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Eagan council approves rezoning, preliminary plan for new Lewis House shelter at 4345 Nichols Road
Summary
The council unanimously approved rezoning 4345 Nichols Road from Limited Business to Planned Development and a preliminary plan to replace the Lewis House shelter with a 14-unit facility serving up to 50 residents; staff described two-phase construction to avoid resident displacement and several zoning deviations.
The Eagan City Council on April 7 approved a rezoning and preliminary plan development to allow a new residential shelter at 4345 Nichols Road that will replace the existing Lewis House facility.
City Planner Schultz presented the proposal, saying the existing building — built in 1985 and originally designed to serve 20 adults and 10 children — would be replaced with a planned development containing 14 residential units and space for up to 50 residents along with on-site supportive services. "The applicant is proposing to construct a new residential shelter to replace the existing building at 4345 Nichols Road which was built in 1985," Schultz said. He described a two-phase construction plan: first build the new portion while maintaining the existing building and parking so current residents are not displaced, then demolish the old structure and complete parking and stormwater work.
Schultz outlined requested deviations from straight zoning for building height, parking stall size and building materials. He noted the proposed front portion of the building would be three stories and measured roughly 44 feet in height, exceeding the neighborhood business (NB) district's 30-foot maximum, but that the structure would sit about 200 feet back from Nichols Road to mitigate visual impacts. The plan also calls for tree mitigation tied to required tree removal on the west side of the site: 66 category B trees or cash-in-lieu, per city code.
Jeff Mortensen, representing 3 60 communities, thanked city staff for their assistance and said the applicant team was available to answer questions. No public comments were offered during the public-comment period. Council discussion was supportive: one councilor said, "Any society can be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members," and spoke in favor of reinvesting in the existing use.
Council Member Buckett moved to approve the rezoning from Limited Business to Planned Development to allow a residential shelter at the legally described property; the motion was seconded, discussed and carried by voice vote. A separate motion to approve the preliminary plan development for a 14-unit shelter serving up to 50 residents, subject to conditions in the APC minutes, also passed unanimously.
The council record does not include a roll-call vote in the transcript; both actions were approved by voice vote. Conditions referenced in the APC minutes were not read into the record during the meeting and are not specified in the transcript.
