The Wayzata City Council will discuss further a 3 lot subdivision proposal by applicant Black Dog Homes at it’s upcoming April 4th regular council meeting.
The Planning Commission had recommended previously that 2 lots would be better than 3 given the adjacent lots and homes on the south side of the street.
The lot at 1030 Lake Street East had been owned by the Penningroth family for multiple generations, and has traded hands a couple of times in more recent years.
The subject property overlooks the Burlington Northern Railroad Train Tracks, and Eastman Lane near the Lake Street round-about adjacent to the Hotel Landing & Condos. It also has views of Wayzata Bay on Lake Minnetonka.
At issue is whether the proposed lots fit into the character of the existing neighborhood, and should the neighborhood be viewed as just the collection of homes and lots on East Lake Street or something more.
The legal description notes the property as part of the Minnetonka Arlington Heights addition to Wayzata, part of the original platting of a large portion of the east side of the community.
The application had been on the consent agenda for approval at the March 21st council meeting, but was pulled for further discussion.
Jeff Nelson was one of several opponents who spoke at the meeting. He lives across the street at 1037 Lake Street and voiced his and some of the neighbors concerns during the public forum:
Jeff Nelson speaks on the three lot subdivision.
The 2040 Comprehensive Plan guides the parcel for less density than is currently in place in the R-1A zoning which allows for 60 foot wide lots with a minimum area of 9,000 feet.
Jacob Steen, attorney with the firm Larkin Hoffman spoke on behalf of Black Dog Homes and noted that the application conformed to the Wayzata code and requirements for subdivision without a variance.
The agenda item failed to receive enough votes to pass, or be tabled given the absence of council member Jeff Parkhill and council member Cathy Iverson recusing herself. The default action therefore is for the item to be placed under Old Business in the upcoming agenda item for further action by the council.
Stay tuned to Wayzata.com for more news and info on this topic.
Incumbent City Councilwoman Molly MacDonald and Planning Commission Chair Jeff Parkhill have filed so far
The race for Wayzata City Council is underway as the filing window from August 2nd through August 16th is now open.
Wayzata City Council member Molly MacDonald has filed to enter the race.
MacDonald was previously appointed to a vacant seat by the Council when then Councilwoman Johanna Mouton was elected Mayor in the 2020 election and began serving her term in 2021.
Councilman Jeff Buchanan’s 4 year term also expires at the end of the year.
Buchanan did not immediately return a message inquiring as to whether or not he intends to run again. He previously served as the Chair of the Planning Commission and was elected in the 2018 election.
Image courtesy City of Wayzata.
Planning Commissioner Jeff Parkhill has filed to run for Wayzata City Council. He currently serves as the Chair.
Parkhill was a finalist for Mouton’s vacant seat appointment in 2020.
Submitted photo.
Interested parties may pick up an application at Wayzata City Hall during business hours. The filing fee is $5, and candidates must be 21 years of age or older and be a Wayzata resident for 30 days prior to the Nov. 8th election.
*Filing information current as of the end of the business day on 08/2/2022.
The Wayzata Planning Commission recommended city staff to draft a denial of a proposed redevelopment concept for the TCF headquarters property on Lake Street on Monday.
This is the third time Lakewest Development has come before the commission to present plans for redeveloping the property at 200 E. Lake Street. In 2020, it presented plans to convert the existing TCF Bank into condominiums and construct new residential buildings.
TCF Building in Wayzata. Photo Dan Gustafson.
In 2021, it returned to the commission with a plan to demolish the TCF building and construct two new residential buildings.After the previous two denials, the developer took feedback from the commission as well as the public through a neighborhood meeting in January.
The new plan discussed Monday included an underground mechanical parking system, 32 condominiums and retail space. There would also be pocket parks on the property, and 25-foot facade breaks every 150 feet. The development would include two buildings, referred to as east and west buildings or ‘building A’ and ‘building B’.
Approval of the plan would have required a zoning amendment to the existing planned urban development to create a new PUD district, design standards deviations and a shoreland impact plan study.Consultant Eric Zweber said 66-percent of the parking under the east building is beneath groundwater elevation, as well as 17-percent of the west building’s parking.
More than 100 pages of public comments were received, with many of them noting concern over tearing down the TCF building, losing views of the lake, the proximity of the redevelopment near the BNSF railroad tracks and increases in traffic. There was also a petition which received more than 400 signatures from residents and 1100 signatures in total in about a week opposing the development plans.
200 Lake Street East – Proposed Site. Image courtesy Lakewest Development.
Curt Fretham, chief manager of Lakewest Development, said his development team has tried to be creative to meet requirements in the city’s design standards and comprehensive plan.
“We did that,” Fretham said of a number of changes his team was asked to make. “You asked us in initial meetings to reduce mass, provide more open space. You asked us in other words to make it smaller. You also asked us to increase density or in other words, make it bigger. We’ve been asked to do a lot of things. And we have been accepting and approving of those asks. All we really want to do is use our property in a reasonable manner.”
The applicant had several consultants discuss the concept further, addressing how the mechanical parking system works, the traffic impact of the new residential and commercial space and the architectural design.
“We’re frankly surprised, given all the consultants they brought tonight, they did not do a railroad study,” said Kendra Lindahl during the public forum. “It’s not that it could happen. It has happened.”
Lindahl referenced a train derailment which struck another site along the railroad corridor, though commissioner Peggy Douglas corrected that it did not happen on the site in question. The south side of the property is marked by the railroad tracks about 25-feet from the proposed building.
Lindahl asked what value this development would bring to the city, which Brad Hoyt echoed. Hoyt is the owner of Ventana Apartments.
“This building is only 35 years old. It’s not even depreciated yet,” he said. “My view is the project is already reasonably developed and should remain in its state.”
Lindsay Bashioum, who previously served on the planning commission, said the commission got it right the first two times it denied development plans.
“There’s no public benefit that isn’t already there,” Bashioum said.
The commission thanked the applicant for coming forward with a new concept for a third time, remarking on some of the things they liked about the new plans. They also said many of their concerns remain.
“This does not depict the charm of a lakeside community,” Douglas said. “I’m worried about the precedent for future development.”
“I think it’s too big to be charming,” Commissioner Jeff Parkhill added.
Commissioner Ken Sorenson motioned to direct staff to draft a denial of application. Commissioner Jennifer Severson seconded and the commission voted unanimously in favor of denial.
The Wayzata Planning Commission will review a proposed project thatwould convert the existing former TCF Headquarters Building at 200 East Lake Street in Wayzata to a 10-unit condominium building.
Courtesy ESG Architecture & Design
Two new structures would be added to east and west of the current building. The proposed eastern building would include 10 condominiums and the proposed western building would include 18 town homes.
The entire project would stretch from Barry Avenue to Ferndale Road along the south side of Lake Street.
Small “pocket parks” would be developed on the far east and west ends of the property.
The current structure was build in 1990. It served as the corporate office for TCF National Bank. TCF employees moved to other offices and the building was listed for sale.
The existing building would not change. It has a legal non-conforming height of 52 feet to the top of the gable and 60 feet to the top of the spire..
Courtesy ESG Architecture & Design
Under the proposal, the property is envisioned as entirely residential. No commercial or other office uses are planned.
One question the Planning Commission will consider is whether an all-residential use of the property be appropriate for the site.
Courtesy ESG Architecture & Design
The Planning Commission could direct staff to prepare a draft Planning Commission Report and Recommendation.
This would then be reviewed at the following Planning Commission meeting.
Courtesy ESG Architecture & Design
Minnetonka-basedLake West Development, LLC and Minneapolis-based ESG Architects are working on the project. Lake West Development has a signed purchase agreement for the property that would allow it to redevelop the property as it proposes.
The City of Wayzata only allows buildings in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) District to be 35 feet tall. The building height in this proposal complies with the 35-foot rule.
The change in height from 49 feet to 58 feet is not the only change made in the new proposal.
Courtesy Boatworks II, LLC
According to the application other changes include: removal of the roof top patio and mechanical equipment, elimination of the mezzanine level parking deck, addition of public inside seating area, redesigned northeast entry area providing ADA accessibility.
Courtesy Boatworks II, LLC
The main discussion points about the project at previous planning commission and city council meetings were the height of the building, exterior design, pedestrian access to docks and lakeshore and the proposed public benefits.
At Tuesday’s city council meeting, the council will review a preservation site designation request for the Wayzata’s Section Foreman House.
Courtesy City of Wayzata
On Monday, Dec. 16, the Wayzata Planning Commission reviewed a request from the Heritage Preservation Board to designate the Section Foreman House as a Heritage Preservation Site.
Courtesy City of Wayzata/WCTV
The commissioners unanimously approved a motion to direct staff to prepare a draft Planning Commission report and recommendation for approval that the Section Foreman House be designated as a Historic Preservation Site to be reviewed and adopted at the next Planning Commission meeting.
According to city code, the designation requires a public hearing with the Planning Commission and approval by City Council.
The Section Foreman House was built in 1902 to support the section foremen and their families.
The section foreman was in charge of a section gang tasked with making sure the railroad tracks were in good repair.
The Wayzata Section Foreman House is believed to be the only section house in Minnesota still standing at its original location.
The Section Foreman House is located along the railroad tracks on Lake Minnetonka just east of where the Great Northern Depot stands. The depot was built in 1906.
With a Heritage Preservation Site designation in place, a site alteration permit will be need to be approved by the City Council.
The main reason for the site alteration permit is to ensure that no changes will be made that will impair the historical integrity of the structure. The process allows for more public input and transparency around proposed changes to historic house.
Disclaimer: Dan Gustafson, owner of Wayzata.com, serves as chair of the Wayzata Heritage Preservation Board.
On Monday, Dec. 16, the Wayzata Planning Commission reviewed a request from the Heritage Preservation Board to designate the Section Foreman House as a Heritage Preservation Site.
Courtesy City of Wayzata
The commissioners unanimously approved a motion to direct staff to prepare a draft Planning Commission report and recommendation for approval that the Section Foreman House be designated as a Historic Preservation Site to be reviewed and adopted at the next Planning Commission meeting.
Courtesy City of Wayzata
According to city code, the designation requires a public hearing with the Planning Commission and approval by City Council.
The Section Foreman House was built in 1902 to support the section foremen and their families.
The section foreman was in charge of a section gang tasked with making sure the railroad tracks were in good repair.
The Wayzata Section Foreman House is believed to be the only section house in Minnesota still standing at its original location.
The Section Foreman House is located along the railroad tracks on Lake Minnetonka just east of where the Great Northern Depot stands. The depot was built in 1906.
With a Heritage Preservation Site designation in place, a site alteration permit will be need to be approved by the City Council.
The main reason for the site alteration permit is to ensure that no changes will be made that will impair the historical integrity of the structure. The process allows for more public input and transparency around proposed changes to historic house.
Wayzata Boatworks Concept Rendering – City of Wayzata Planning Commission Packet
Wayzata Boatworks owner Rick Born has submitted a letter to the City of Wayzata Planning Commission requesting that the item be tabled so he and his team can continue to work on revising the plans:
Community Room, 600 Rice Street East, Wayzata, Minnesota
7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call, and Approval of Minutes 2. Workshop Items: a. Alternative Energy Ordinance Discussion 3. Other Items: a. Review of Development Activities b. Other items
9:00 p.m. 4. Adjournment
NOTES:
1. Time(s) are estimated and provided for informational purposes only. 2. Members of the Planning Commission and some staff may gather at the Wayzata Bar and Grill immediately after the meeting for a purely social event. All members of the public are welcome.
Wayzata.com is your source for news and information in Wayzata, MN, 55391, and the Wayzata School District.
Community Room, 600 Rice Street East, Wayzata, Minnesota
7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order and Roll Call, and Approval of Minutes
2. Regular Agenda Public Hearing Items:
a. 331 Broadway Ave S/691 Lake St – McCormick’s Restaurant
i. Amendment to Existing Outdoor Sidewalk Café Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for additional nine (9) tables and twenty four (24) seats.
3. Other Items:
a. Review of Development Activities
b. Other items
9:00 p.m. 4. Adjournment
NOTES: 1 Time(s) are estimated and provided for informational purposes only. 2 Members of the Planning Commission and some staff may gather at the Wayzata Bar and Grill immediately after the meeting for a purely social event. All members of the public are welcome.
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