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Eagan council approves planned development amendment for daycare at Thomas Center Drive
Summary
The Eagan City Council approved a planned development amendment July 1 to allow a child daycare center at 1575 and 1580 Thomas Center Drive on 0.78 acres, converting an existing two‑story office building and adding a ground‑level playground on the adjacent vacant lot.
The Eagan City Council on July 1 approved a planned development amendment to allow a child daycare center at 1575 and 1580 Thomas Center Drive on 0.78 acres, legally described as Lots 3 and 4, Safari at Eagan Fourth Edition.
City planner Schulz told the council the proposal would convert the existing two‑story building in the northeast quadrant of the site to daycare use and construct a 6,500‑square‑foot ground‑level playground on the vacant lot immediately to the south. Schulz said the daycare plan calls for 25 to 30 staff and stated that “daycare actually would reduce the overall parking demand as compared to the office” use, noting the office use would have required 69 parking stalls while the daycare requires 36.
The applicant, Peter Hilger of Rylar LLC, said the project as presented to the advisory planning commission is unchanged: “We have no objections with the resolution as it sits today.” Schulz described other site improvements spelled out in the staff report, including a second‑level toddler play deck, expansion of the garbage enclosure to accommodate recycling, landscape work to plant 12 trees (six to replace existing dead ash), curb and gutter at the westerly access to address drainage, retaining‑wall stabilization, and new wall signage.
Schulz told the council staff counted 138 parking stalls across the four properties in the development and that 67 additional stalls on the far west of the Lifetime Fitness property were available to the four owners. With the proposed landscape islands and walkway changes, staff said there would still be about 201 parking stalls available for the combined properties. Council members pressed for clarity on the typical drop‑off and pickup routine; the applicant said drop‑off and pickup will occur on the lower side of the facility and parents will bring children inside to register rather than remain in vehicles.
Adjacent property ownership raised concerns about noise and asked the council to condition approval on installation of a fence along the top of the hill above the neighborhood. Council members and staff responded that the requested fence would be off the subject parcel and therefore outside the council’s authority to require as part of this amendment; Schulz noted existing topography and vegetation “creates at least some noise mitigation.” Councilor Baca said she was satisfied with parking and drop‑off arrangements and supported approving the amendment.
Councilor Espino moved to approve the amendment “to allow child daycare center upon 0.78 acres located at 1575 And 1580 Thomas Center Drive legally described as Lots 3 And 4 Safari at Eagan fourth edition.” The motion was seconded (second not specified in the record) and carried on a voice vote. The mayor declared the motion carries and the plan development amendment was approved.
The council did not add additional conditions related to off‑site fencing. The applicant and staff will proceed with required permits and site work under the approved amendment.
