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Commission OKs park and trail dedications for Metcalfe redevelopment and accepts trails for Thomson Reuters site
Summary
The commission recommended/approved park and trail dedications for the Metcalfe School redevelopment (about 35 acres at 2250 Diffley Road) including a 0.82‑acre pocket park valued at roughly $283,000, and accepted trail dedication for a corner of the former Thomson Reuters site that will host townhomes and new trail connections.
The Eagan Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed two development proposals and acted on park/trail dedications.
Metcalfe redevelopment: Staff described a preliminary plan for the former Metcalfe School site at 2250 Diffley Road proposing a mix of housing across roughly 35 acres: 245 multifamily apartment units, 66 senior cooperative units, 97 townhome units and 42 villa‑style twin homes. The applicant proposed a 0.82‑acre public pocket park within the development plus a public trail connection that would tie into private internal trails. Staff said the city would accept park dedication as a mix of land and cash; they presented an estimated valuation of about $283,000 for the 0.82‑acre parcel (staff said the land credit would represent about 15% of the full cash dedication value when land is provided). Commissioners discussed access and parking—developer Paul Hoyer (Pulte Homes) said the developer would provide an access easement to the park from Diffley and that parking could be provided along private roads or within the park area. The commission voted to accept the park and trail dedication as presented; the motion passed after roll-call/voice voting.
Thomson Reuters (Trill Ends Commons) site: Staff presented a planned development amendment for a triangular corner of the former Thomson Reuters campus to allow 104 townhomes on about 22 acres. Trail dedication for that triangular parcel was proposed to be satisfied by installing public trails; staff estimated an 8‑foot trail costs roughly $65 per linear foot to install and noted accepting installed public trails is typically more efficient than taking cash and building later. The commission moved to accept the proposed trails for dedication and the motion passed following clarification votes.
Both actions were recorded as recommendations/approvals to accept the dedications; staff said the larger 10‑acre addition to Westcott Station Park and other facets of the Thomson Reuters redevelopment will come forward in future reviews and city council proceedings.
The commission’s approvals are procedural recommendations to support the developments’ park and trail elements; the approvals included discussion of maintenance implications, neighborhood-scale park expectations (pocket parks intended primarily for local residents), and the timing of when park improvements would be completed in the buildout schedule.
