Deephaven planning commission recommends approval of multiple variances and conditional use permits

The Deephaven Planning Commission on April 21 recommended City Council approval of a slate of variances and conditional use permits affecting residential properties, a commercial sign and a rear-house addition, concluding routine public hearings and taking votes on each agenda item.

The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. and the commission approved the meeting minutes by a 7-0 vote (the minutes document contains inconsistent date references that the commission did not resolve in the record). Planning Director Pat Smith presented staff reports for each item and answered questions from commissioners and the public.

Sign permit: The commission recommended approval of a conditional use permit to install a dual‑color perforated wall sign above the north entrance at 3610 County Road 101. Sheri King of Albrecht Sign Company answered technical questions. Commissioners clarified that the city’s restriction on internally illuminated signs applies only in the downtown zoning area. Motion to recommend approval carried 7-0.

Lakeshore setback at 20060 Minnetonka Boulevard: The commission considered a lake-yard and side-yard variance tied to a porch addition and removal of six feet of driveway. Applicant changes would reduce hardcover from 33.8% to 32.7%, according to staff. Neighbor testimony and applicant comments were heard; the commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of variances encroaching 4.8 feet into the side yard and 6 feet into the lake yard, with Chair Mike Petersen and Commissioner Dan Goodrich dissenting.

Hardcover and drainage items: The commission recommended approval, contingent on engineering review when noted, for two applications that rely on stormwater mitigation: a conditional use permit at 18745 Rutledge Road (applicants propose reducing a rear patio, adding two small additions and directing downspouts to an infiltration trench; staff reported the resulting effective hardcover would be 36.6% and approval was contingent on City Engineering review) and a conditional use permit at 20445 Park Place (applicant revised plans, added a rain garden and obtained City Engineer review; commission recommended approval 7-0).

New house at 18965 Lake Avenue: The commission recommended approval of variances to encroach 3.1 feet into the east side yard and one foot into the west side yard, and a CUP to exceed hardcover by 5.1% for a proposed new house. Neighbors raised concerns about a shared driveway easement and stormwater; the commission debated but did not require the applicant to move the house west. The motion recommending approval included a strong written encouragement that the City Council urge the applicants to consider moving the house a few feet to provide more separation from the neighbor.

Votes at a glance: The minutes record the following formal recommendations to the City Council (motions and seconders are in the record): Approval of the meeting minutes (motion by Commissioner Kendall Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Patrick Donlin; 7-0). CUP—3610 County Road 101 (motion by Patrick Donlin, seconded by Kjell Nafstad; 7-0). Variance—20060 Minnetonka Boulevard (motion by Kjell Nafstad, seconded by Kendall Carlson; 5-2). CUP—18745 Rutledge Road (motion by Kjell Nafstad, seconded by Dan Goodrich; 7-0, contingent on City Engineering approval). Variances/CUP—18965 Lake Avenue (motion by Chair Petersen, seconded by Commissioner Carlson; 7-0, with encouragement to consider moving the house west). CUP—20445 Park Place (motion by Commissioner D’Alessandro, seconded by Chair Petersen; 7-0).

What happens next: These recommendations will be forwarded to the Deephaven City Council for final action. Several approvals are conditioned on City Engineering review of final drainage plans; the minutes record continuing coordination between applicants, neighbors and city staff on stormwater mitigation.

Sources: Deephaven Planning Commission meeting minutes, April 21, 2026. All direct attributions in this article come from speakers recorded in the minutes.