500 credit on the bottom line of their uh tax filing. So is an incredible uh you know incentive a unique incentive that we haven't hadn't seen before and I think last week you know the I think maybe last Tuesday was a day that you could apply that you could provide your input in terms of uh what you would contribute to this project and uh so some people did it right away in the morning some people did it as they went through the

whole pay $11 million was allocated for the program and uh that was I don't know the exact timing but uh that all went in one day and uh in fact there were uh people that you know put in their applica their dollars that they would be contributing to the project that didn't qualify because they were too late because that million that 11 million went that quickly. Wow.

Um it just shows the community support the need for, you know, projects like this for the whole affordability issue, affordable housing. But it was a unique opportunity and I think uh for the projects we worked on with West Creek and and now the N. I mean that that community support does help you get across the finish line when that when making those dollars work uh becomes a challenge. making those numbers work sometimes becomes a challenge. That community support makes a difference. And I think that's one thing that, you know, we can all be proud of in in our community, the response to projects like this and the support we've provided. And I know as as folks that are involved in developing projects like this, it uh it touches you and uh and it's also inspiring to to see that community support. I just wanted to share that unique opportunity that that was out there for this project. So great.

Thanks, Bob. Thank you. I I just wanted to echo your question earlier. I don't know, Mr. Victor, if you want to come back up for this, but I was kind of curious. Obviously, the other four lots h have the other concept plan. Do you have are you thinking they'd still be those um detached town homes right now? The other four. Okay. Yeah. So, still that's still the thought. Uh we have talked with the the the owner uh which is DDK Construction and that is their plan. They're looking at maybe a little different, more of a a slab on grade as opposed to a basement or something like that. Okay.

Um and but they don't have any plans today to do anything. Okay. Um your question on the street. Um yeah. Do you know today there really isn't parking? I was going to say there's no signs to not park, but it's really skinny. It would be hard. No, it's actually the same. Is it? Okay.

So, in front of Yeah, I I actually thought the same thing, so I I went out and measured. Um but the street width is 32 feet. Typical residential streets are 24. Uh it is 32 feet down by uh the apartments uh to the south of this and to the south there is parking on one side um and it's been striped but you're right um there isn't uh designated parking here on I can tell you people I live right there uh and it's pretty common uh that people will be parking in front of my house but from basic ically uh well from that point north uh there isn't any development that fronts onto it.

Um so I'm sure that's why you don't see parking. I want to comment too about kind of where we're at with the project. Uh we hope to break ground this summer. Um we are uh the total project cost is uh slightly more than 1.2 million. Uh we have uh let's see we have uh we did receive a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of 180,000. Our foundation has committed a minimum of a h 100,000. Uh the land is being donated. Uh we did through the tax uh credit program that Bob talked about. We had uh people in Chaza specifically designate towards this and that amount was uh 200,000. We don't know how many of those um came in after they allocated all of the funds. We know it's at least 100,000. So, uh, we have a commitment from the CDA for 220,000 and, uh, actually you'll see in the near future, uh, we have a request to the city, um, for, uh, allocation from your annual affordable housing uh, funds. Um the staff is well I don't want to touch we've encouraged the staff to recommend that uh the 394,000 which is this year's allocation would go towards this project.

I'll let them tell you what their recommendation is going to be but that'll come to you at a at a subsequent so with with that group of funding that I just went through. We're at $1.2 million. Okay. Um so um we're excited about that and if uh we'd like to be able to break ground right around Mother's Day. And so I just have a quick question maybe and it's more for maybe um the the chairman of New Beginnings, but so if it's all covered the building costs and all that then are these like very discounted rent then for these mothers so that they can afford to live there or are these uh I I guess I don't Absolutely. I'm sorry. I don't know how huge question.

Um we um what we're um this is also a uh something we're working with the CDA on. Um the CDA will have and I don't want to get into the details, but they have a there's a new program. Yeah. Where they get uh they're going to be able to allocate what are called rental v vouchers. Yep. Uh the CDA will get around 200 of those uh that came from a new program. We're asking that they use four of those for this project. Okay. So, it's part of the

if they don't do that, then it'll be just like West Creek where people get there's uh each of the units at West Creek are under a program. It's called GRH and they get an annual or monthly rent subsidy of approximately $1,000. Okay. So, we've built our budget around um $1,000 for three of the units, assuming that the other one doesn't get any subsidies and that our foundation would subsidize that. Okay. So, yes, we have a plan. I just don't want to say it's finalized yet.

Part of the obviously we have to have funds to pay utilities and mow the yard and do those kind of things. And then we need to compensate um the case management that Beyond New beginnings would be providing also and that's all in our budget. Um but we don't have it completely finalized yet. Done. Perfect. That's what I question.

All right. Um, you know, I mean, yeah, if anybody has any questions otherwise, I mean, just comment, you know, concept plans are a really nice broad look at the beginning of a development. And there are things obviously that staff and the developer are working through like parking and some of those other um details, but otherwise kind of that big picture thinking just does this fit and broad questions um being answered. But if anybody doesn't have any questions, I think this is great. Personally, I think this is great for the community and I look forward to seeing it move along to come back here for preliminary. Uh, and so I would entertain a motion to um approve and I don't have the thing in front of me. So,

as you're looking, I'll just make one comment. Scroll. Yeah, go ahead. The only thing that there's two things that when I looked at this and preparing that kind of that got answered today to help was the other lots and I understand they're all owned by the same. So that's good where it's not developed. I pulled the records up so I was curious myself. Um and then I do I want to make sure like work through the parking, right? I understand there's some flexibility there. I do think it is to keep in mind what the uncertainty of what future always is of what could always end up there or other things uses that could happen there. So you know understand the exception that yeah it seems

um probably not appropriate for this project to say there' be two cars, right? However, you never know what 10, 15, 20 and hopefully it's still this group, right? I think that's always important to understand. So, I just I think it's just important to kind of keep that in mind, right? Like I'm open the flexibility. Um but I don't want to create a problem in the future that no one wants to h happen, right? We want long-term success, right? But, uh you know, things change, things happen, environments change, and just want to make sure we're don't have a parking issue all of a sudden, right? So those are the those are the two and it sounds like again it's being looked at and taken care of and so I appreciate that. Yeah, I agree.

Right. I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 2026-11 approving the concept plan for the in community asset foundation PC2026-03. All right. So I have a motion from council member Hatfield, a second and a second from council member Chevlin. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor say I.

I opposed. Motion carries and that passes. All right, thank you for coming. All right, that moves us along. We have uh another 8C. We are uh DOT resolution number 2026-15 and ordinance number 1078 approving the preliminary plat and reszoning for Firefly Acres FKA0 Creek Road. Jen and Scott Schloutderough. Yeah. All right. PC number 2026-04. Take it away, somebody. Liz.

All right, Liz. Thank you, mayor and council members. Uh, we have a preliminary plat and reszoning request this evening for the pro or the project known as Firefly Acres, uh, formerly known as Zero Creek Road being proposed by Jen and Scott Schladder off. Uh the site in question this evening is um outlined in kind of the orange yellow um outline on this aerial exhibit. Uh the property is located within our southwest Chaza area immediately north of the intersection of Savannah Way and Creek Road and where that roundabout roundabout exists today. Um some adjoining uses is mainly agricultural use kind of to the north and west. Um and then additional residences to uh the northeast uh southeast and south uh from other larger properties and developments known as the harvest. Um, in terms of where they're at in our three-step process, um, they're in the middle or second step of our three-step process. Um, so this is the more technical analysis of the project. Uh, we're looking at civil plans um, and those details um, and starting to analyze how uh, the comments and issues that were raised during concept plan have been addressed in this second step. Um, so Jen and Scott Schlottoff own the property. Um, and they have resided in the city of Chaza for the last nine years. Uh, they own the property immediately east of this one at 4080 Creek Road. Uh, they purchased this property back in 2024 with the intention to develop on it uh, so that their family could build their own uh, houses next to them. Uh, they started the process back in October of 2025. So that's when you saw the concept plan come forward um and ultimately get

approved. Uh that concept plan is shown on the um exhibit on the right hand side of this SC or slide here. Uh the property in question is roughly 8 acres in size. Um there is an existing access that comes off of the northwest side of the roundabout. Uh that's basically a field gravel access to the property today. Um and they will be using that same access point into the new development being proposed. Um the majority of the property is wooded and contains wooded steep slope um more so on the east side of the property. The west side is kind of where that open area um or open uh agricultural area is uh and where the development is really focused on is that open area on the west side. Uh permanent roadway exists on the south side. So that encompasses uh the roundabout and a portion of what was used as a public road of Creek Road. Um the property sits on a high point. Uh so the development is really focused on that high point open area. Uh so if you go uh to the intersection of Creek Road and Savannah Way, you'll really see that topographical um change between where you sit on Creek Road and then um the high point of the property. There's about 34 feet of uh change between those two points. uh when you ne negate out all of the unbuildable area of the property, so the wooded steep slopes, the creek um and the setbacks from those uh you're really left with 2.4 acres of buildable area. So really that open uh western area of the property. Uh the current zoning on the property is open uh zoning district which is

basically a holding zone up until it develops or redevelops. then a more appropriate zoning district will be put um in its place. These are just a few images looking from both the roundabout um and from on top of the property. So you can see a little bit of that great change from those vantage points. Uh so the request uh includes a preliminary plat uh approval. Um the preliminary plat breaks down to a three lot design. Uh two of the lots will be platted as those buildable lots and then the third lot will be platted as an outlot. Um that outlot is on the south side of the site. Uh so the lot that it abuts the um Savannah Way Creek Road roundabout. Um the setbacks that are proposed um are consistent with the R1B zoning district which the property will be reszoned to. Um the driveway um again will come from that existing access point on the northwest side of Creek Road and Savannah Way roundabout. Um it will kind of get realigned a little bit um to provide some setback off of that western property line and provide access to uh the two lots um being platted and ultimately that third lot on the south side. Um again um two lots are only being platted uh because that's the maximum of lots you can have off of a shared driveway. um as soon as you get to three lots or more, they have to be accessed um from a public road or a private drive um meeting city standards. So that's why

the third lot is being platted platted into an outlot um so in the future with when and if a public road does go through that property would be able to be platted as a third lot. um trees. Um there's a few trees that align that western property line and that's where uh the removals the majority of the removals would occur from. So there's 21 trees that will have to get removed as a part of the grading and realignment of that driveway into the site. Um the inventory uh of those trees um indicate that they're um pretty insignificant in terms of the species size and overall health of those trees. So there's nothing really warranting um additional preservation out there. Uh they do intend to add more trees uh to that western property line um uh to kind of make up for some of those losses. Um in terms of the comprehensive plan uh compatibility or consistency uh the comp plan guides the site for lowdensity residential as well as open space. Um and the proposal is consistent with that overall guidance. Um the density allowed out there is 2 to five dwelling units per net acre. Uh they're proposing um when you include the third lot 1.25 25 units uh per net acre. Um so from a density standpoint um they're almost there at that two uh two unit threshold. We did go through kind of more of an analysis in the concept plan phase uh just to understand kind of how uh the property would fit into that long range plan both from a density

standpoint but also um a future local road standpoint. as our comp plan also guides a local road potential off of the northern side of that roundabout. Um, this development does not warrant the construction of that road. It's really if um larger developments to the north and surrounding areas warrant the construction of that um roadway. So they did demonstrate in the concept plan process that their proposal would preclude a local road going through in the future. Um so with that um there is consistency in meeting the intent of the comprehensive plan and what's guided out there from a long range standpoint. Uh so the property is going to get reszoned to R1B which is a standard lowdensity residential zoning district. Um the table on this slide here shows the minimum and maximum standards of the R1B zoning district and how the proposal meets those. So uh the proposal meets all of the standards laid out within that zoning district. Um so it is consistent with the zoning being put in place. Uh utilities do need to get extended to the properties. Um they're currently stubbed on the northern side of that roundabout. So those will just extend further north um into the proposed lots. Um the utilities will extend across a couple properties. So an easement uh for the utilities um is shown to encompass those. Um these will be private utilities. Um so because of the extension across more than one lot and them being private um they will have to

have some sort of maintenance agreement uh over the utilities uh that all property owners are uh a party to. Uh so with that uh we have uh two motions uh this evening. Uh one motion is to adopt resolution number 2026-15 which is approving the preliminary plat for Firefly acres. Um and then based on the conditions that are listed within that resolution and then a second motion uh to adopt ordinance number 1078 which is approving the reszoning from the open zoning district to R1B. Happy to answer any questions otherwise we have the family here too if you have any specific questions for them.

All right. Does anybody have any questions for Liz? I maybe just can't read civil plans well enough, but the grade is really like it's they're going to sit up kind of high on that hill, right? So, when I was out there today, I noticed I was like I didn't drive up the access. I don't even know if you could. Is there anything out there right now? Probably not. I guess I shouldn't try in the poking around. I don't have four-wheel drive, so um but yeah, so I did notice that. So, it'll kind of be up on a hill. Um got it. Okay, that makes sense. It does. I saw that that mentioned building small retaining walls.

Yes, there there will be a retaining wall needed um for the realignment of that driveway so that they can meet driveway slope requirements and getting a gradual slope into the properties. Sure. Nice. I also like the name Firefly Acres. I thought that was cute. So, good job. Thought it was super cute. I don't know. Zero Creek was kind of cool, too. just like because it was zero like how often do you the the only thing I have a question on is the lot three there was supposed to be a third house or there a third

okaybody else so that that third lot though right now would not be able to be built on because of the driveway is that correct okay correct yep so until either a public street or they construct a private drive meeting city standards, then they could plat that Got it. third lot into a lot, but it'll have to remain as an outlaw until that happens. Okay. But that's all part of this Firefly acres. So, it's okay. Yep. Got it. So, would that mean like they could driveway off of the other driveway? Is that what that or is that what we're talking about? Or have to be a public road. Yeah. A public road.

Yeah. just have to be it wouldn't have to be public necessarily because it private drive but it'd have to be the same size like it have to be bigger foot of a road meet the same yeah a public road requires more right ofway than a private drive but a private drive still has minimum standards that have to be met in order to not a private drive this is a driveway correct it's a shared driveway yeah okay so they would have to expand it into a private drive to get Correct. Yep. Curb and gutter kind of other two daughters are going to be positioning hard here. Yeah.

Liz, the uh homeowner resident to the south there or just doesn't really matter property. How is that zoned? Is that intended to be that residential in that space? What property? Uh, it's the one just south would be I guess it's on Creek Road. Uh, yes. Yep. So, right before the roundabout if you're going to go up Savannah Way. Yep. Coming from Yeah. Has the barn. Sure. Yep. Yep. Yep. So, it's it's zoned open as well and guided the same way.

Okay. Yeah. And the only reason I asked because and I said this last time and I and it's not a deal breaker and I actually think it's super cool what you're trying to do and accomplish. It's kind of neat. Um is just that I don't think people are going to be super prepared or expect someone to have a right turn after the roundabout. Right. That worries me. Now it's not a lot of traffic because it's you guys.

It's two families, right? But I but again I think and and it and that exists, you know, well, it doesn't exist kind of for the other property because that's before the rightway. So that's that's my only concern and I understand there's really no other way to do it. Uh you know, you can't make it off the roundabout. Um yeah, that's like that was my concern and concept is still my concern because you you swing around those roundabouts. I think we are getting better as a Chesa people of navigating roundabouts, but I don't necessarily think when you're going around roundabout, you expect that there might be someone turning right and then stops potentially like right. So, um I don't know. I don't have any solutions. It's more of a statement of

uh but I will go that way often. So, I will pay attention uh because I go that direction often. So, uh because I'm down in founders. But yeah, that I was just curious because um if there was going to be more traffic for that development south, now you're really stressing that roundabout a little bit. But I know we talked about that being a future collector road. I mean, what's the timeline on that or you know, so you're referring to a connection that would head northward? Yeah. like the is it is it is it Ecklund extras? Yes. Yeah.

So, yeah, like we've done with other collector roads um in the city that would be as development demands that to occur. Yeah. And then part of what drove that connection uh back when we were doing the last comprehensive plan and I think it first appeared maybe in the conference plan before that yet. I have to check to be sure. Um but that was before we had certainty that that the interchange would occur at Big Woods Boulevard in 212.

So assuming that had never occurred um or it did not occur, right? Uh you need to have that north south circulation uh happening um to connect kind of southwest Chaza to to the interchanges north and south at that point Angler and uh in Carver off the Jonathan Carver Parkway. Now that that interchange at Bigwoods Boulevard exists and we have uh this the north south collector that kind of winds right um Chaska Creek Boulevard down to Creek Road to Savannah Way. Mhm. Um I think it's a real legitimate question as to whether that connection needs to happen, right?

Um but it's hard to really answer that without a proposed development to understand what that demand is is going to be um generated and that'd be connecting it to Engler. Yeah. Correct. I I mean I just like I said it's interesting to see how the development I just I don't know how you make that connection. the topography or whatever and it's you know because is it necessary

if this property didn't ex it didn't get developed the way it was and it was developed all you could say that you could have put potentially a access off the roundabout north which would go right through their future houses which I'm not which pre-development rate because otherwise you're not going to put a major connector that would be I would really strong concerns about people turning right if it's just a little bit further further down to go further up, right? So, you're going around. Yep. I just I It's hard, right? Like, but you're and part of the reason it's hard is because 212 is right there and and that's part of your north south connection, right? Like you're kind of boxed in there.

It's constrained. And I, you know, time will tell. I think for the time being, um, with that being identified in our comprehensive plan, um, as a potential connection, what we've done is we've worked with the applicant, um, you know, to show how that could happen.

Okay. and set up the um you know understand what that grade would be. You're right, there is significant grade change there. Um so there would be uh impact um you know to the surrounding properties including what's being proposed. But what we've evaluated is what that would look like so that the homes are set up in a way that they aren't in the path of that likely road right of way. Um they're also set up so that those driveways would be a logical connection at the time that that were to occur. Um and you know we're we're trying to forecast the best we can to limit that impact in the case that a road extension occurs. Um but also you know recognizing that it's a real I think open question. Sure.

Yeah. I mean the access to that property if if X room is ever sold that would be almost off like Saratoga Liberty Heights from that direction almost. Yeah. Yep. That that would you know I'm looking at the GSS right like that would be into it now. Yep. That's there where they live versus where the property on the side, right? So, they'd have to sell that piece to get into that access. So, yeah, I again I I think it's interesting. Yeah. I think it was stubbed out to actually be at the Prescott Lane or Newberry. There's neighborhood streets that from kind of the Liberty High School drive. Yep. Y

and I think there could be an opportunity Yeah. across from Prescott to have a full there. So that's that's the idea. Um and I think that that's a real, you know, potential. Um the extras have not signaled any desire to Yeah. No, I'm not I'm not suggesting that to develop or anything. So um you know, it's an unknown. Sure. Okay. I don't have any questions. Like I said, I like I think it's kind of a it's a it's it's neat. I like Firefly. It's kind of a it's not a it's not a plan that we see typically, right? We're usually in this world in Chaza is a really booming developing

city. It's developers. It's companies. And here you got a family who's trying to say like, "Hey, we want to all live, you know, within proximity to each other." And um it takes a special family to do that. And that's I I I don't know how I don't know how I feel about that. And leaving and going right next door. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Makes it makes me think of everyone loves Raven, right? You right across the street, right? So, but it's it's cool and if you can do it and pull it off, that's awesome. There's grand and grandpa lots of opportunities down the road to hang out, but I don't know those other two daughters might be. You better watch out. It's very cool. Very cool.

Yeah, the homes are beautiful. Um, and it is really neat to see the concept. So, I think things are moving along and I think, you know, you've obviously guys have laid out all of those future plans and options. So, appreciate staff kind of working through those um with you in order to kind of see that bigger picture of what the future could look like and how to make sure that everyone including you are safe when you guys are turning in and out of your of your of your driveways. So, uh does anybody have any other questions? Otherwise, I have a motion to You have two to do. So, go for one.

I got Yeah, I got to go get back somehow to the what the numbers are. One second here. It's uh 2026-15. Yeah. 2026-15. So, you're making a motion to adopt resolution 2026-15 approving the preliminary plat for Firefly Acres. Okay. And you're seconding. Okay. So, I have a motion from Council Member Chevlin and a second from Council Member Gro. Any other discussion? Uh all those in favor say I. I opposed. All right, that passes. And then we have another motion. Um as well as part of this. I'd entertain a motion to adopt ordinance number 1078, approval of the resoning from open to uh district RIB, which is the low density single family residence.

So moved. All right. Motion from council member GR, second from council member Sheplin, which is reversed. Okay. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor say I. I oppose. All right. Passes. All right. Thank you guys for being here this evening. All right. So, that brings us along on our action items to 8D. Adopt resolution number 2026-17. Approval of the concept plan for Big Woods Business Park Scanel. Scanel. Scanel. Scanel properties PC number uh 2025-23. Who's got this? Go for it, Miss Hansen. Thank you, Mayor.

Take my Oh, we're changing up. I need my speaker on. This is great.

Thank you, mayor and council members. We have a concept plan in front of us for the project known as Big Woods Business Park, uh, being proposed by Scanel Properties. Uh so the site in question um and I guess before I really jump in um this is going to be kind of a longer presentation. I am going to try to skim it back as much as possible compared to planning commissions. Um but I do welcome any questions kind of uh as we're working through these just because there's a lot of things to cover. Um so feel free to jump in if there's something that um comes out for questions. Um so the property um is outlined in red on this aerial exhibit. Um we are on kind of the southwest border of the city bordering the city of Carver and uh Delgrren Township. Um this is a larger site, so over 330 acres in size. um kind of spread across uh multiple properties on the north and south sides of County Road 44 or Big Woods Boulevard. Uh we have Highway 212 um flanking that eastern side of the project limits as well, Chaza Boulevard or County Road 61 on the south side. Um and then Jonathan Carver Parkway um being that western boundary. Um there is one property that's not included in this concept uh project area um which uh is a property owned um by the close family or part of the close family. Uh so we're at the first step in the process. So we're looking at this more from a high level overview uh perspective really starting to identify issues to look at in the subsequent phases. Um so we'll see this project or

pieces of the project I should say um a number of times um as they move forward. So, this concept plan is really kind of setting that vision for the business uh Big Woods business park area, but uh we're going to see it really chunked off um as you see it come forward in subsequent phases. Um to give you a little bit of background on this property, um they did hold a neighborhood meeting back in November of last year uh that they had about nine people attend. They had a number of questions. um as a part of that meeting, but nothing really major or too concerning coming out of that neighborhood meeting. Um because of the size of this project, it warrants an environmental review. Um so um you've probably noticed um in other uh past council meetings that um an AUR or what we call an alternative urban areawwide review um has uh been started for this project. Um which again really looks at um the environmental impacts for a project this size and how to mitigate those impacts. Um moving forward um this uh AUA um really started its process late or um in the fall of last year. Um so that's kind of the steps um started uh in September of 2025. uh you saw the AUA come before you in November of 2025 and that was looking at a draft order and scoping um which really kind of outlines um the AUR document um and since that time uh we've

been working with the applicant and us being the kind of government authority of that AUR uh kind of refining the document uh through the past few months. Um the draft AUAR document just uh completed um its first round of comments to be received by applicable agencies and neighboring communities. Um so it will kind of go through another revision process um uh and then get republished and kind of work through that and hopefully get final adoption by you guys um in a couple months or so. So you will see that document uh formally adopted by you guys. Um when we do an AUR, we're looking at multiple scenarios of how the overall property can develop. It's looking at kind of more of a less intense scenario and then a more intense scenario if you're like maximizing overall development on the property. And really that's just meant to give um options um and intensities so that when the real portions and projects do come through that there's kind of a foundation to work off of from an environmental standpoint. It's really the purpose of that. Um, as we jump into the property itself, um, again, as I mentioned before, this property is, um, over a pretty big chunk of area. So, it encompasses 338 acres total and 16 parcels of land, which are owned by varying property owners. Uh the Razer family owns uh the majority of the properties um on the north side of Big

Woods Boulevard um with six parcels in their ownership. Two of which um are in Dolgrren Township territory. Um and that's kind of highlighted in this lighter whitish gray kind of on the northwest portions of the project site. Um then we have four parcels owned by the Close family which are on the south side of County Road 44 Big Woods Boulevard. Then we have two parcels owned by the Dice family on the south side of Big Woods Boulevard. One smaller parcel owned by the Mortian family on the north side. And then we have two parcels owned by the Traditions uh development property owner on the northeast side. And then there is one property owned by the city of Chaska kind of on that um corner of Highway 212 in Goodwoods Boulevard on the northwest side there. uh Scanel uh who are the applicants of this concept plan uh don't intend to develop all of those properties uh but they will uh develop uh the majority of the 338 acres. Um so they don't plan to develop the traditions properties or the property owned by the city of Chaska. So everything else owned by the Razor Close Mortion dice families they intend to develop over time.

That piece that's in Dogrren is that piece would that in the future be slated into Chazak? Yes. Right. Would we do we have to do that annexing now? Yes, it it does have it'll be a part of the process with kind of that preliminary step and I'll I'll get into a little bit more of that in another slide here, but that's a good question.

Since you have this up and we're looking and then I'll ask the question the close family there, the property to their west that they're not of the west of the property that they're not selling which is in Carver or city of Carver, correct? No, it's it's in the city of Chask. Yep. No, the they'll be west of that. Oh, over here where it's Yeah, that's that space. Yep. So that that's in city of carbon.

And is that going to be indust What is that? Do you know what that's known for? I'm just trying like I mean it's their choice, but we're like surrounding them right a little bit. I just It strikes me as interesting, I guess. So, Council Member Gar, the just to make sure we're all on the same page, the the city's boundary is envisioned between Chaska and Carver to generally follow the center line of county road 11 as we're going down south. Um, so you can see Liz. So, the close family property um that we've been talking about is kind of that notch out where the the red Yep. boundary. Is that the piece that you're talking about?

And so, they're not selling there. I assume that's where the residence is. Um that property is in the city of Chaza. It's guided for our green belt. Much of that property is wetland. Um and the rest of it is farmstead right now. Okay. So what you know what they're using that for the green belt. Um much of it what we guided for in our comp plan our future land use plan under our policy is rural residential. Um so you said they're that they're doing you know what they're doing there today um aligns with you know the comp plan guidance.

Yeah I was just observing that if the west of that property of the city of Carver how they zone that if that ends up similar to what's all around there they're going to be a residential house surrounded by industrial yes that is that is potential which again they're well aware at this point as they look at but it just it's an interesting observation.

Yep. That's a good point. Uh the majority of the property out here is primarily used as agricultural use. So you see open farmland um kind of spread across uh over 300 acres there. There are pockets of wooded areas as well um mainly on the southeast side of the project area um and in some private uh yard space as well. And then kind of on that northern boundary. Um they did conduct a few wetland delineations out in this area and um delineated a total of 27 wetlands that kind of spread across uh the properties. Um and then you have West Chaza Creek kind of flanking that northern boundary as well within the ravine northern uh wooded area or ravine area. Um there's also two community uh ent key key community entrances that are identified in this overall area. Uh there's one at the intersection of Big Woods Boulevard and Jonathan Carver Parkway um being that that's kind of a major um gateway into the city um on the border of Carver and Delgrren Township and then a second key community entrance to find on the northwest quadrant of Highway 212 and Chesa Boulevard or County Road 61 there. uh which will come into play as important pieces in some other topics we're discussing here. Uh so the current request includes concept plan approval um and specifically that breaks down to 14 industrial buildings, four commercial buildings, a new city water tower, and a city electric substation.

Um, and how we've kind of broken this down just to give ease of reference between the project area is we've divided um it the project area into the north and the south side of Big Woods Business Park. So, Big Woods Business Park north is everywhere uh north of County Road 44, Big Big Woods Boulevard, and then the south is considered the area south of Big Woods Boulevard. Will that road become Bigwoods Boulevard? Because isn't it when you cross over Jonathan Carver goes back to County Road 44 at this point or is it big? No, it it should. Okay. I mean today. Yeah,

I feel like I should like I don't know. I guess I use them interchangeably. Well, I feel I feel like it becomes like You're right. I think after 11 it becomes a little bit more Yeah, that road is tricky because actually, as my kids will point out to me last Monday when it was beautiful, uh they decided that they were going to bike to Quick Trip and they encountered the problem that for a stretch on the other side of Big Woods, which still feels like carrot 44 because there's no curb and gutters,

right? And so they had no sidewalk. So it was interesting because they're like, "Oh, it was kind of muddy." And we're like the car cars are kind of closed which is a whole different problem not for this conversation but I for some reason thought for it wasn't technically because there's no across the road there's no curbs and gutters yet that's still technically a gap it looks like a Yep. It's a rural section. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Countyy's GIS labels it as Big Woods Boulevard. So assuming that's correct. Yeah. It's a great name.

It's nice. and then kind of further breaking down kind of the north and south areas. So the north um area is roughly 184 acres in area. Um and then the industrial or business park component um would include 715,000 square footage of that use. And then the commercial piece will be oriented on the north side as well. Uh totaling roughly 55,000 square feet of building space. and then where the water tower and city substation would also be oriented on that northern side. Um the green belt also comes into play um both on the north and south sides. Um on the north side um there is 30 acres of green belt that will be preserved and then 9 acres that would be impacted with kind of the uh layout of the development on the north side. The south side is roughly 154 acres in area and then will only contain the business park industrial uses of 1.2 million square feet. Um and then uh much of the green belt area is kind of oriented on that south side uh with 57 acres being preserved, 13 and a half acres being impacted with the development proposal shown. Uh from a zoning and comp plan standpoint, uh the properties in question are both zoned open and rural residential or RR2. And you can kind of see that break up uh on the top right exhibit on this slide. Um the open district is really over the city and

traditions parcels. Um and then the remaining is the RR2 or rural residential uh zoning district. Uh the one exception area is the two parcels that are in Dolgrren Township don't currently have zoning on them because they're not technically within our uh city boundary at this point. Um so right now they're kind of unzoned. Uh the comprehensive plan guides this area uh to be business park. a majority of the areas for business park uh which really allows for office light indust industrial employment centers high quality site design and supporting retail. The supporting retail um can be up to 10% maximum of the overall business park area. Uh what they're proposing to with the inclusion of commercial um will get them at that 3% mark for the overall business park area. So they're within that threshold. that's allowed out there. Um, open space is also guided in this area for a couple uh parts mainly on the north side uh with the ravine and the creek there. Um, and then rural residential guidance or what we also refer to as our green belt um is also guided within uh the project area. kind of um bicts uh or dissects the the north and south sides in a diagonal format here. And I'll show the southwest chasa plan that shows that a little bit more clearly. And then also guides those two parcels for the Dolgrren Township growth area. So really kind of where uh we ultimately will see the the city of Chaza's limits come to kind of that center line of Jonathan Carver Parkway to the west

there. Um that area um has been guided to hopefully get an orderly annexation agreement over it in our comp plan which we were able to complete back in September of 2025. So, there is a formal agreement in place for those two parcels uh that are in Delgrren Township and that really gives uh the city of Chaza uh zoning authority and subdivision authority over those two parcels. Um it also kind of sets up what needs to happen in order for those properties to be annexed and be formally a part of the city of Chaza. um which that piece of it does need to happen congruent with the preliminary step of when those parcels are developed and they're also a part of kind of what's considered phase one of this overall area. Additionally, um because our comp plan doesn't have guidance over them currently, um a comp plan amendment will also need occur as a part of that to establish that land use guidance. Uh, another guiding document for this area is what we call our Southwest Chaza plan. Uh, this was approved back in 2013, covers roughly 2.8 square miles of land, um, and really sets the stage for land use, um, public infrastructure and design guidelines within this area. Um the concept plan um generally speaking is consistent with the guidance that set up out here. Um which is pretty similar to how the comp plan guides this space too. Uh I I would say the exception is it kind of shows kind of that overall guidance even for the the two township parcels as well. Um so the areas guided business park and then

rural residential open space um for this overall area. So that rural residential green belt is kind of outlined in green on the southwest chassa plan. So you I'm trying to think on the Carver side. So on the Chesa side I can see but what on Jonathan Carver on the Carver side is there as a reference point. Are we talking like up by Fleet Farm or down by the like down by Mizzy's and all that or No. Lakewood Farm and then Angler. That's what I thought. Okay. Okay. I was trying to orient where we were talking about. Yeah. Fleet Farm would be on the very south end of this. Like this is

kind of where I'm showing my cursor is where Fleet Farm generally is. Okay. Yeah. So, we're north of where I was originally. Okay. Got it.

And there's nothing built out there on the Dogren side right now. It's just open field, correct? Yeah. Okay. Yep. That then I know what we're doing. Um, jumping into the green belt area because this is kind of a big component of the project area. Um, and really the intention of the green belt is to uh establish an edge around the city to kind of make it um uh stand out or define it more from adjacent communities um and separate it uh from those adjacent communities. Uh another component is to protect the rural character along those edges um and protect the character at those key community entrance points which again are kind of those um main dividers uh between those adjacent communities. Um the green belt area um encompasses a little over 85 acres of the project area. Um so um the north side encompasses roughly 30 acres of green belt area and then the south side encompasses roughly 55 a little over 55 acres of green belt area. Uh with the proposed concept plan there are impacts proposed on the north and south sides in those green belt areas. It's really where any impervious um is going to happen in in those um green belt areas. of parking andor uh building space. Uh for the north side they are proposing roughly 9 acres of the green belt area uh would be impacted. Um and then on the south side roughly 13 and a half acres of impact. Um total they're proposing a little over

22 acres of impact which is roughly 26% uh of that green belt area. There is a policy in the green belt portion of the comprehensive plan that does allow for impacts to the green belt area um or what we consider cluster development. Um, and really what that gets to is, um, you can impa impact the green belt area and pursue cluster development as long as you meet 10 stated objectives, uh, that are defined in there. Um, I'm not going to go into all of those. Um however um a comprehensive plan amendment would need to occur if you're planning to uh um propose impacts within the green belt area. Um a couple of the conditions that need to be met to pursue that is you have to connect to city utilities. Uh you also have to uh prioritize and protect the view sheds at key community entrances. Um and then there is a development limit to um approximately a third of that green belt area. Uh so only up to 30% of the green belt area could uh be used for development activity. the remaining twothirds um or 70% has to be protected and undeveloped um in order for that cluster development to be uh approved. Um relating back to the previous slide here um again their total impact area is roughly 26% so they do stay within that one-third uh developable

threshold. Do I ask maybe a silly question because majority on the north side is parking related as far as that goes? Was was the discussion about a like multi-level parking or a ramp at all discussed? I mean, is that just really impedent of the cost of things? But just out of curiosity.

Yeah, that's a good question. And I don't think that specific question has really been posed and maybe it's a good one for the developer and applicant to address this evening if you have any thoughts on that. I'm just, you know, I look at kind of where it's laying out on the north side and just the viewshed from Jonathan Carver Parkway or County Road 11

11. Yeah. you know, and I think about, well, I wonder if, you know, and I I'm not going to count all the lot spaces because my eyeballs won't allow me to do that at that screen, but, you know, would a ramp be something that might be less encroachment? Um, would it be more visually appealing? I don't know. That's like the other part of that question. Mhm. But um you know visual aesthetic of like a big giant parking lot versus like maybe a smaller multi-level parking ramp

that's a little less intrusive looking. I don't know like is that or could be tucked. I don't know. I I'm not looking to rewrite these plans big time or anything but I'm just curious.

Yeah. you know, could be one for the developer to weigh in on after Liz gets through her presentation. Um, relative to the green belt in the viewshed that we're trying to maintain and protect from Jonathan Carver Parkway, um the flat parking lot may be easier to screen through Birming and things and Liz has some crosssections that she'll get to at a concept level. Um it is going to be an important piece. Um and it's something that's noted in some of the conditions of approval and in Liz's staff report in the review. Um that that viewshed protection is is a really critical item relative to

Jonathan Carver Parkway um because of the green belt policy um specifically to that. Now from a land use perspective um you know to be able to create more ability for you know building development and things like that, right? um as opposed to um parking lot. Um that's where you know, yeah, a parking structure could help um with more density. Yeah. Um but as far as screening, I think maybe I get what you're saying.

I understand what you're saying like you're right and I I I know that this is concept and it's, you know, high level and, you know, not knowing exactly how a perimeter is going to look and everything like that. But if you think about it from a ramp perspective when East Creek put up their ramp that's right on 212 and you don't and County Road 41 and you don't I mean the viewed itself you don't even see it. I mean you do you don't but you know what I mean like that's a ramp that's a parking structure from 212 I guess it looks like a ramp but it's it's well screened up. It's not like like oh my gosh there's a ramp and then from 41 Yeah. I suppose that's kind of tucked down though, right?

There's some elevation advantages to that because you don't really see it's not like you're really you're looking at the upper level rather than like the lower level, which this is not going to be the case because I I think about the again the like landscape. It's pretty flat. I mean, it's farmfilled. It's not

Well, there's I mean, there's a lot of topography out there. Um it's not it's not a pancake site. Um but again I think as we're talking about the objective to screen and create a rural viewhed from 11 from Bigwoods Boulevard and 11 and then you know north and south on 11. Um you know the idea being that we're creating separation um sort of a gateway to Chaza um that there's a there's a clear kind of distinction and marcation between right Carver as it develops in this direction and Chaska that's always been the goal and the objective of the of the green belt.

Um you know adding height to a structure inherently is going to add challenge to the screen.

I get it. I get it. And I and the southern part of it I know it's you know there's a building that's kind of going through it but when you think about again like you said the intention of why the green belt and you think about the view shed coming off of the highway that accomplishes that goal because you're not really going to see that building tucked in there with everything that's buffering greenwise on the outside of where the highway runs through. So anyways just comment sorry go ahead So, I think the only other thing I'll add to kind of the green belt discussion is um there are a few areas um within the green belt space that um are shown as being protected. So, we're talking about these green areas here on the green belt exhibit. um they are showing storm water ponding u mainly on the north side uh with the phase one or building one site um that I'll get into a little bit more detail later um which the discussion around that is if they intend to put storm water ponds in the uh unimpacted green belt area it could be considered as long as that rural uh characters still maintain and that viewshed um is still uh maintained or unobstructed. Um and they enhance kind of that natural character within that area. Um it wouldn't be acceptable if the the viewshed um is uh impacted or uh is depleted um more with the introduction of ponding there. um or if they propose a design that um uh shows a lot of

exposed storm water equipment um or basically kind of a dry basin, something that doesn't add to that natural character out there that really the intent of the green belt is set up for. Um they've included an example image of um a storm water pond they included on a golf course uh that they intend to mimic. Um and I think again the devil is in the details of uh the design of the storm water ponding and what they use on building one site. So we'll want to understand kind of all those components and understand the viewsheds uh that are being achieved um from the roadways and uh public uh areas to ensure that again the rural character in the bhed is uh prioritized as much as possible. Um so they do intend to phase this overall project area. they're not coming in in one big swoop here. Um, which would be a a big venture. Um, so they do intend to phase out uh the entire project area. Um, um, and have kind of the first phase really encompass um, one building site which is uh, referred to as building one. Um, and that's highlighted in red here on this phasing plan. um they do have a enduser identified for building one site. So hence why they're able to kind of continue uh moving forward on that portion of the project which would be a distribution center um with the development of building one. Um there are other portions of the project that will need to be uh constructed um to service that building one site. Um so

also included in phase one would be improvements to the intersection of Big Woods Boulevard and um kind of that main spine road um into the north side or what we consider public road A. um which will culdeac on that north side. Um so is that about halfway? It doesn't it's about halfway between the current roundabout and traffic garver new proposed roundabout in Yeah. Yeah. If if we're because that doesn't exist today. There's nothing that would there's no driveway or anything that would need.

Correct. There is an existing roundabout at the interchange for Highway 212. Um, so that new proposed roundabout, uh, is like you said, it's it's roughly that midpoint between Jonathan Carver Parkway and Highway 212. And do my previous statement, that's when curb and gutter would be extended the entire way. Yes. Because existing roundabouts where it stops. Yes. On 212. Yep. So, it would um improve that um street corridor into a an urban section, curbon gutter effectively.

Yeah, it's rough right now. It's a rough stretch of road right there as well. The well needs to be improved there. Um, utilities will also need to be extended uh to the project area and those really are kind of on the north or across the ravine um at Creek Road and Chesa Creek Boulevard. And I'll show an exhibit showing exactly where those stub off today, but that would need to be extended south into the site to service um building one as well as other subsequent phases. Uh they also do intend to grade um or masgrade the north side of the project area or Big Woods uh business park north.

That red area

the red area and and portions of the blue area too on the north side. Um so again that red area in this phasing exhibit is really what would come forward first in that phase one. Um the blue area is the other areas um that would be held by Skinnel properties and then developed as they identify end users for those future sites. And then the orange is basically the properties owned by traditions and the city of Chaska. Um and those would be developed by other people. Um access into the site. Um, so there's kind of a main collector road that would provide access both on the north and the south sides, uh, which we refer to as public road A or what's highlighted as orange on this exhibit. And that would kind of run, uh, north, uh, to south and eventually connect into Jonathan Carver Parkway on the south side. Um there's um a new roundabout um intersection that would happen where public road A intersects with Big Woods Boulevard um to provide that kind of main um ingress and egress both on the north and south sides. Um, a new access um or public road is also shown on the north side, what we refer to as public road B, uh, which would extend off of that existing single lane roundabout, uh, at the Highway 212 interchange. Um, and basically provide access to those commercial properties on the north side. and that would eventually intersect with public road A or the the main collector road.

Um and then also on the north side is a uh private intersection uh or access point on a Jonathan Carver Parkway, also known as intersection A. Uh right now it's being shown as a right in ride out that would access that building one site only. On the south side um there would be another public road extension coming off of the main collector road or what we consider public road C and that would uh come all the way down to Chasper Boulevard to the south there. Um and then lastly, forgot to mention on the north side, uh there is a proposal for a private road to come off of um the main collector road there and provide access to additional industrial properties on the tradition site and uh the future uh city substation kind of on the northeast portion of the project area. So, this might be a really dumb question, but is there a reason why the phase one is the furthest west? Like where the annexing will have to happen and all that?

Why it's oriented on the west side? Yeah. Like why is that the first why is it just because that's where the the buyer wanted it to be or Yeah, I think I might have the applicant respond to that just in terms of their thought process for that. Yeah. No question. Okay. Uh good evening. My name is Jake Kurt with Skull Properties. Uh part of the reason why and honestly the the majority of the reason why is just just functionally how the site lays out. So building one requires uh the requirement for the size of the building and the parking in addition pulling uh the internal road and the utilities through. It's you know it's it just made sense to do it that way.

Okay. I'm just I was just asking. So, do you have an enduser already signed on for that particular where she's was speaking of? Yeah. Phase one. Yeah, we're talking directly to an end user. Okay. Yep. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, if if that's where they want to put their facility and it makes the most sense, then then Well, and also from an internal road perspective, when you're building an internal road, you're wanting to, you know, split it right down the middle so you can utilize the road together and the utilities can be pulled off on either side. It kind of just made sense that way. It does. Get it all done and then you can just sell off the land as people are ready for built up. Makes sense.

But then that would force this annexation to happen first because that Furthest west is still Dogren today. Correct. Yep. Okay. Yeah. Council member Shavelin, I can I can just note um Liz if I'm undercutting a future message, but we do have an orderly annexation agreement with Dogrren Township in place and that went to council I think towards last year. Yeah. You said like November, correct? Yep. And so there is there is a timeline on that uh with Dogren. gave us a little bit of runway, but um for us to execute on that um you know that annexation is in line with what we kind of set out. So perfect.

And then just the last question out of curiosity like what would be the timeline of wanting to start some of this work is are we talking these roads? I mean because all that has to happen put buildings up. Yep. Um I think Jake has been clear that he would have liked to start uh yesterday years ago. So I think it'll be not yesterday. It was a little too cold yesterday. But um yeah, the most opportune time to break ground in Minnesota is obviously when the ground thaws. Yeah. And we want to be able to have our shell fully enclosed or the building fully enclosed before it gets colder

uh for obvious reasons. um so we don't incur winter conditions. But if we continue on the timeline that we are currently on right now, we will have shovels in the ground by June, which will be uh as Liz made note of, it would be the construction uh or the mass grading of the site and the construction utilities uh road a u offsite infrastructure that's needed for for for the park and obviously building one as well. Sure. Perfect. So you may get to this, but now with that timeline, it makes me ask the obvious question. What's the construction access or is the where they access it? What road are they access their property for construction?

Is it Big Woods Boulevard? Well, I don't think it's been fully defined right now because that I mean that is a narrow road with lots of young traffic going to Carver Elementary. Yeah. Yeah. Like that is something that needs to be thought about and I don't know I don't know if there's a lot of good options. That's the reality, right? But that road is beat up the way it is now. Um which is good. It can easily get redone. But did you go to the open house?

No, I'm not I mean I did I I Well, I looked online. I'm not even talking. I'm talking it's that stretch from where the interchange ends to Jonathan Carver, right? where it goes back basically to a county road. I drive it every Monday through Friday because I bring my kid to Carver Elementary. Um it's beat up. It's super narrow. It's a bus route. Lots of cars go there. So like morning traffic, construction traffic. So I just think that's something like I love like I don't want to do anything to prevent this from happening because love love love this is good for chess for lots lots of reasons.

But that will I will get a lot of calls when that's a problem. I'll just say it that way, right? Because I've live in that neighborhood. I drive that. It is interesting because a year from now, I won't drive that as often because I'll have not going to Carver. It's kind of weird how your traffic patterns change, but it's a young neighborhood and there's all those houses going up there. So, I think that's something. I would love it not to be out Big Woods, but I don't know what your options are. Well, yeah. I mean, the nature of the site really kind of gives two options, right? either Big Woods Boulevard or Jonathan Carver Parkway would need to be used to access for construction.

Um, you know, concept plan, we're usually not talking a whole lot about details on construction access and but I do think, you know, well noted that we'll need to make sure that we're coordinating that. Now in the background here and what's not part of this proposal or these guys responsibility or anything but um we are working in beginning with some of the proposal that's going on with the park with uh what was proposed on Hassic's property and what's being implemented with High Point Vista um the connection of Savannah Way that would carry all the way to Chasta Boulevard. Um eyeing uh next summer to be doing that. So, a lot of these things are going to be happening kind of tangentially, but once that connection is created, um that provides a different route for the neighborhood um you to be able to access the you know, Carver and the elementary school and all that. Another piece I think that's important to keep in mind um and certainly, you know, project number one is going to generate construction traffic in and of itself. Um and but this is something that even as staff we have to keep reminding ourselves this is a very large area that's being proposed right for concept plan.

Our expectation for implementation on this is that it's going to stretch over a lot of time and Jacob and I have had a lot of conversation around that. I mean we're looking at Jake would love it to be 10. I think it's maybe closer to 15. Um but you know this is going to be a long time of implementation. Correct. a long time. Um

because you know these are a lot of large buildings. Um and just looking at the pace that we've seen and maybe I hope I'm proven wrong. I hope it happens in five or something. But um what we've seen happening north of here, right, with the Apidan buildings, it's kind of every two three years that we've seen one of those buildings popping up. Um so if you carry that pace forward and what's being proposed here, you kind of get, you know, to a number like that. So it's not as if though you're going to have all of them, you know, construction, you know, truck in the world sending on this site to build all these buildings at one time. I think I think that's fair. Yeah, that's fair.

And I just say and I just like to add uh we do this all the time. Uh and we want to be as uh accommodating as possible, but also we are trying to be as safe as possible. So, we'll work with everybody um in order to accomplish that. I think like a good once it gets for like talking to the school district for busing would be important um because again there is a lot of all those houses that all the east of that all filter to Carver Elementary right now

could have been different if something would have happened several years ago but um so I think those are just just interested parties to keep in the loop.

Yep. Um, you know, obviously the good news is timelines. Um, a lot of stuff happens not during school season because it's winter. So, uh, those are those are helpful, too. But yeah, it it is that is a narrow space like it is it you go through that road and it gets really tiny quickly and the houses are right there, right? So, but my kids will be happy when the curb's done because then they could take their bikes on a bike path because it's true. You can get all the way to Quick Trip into Carver. It's that from that area. It's that only section that doesn't have the sidewalk or anything. Otherwise, you got beautiful trails on Jonathan Carver. Yeah.

Um so it'll be great. And I'm sure like I said, a lot of people in those neighborhoods will find that as an asset in the end. Um because they'll have that. Uh it'll be nice to have the tax revenue over there, too. But they'll love the bike paths to get to the, you know, John Carver, go up to Victoria, all the way go south to Carver. There's I don't know. It's like a mile, maybe less than a mile. It's not very far, but it's I heard all the stories from my kids because they they forgot about that on Monday. And it was muddy. And it was muddy and now it's snowing. Like that's Minnesota, right? So, I appreciate it.

Yeah, absolutely. Um, one thing that will need to be worked on kind of as phases continue to build out is just ensuring that access points specifically on the collector road or public road A um, and other public and private roads align um, where practical and feasible um, and also meet spacing requirements along a collector road. Um, so that'll be something that'll continue to be uh refined and coordinated uh with staff to ensure we're creating a safe corridor uh through the development. Um, so there's a couple things that will need to be worked on both on the access and rightway piece um for building one site, but also uh the other buildings that develop in this area. I'm not going to go into too much detail. Um all of this is included as conditions of approval. Um but it is really looking at um where um access points on county roads can line up uh both with the city of Carver and meeting spacing guidelines uh from Carver County side um as well as uh from the city side too. Um and just working on again refining those pieces for all of the access points proposed. um traffic um so a TIA or a traffic impact analysis has been in completed for this project as a part of the AUR that is kind of a required uh review process as a part of envir environmental reviews. Um it did conclude within that TIA that the surrounding transportation network um and what is proposed for um

improvements can support the development uh with appropriate mitigations. So again uh devil's in the details of uh those pieces. um

because a couple highlights. Um the um the collector road proposed or public road A is anticipated to have 7,000 daily trips on the north side in Big Woods uh business park north. Uh 10% of those 7,000 trips would be trucks. Um, and included within that, uh, just from building one site, um, they anticipate roughly 3,000 daily trips, which is pretty high or it's a a pretty high metric. Um, but with a distribution center, that's pretty normal. Um, uh, but, uh, distribution centers are kind of more of those higher traffic users. Um, so that's why, uh, we see kind of that higher daily trip, uh, being projected there. Um, so there'll be a couple things that they'll need to refine within their TIA. Uh, really speaking to the new collector road proposed. um looking at different scenarios of how that road can either um stay how it is proposed uh ending in a culde-sac or also connecting to Creek Road to the north uh which has been part of kind of the long range plan or anticipation for that road. Um so understanding kind of how the development can operate in in those varying scenarios and ensuring that what does get built out there um can accommodate and safely um operate uh for the overall development. Uh because of the high um daily trip count that comes from distribution centers, um we are kind of laying out the foundation that the other subsequent sites within the business park area uh

would not be for distribution center use. um as we uh again see those users being high truck users. Um and uh J daily uh tra traffic generators. Um and because of that um having a limitation on only having one distribution center use out there is uh to kind of help set up that overall development area uh to be uh more adequate from a traffic standpoint. Uh speaking to utilities and where those need to get extended from. So as I mentioned before, they're currently stubbed at Creek Road and Chesca Creek Boulevard uh north of the site and across the ravine. So uh those utilities need to extend south um quite a ways across the ravine to provide service uh to the uh development area. Uh they're showing kind of a conceptual layout of where that can happen. kind of extending south through um the right ofway adjacent to uh the new MSB site and then across the ravine to the south to connect into that northern culde-sac. Um there's probably a couple ways to look at where extensions can occur and where the least invasive extension can happen. Um so moving into that preliminary phase um they'll have to evaluate where those extensions should really uh happen. Uh they will need traditions property in order to bring those utilities down. So there will uh need to be some participation um and agreement with traditions uh to bring the utilities into the project area. Um, in addition to the utility extensions, as I mentioned before, this

area on the north side is both planned for a city water tower and a city substation. Uh, the city water tower, uh, the way the concept plan is, um, laid out would show that water tower on the kind of northwest side of where that northern culdeac would end. Um and then the city substation would kind of be on that northeast side of the project area um with access coming from that private road extending off of the collector road. Um the city water tower in terms of timing um adequate area for it. All of that would need to be coordinated with our water and sewer director. Um so that'll be something they'll need to work on kind of in uh the next um phase or step of this project with building one site. The city substation um the timing on that um still needs to get coordinated. Um this service territory that the concept plan is in is currently within Minnesota valleys uh territory. However, um in the next 15 years, the city does anticipate to absorb in service uh that MBEC territory. Um so there will be kind of that dual coordination that needs to happen both with the city electric and MBEC um on the onset here to understand um their plans out there. Uh as we get into trails and sidewalks, um we have a couple documents that kind of guide this overall area for pedestrian facilities. We have both the 2040 comprehensive plan um and the trail plan

um that's kind of anticipated where um connections and extensions need to occur. And then we also have a newer document which is known as our Chesa pedestrian and bike master plan that was um adopted in the last couple years. Um that has kind of um provided additional guidelines um and design uh standards to consider uh for this area as well. Um the concept plan does show or propose the addition of both a sidewalk and a trail extension to um occur on kind of the proposed public roads within the north and south areas of the business park. um which would be extensions from the southwest uh regional trail from the north side across the ravine as well as the trail systems um along Big Bigwoods Boulevard that'll be extended um west towards Jonathan Carver Parkway. Um and then uh connection to the trail system that's currently exists on the east side of Jonathan Carver Parkway. Um and then in addition to that um there's been guidance for a trail system to also be included in that northern wooded ravine system too. So they are showing kind of contemplation of those connections that have been defined. um in those two guiding documents. Um in addition um what will also be important is showing internal pedestrian connections in each of the building

sites um and how they connect into those external uh facilities um along the county roads and the new public roads and within the northern wooded ravine. so that there's kind of that continuous um looping or connection uh provisions within the development area. Um and that's for both the building one site and subsequent sites that come later. Um kind of tied into that is um outdoor gathering spaces uh for the concept area. Um there's kind of this importance to be able to provide amenities and areas for employees and pedestrians to connect into and be able to use uh within this area. Um those are kind of pieces that are called out in our southwest CHASA plan um uh for these spaces. Um so something that both building one and other buildings will have to continue to refine and show in their plans is how they um will provide those amenities within the development area and within the specific sites and how they connect into those uh pedestrian connections too. Um screening landscaping and tree preservation will be important um specifically as this property has some major roadway um abutments uh from you know Jonathan Carver Parkway, Big Woods Boulevard, Highway 212. Um so those view sheds are are pretty prominent from those major roadways. Um and then also because this area is within our green belt and has um two key community entrances identified both on the north

and the south sides. Uh so viewsheds um need to be protected and prioritized as we mentioned before. Um so landscaping, screening, tree preservation really feed into that um priority. I think keep in mind that building a destination park to the east, everyone coming west is going to go through this space, right? If you think about it because the 212 interchange brings you to Jonathan Carver and then you'd go up and so I I agree. I think and I know they'll they'll do that, but that is important because

um that will a lot of traffic will go through that if we truly succeed in building amazing park to the east of it.

Yep, that's a good point. Um the applicant has provided a number of cross-section uh exhibits in their concept plan which um is not something we typically get necessarily at concept plan or is a requirement but it it's starting to set the stage of kind of what those relationships and um kind of differences in viewsheds exist along those major roadways. Um I haven't included all of them in this presentation because there are quite a lot. Um but I did include kind of uh the edge for um Jonathan Carver Parkway and Big Woods Boulevard uh where building one site is um just to give um kind of that look into what that site is um projected to be. Um, you know, there's some proposed landscaping, ponding, and some burming um proposed on some of those edges. Um, I think there's a few things for the applicant to work on to really bolster those viewsheds. Uh, really bolster the birming, the screening, the landscaping along um, uh, Jonathan Carver Parkway and Big Woods Boulevard at those at the key community uh, entrances. um on that intersection so they can ensure that again that rural character and viewed is maintained. Um so I think there's a few things um that they'll need to work on into their preliminary to really capture that requirement that's called out. Um and um you know we get into the details of that really kind of in the the

conditions of approval and comments within our report. I'm not going to get into too much detail on that just more high level at this point. Um and then getting into the building and parking design of these uh properties. Um, all of the sites will need to adhere to um our industrial and commercial requirements for building design and materials um and make sure that they meet class one requirements for uh the difference uh between the industrial and the commercial sites. Um there's also commentary to uh providing a cohesive architectural theme throughout the business park. Um so that this place really feels like a connected um cohesive uh business park. Um and also adhering to the design guidelines that are called out in the southwest chasa plan. There's a lot of um good commentary in there that they'll need to meet as they work on each of these sites um as they develop. Um really the only site that there's details around is building one site which is a part of uh phase one of this business park. Um so they've included um more information in terms of kind of a building layout, building um elevations and so forth. Um the building one site encompasses a little over 60 acres in size and again it's on um uh the north side um kind of on that west edge uh abuing Jonathan Carver Parkway and just immediately north of Big Woods Boulevard. They anticipate a 218,000 square foot building there roughly 40

feet tall um rectangular in footprint. It's highlighted in purple on this exhibit here. Um that'll kind of orient um more north to south um for that rectangular footprint. Um they have a warehousing and distribution center user um identified for this building who will operate on a 247 schedule uh with deliveries happening during kind of those normal business hours uh during the daytime um and then internal warehousing uses during the nighttime hours. Uh this user uh anticipates a pretty heavy um parking requirement. Um so they anticipate over 1,300 uh spaces for the building which would include both employee parking and then parking that's needed for the delivery trucks that are stored. Um the employee parking is oriented on the south side of the site and south of that uh building footprint. Um and then that delivery truck parking is oriented on the west side of the site kind of in between the building and where those storm water ponds are shown. Um so that would make up kind of a majority of the parking that you you see for this site. They also anticipate two different accessory buildings. um with the property. One would be a larger one on the northwest side, roughly 5,000 square ft, and that would basically be a maintenance or a mechanics bay for the delivery trucks. Uh so they'll be able to do maintenance and mechanical work on those delivery trucks in that northwest building. Um and then a small smaller um accessory building which will be closer

to where the main building is on the south side roughly 800 square ft. This is more of kind of that day-to-day pass through building um that delivery trucks would go through uh for kind of those quick inspections before they go in and out of the the field for delivery. I assume that all entrances will be gated into this the spaces. Is that so it' be like I could the person could come off the road and go back by like the maintenance bay or is it all gated back? Do you understand my question? Made sense in my head.

Sure. Yeah. No, good evening. Uh Jason Venus uh I'm a a rep for the end user. Uh the spaces, the only space that would generally be gated for these facilities would be the truck court. Um and that would normally be a guard shack. For this facility though, generally uh there's no guard shack. So these are all um open. Yeah, the facility is staffed. They're 247. So any vehicles, so the um the drivers of the delivery vehicles will actually enter um so the larger lot there on the western side of the screen, that's the delivery fleet uh parking. They enter off Jonathan Carver, a little circle in the corner there, right there.

And so they'll enter with their personal vehicles and either find an open spot or they'll do a onetoone exchange. So, they'll leave their vehicle in the in the lot or in the aisle, pull the van out, pull their vehicle in, and then queue up. So, I don't think this this uh plan isn't as detailed, but there is in, you know, in a in a future plan, there'll be some queuing components and some flow as you can kind of see how the traffic kind of flows on the site itself. Um, so there will be pedestrian or personal vehicles in that lot. That will largely just be the drivers themselves. Okay. So, I could in theory enter that space and look at everyone's personal car and truck and everything. I I probably wouldn't want to stay in there, but there's nothing preventing me from going into that.

It's not like a secured.

Yeah. The large correct. Yeah. And because during the day there won't be there'll be, you know, personal vehicles in there and then at night there'll be um uh delivery vans. They should be secured and there'll be cameras in the site. I I prefer I mean I just think like you think like welcoming right like um I work in a large industrial park in Shakipi and there's a lot of the spaces some of the spaces near us have gates pharmaceutical companies that's why um but but uh it's it's not as welcoming right like when you see a big and they never look nice right because why why would you make a movable gate that keeps people out look nice right so that's why I was curious that that's a good answer I appreciate that answer I was just kind of curious um because I wasn't sure about because so you said some users may choose to have a garshack at that point. So

Sure. Thank you.

And kind of related to access into the site, um they do show five different access points um into building one site. Four would come off of that collector road or public road A on the east side there. All of those are kind of full access points. Uh the northern one would be um direct access into the back to um get to the delivery truck uh parking area. Uh the access immediately south of that one would be a truck access point into the loading area on the north side of the building. So this would only be for trucks and loading on that uh north side. And then south of that access point would be into kind of a staging area for delivery trucks on that east side of the building. Um and then the southernmost access point would have access to that employee parking lot on the south side of the building. And the the fifth access point would come from Jonathan Carver Parkway uh which is a right in right out access. Is that going to be like right in right out where there's going to be a concrete kind of island that's going to really make sure that it is only a right in in a right out.

Does that make sense? Yeah. Yeah. Ours can't just decide when they're approaching that they're gonna because it's a very dangerous road.

Yep. So that'll be part of the process that applicant will need to go through uh with Carver County, right? Ultimately, this is going to be an access point. There's a number of things um that Liz, I don't know if you you maybe pointed out or maybe you will or has covered. Um but as it relates to this location, needing to make sure that this access spacing requirements are going to be met with Carver County is going to be something that they'll have to work on coordination with Carver on the other side. Um you know, Carver has business park um you know, goals on the other side of of County Road 11. So making sure that the placement of this access doesn't prevent um or you know conflict with the access points that they'll want to see and and creating opportunities for alignment there. Um and if it's going to be a right in right out um they'll have to work with Carver County as to whether a median is going to be required or

some sort of pork chop like you're talking about how that access control would happen. I think one of the things that we would like to see evaluated um before we conclude that uh private access is the only route on County Road 11 is what is the opportunity for a public access to happen there because there's a lot of value you know potentially serve business park um by allowing that access point to serve you know buildings beyond just this one user by making it private. So I think those are all pieces that we're going to need want to see evaluated and better understood um as it moves through the process. Okay. And

I have a just a quick question. I was I did some research and looked up Skinnal Properties and a lot of the things that you guys have done so far. And I just have a like a are you is are you planning on like a a large square footage building with a you know like just like a one level or are you planning like it's going to be multiple level? Just so I can understand like what it would look like. Obviously, there's a big parking lot there, but I can see many of your We've actually done a lot of both. I see in your portfolio. Yep. This will be a singlestory office warehouse. Okay. Industrial buildings. That's typically what you do. Okay. For um class A industrial buildings, not just in Minneapolis, but across the country.

Yeah. No, I see some of them in Wisconsin and Nebraska. Even some Yeah. There are some cases when there's office space um where there's multi-level office space where you might see it in the mezzanine area. Um so you'll see it from that perspective but for building one it'll be a single story single story singlestory office for the remaining of the park and the other buildings much of the same will happen but uh who's to say it won't be twotory office inside or have some but we're not talking about a real tall building or anything. No, no, no. About 40 foot clear, which is which is standard. Yeah, sure.

Are we keeping you on track over this? Yes. Okay.

Just trying to figure out what more to say. Um the they've included an elevation drawing as a part of this concept plan. um package here. Um just kind of gives a pretty generic distribution center building layout there. Uh kind of as I mentioned before, we'll want to continue to work on the details of their building plan and how it meets our building design and materials ordinance, but also um kind of starting to think about, you know, the theme that they want to set for the overall business part two. Um, so I think there's a um a couple things that, you know, we'll need to continue to coordinate and refine um into that preliminary submitt. Um, in addition to that, you know, we've mentioned before, landscaping and screening is going to be a um a big ticket thing with this site being it is on a key community entrance. Um so again that will need to uh be worked out as well with the details burming um view sheds and that sort of thing into the site um as there's a large parking expanse proposed with this building um and a 40 foot tall uh proposal at this point for the actual building. So, um, kind of understanding how all of those kind of fit into, uh, the objectives out here. And then kind of getting to um, you know, that point about uh, the limitation of um, uh, only having one distribution center and the overall business park. Um there's a few objectives that are called

out in the southwest chasa plan as well as the business park um guidance um to create more diver diverse job creation uh within the overall area. So limiting um a distribution center to only one in this area kind of um reinforces that idea. Um it also um get you know as we can see these users um use large parking lot areas um that are definitely uh more disproportionate to kind of the overall building area um or building footprint. Um so that's not necessarily something we want to continue on all of the sites within the business park area. Um and then you know getting to that objective of ha having um high quality building and site design and enhancing those site views into the overall business park area. Um so that's kind of um conditioned um within the business park comments um or once approved uh with with uh the overall business park area. Um and then some other things that uh really didn't get called out in kind of those other topics that we've highlighted um and things they'll need to work on for preliminary. um they'll need to work on a wetland mitigation plan and impact assessment. So if they are planning to impact wetlands um ensuring that um they meet our standards for that and are protecting kind of those high quality wetlands um where defined. Um, they also need to work on preparing a comprehensive plan amendment specifically for impacts to the green belt area and what they want to pursue for cluster development.

And then also amendments to include those two Dolin Township parcels that aren't currently guided or zoned right now. Um, another thing that will need to get fully wrapped up before they can pursue preliminary is adopting the final AU or environmental review of the project. Um, and they're in the process of doing that. It's just an along elongated process with an AUR. uh but they're working towards that but that will need to be fully adopted by council before they can pursue other um or subsequent steps for the project. Um and then you know details into how the green belt um is going to get um uh preserved and prioritized and implemented um as this business park progresses through different phases um and ensuring that there's strategies and methods to ensure that the protection of the green belt is um maintained um as development continues. Uh so with that, um we're asking to make a motion to adopt resolution number 2026-17, which is approving the concept plan for the Big Woods business park. Um and then based on the conditions that are laid out within that resolution. Happy to answer any other questions you have. Um otherwise, the development team can help answer questions, too. Thank you. Thank you, Liz. I know that was that was I think maybe that was the longest uh probably

staff report or you've done. So, um does anybody have any questions for staff? Oh, no. I know we Thank you for letting us kind of ask questions as we go along. I think that helped

hopefully break up your time as well as be able to kind of address some of the points as we as we walk through them. And so I mean again it kind of goes back to um concept level big big picture ideas and kind of working through things. Um look forward to seeing what comes about with preliminary as far as working on some of those um items that you had addressed. Also just want to thank you guys for choosing the investment in our community. This is really really exciting. and um this brings a lot of jobs uh tax based opportunity to our community. So I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that. And then also staff working in coordination. There's a lot of different property owners involved in this and it's a big undertaking. So thank you guys for all of the time and energy and investment that you have made kind of working on several of the components of it. And it's also um you have a township involved and a county involved and another city involved. So, I mean, this is really huge, but this will be wonderful. Um, and looking at the kind of the architectural renderings and everything, it's it's beautiful. So, um, those are my thoughts. Does anybody else want to share anything in regards to that?

Yeah, I think I agree with a lot of what you said and I think this is a fantastic addition. And I do want to like really lean into the importance of the green belt and like this is just such a visible property and as Carver and Victoria and that whole area continues to grow. It is really the the introduction of our community to users coming people coming from the west and I just think that's really important. So that big parking lot and how it interacts with the road and the viewshed there I think it'll be important to see obviously at concept less concerned with that but just want to mention that that I think it's important and I'll be looking for that to be done really well um and if it's not you'll hear it from me. So um I'm not shy. So that um that's one piece that I'm just really watching closely I guess because I do just think it is such a beautiful area right now and obviously it's going to develop and it's developing like this m this is a development that makes sense so I I'm all for that but um I think you can you can have both things. So that's my thoughts. Uh, I'll just add I've talked uh a lot because I have a very strong interest. Like I said, I do drive I live in Founders Ridge. I drive that stretch of road Monday through Friday for the next six months and then I'll probably go that way for a while. My friends have a lot of friends at Carver, so I will um you know, I do appreciate I will

I do appreciate the focus on the big project, right? because it would be easy to develop or have a developer piece that together and then I think you lose some of this theming. We talked about theming and continuity that it looks right. Um, obviously it's a bigger risk for you to to go the whole property and and obvious but I again I think that will serve us well. You know, I think uh with looks uh council member Hatfield how it all looks together and have that shed. I think you have we'll have I feel like we have a better success with it all but kind of looking at it as a whole versus pieces of it. Um so yeah I I think it's exciting. I will the one question I had um towards the very end. What did I do with it? There's a very end there was a like a map that had all red on it Liz with like the mailing

recommended mailing section. So those mailings went out right they Yes.

So I guess the only observation I will make and and this is where we always fall into the game. When's the right what's the right distance? None of the housing development gets hit with that. Right. So, I'm not saying you have another neighborhood meeting. I just think it would be helpful or useful or feedback to take because again, you look at that way, it just it all of those houses don't quite hit that boundary. We always have this game up here like what's the right distance for the mailer, but in this project, it's just interesting that none of those houses and those residents actually got that mailing. Um, so it was an interesting observation. I I I think they have associations you could reach out to to get information. Maybe that would be helpful. I've just learned that it always is best for all parties interests involved if no one is surprised by anything that's happening. And I don't know if a lot of people will be. I think we've I mean I certainly was informed prior to being on council that that would be you know industrial uh warehouse type space versus residential. So that was just another observation. But no, I echo the mayor's thoughts about, you know, investing. Uh, it's exciting. It's also like a little sad because it's like,

it's like the last big property, right? It's exciting. Someone's got to do it and it's great, but it's also kind of like, oh, this is, you know, now it's not here tomorrow, which unfortunately, right, it's, you know, that 10 to 15 years piece of it. Uh, but yeah, it's it's I like how it lays out. Um, you know, I have, you know, I'll get lots of questions, I'm sure. And if you have any, if you need connections to people to talk to in the neighborhoods, they will find me out, too. So, um, and again, I'll be excited to tell my kids that eventually they'll have sidewalk all the way to to get to Quick Trip and spend $20 on candy and pop is what they spent on. It was great.

Actually, that that did bring about a question that I initially had there. There's some of that that's slotted for like commercial. Do we have any particular enduser or even like a type you know convenience store you know small business retail like do we have a vision in our head on that or we're envisioning that the demand will be like a sea store. Okay. Um maybe a car wash. Okay. Um, but nobody's been identified. They're very popular right now. Yeah. Well, it's nice. It's winter tires. They're very,

but nothing has been tire. Okay. I think a Starbucks would be really great. I like Starbucks. I appreciate you. They'd be a great customer for all the people working in that space. Yeah. Starbucks. Yeah. Well, they might not car something. I I v I envisioned a possible convenience store over there which would maybe make your kids really happy. It's a little little closer. Yeah. The the cop reads a plan the way it talks about commercial relative to this area is really about supporting services for the business park and that you know is a byproduct the surrounding neighborhood too. Um it's not intended to be something that's regional in nature, right? So you can think about

what are those supporting services that would support the business park or sea store certainly would fall in that category. hotel I think is maybe an opportunity out here um with it being right on the interchange now you know does the market support one I guess we'll see um daycare comes to mind sort of graband go lunch that sort of thing um for the for the employees that are working out there that's I think the nature of the direction that and the vision that is set by the comp plan I appreciate you elaborating on that because that was something that in my mind and then I kind of got lost in the green belt So, all right. Um, see motions.

Yeah, we need most motions here if we're going to I lost in where the motions are, but I think it's to approve the concept plan here for make a motion to adopt resolution number 2026-7 approving the concept plan for Bigwoods business parks and property PC 2025-23. Nice. Okay, we have a motion from council member Gra second and a second from council member Benes. Any other discussion? All right, all those in favor say I. I opposed. Right. Motion carries. Thanks for hanging out so long. Thank you guys for Yeah. your efforts. Never know when you're the last.

Sounds like you guys are really thrilled and excited to keep moving forward. You want to get those shovels in the ground. So, I'm sure we will be seeing you very soon. So, yeah. Sounds good. All right. This moves this moves us along to bills. Does anybody have a question on any of the bills that came forward? There were a lot of them obviously because the police station is also open. Well, and we went three weeks or whatever without council meetings. So, but Oh, just tons of rousiness. Okay, I guess with that I would need a motion to pay the bills. Motion to build. All right. Motion from council member Chevlin.

Second. Second from council member Benes. All right. Roll call, please. Council Hatfield. Yes. Council member Bennishes. Yes. Council Chevlin. Yes. Council. Hi. Mayor Hover. Yes. All right. Bills are paid. All right. This moves us along to other reports or other business. Uh, Council Hatfield. Why don't you start us off strong? I don't really remember the last three weeks. I don't know why. I think it was a blur because it was warm and then it was cold and then it was warm and that's how it's cold again.

Um, so lots of things going on, but some things that I would like to tell you all about. Mostly that Cops and Donuts on Wednesday is at bubble time and I'm really excited about that. It is from 4 to 5. And if you haven't been to Bubble Time, it's a fantastic place with really delicious donuts, drinks, hot dogs on a stick, fried cheese on a stick. So good. And it's like just the best little like it shouldn't be a best kept secret, but it is like a little secret where it's at. So hopefully you can all show up and try them out because this is a great time and also get to um chat with some of our officers. So, I was really excited when I saw that cuz it was a new spot, too. Um, so that's really nice. And then the Chess Community Center carnival is coming up on March 6th at 5:30. That's always a great event. Um, and then I also saw on our Facebook that applications for Christmas in May are up. So, it's crazy to think about May already, but that's always a really great event. Um, so if you um have a home in need of something and that is a challenge to get done, um, definitely look at the application. Um, every year I'm always just so inspired by the groups that show up and want to just help out. And I know sometimes like from talking to the property owners, they always feel like a little bit nervous or embarrassed. And I don't think anyone needs to feel that way. Everyone's always like I'm excited when there's a bunch of houses to do and I know everyone else is and um everyone's excited to help and we all get to get outside while it's getting warmer out and paint some things and rake some things and it's just a lot of fun. So um I know the volunteers are always happy and excited to do it. So check that out if your home is in need of something. The applications are um up and you can see that more information on our Facebook. So, that's always a nice

event. And that's really I think that's everything I had. That's No, that's report. Oh, I was going to mention one more thing. Sorry. Yeah, go for it. Um, may the mayor and I attended the Minnesota League of How does that word go? Next level leadership. No, League of Minnesota cities. There we go. Right order. Um, next level leadership. And that was um to just further our skills, I guess, as public leaders. And there was some really good presentations um and I thought one that was really interesting was um on emergencies essentially and so um city administrator and mayor of Mano mayor. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, he was a council member. Council member Yeah. Okay. That's why I was

the mayor of Biji was

mayor of Biji is what and then um city manager of Biji also just talked about the different um emergencies they had in their communities. One was a doratio in Bumiji and then the flood in Mano and it was just really interesting and I it made me so grateful for our um levy that we have in here in Chaza the challenges that they have to just deal with and um how protected we are with that just made me really grateful. So I thought I'd mention it again that I it's something we don't think about especially those of us that live downtown or have businesses downtown. um all the work and money the city spent putting that in really keeps us very very safe and dry um every every year. So, it just was a good reminder um and also just a good event to kind of hone our skills. But I thought I'd mention that I'm always grateful when I hear the stories of Mano during the flood and things like that. So,

okay. Now, I think that's all. Oh, that's good report. All right. Council member, I do not have anything. All right. Well, that leaves us right in line to council member. I do not have anything either. Okay, council.

Uh, I'll just take one thing um to elaborate a little bit. I know council member Hatfield talked about Southwest Transit particularly, but I do think it's important to echo. Couple things point out. If you go out to Southwest Transit's website, there are links for you to easily click one button, fill out a couple information, and it will send emails to your representatives uh as a as an elected official. So, all of you can do that. I didn't mind as sitting in my meeting uh last Thursday. uh but as as well as residents and other parties. Uh I do think the most interesting thing and I I just smile because it's the game we all play or they play or somebody plays. Uh and and council Hfield nailed it on the head when we earlier was there will be a lot of conversation about this opt out situation saving money, right? And you know I'm looking at I've seen messages been sent already about how it could, you know, it's going to save tax on it because clearly that's what people like to hear, right? like but the reality is it's still money that's going to be coming out. It's just not going to get used in our spaces that it's going to. So I think that's an important message that we continue as cities and as elected people in Jessica keep mentioning that this isn't making you pay less tax dollars which it may be positioned. I mean I've seen exact language that makes it sound like that which is actually to be called what it is. It's misleading because it's not. It's not going to lower your tax bill. It's not going to it's not you're not going to pay less taxes. It just means less of those tax dollars are going to end up back in in the city of Chaza, Chanhass, and Prairie. So, um, you know, I continue to learn more and I I think my goal to continue at these council member meetings or council meetings to pull a nugget each time and say, "Hey, we should think about this or do this." I I liked what I heard there. Um I I think I think we we had a meeting Thursday and you know they were very you know Eric

was very clear like some days it feels like sky falling and others it's like okay this is going to be all right. Um I think they're pretty confident that a bill will get introduced that will call for optouts to be eliminated. I think there's hope that with all the stuff other stuff that needs to be figured out that it's not going to actually go anywhere, but conversation will be had throughout the year and maybe next year. Um, so it's it's it's real. It's it's it's developed fast. But again, I think I'll leave my last message again. It's if you're hearing messages because the message is going to be you heard about it's going to be about saving tax dollars. This is not a tax savings opportunity. You're we are still going to be paying the same

and we're just not going to get those services that that any but it may not be positioned that way

in other literature. I think it's really important that we stay very very vigilant on this because um there are other entities that are lobbying our legislators to vote to yeah support a bill that's going to eliminate it. and and the big argument is over, you know, some of the argument is over the sales tax allocation of money that we all pay in as community members in our county that gets drive back towards transportation and that cost sharing piece of things. Um, so I think it's really important that we stay vigilant on that topic.

Yeah. And I think it's important to add too that um, you know, we had a conversation last Thursday about Southwest really can be a role model, an example of things how done things. Now the data will be out there. It's, you know, it's being published, right? Like not every we are being lumped together with some other optoutes that maybe don't have a a strong story uh or maybe needs to learn a little bit from Southwest Transit. And so we're just trying to really make sure that fishers know like don't just lump all the optouts together because we all act the same way because there's really not there are very stark differences. You know, we are uh you know running more efficient in metro transit itself. uh and some of those cost numbers. So again, it's just trying to make sure that we we speak loud and we're clear and about the message and and please just don't lump us together because we're not all the same and and we have different needs and desires and and we've managed our money and operations differently and so it's important to understand that too. But it is easy just to say well the opt outs, you know, south let's name the opt outs and be clear what what Southwest Transit Valley brings to the communities. Is there are they looking to expand that to like Wonia or other areas like

eventually? Yeah. Yeah. I mean like Carver is a good example. They have a um you'll explain it better, but they have a they have an exeicio member. So they have a member that doesn't vote, but that was part of what the um the transportation study we completed with the county uh was to identify some of those. So we did get that report back of you know what does it look like to include Wakonia that they wouldn't be we'd have to all three cities would have to like vote to include other cities okay

in the joint powers but as far as like providing additional services so we already provide services to you know Carver Victoria and then looking at what other services or how can is there more express routes or more prime opportunity um so yeah Carver has an exofficial member that he he comes to meetings and gives his input and u is valuable he's not voting thing but um very valuable to have. So and then you know there there are other there are cities that have opt out um but haven't executed their ability to opt out. Um city of Minnotonka is one of those things like that where um those are always those as well. Um you know would be really amazing is if everybody could choose to opt out that would be nice and they could do that if they wanted or they could do what Matona did and kept using um metroransit. So yeah, but um having multiple transit agencies also also um breeds competition. Competition breeds innovation. Um innovation can be used to keep things like cost down. Um and for us to have really amazing transportation in the Twin Cities. That's an important thing that maybe some of our legislators aren't giving enough thought to.

So thank you for that. Uh that's all I had. I just wanted to make sure to bring that up because again I know it was talked earlier but I didn't Yeah, I think it's important that we keep talking about it though. You got big news. I do actually have one item that I can share. So you're all over there lonely in the corner.

Lonely in the corner here. Um, I actually also attended the League of Minnesota Cities City Attorney Conference at the beginning of this month and I have uh an item that I learned uh after speaking with we had presentation by members uh or by representatives of the Office of Cannabis Management. There's been some question as to how office of cannabis management was going to handle the renewal process for cannabis licenses and registrations. Um I I've spoke with them and I confirmed that they're planning on handling those on a rolling basis um with the statute requiring that cities renew their registrations at the same time as the Office of Cannabis Management um handles their renewal process. Um reality of that means that we're probably going to be seeing cannabis uh applications, new new cannabis uh and hemp edible applications coming in on a rolling basis rather than like with liquor uh liquor licensing and tobacco do being done on an annual basis and also those re uh renewals and will continue to happen on a rolling basis. You probably see consent item uh agenda or consent agenda items for those. um but on a on a more frequent basis rather than um

okay rather than an annual renewal like we see with liquor and tobacco. Sure. Um they are aware that cities do prefer to do them on an annual basis. Um but there's been uh no formal discussions about switching to that and they don't I don't know if they have the staff to do it that way. I was going to say they probably trying to get up off the ground with all of that too. So, all right. Great report, Nate. You're up. I've not been to any League of Minnesota City. It's disappointing. We need trainings or anything recently, which it may show, so I'll look into those. I don't have any. Okay. Thank you for adding

a lot today. It's good,

Elise. All right. I'll try and channel my inner Matt here with a few items from his bi-weekly to share. Um, first of all, as you saw in his bi-weekly, we did receive an open bids for uh the MSB project on Thursday. I think generally it went well. There's a few categories that were came back a little higher than we were anticipating. So over the next few weeks between the architect and RJM as our construction manager and his staff, we'll be looking at those more closely. It's anticipated if we can as we look overall at the project to bring it back to you on March 16th. Okay, that would be the idea. Additionally, the library had some discussions and have drafted just generally an overview memo of the process which we envision the library design process going through. Um, we're finalizing that. We will get it out to you probably the end of the week so you can see what that process looks like. It does kick off this spring,

so it'll be here before. Yeah. So that's why we want to get that in front of you right away. Thanks.

Um, looking I did some polling of staff today. So this is one of the months where we have back-to-back meetings and looking at what might be on an agenda for next week. It's extremely light if anything. And so I will confirm later this week with you, but at this point in time we don't anticipate having a council meeting next Monday. There is no there was no plan work session anyway and if we don't really have any council items that can't wait until the 16th. We don't see a need to meet unless you tell us otherwise given that it's 10:30 tonight.

I was say I don't think we're going to holler too hard about that. And then I just wanted to draw your attention and I know we have another council meeting on Wednesday the 18th is the annual employee breakfast. You are all invited to that and we'll present our years of service award. Matt will kind of do a recap of everything that's happened in the past year. And then additionally, we have employee nominated awards for co-workers. So, the ability to recognize some of our co-workers and the cool things they've done this year. So, uh with that, that's all that I have.

Wonderful. All right. Wow. It's kind of like we're going to end on like a little bit of a cliffhanger here with not knowing exactly when the next council meeting is going to be. Um, all right. Well, I've got a list of fun things. I feel like I've been kind of running all over the place. And when I tracked everything down, I was like, I have been running all over the place. Uh, so to recap some of the things uh, Council Member Hatfield mentioned about the League of Minnesota Cities Next Level Leadership, and it was a really great event, and it was a great learning opportunity and networking opportunities with other communities as well. So, um, our Chesca Police Department had an awards ceremony where they awarded some of our officers, um, different awards. Uh, so I'm just going to list them off here. So, Officer Adam Hastings got a medal of valor. Um, and that stemmed off of there was um juvenile uh suspect that had was being taken into custody at the jail that had kind of got away from them and was pretty much drowning in a in a in a the courthouse lake behind the facility. And so officers Hastings went in and rescued him because he was shackled. So um so big thank you to him. I mean for for what he did. I mean he

you know ran into the water there. And then Lieutenant Chris George and um Sergeant Jamie Personsonius both have the meritus meritorious conduct meritorious. Thank you.

It's 10:30. Um and that had to do with you know just all of the work that they've put into the public safety campus. been our like liaison as far as kind of the on the police department side of things. And then Officer Joseph Bangston, Medal of Distinction, he helped um an individual that was having like I think I believe a mental health crisis um and helped that person to to to be be safe. and then um Officer Hunter Panning and also uh our community engagement officer uh Kevin Wright with letters of uh the chief's letter of commendation uh in regards to all their work on social media. So um and engagement with the public. So, I just want to say thank you to them and as far as our whole department because they all worked really really hard and um show our appreciation and kind of pivoting that they were part of uh so some of the officers when and some of their family members were part of a the polar plunge that happened this last weekend and they raised over $4,000. I think it was like $4,600. It came up a little short from Carver County Sheriff's which my husband was happy about but uh that's okay. It was all goes to a good cause and they all got to jump in that icy cold water on that really nice Saturday. Um but um

we should have had video of that to show.

We do. Uh I took slow-mo video of it. So um it was it was pretty entertaining. But yeah, so great cause. And then that Saturday there was also the ice fishing contest with the Chesa um uh fire relief. Uh again, another great uh city event that um brought together the community um and uh you know raised money for the relief to to undergo some of their camaraderie um with some of the things they do and and different things that they like the stuffed animals for the kids and everything like that that are undergoing a crisis. So really great event. Uh, I went to the chamber legislative dinner last week with um, Mayor Elise from Orion from uh, Chanhassen and then some of the board from the Southwest Metro Chamber and then Senator Coleman and uh, Senator or no, Representative Harter and she's over in the kind of the Carver side of things but and then like Representative Nash was there. So, just kicking off, I think, the legislative session and kind of listening to some of the um leadership and what was to kind of come for this upcoming legislative session and obviously see some business owners and things alike. So, it was a good dinner. Uh I with I um went with uh Matt uh to the Capitol uh last week for the to kick off the manufacturers's home rally for their like kind of their homeowners bill of rights. So they asked for me to speak and so we spoke out in behalf of just the real difference between our two manufacturer home parks that you know Riverview Terrace does a really wonderful job of creating community and addressing residents and keeping things

affordable and just being just an all-around great um property owner in this community. uh and the stark difference with Brandonale uh states and just kind of being the residents just feeling I mean we've seen them all here feeling very frustrated and upset you know steep lot rent you know steep lot rent uh increases and uh utilities not being addressed and uh infrastructure not being upset addressed and then not having uh management staff especially during times like this when that I think some of the residents are really looking for that. So, I was happy to do that and speak out and we'll see what's to come for them, but I think they need a lot of legislative support as well. So, uh met with business owners Chesa Commons about opportunities and then Matt and I also attended last Friday the municipal legislative committee of cities, the legislative breakfast again kicking off this legislative session. um some of the priorities as a city uh really an aspect of the missing middle bill, you know, with the um housing legislation and kind of what's to come on that. um and kind of really working with some of the legislators to kind of come up with compromised areas that uh can kind of help satisfy I think some of the what they're looking for um and what the cities are willing to kind of give up as far as local control. I don't know if I if you want to elaborate on it, you certainly can. Otherwise, that's kind of my brief synopsis of that. And there's some other issues that the committee kind of works on as well. you know, Representative Nash mentioned it. I think fiscal disparities is one, but we are like an even wash. So, um, but yeah, so that was Friday.

Uh, and then over the weekend, CHASA VFW post 1791 celebrated their 94th birthday and it was really fun to attend and see some of the, uh, VFW members and their family members and the um, command staff. So, uh, yeah, really just wonderful. And I did a little research on the VFW before I went there and I, you know, I was down in the library and they were, I was looking in the old history books and the was formed in 1932 and, you know, you don't really think about it, but 1932 was when we were in the depths of the Great Depression. and to think about everything and you can read it in those books exactly what they had to do like the things that they were doing to kind of mitigate the depression and help the community locally um that's undergoing it and how they were they made that post at that time. I mean that's just really amazing to create something during a time such as that. So just wanted to be recognized and then went to the chask bash. Okay. Now upcoming things. There is a first responder coffee here in the chamber tomorrow at 8 am through Southwest Chamber. Uh there is a organization that is opening its doors and having a ribbon cutting tomorrow as well called Slam the Stigma. They are working I think they work with youth in regards to just mental health. And so they're going to be over by Sarpino Pizza over there. So really nice um uh president or founder of that organization. Just really invested. So um love the fact that they're choosing to be a part of the CHAS community with their organization. And then I just want to say a shout out to Linda from Linda Seller on her retirement. um I did not have an opportunity to get there this weekend, but uh she has been

such a great asset to our community and our business community and just want to just congratulate her and wish her the best of enjoyment for whatever endeavor she is deciding to do and um she has built a great business over there and I hope she had a a great weekend. Um but just thank you for being a part of I know she was really helpful with the development of our CDBA over the years. So anyways did felt would feel bad if I if I missed that and um coffee with the copy mentioned that. Oh and then I guess last because I have no idea when our next council meeting is. Um actually no two things. I'm gonna be sad for a second because I feel like I would not be doing my due diligence as I'd been getting I'm still getting I don't know if anybody else is getting emails. I'm still getting emails over the impact of ICE and I feel like I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that we I understand that like with draw downs that sometimes people feel like things are over and it's not really the feeling that's being shared in our community as a whole and that we see that in the reports and the surveillance and the checkpoints that are happening. And so I don't want to brush that under the rug. I know that this is still happening. We are still working very closely with organizations um in our community that serve those populations to make sure that we are staying attuned to their needs of what they feel like navigationally wise is wise and how do we really best service those folks. And so I just want to point that out that um this is still in the forefront of of my mind and I know I mean I can't speak for everyone but I feel like it's probably in the forefront of everybody's mind and that we are working very strongly and closely to continue to do what we can do

with our local authority power um to help create opportunities for solutions that will alleviate the fear and anxiety. And I know sometimes it's not much at this point with things, but we're trying our best. So, okay, now I'm pivoting to something happy. Uh, my son turns 11 on Thursday, so I just want to wish Ethan a happy birthday. Happy birthday on on Thursday. Um, happy birthday. And he gets to go on a ski field trip with his school classmates and everything that day. So, best of

best of fun days for him. Anyways, and since we may not have a meeting on Monday, March 2nd, our next meeting might be I don't have that date. March 16th. So, like a soap opera, stay tuned for the next meeting.

Okay. So, come back on March 16th, which is great. Okay. It'll be like spring break for all of us. All right. Um with that, I'll take a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. All right. I have a motion from Council Member Hatfield and a second from Council Member Chevlin. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. We are journed. Thank you everyone.