Approval Letter 04.14.2026Page 1 of 3
Memorandum
To: Paul Bourgeois, Minnetonka Independent School District 276
Andy LaPalme, VAA Engineering
Ron Spoden, ATSR
From: Rachel Jeske, Planner
Date: April 14, 2026
Re: City Council Approval – Site Plan Approval at 6421 Hazeltine Blvd
On April 13, 2026, the City Council approved the requested site plan for building additions and site
alterations to a public middle school located at 6421 Hazeltine Blvd subject to staff conditions.
Please submit a Development Review Application for a Site Plan Agreement with the necessary
associated documentation. Any staff conditions that will affect the engineer ’s estimate should be
resolved prior to its submission. Any staff comments that remain on the site plan agreement shall be
addressed at the time of permitting.
Staff Conditions Requiring Plan Revisions:
Planning
1. An updated photometric plan and specification sheets must be provided for any light fixtures
proposed to be attached to the exterior of the building additions.
2. Existing parking counts must be verified and updated in the plan set.
3. Plans show a total of 342 parking spaces. Those plans must be updated to show a total of 346
parking spaces.
4. Parking layout must be modified so that parking spaces do not encroach farther into the
southern side yard parking setback than the existing parking area.
5. Screening of rooftop mechanical equipment must be shown on plans prior to the issuance of a
building permit.
Forestry
1. Final landscaping plans must be approved by the city’s environmental resource specialist.
2. All plantings must meet city diversity requirements. No more than 30% of the trees can be from
one family, no more than 20% from the same genus, and no more than 10% of the same species.
3. City code section 18-61(d)(2) states that a tree survey shall include the species, DHB size,
condition identified as poor, fair, or good, and location of all trees over five inches in diameter
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and any damaged or diseased tree. As submitted, the tree inventory only provides species and
DBH inches but omits the current tree condition. City staff will not require the current condition
of all trees noted in the inventory, but requests that the existing tree condition be provided for
any existing trees that will not be removed, but which are adjacent to planned tree removals or
other construction activity.
4. Applicant must include location of the tree preservation fencing on the plan set. Tree
preservation fencing shall be installed around existing trees to be saved prior to any construction
activities and remain installed until completion.
5. All trees must be planted on private property outside of the city’s right-of-way.
6. If, through construction, existing buffer plantings are killed, additional plantings will be required
in order to maintain compliance with City Code Section 20-1176.
7. The existing tree survey shall be updated to show which trees are marked for preservation and
which trees are marked for removal.
8. There is a note on the plans dated February 13, 2026 that evergreens were not included in
canopy coverage calculations, please update the canopy coverage calculations to include
evergreens.
9. Current buffer yard calculations do not include the buffer yard multiplier which decreases the
required number of trees and shrubs if there is a wider buffer. Applicant should reach out to city
staff for feedback specific to each buffer yard.
10. The Heritage Shade Tree Ordinance was passed on February 9, 2026 which includes tree
replacement requirements for healthy mature trees of certain species over 25” dbh. Tree
replacement requirements will be determined once tree survey is updated noting the tree
removals.
11. If trees marked for removal fall under the city’s definition of a Heritage Tree, there will be
additional replacement requirements.
12. City staff recommends the following amendments be made to the site landscape plan general
notes listed on pages: L2.0, L2.1, L2.2, L2.3:
a. It is recommended that mulch depth does not exceed 4”
b. It is not recommended to only use soil amendments in planting holes as this creates a
“pot” for the roots and they typically struggle to spread into the surrounding native soil.
Backfilling with native soil is recommended.
c. It is recommended that the mulch be pulled away about 3” from the base of the tree as
to not be in contact with the tree.
Water Resources & Engineering
1. The applicant and their design Engineer shall work with City staff in amending the plans, dated
February 13, 2026, prepared by VAA, to fully satisfy plan comments and concerns. Final
construction plans will be subject to review and approval by staff.
2. The applicant shall confirm filtration treatment volume provided onsite and verify that all
stormwater design aspects match as modeled in HydroCAD and MIDS, presented in the
stormwater management report body and appendices, and shown on the plans. Items found
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with discrepancies included storage surface area and volumes, impervious within drainage area,
surface soil conditions, and resulting discharge rates. The applicant shall also analyze and
confirm offsite drainage boundaries that lead to the site. The applicant shall submit verification
that rate control requirements are met prior to issuance of building permits.
3. The applicant shall provide explanation of treatment methods utilized in MIDS modeling or
revise the model parameters to align with site conditions and verify compliance with water
quality requirements prior to issuance of building permits.
4. Soil testing shall be required during construction to confirm underlying soil conditions are
present at the basin locations, since initial soil borings are not located within basin footprints.
5. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that permits are received from all other applicable
agencies with jurisdiction over the project (i.e. Army Corps of Engineers, DNR, MnDOT, Carver
County, MCWD Watershed District, Board of Water and Soil Resources, MDH, MPCA, etc.). The
applicant shall submit verification that all applicable permits have been secured prior to the
issuance of building permits.
6. The applicant shall provide final versions of hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) and water quality
modelling with the building permit submittal.
7. The applicant shall develop a maintenance plan for the onsite stormwater system. An operations
and maintenance agreement shall be recorded prior to the issuance of building permits.
8. The applicant shall provide storm sewer drainage maps and storm sewer sizing calculations to
satisfy final plan comments and concerns.
Building
1. A building permit must be obtained before beginning any construction.
2. Building plans must be prepared and signed by design professionals licensed in the State of
Minnesota and plans must be submitted to the State of Minnesota for plan review, state
approved plans must be submitted with building permit application.
3. The building is required to have automatic fire extinguishing systems.
If you have questions regarding the feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out via email at
rjeske@chanhassenmn.gov or by phone at (952) 227-1137.
Sincerely,
Rachel Jeske
Planner
CC: Eric Maass, Community Development Director
Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resources Specialist
Mackenze Grunig, Project Engineer
Joe Seidl, Water Resources Engineer