Eden Prairie city officials have approved a pair of development-friendly initiatives, including a new zoning district and relaxed parking requirements for some new projects.
Why it matters: Residents could eventually see more retail and other services in locations that have an outdated industrial history, and might also see less parking-lot asphalt outside new buildings.
The new Flex Service Zoning District OK’d Tuesday, July 11, by the Eden Prairie City Council would provide developers with more flexibility in two areas where industrial buildings exist: the Martin Drive area north of Highways 5/212 and west of Mitchell Road, and also the northeastern corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Pioneer Trail, kitty-corner from Flying Cloud Airport.
The move wouldn’t spell an end to those businesses; no existing properties are being rezoned at this time. But, the new zoning classification would be available to property owners looking for a change or investment – to build a micro-distillery or craft-beer brewery where an industrial building now exists, for example. Or, to construct an auto-repair business.
In other words, the change to city code might create a path for businesses that don’t fit well in some of Eden Prairie’s other commercial zoning districts.
As an enticement to redevelopment, the new flex service zoning would, in some cases, have looser restrictions on parking, lot size, signage, building materials, and building setback requirements.
The relaxed requirements for parking associated with new developments – essentially, the number of parking spaces required – come after a review of existing city ordinances and what other cities are requiring, said Director of Community Development Julie Klima.
Developers currently can seek waivers from parking-lot ordinances, under special conditions, but the changes approved by the council this week provide some codified relief for new projects, including banks – which today have more online business and less need for customer parking.
“There’s a lot less traffic going through the brick-and-mortar stores,” said Klima, noting that banks would be required to have five parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of floor area, instead of six parking spaces for every 1,000 feet of bank space.
New daycare centers and gymnasiums are among the other types of projects that will see looser restrictions, as will new, large shopping centers. Allowances are also being made for more compact-car spaces and for parking lots shared by two or more businesses in order to encourage those practices, said Klima.
The new zoning district and parking changes were the subjects of public hearings Tuesday. No public testimony was given, and the council approved the changes with little debate.
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