02-24-2025 CC WS1
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MINUTES
February 24, 2025
Mayor Ryan called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilmember von Oven, Councilmember
Kimber, Councilmember McDonald, and Councilmember Schubert
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT FOR COMMISSION INTERVIEW: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager
STAFF PRESENT FOR CONTINUATION OF MEETING: Laurie Hokkanen, City
Manager; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City
Manager, Jerry Ruegemer, Parks Director; Patrick Gavin, Communications Manager; Eric
Maass, Community Development Director; Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator; Jenny
Potter, City Clerk
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Commission Applicant Interviews
The City Council interviewed candidates for the commission vacancies.
Mayor Ryan recessed the work session at 6:58 P.M.
Mayor Ryan reconvened the work session at 7:13 P.M.
Review and Discuss New Chanhassen Senior Center Rebranded Name
Jerry Ruegemer, Parks & Recreation Director, Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator, and
Patrick Gavin, Communications Manager presented findings from a recent public survey on the
potential renaming of the Senior Center. The city has been considering renaming the Senior
Center to better reflect its mission, services, and community identity as a Community for Life.
This initiative was introduced at the Commission on Aging in November 2024 in anticipation of
moving into a new, updated space to serve the 55 and older population. New names for the
facility were offered during the public outreach, but many residents also expressed their
preference to keep “senior” in the name.
The City Council reviewed the results from the public survey and decided to keep the name
“Senior Center” on the outside signage of the new Civic Campus for ease of recognition, but said
it remained open to an ongoing dialogue with both the public and the Commission on Aging
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about how to best communicate and market the Center’s mission of serving the active 55+
community.
Market Blvd Improvement Project
Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer, provided council with an update on the
Market Boulevard Improvement Project. It included results from a recent survey of targeted
downtown businesses, a review of the current design layout, and a potential scope of work for
2025 and 2026 construction. Mr. Howley asked the City Council for direction on a final layout to
allow three project components to move forward: To finalize design on potential 2025 work,
advance design on 2026 work, and complete design work on a potential Laredo Drive extension.
The City Council said that it largely supported the project’s current design, but asked Mr. Howley
to come back with additional alternatives including a full-sized roundabout or traffic signals with
two traffic lanes in each direction in to make sure it felt that it had fully discussed all possibilities
before making a final decision. The City Council suggested the railroad crossing work be delayed
until 2026 to have only one full closure for the work at the Market Street intersection. They support
the idea of reconstructing the intersection of Market Blvd and W 78th Street in 2025.
Ordinance XXX: Density Bonuses Amendment
Eric Maass, Community Development Director, presented a draft ordinance to allow for up to 25%
increased density for residential projects. The City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan calls for the city to
allow density bonuses in exchange for the creation of affordable housing.
The ordinance, as drafted, would incentivize affordable housing in certain zoning districts by
allowing bonus units for developments that include income-restricted housing, with requirements
for long-term affordability, ensuring fit, finish, and location of affordable units within a project
are consistent with their market-rate counterparts, financial feasibility considerations, and unity
type consistency with market-rate units. Mr. Maass also discussed a potential addition to the
ordinance that would potentially provide some relief to parking requirements for the additional
units.
The City Council appreciated the city’s efforts to support affordable housing and suggested a larger
conversation on the topic so that the city could come up with policy that was consistent across
Chanhassen. The City Council asked Mr. Maass to look further into what objective criteria the city
could rely upon to support or deny the use of density bonuses.
Discuss Ordinance XXX: Amending Chapter 1, Chapter 11, and Chapter 20 of Chanhassen
City Code regarding the regulation of Cannabis Businesses
Eric Maass, Community Development Director, presented an update on the city’s efforts to create
an ordinance that would guide how the city handles cannabis retail stores (dispensaries),
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concerning buffers from nearby schools and residential treatment facilities, as requested by the
Council during previous work sessions.
The City Council supported the option of a buffer of 500 feet. This buffer would also apply to
tobacco and liquor stores. Existing stores would be grandfathered in if they don’t meet the buffer.
The ordinance, as drafted, specifically indicates that the 500-foot buffer determination shall be
made from the perimeter of the principal structure of the school/treatment facility to the perimeter
of the cannabis retailer. For multi-tenant buildings, the measurement will be to that specific suite
number.
A formal Ordinance regulating cannabis businesses will be considered for adoption at the March
10, 2025, City Council meeting. An ordinance to add a 500-foot buffer for alcohol and tobacco
retail sales will also be considered at a future date.
Mayor Ryan adjourned the work session at 9:07 P.M.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Jenny Potter
City Clerk