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Planning commission backs seasonal athletic dome at Hopkins High School
Summary
The Minnetonka Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council approval of a seasonal athletic dome and support buildings at Hopkins High School, finding the proposal meets natural‑resource protections and is buffered from neighbors; council consideration is scheduled May 18.
The Minnetonka Planning Commission on April 30 voted 5–0 to recommend the City Council approve a conditional use permit and site/building plan review for a seasonal athletic dome and two small support buildings at Hopkins High School (2400 Royals Drive).
Staff explained the site’s context and constraints: the 86‑acre campus contains several athletic fields, nearby wetlands and a 100‑year floodplain beyond the field, and varying topography. Planner Drew Englesen said the dome will cover one existing field (about 78,000 square feet), will be seasonal (installed about 180 days per year), and that the city’s height rules measure the midpoint of a pitched or curved roof — under that method the dome’s code height is about 33.5 feet even though its peak is roughly 67 feet above grade.
Hopkins Public Schools representatives said the dome will expand year‑round athletic opportunities for students, provide community rental options and be funded through voter‑approved referendum work. Manufacturer Yayen Domes told the commission the district selected an opaque membrane; Michael Moore said the chosen material will not transmit light to neighbors when installed. The district also described mechanical systems including a natural‑gas backup generator to maintain inflation and egress lighting during outages, and said the dome includes ADA access via an air‑lock sequence adjacent to a revolving entrance.
Nearby residents spoke in favor of the district’s referendum but raised questions about blower/generator noise, construction staging and parking management. The applicant representatives said measured blower noise for similar unscreened units is about 50–60 decibels at 70–80 feet and that screening and mechanical enclosures would reduce noise; the district also committed to coordinate parking and sitewide improvements through the referendum program.
Commissioners praised the community benefit of year‑round athletics, noted the dome is similar to seasonal domes at other metro schools, and accepted staff’s findings that the proposal meets the city’s natural‑resource protections and buffering expectations. The commission’s unanimous recommendation sends the matter to the City Council for action on May 18.
What’s next: The City Council will consider the commission’s recommendation at its May 18 meeting.
