Council approves first reading of zoning code change to allow limited office, medical uses in public-zoned school building

The Eden Prairie City Council approved first reading of an ordinance Tuesday to amend Chapter 11 of the city zoning code to allow office and medical-office uses within a publicly zoned property when the primary public use is a school building.

City staff introduced the amendment after the School District’s purchase of the Unified Campus on Valley View Road, noting parts of that building might be leased for private office or medical uses that could have educational synergy. Staff and the planning commission recommended the amendment; the planning commission voted unanimously in January.

Julie, a city planning staff member, explained that the proposed change is meant to address the specific circumstance at the Valley View Unified Campus and would not broadly open every public-zoned parcel to private uses. Julie said the code amendment is drafted so that private office or medical use must be accessory to the school use; it does not specify a fixed percentage of square footage but would reasonably be applied when a majority of the building remains in school use.

Council members asked whether the lack of a specific square-foot or percentage cap could allow an unusually large private lease. Julie and Maggie, the city attorney, said that if a proposed private use did not meet the amendment’s intent, staff and council would have further processes available — for example, PUD waivers or a future code amendment. Maggie added that the council’s discussion and the meeting minutes would serve as evidence of council intent should a dispute later arise.

The motion to close the public hearing and approve first reading passed unanimously. The amendment will return for a second reading and final adoption at a future council meeting.