CC Minutes 1-25-21Chanhassen City Council – January 25, 2020
38
Mayor Ryan: I don’t either. With no questions, I would entertain a motion?
Resolution 2021-03: Councilman McDonald moved and Councilman Campion seconded
that the City Council adopts a resolution approving a grant application for funding from
the Carver County Community Development Agency for Lake Place, Powers Ridge
Apartments Building C. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote
of 5-0.
Mayor Ryan: Thank you for taking care of that, Kate. I appreciate it. That was 2, 3 and 4.
NEW BUSINESS: APPROVE A REQUEST FOR AN INTERIM USE PERMIT TO
OPERATE A GOLF DRIVING RANGE ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 825 FLYING
CLOUD DRIVE (GOLF ZONE)
Aanenson: This application also went to the Planning Commission on January 5. It did get
unanimous support and the applicant, after reviewing the conditions of the approval, wanted
some relief from one of those conditions. Otherwise, typically we would put these on Consent.
The applicants are Brian and Keri Colvin with a request for an interim use for the golfing driving
range on property zone A-2. This used to be the RSS [Rain, Snow & Shine]. I worked on this
project a long time ago. It has been inoperable for a few years. It was approved in1998. Since
that time, the update of 61, there’s a signal there. As you may or may not know, we looked at a
different land use in the future. It may be a number of years before we get sewer and water
down there so this provides reasonable use of the property and a great entertainment place for
our community. Again, the history of 1998. Site plan was approved in 1999. They allowed a
second story for the driving range and then they also allowed them to have 3.2 malt liquor. In
2006 they amended the site plan and granted variances to allow square foot addition so they
could have some interior entertainment. In 2018, the driving range was closed and after six
months the IUP (Interim Use Permit). Again, the interim use permit has a specific time to it and
I’ll go through that in a minute because we do anticipate that when sewer and water becomes
available that a higher and better use would go there. In short, they are planning to use the
driving range how it was used. Use the existing facilities. They are not planning on grading or
expanding or doing any other alterations. It does need the inspections from the Fire and Building
Code so that will be accomplished, and planning on running on the business. Again, some
context. Most of the property is in the 100-year flood plain. You can see the area. This is an old
farmstead that the driving range is in the upland. Compliance with the code to make sure it is not
detrimental to surrounding uses and, this is part of the interim use, that it meets the zoning
requirements. It does. The goal is to create the performance standards for golf and driving ranges
without negatively impacting the surrounding area. It will terminate 12 months after municipal
services become available. That’s when sewer and water is in close proximity and that would be
a discussion that would come back before the City Council. You have the ability review that. As
I stated, they have to pass the fire inspection and septic compliance. It does have a septic system
down there. And then no alterations beyond what was previously allowed, restore some of the
Chanhassen City Council – January 25, 2020
39
rain gardens, and the landscaping plans, and then the driving range which we talked about and
I’ll go through that in a little more detail. Then, pesticides and storage, the chemicals that are out
there and any future operations do require a permit. The condition that the nets go up is the
reason this is before you tonight. The applicant’s have stated that they cannot do the nets before
spring so we agreed to a compromise. We are going to allow them to put them up by June 14 and
then they will put an escrow in place. It is quite a ways out there and people think they don’t, but
there’s a lot of people that like to see how far they can hit it out there. So you’re into the
wetlands which is a discussion when this originally went up, we wanted to make sure the nets
weren’t too low allowing for wildlife to travel back and forth. It is in a fly away plus the
navigation for animals. I think we’re meeting both parties figuring out a way to make this work
so we are excited that they are restoring it. We are very happy to have them here. I think they are
on the line if they waited up this late, but we are recommending approval with those
modifications. There they are!
Mayor Ryan: Oh, there they are. You made it! You survived!
Aanenson: So we are recommending approval with those changes.
Mayor Ryan: So, just for clarification, when it came to the Planning Commission it got approved
with the old requirements, and then since the Planning Commission you have worked with them
and agreed that you will give them until June 14 to put up the nets and that’s what they were
asking is they couldn’t do it with the snow and the conditions, correct?
Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Ryan: Mr. and Mrs. Colvin, did you want to add anything?
Brian Colvin: No, I just wanted to thank everybody. Thank you, Mayor, Council, Kate. I just
wanted to start by saying, you know my wife and I, we had a pretty good idea that the
surrounding community would be excited for the Golf Zone to reopen but the overwhelming
response that we have had in the last couple of weeks, it’s really showed us how much the
community has missed this place and right now we are on track with all of our inspections.
We’ve been working diligently the last couple of months to really clean the inside up. Clean the
outside up. The next step is just getting the doors open and getting established while we have a
few peak revenue months. We just wanted to thank the City for working with us here on the nets
and we are always willing to work with them, too. That being said, I’ll leave it to you.
Mayor Ryan: Great. Thank you for those comments. With everybody working from home they
can sneak out and hit a few balls.
Colvin: That’s right!
Chanhassen City Council – January 25, 2020
40
Mayor Ryan: I get the interest so that’s fantastic. Thank you for that and thank you for working
with the applicant on meeting in the middle. I appreciate that.
Colvin: Yep. We do, too.
Mayor Ryan: Thank you for saying that. Council, any questions or a motion? The motion is on
the screen.
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilwoman Schubert seconded that the Chanhassen
City Council approves an interim use permit for a golf driving range subject to the
conditions of approval, adopts the attached findings of fact and recommendation, and
amends Condition 9 to read “Driving range nets comply with previous recommendations
from the DNR shall be installed by June 14, 2021. A $2,500 escrow shall be provided to
ensure that the nets are installed and that all stray golf balls are collected from the flood
plain.” All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5-0.
Mayor Ryan: Congratulations! Thank you. And again staff thank you for making that work. I
appreciate it. Good luck!
Colvin: Thank you. Thank you so much.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS – None
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS – None
CORRESPONDENCE DISCUSSION – None
Mayor Ryan: With that, we will meet back in the Fountain Conference Room to continue our
conversation about the city manager. With that, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
Councilman Campion moved, Councilwoman Schubert seconded to adjourn the meeting at
9:34 pm. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5-0.
Submitted by Heather Johnston
Interim City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen