Council approves rezoning, plat and site plans for Orchard Place development including Skyline Social and 135-unit apartments

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — The Apple Valley City Council on April 24 approved a package of zoning and land-use actions for Orchard Place Fifth that allow a mixed-use project including Skyline Social and Games and a 135-unit apartment building.

Council members passed an ordinance to rezone Lot 1, Lot 2 and Out Lot B from Retail Business to Plan Development and adopted a plan-development ordinance tailored to the site. The council also approved the preliminary plat and separate site-plan and building-permit authorizations that clear the way for Skyline Social and Games — a 46,550-square-foot indoor commercial recreation facility with a 51,150-square-foot outdoor recreation area — and a 135-unit, four-story multifamily building on the southern portion of the site.

The actions implement a previously adopted Comprehensive Plan amendment that guided the southern portion of the outlot to high-density residential. City staff and the developer said the plan development creates two subzones: Zone 1, intended for the Skyline Social indoor/outdoor recreation use, and Zone 2, intended for the multifamily development and a trail feature that connects to the North Creek Greenway. City staff said Out Lot A will remain Retail Business for now; the developer indicated no user for that parcel at this time.

"The Planning Commission had no suggestions or changes related to these deviations from standard zoning requirements," city planner Sydney told the council during the presentation, describing the performance standards and the commission's review. The Planning Commission recommended the rezoning and plan-development ordinance by 5–1, the preliminary plat by 6–1, and the site plans by unanimous votes at its April 2 meeting, according to staff.

The site plan for Skyline Social shows an indoor facility with bowling, duckpin lanes, axe throwing, arcade and event spaces, plus an outdoor fenced recreation area with volleyball courts, bocce and other amenities. The applicant requested — and the council approved — limited deviations from standard landscaping and building-material standards under the plan-development ordinance; staff noted corrugated metal is not allowed under standard zoning but said the applicant specified a high-end matte finish for the metal panels.

For the multifamily site, staff described a roughly 40,500-square-foot building footprint containing 135 units (a mix of studio to three-bedroom units), approximately 340 parking stalls (about 2.52 stalls per unit), and internal pedestrian and bicycle connections that tie into the regional trail system. Staff said Trident, the site contractor, proposed to install the trail and landscaping features and then dedicate the outlot land to the city.

Council members emphasized pedestrian connectivity and the benefit that nearby housing will provide to the new commercial uses. "What is connecting through Outlot A?" asked Mayor Hoopah; staff answered that a proposed trail easement would run through Out Lot A and connect to the existing trailhead on the North Creek Greenway.

Motions to approve the rezoning ordinance, the plan-development ordinance (with a recommendation to waive second reading), the preliminary plat, and the two site-plan and building-permit resolutions all passed during the meeting by voice vote.

The approvals allow the developer to proceed with final platting, permit applications and construction plans subject to the standard building-permit and engineering review steps and any conditions in the developer agreement. Staff noted outstanding engineering comments remain to be addressed during the permit phase, including a recommended reduction in the number of access points to the apartment parking area.

A representative of the Skyline applicant, Whitney Colquist, thanked council members and said the company looks forward to opening a location in Apple Valley. City staff said the trail and public amenities included in the approvals are intended to improve pedestrian connections within Orchard Place and to the North Creek Greenway.

The council took these actions during its regular meeting; no further dates or construction start times were specified by council or applicant at the meeting.