Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission backs conditional-use permit for daycare at former Rasmussen College site
Summary
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for a daycare at 8565 Eagle Point Circle, with staff conditions on landscaping, fire safety and permits; the item goes to city council April 15.
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for a daycare center at 8565 Eagle Point Circle, the former Rasmussen College site, after a staff presentation and a public hearing that drew no public comment.
Planning staff said the property, currently in the Business Park planned-unit development, would not change its building footprint; proposed work is mostly interior alterations and minor exterior detailing such as signage, which will require a separate permit. Staff recommended conditions that include: obtaining required city, state and other permits before a building permit is issued; addressing a landscape-architect memo and tree-preservation requirements before permits are released; and voiding the CUP if substantial construction has not occurred within 12 months of approval.
Staff told the commission that the applicant proposes removing some hardscape north and south of the building to install pervious-surface playground areas and that the project would add more than 30 parking spaces to mitigate potential drop-off queuing. The planner summarized CUP review criteria, saying the proposed use must not endanger public health, must be consistent with the city’s 2040 comprehensive plan, be compatible with the neighborhood and not create nuisances such as excessive noise, smoke or traffic congestion.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about traffic and tree preservation. One commissioner asked whether queuing would be mitigated by the size of the lot; planning staff replied that the additional parking should mitigate queuing because drop-off and pick-up occur across flexible windows and the lot is accessed off Hudson Avenue, a collector street. Another commissioner asked about historical student counts for the former Rasmussen campus; planning staff said public data was inconsistent but referenced approximate past enrollment figures as background.
The public hearing was opened, and because no members of the public spoke, it was closed. Commissioner A moved to recommend approval of the CUP for a daycare at 8565 Eagle Point Circle “based on the findings of fact and conditions presented in the staff report.” Commissioner B seconded. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval; the item is scheduled for Lake Elmo City Council consideration on April 15.
The planning staff noted fire-review comments related to parking, fire suppression, lock boxes and alarms; the landscaping and tree-preservation items remain conditions of approval to be satisfied prior to building permits. Signage was identified as a separate permitting item that is not resolved by this CUP recommendation.
