Apple Valley resident raises traffic, parking concerns if HealthPartners site is sold
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Summary
During the public‑comment period a longtime resident warned that a potential sale and redevelopment of the HealthPartners site could remove a commonly used parking lot and funnel more traffic onto local residential streets.
At the Sept. 11 Apple Valley City Council meeting, resident Pat Peterson used the public‑comment period to ask the council to consider traffic and parking impacts if the HealthPartners property and adjacent green space are redeveloped.
Pat Peterson said she has lived in the neighborhood since 1966 and described nearby streets (Fireside, Haraldson, Whitney) and the route her neighborhood uses to access Pennock Avenue and Cedar Avenue. She said changes elsewhere — including a recent restriction on a left turn from Whitney onto Cedar Avenue and a county redesign that could close a nearby road — have already redirected traffic through her neighborhood and that the loss of the HealthPartners parking lot would intensify local parking on Fireside.
"Health Partners was a Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. So traffic was minimal," Peterson said. "If they don't have that parking lot anymore ... then they're parking on Fireside, which you've now just made very busy because you've blocked off all of the streets."
City staff (Mayor presiding and Tom, staff member) responded that the HealthPartners property is privately owned and not city property, and that any change in use would require a land‑use application that would come through the city's review process. The mayor noted the city cannot sell that property and emphasized that redevelopment would need to follow the land‑use change procedures; Mr. Tom added the land‑use change process is not easy and that traffic impacts would be considered in that process.
Peterson also expressed concern that the park near the site could receive new courts (tennis, pickleball, basketball) without additional parking; she said users historically parked in the HealthPartners lot and crossed without a crosswalk. She asked the council to consider access options such as a signal or a three‑way stop to avoid backups that could extend past Fireside.
No formal action was taken during the meeting on the HealthPartners property; staff said any redevelopment would be subject to a formal land‑use process and public review.