Minneapolis Planning Commission denies Park Board plan for Hiawatha service center parking and office

The Minneapolis Planning Commission voted 5–3 on Jan. 5 to deny land‑use applications from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) for a one‑story, roughly 1,500‑square‑foot maintenance office and a 48‑space surface parking lot at the Hiawatha Service Center near Lake Hiawatha and Minnehaha Parkway.

Chair Chris Meyer opened the meeting and the commission heard a detailed staff presentation from Alex Cohas of the city’s Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department outlining the application’s requests: three variances (exceed a 100‑space zoning‑lot maximum for surface parking; reduce the required 8‑foot corner side yard; and allow parking between a principal building and the front or corner side lot line), site plan review for a new non‑residential building, and several requests for alternative compliance with landscaping, window, and ground‑floor‑activation standards. Staff recommended approval with conditions.

In a roughly three‑hour public session, Park Board project manager Tyler said the service center is an aging maintenance facility used by…