Eagan planning commission recommends conditional use permit for three outdoor tanks at Coca‑Cola bottling site

The Advisory Planning Commission on Sept. 23 recommended approval, by a 6-0 vote, of a conditional use permit to allow three outdoor storage tanks — two for chemicals and one wastewater equalization tank — at Great Lakes Coca‑Cola Bottling’s property at 2750 Eagandale Boulevard. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Eagan City Council for final action on Oct. 7.

City planner Ms. Thomas presented the request and said the applicant is proposing to locate the tanks in an existing service lot on the west side of the approximately 47.5-acre industrial site that contains an approximately 580,000-square-foot building. The tanks would be installed in October–November 2025 and would be enclosed by an ornamental black metal picket fence (8–10 feet tall). The tallest tank would be 27 feet; two others would be 15 feet. Because portions of the tanks would exceed the fence height, they will be partially visible from the right of way, but staff noted the tanks remain lower than the adjacent building elevation (about 30 feet).

Planner Thomas said the tanks and fencing meet the city’s standards for outdoor storage in an I-1 industrial district, and the proposed storage area does not affect pedestrian or vehicular movement or required parking beyond the removal of one of five stalls currently in that location. The tanks will sit on existing paved surface; no changes to stormwater or utilities are proposed. The staff report recommends conditions of approval; commissioners asked staff to ensure a planting plan restores tree cover lost in recent years (staff documented about 32 overstory trees removed along the right-of-way since 2015, likely due to emerald ash borer). Condition 6 in the staff report requires the applicant to submit a planting plan suitable to the city forester no later than Jan. 1, 2026, with the first phase implemented within one year of the CUP approval date.

Commissioners asked about the project’s origin. Secretary Wagner asked whether the tanks were prompted by regulatory action; staff and engineering representatives said the project was prompted by notification from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Metropolitan Council, and by observed corrosion in the city’s sanitary line along Eagandale Boulevard. Planner Thomas and engineering staff said the tanks and chemical treatment are intended to balance wastewater pH/character to be less corrosive to downstream pipes and to allow flow control from the bottling process before discharge to the city main.

Charlie Morris, director for Reyes Holdings (the holding company that owns Great Lakes Coca‑Cola Bottling), confirmed the tanks will treat wastewater from the bottling process before it enters city sanitary and noted the city is concurrently upgrading the sanitary sewer along Eagandale Boulevard.

Member Wagner moved to recommend approval with the 12 conditions listed in the staff report; Member Whitfield seconded. The motion passed 6-0. The recommendation will go to City Council on Oct. 7 for final action.