This transcript is for the **Woodbury Planning Commission**. Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text, I have identified the speakers (Chair John Kollm, Council Member Steve Morris, various Commissioners, City Staff, and Applicants). [10:21] **John Kollm (Chair):** Welcome to the January 12th, 2026 Planning Commission meeting. If all commissioners will please mute your microphone until it's your turn to speak, that would be appreciated. Members of the public may join using a PC, Mac, or iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Members of the public can access the meeting online at the city's website and the public can ask questions and comments during the meeting by using the link to the virtual meeting to join and submitting the questions via the online question and answer feature within the meeting. Questions regarding this meeting can also be asked during regular business hours at city hall. [10:58] **John Kollm (Chair):** If you are a member of the public and wish to speak on a topic tonight, please fill out one of the yellow forms at the back of the chambers and provide that sheet to staff. You'll be called upon after the project and reference is presented. Residents viewing online, please add your questions to the Q&A field along with your name and address. [11:17] **John Kollm (Chair):** With that, we will call the meeting to order. And I believe um first up is the oath of office with council member Morris. **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Absolutely. Do they need to stand? Is that how that works? All right. New members, if you want to stand with me, that would be great. [11:37] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** I state your name. **New Commissioners:** I [Name] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** do solemnly swear or affirm **New Commissioners:** do solemnly swear or affirm **Steve Morris (Council Member):** that I will support the Constitution of the United States **New Commissioners:** that I will support the Constitution of the United States **Steve Morris (Council Member):** and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota **New Commissioners:** and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota **Steve Morris (Council Member):** and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office **New Commissioners:** and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office **Steve Morris (Council Member):** of planning commission member in the city of Woodbury **New Commissioners:** of planning commission member in the city of Woodbury **Steve Morris (Council Member):** county of Washington to the best of my judgment and ability. [12:14] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Congratulations. [12:21] **John Kollm (Chair):** Congratulations to our new commissioners. Uh Dan, will you take the roll call, please? **Dan [Staff]:** Thank you, Chair. Saurin Shaw. Marshia Kennedy **Marshia Kennedy:** here. **Dan [Staff]:** John Kollm **John Kollm (Chair):** here. **Dan [Staff]:** Stephanie Swanson **Stephanie Swanson:** here. **Dan [Staff]:** Shay Cbrooks **Shay Cbrooks:** here. [12:39] **Dan [Staff]:** Jim Gentiel **Jim Gentiel:** here. **Dan [Staff]:** Jacob Cusk **Jacob Cusk:** here. **Dan [Staff]:** Jazelle Parnell **Jazelle Parnell:** here. **Dan [Staff]:** Rianne Hoey. Chair, we have a quorum. **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, Dan. Uh, the first item on the agenda tonight is the pet memories cremation conditional use permit project number 18-2025-0000599. [13:07] **John Kollm (Chair):** And uh Dan, I think you have this one. **Dan [Staff]:** All right. Thank you. Chair. [13:20] **Dan [Staff]:** Jayway Jackson has submitted an application for a conditional use permit to operate a pet cremation service. Uh the proposed location is 2357 Ventura Drive. The land is currently zoned I1 light industrial district and is guided as places to work on the land use plan. The original development was approved by city council in 1988 and the building was built at this location in 1989. [13:44] **Dan [Staff]:** Pet memories cremation is proposed to occupy 2,875 ft of the 35,000 ft building. The applicant is proposing to use a cremation process called aquamation which is eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame braced cremation services. Staff has identified that the conditional use permit is the best appropriate zoning process to evaluate this use. The max capacity of the machine uh holds 47 gallons of water. It is anticipated that the machine will run approximately two to three times per week uh for the first 6 months. After the business is established, it is anticipated that they would run the machine potentially up to once per day. [14:23] **Dan [Staff]:** The applicant identified the machine is not full most runs and may run at half water capacity. The technologies for this acclimation process are improving and the applicant anticipates reduced water usage per run in the future. The applicant is proposing to utilize two existing full access points from Ventura Drive into the site for vehicle access. The building has 63 parking stalls. The proposed cremation use is anticipated to take 2800 square ft of the building, which equates to six required stalls for the proposed use. [14:55] **Dan [Staff]:** They are proposing 2,000 ft of warehouse space and 875 uh square ft of office. The applicant said that they anticipate uh no more than two stalls at any given time because it the clientele is appointment only. Is existing parking found on site is more than adequate for the proposed use. A neighborhood meeting was held on January 5th, 2026. Uh there were no residents in attendance to that meeting. With that, staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit request project number 18-2025-0000599 for pet memories cremation subject to the conditions found within your staff report. Staff and the applicant are on hand for any questions. [15:38] **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, Dan. Uh would the applicant like to add anything at this time? **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** No, not unless you guys have any further questions. **John Kollm (Chair):** Um, there may be from other commissioners on the panel. So, **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** okay, **John Kollm (Chair):** hang tight. Okay. Um, have there been any yellow sheets received or questions via teams on this one? [15:58] **Dan [Staff]:** Not at this time, chair. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Um, with that, we'll open it up to members of the planning commission for questions and we will start with Commissioner Cbrooks. **Shay Cbrooks:** Thank you. I do have one question. um about the cremation process in general. [16:16] **Shay Cbrooks:** I was curious whether or not um the process will emit any sorts of smell toward the outside or to neighbor residents in the building. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** No, there's there's no odor whatsoever. **Shay Cbrooks:** Okay. Thank you. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** You're welcome. [16:32] **Shay Cbrooks:** No further questions. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Thank you. Uh Commissioner Swanson. **Stephanie Swanson:** Oh, I'm already unmuted. Uh, so question for staff. If this were not just for animals and if we were going to broach into a cremation process for people, um, would it require a different permitting process? Would it not be allowed here at all? [17:01] **Dan [Staff]:** Yeah, the process would still be a conditional use permit. Uh we have several cremation facilities within the community that have utilized that process. **Stephanie Swanson:** Do we need to consider a condition of approval that this specific applicant is obviously just for animals? But that's in the project description. Do we need to consider that so that it wouldn't be necessarily just allowed by right and it would be an amended conditional use permit? **Dan [Staff]:** the document that implements the CUP is the actual conditional use permit. Within that document, the approval is for specifically pet cremation use. [17:44] **Stephanie Swanson:** And then for the applicant, what is chemical disposal like? Do you reuse the any of the chemicals for later cremations? Are they all trucked away? **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Uh so right now it neutralizes itself and then it just goes down the drain and so um but it ends up it's got a good pH. [18:08] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** It's neutral. So it basically is probably a net zero. Some documents will say that it's actually good um for the water system. Um, so it's just a very in some places like in Iowa, they will pump the discharge into a tank and go spray um and fertilize with it and they get 30% more yield on soybeans and things like that. Obviously, I'm not probably going to do that, but so it is a positive environmental discharge that comes out and there is multiple uses for it if you wanted to keep it and use fertilizer, but that's not really in the cards right now. All right, I have no other questions. Thank you. [18:48] **John Kollm (Chair):** Uh, if I can interject for a second, can you please state your name and uh, address for the panel, please? **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah, it's Wade Jackson and 4016 Lady Slipper Road, Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042. [19:04] **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, Commissioner Swanson. Uh, next we'll go to Commissioner Cusk. **Jacob Cusk:** Yeah, I guess um in talking about the discharge water, I'm assuming because it is so high in nutrients that that's why farmers would use it. So at the same time, that also would mean in our waste water be more difficult to treat. Has is there any special um approvals from Met Council that need to be done before this can be approved? **Dan [Staff]:** Yep. So, uh, Met Council would review any industrial discharge permits. Um, and that's reviewed as part of their building permit process through the city. **Jacob Cusk:** Okay, that's all the questions I have. [19:50] **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, uh, Commissioner Kennedy. **Marshia Kennedy:** Thank you, Chair. Just a few questions. Um, the the noise of the crematory, um, is there noise that's able to be heard outside of the building? **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** You have to think this almost like a large commercial dishwasher or washing machine. The seals. You turn it on and it's just very faint noise. So there'll be no no noise at all outside of facility. [20:14] **Marshia Kennedy:** Okay. It takes two to three hours I think I read somewhere. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah. Well, this this will take five to six hours. **Marshia Kennedy:** Okay. For the process. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah. And so but it's extremely quiet, clean. That's what I like it. We owned a crematory in Oklahoma for 13 years. Traditionally flame. the last five years we bought one of these machines. And I just think it's a superior process to flame cremation, whether it be humans, pets, and so that's why when we've looked to open again, this is why we wanted to go this route. It's just there's so many benefits to it. [20:44] **Marshia Kennedy:** And then you have a drying area and that takes a certain amount of time before the remains are distributed. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah. They'll just be in a like a convection oven that dries them. Yeah. **Marshia Kennedy:** So good analogy. just my mind went somewhere else. Okay. [21:01] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** So, yeah, but it is it's a it's a very nice clean process I think compared to traditional flame. **Marshia Kennedy:** Okay. And then um uh your appointment only. So, there's an appointment to drop off and pick up the remains. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah. as we won't be staffed there unless somebody a lot of most of our business will probably be business to business with local vet clinics where they would call us we'd go to the clinic pick up do the cremation return the ashes back so they can give it to the family in Oklahoma it was about 95% clinic business to business I would assume that model will be fairly close here I'm hoping it's more um people that find us you know through Google search or whatever but I'm pretty confident for 13 years it would be mainly business to business. [21:44] **Marshia Kennedy:** That was one of my questions. Are you a third party or or direct? **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah. **Marshia Kennedy:** So, you don't need a space for um bereavement um management etc. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** No, because it won't do any kind of viewing or visitations or anything like that. It's it's it's just crematory. [21:59] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** We'll have a a monitor that work with a company here locally in Minnesota that sells urns that will show urns and order them from there, but we won't really have any kind of showroom or anything like that. It's just a very simple simple process. **Marshia Kennedy:** Okay. And the um the size accommodates more depending on the size of the pet um more than one at a time or are you a single um pet at a time? [22:21] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** So these machines since it's the whole point of this is eco-friendly. You you they do it by weight. So if a machine will do 500 lbs, it could be depending on how you'll do multiple pets, but they're all in a separate chamber. So that way everybody gets their pet back. [22:39] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** But obviously you don't want to run one pet with 40 gallons of water. It kind of defeats the point. So that's how they're designed. And honestly, most flame crematories are like that as well. They section them off within the chamber. **Marshia Kennedy:** I know that's a increasing desire I think for some families is to have a single their pet be unique to the cremation. [23:00] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yep. **Marshia Kennedy:** So they're all identified. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** So it's all but it's just not one at a time. Um, so with this process taking the time that it does, it's it's a lot more uh time to do the cremation, a lot more time for me to process everything. So you do you do three or four a time if that's what you can do. [23:23] **Marshia Kennedy:** And um this is an maybe an indelicate question, but how large of a pet? I mean, **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** well, we'll start we'll start off with a max of 100 pounds, which 95% of domestic household pets are under 100 pounds and then we'll probably cap it at two because I really don't want to get anything bigger than that because you have to get special equipment and just there's just a point to where not interested in doing that. So, we'll about 75% of pets are 60 pounds and under. And so that's kind of that'll be the wheelhouse that will do most of our business. But no farm animals, no horses. [24:01] **Marshia Kennedy:** Oh, I wonder because pets are of all different species. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah. Just sometimes you got to say no if they call with something like that. **Marshia Kennedy:** So yes. Okay. And then um just a quick question about the licensure process in Minnesota. Um is it very different than the licensure process in Iowa? **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Well, the the thing is is there is no state regulations, but I'm a licensed funeral director and I have been for 30 years and I do trade work right now and operate a crematory. So, we will adhere the same standards as human even though it's not mandatory. So, we have the logs and that's we just kind of we did in Oklahoma. We just carried over that same process. So, we'll operate as if we are regulated even though it is unregulated at this point. [24:44] **Marshia Kennedy:** Yeah. I found some Minnesota statutes regarding crematories but no licensure and I wondered if I missed it. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Yeah, there it's obviously heavily regulated for for humans and funeral homes. **Marshia Kennedy:** That's good. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** But there is none for pets at the current time. But I've just found it's easier to it's the same thing for a family. They want the same kind of care. [25:03] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** So we'll just bring the same stuff over we've been doing with humans and and just carry on and operate that way. Doesn't cost any more money to do it. It's more peace of mind for everybody. So we'll just do that. Because "do am I getting my pet's remains back" is the question that's that rules that day. [25:22] **Marshia Kennedy:** Yeah. And you will. So for sure. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Well, I don't have any pets, so I'm not worried. So, yeah. **Marshia Kennedy:** All right. Thank you. That's all I have. Chair, **John Kollm (Chair):** thank you. Um, Commissioner Gentiel. [25:39] **Jim Gentiel:** I guess the beauty of going last is all the questions get answered. Chair, no questions. **John Kollm (Chair):** All right. Thank you. and uh Commissioner Parnell, excuse me. **Jazelle Parnell:** Thank you. I have no questions at this time. [25:58] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Um just had one question I think maybe is for staff um or maybe for the applicant. I'll start with staff. Um with respect to the findings of fact, there's a sub bullet under health and safety. And so I guess I'm just wondering as we hear the description of the process and what's involved from the applicant, is there something at the city or perhaps the Washington County level with the health department around ensuring that these animals are being handled properly? [26:26] **John Kollm (Chair):** ...and care of these animals that there's not creating any sort of health hazard in the community. If we've got um animals waiting in this facility for days at a time before the cremation process would happen, is there any sort of inspection process from the health department to validate that some of those pieces are being executed properly on the community's behalf? [26:54] **Dan [Staff]:** Thank you, chair. Um as the applicant referenced, there are not uh state statute requirements. I'm not aware of any county requirements for pet cremation. Um, rather than in the finding of fact, if the commission wanted to add any sort of operational questions, it would probably be more prudent to do that in the recommendation portion. That said, without statutory or ordinance requirements that might be challenging to create. Um, but what I can tell you is that this only approves indoor activities. So that could be um well under code that would be identified as exterior storage or other items. So it would be interior to the space. [27:36] **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Just to ease your mind, we will have a refrigeration system so that if we have a pet that it's going to be the day before we get to it, that pet will be in refrigeration. Um just like a funeral home. So you won't have to worry about, you know, something just laying around, if you will. they'll be properly cared for and so they can wait until we're ready to proceed with the cremation. [27:58] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you. That's uh the only questions I have um on this item. Are there any additional questions? Any other and did any questions come in from the public at this point? Dan, **Dan [Staff]:** not at this time, chair. [28:15] **John Kollm (Chair):** Any other follow-up questions from any commissioners? Okay. Then staff would be looking for recommendation on the project. **Commissioner:** I move to approve project number 18-2025-0000599 with the conditions as stated. [28:33] **John Kollm (Chair):** And do we have a second? **Commissioner:** Second. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Uh seeing a second. Uh all in favor say I. **Commissioners:** I. **John Kollm (Chair):** Any oppose say no. [28:49] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, congratulations. Best of luck to you. **Wade Jackson (Applicant):** Thank you very much. Thank you so much. **John Kollm (Chair):** And I believe this will go to the city council meeting for review and the public meeting on Wednesday. Dan, is that correct? **Dan [Staff]:** Correction, the 28th. [29:05] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. On Wednesday, January 28th. So, good luck. [29:19] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, next item on the agenda. Item B is the Woodbury Leadership Academy site and building plan project number 04-2025-0000590. [29:35] **John Kollm (Chair):** Uh, and Gina, this one is over to you. **Gina [Staff]:** Yes, thank you. Chair. Collaborative Design Group, Inc. has submitted an application on behalf of Woodbury Leadership Academy for a site and building plan for a 15,000 square foot two-story addition to the existing Leadership Academy school. The addition will include eight classrooms, specialty rooms, offices, and the like to serve the expanded school capacity. The property is located at 8147 Globe Drive, south of Hudson Road. The property is zoned B1, Office Park District, and is guided as places to work on the land use plan. The existing site has received numerous approvals throughout the last 20 years. [30:20] **Gina [Staff]:** Initially, in 2006, the city council approved the site for Minnesota School of Business, Globe College, which included the construction of two of the buildings on site today, the original 8089 and 8147, as shown on the screen. [30:40] **Gina [Staff]:** In 2018, the city council approved the amended PUD or planned unit development to convert 8089 Globe Drive into a K through 8 school use for Woodbury Leadership Academy, which was previously located off of Weir Drive. In 2021, the city council approved a three-story building addition to this same building for multi-purpose gym space, additional classrooms, and support spaces. And lastly, in June of 2025, the city council approved a conditional use permit to expand the school use to 8147 to create their upper school serving grades 9 through 12. These approvals identified future site and building plan approval would be necessary for the additions that you're seeing in front of you tonight and any future buildings. [31:25] **Gina [Staff]:** For reference, Woodbury Leadership Academy, or as I will call them, WLA, is a tuition-free charter public school that has been operating in Woodbury since 2014. Starting this school year, they now occupy both buildings shown on the screen with a majority of the remaining leases in 8147 Globe Drive to be completed this year. With the proposed building addition, the school would be able to complete their charter and program for a school serving all grades K through 12. and a typical school day starts at 9:20 a.m. and ends at 3:50 p.m. [32:12] **Gina [Staff]:** The proposed addition identifies that WLA will serve approximately 1,350 students on site. Given the increased trip generation from the upper school and this addition, staff found it necessary to conduct a traffic study. [32:31] **Gina [Staff]:** The traffic study reviewed all of the intersections and roadways surrounding the school, including Hudson Road, Woodduck Drive, and Globe Drive. All intersections were determined not to meet signal warrants at ultimate capacity. The study did identify that at this ultimate capacity, the queueing for parent pickup would extend beyond the eastern access point for Globe Drive shown in the red on the screen. To address this queue, the conditions of approval require the school to add additional pickup windows as necessary to their existing system and to construct additional parking to allow for more parking and pickup operations on site. [33:17] **Gina [Staff]:** Excuse me. Uh the proposed or excuse me, with that in mind, we will review the site access and circulation plan that the school has in place. Vehicular access to the site is provided by a private street called Globe Drive which has access to Hudson Road shown with the purple star and Wood Duck Drive shown with the green star. [33:39] **Gina [Staff]:** This private street was designed to handle trips generated by school uses. Per a condition of approval from the 2018 approvals, vehicle stacking is not permitted to occur on Woodduck Drive. There is a private sidewalk network on the south side of Globe Drive that connects to trails on both Hudson Road and Woodduck Drive. And the applicant is proposing to create an additional internal sidewalk connection from the front door of the upper school to the sidewalk network with the lower school. And this route is shown in red on the screen. [34:16] **Gina [Staff]:** Due to the restriction on Woodduck Drive and the need for substantial vehicle stacking to occur on site, WLA has created the traffic solution shown on the screen. City staff and WLA staff work together to establish Globe Drive west of the main access as a one-way for parent pickup, which allows for dual pickup lanes to be established. As traffic patterns and demands have increased, the school has further implemented a staged pickup route to spread out the peak times into dedicated pickup windows. This has worked in partnership with the school and their significant staff presence, directing traffic, checking passes, and assisting students into vehicles. These on-site activities shall be required to remain in place in perpetuity for the school. [35:02] **Gina [Staff]:** The zoning ordinance establishes parking ratios for elementary and junior high uses along with high school uses. These calculations can be found within the staff report. Upon construction of the addition, the school will have 237 parking stalls available and they have established a need for approximately 203 staff, parent pickup and student parking. The remaining stalls will serve the existing businesses and the daycare long-term. However, upon ultimate capacity, the ordinance will require 283 stalls be provided on site. [35:48] **Gina [Staff]:** The applicant has provided the concept proof of parking shown um with the blue square on the screen and it identifies where this parking can be constructed. As a condition of approval, the applicant shall construct the proof of parking to meet ordinance requirements by the fall of 2028 or earlier as identified by city staff based on site conditions. [36:16] **Gina [Staff]:** The conditions of approval from the 2006 PUD state that any future building additions shall be constructed of the same materials as the original building. The applicant is proposing to utilize pre-cast panels with the same brick cast into the panel along with full depth stone base. The same method of construction was used on the gym edition for the lower school as well. [36:43] **Gina [Staff]:** And the applicant is proposing to remove some existing trees that were planted with the original development to facilitate the addition. They are proposing to plant 11 trees, 31 shrubs, and numerous perennials to meet the canopy coverage and landscaping requirements for this project. With that, staff recommends approval of the site and building plan for Woodbury Leadership Academy edition project number 04-2025-0000590 subject to the conditions found within the staff report and staff and the applicant are on hand for any questions. [37:23] **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, Gina. Um, would the applicant like to add anything at this time and if you can state your name and location for the record? **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Jonas Bugan, superintendent for Woodbury Leadership Academy Schools. Gina covered it pretty well. I mean, I think it's um thing I need to add. It's pretty well covered. Happy to answer any questions or to keep on working with. [37:52] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, great. Thank you. Um there may be some questions that come up from the other commissioners, so just stand by. **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Thank you. I guess one thing I I would say just proactively is that um the space we have would not allow us to have more students than what we're proposing. So you don't have to worry about it getting bigger than what we're saying that would be all the rooms built. So thank you. [38:21] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, Gina, are there any questions from the public? Any yellow sheets or anything online? **Gina [Staff]:** No yellow sheets and nothing online. **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you. Okay. Um at this time we'll open it up to commissioners to ask questions. And uh this time we're going to start to my right with Commissioner Gentiel. [38:41] **Jim Gentiel:** Look at that. Thank you. Uh maybe for staff um just in the 2018 report for the conditions of approval on the Wooduck Drive for the green star that's shown um it does have a small kind of 6x12 sign that says you know bus only. Um curious if you know with that added capacity and the addition if that sign should just be more prominent. And maybe a question to uh the superintendent is is it only bus only during excuse me pickup hours? Um that's not necessarily clear. So maybe just the recommendation would be you know additional robust signage for showing that being one way during you know pickup hours uh would be my recommendation. [39:26] **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah. Thank you. Uh the school and staff have not identified any conflicts of vehicle staging out there. Um and it is bus and bus entrance and exit only during those pickup times. Um but the school can certainly um speak to any expanded signage that they have planned. [39:46] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** We certainly **John Kollm (Chair):** you got to come up to the mic. **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Yeah, we certainly could do that. Um, we haven't had any like we haven't had any conflicts with cars coming in or um I think our families are really well trained on knowing which direction to go and so on and so forth. But it certainly could say during pickup hours, drop off and pick up. **Jim Gentiel:** Perfect. I guess just as a bystander without a student there. It's just more of as you're driving down Wooduck, you just you can see the sign, but you don't necessarily know um what you're entering into if you do decide to make that lefthand turn uh during pickup hours. [40:22] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** We can certainly add that. That will be our **Jim Gentiel:** Thank you. No further questions. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Thank you, uh Commissioner Kennedy. **Marshia Kennedy:** Thank you, Chair. Just a few questions. Good to see you again. Um uh the additional building um attaches directly to uh to the the existing building. Looks like it's with a hallway and they they move in through that way. Um there's one elevator in the entire structure that will serve the entire structure. Is that right? [40:55] **Marshia Kennedy:** The one right kind of right in the middle of the existing building. **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yes. **Marshia Kennedy:** Uh-huh. And and serves both floors. **Sean Smith (Applicant):** I know. **Marshia Kennedy:** And so um my main question was um moving um from the existing or the proposed building to the main building for students for mobility challenged people. I think there is according to AO1 I can see it best. I don't know if that's the best way to see what's in front of or along the side of the building addition. Um, is there a sidewalk? So, so if I was in a wheelchair and attending the school, I'd go down the elevator to the main floor if I was on second floor and then out the front door. [41:41] **Marshia Kennedy:** You're saying to go to the lower school building? **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yeah. And that's where the additional sidewalk would be a direct route. **Marshia Kennedy:** Okay. So, if we come out the front door is there... I'm just verifying there is a sidewalk that's going to be built along the side of the new building. Is that correct? That will connect to that additional sidewalk that's being structured from the two buildings. Am I saying that correctly? Someone help. [42:08] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yes. Uh, Commissioner, Sean Smith with Woodbury Leadership Academy, 6800 France Avenue South, Suite 555 in Edina. So, good to see you guys tonight. Great, great question. Um, so if we look at the plan here, the site plan, student travel has been a very much talked about and discussed. **Marshia Kennedy:** I'm sure. **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Um I don't have um uh but there is a sidewalk there. There are sidewalks that will line the building addition. [42:54] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** So it will also connect to the existing sidewalks that are at the 8147 building. And then right now you guys have a zoom. You guys have the ability to zoom in. Okay. Um, and then if you look at those crosswalks that are on the screen, they will lead to a new sidewalk that's going to go directly to the 8089 building. **Marshia Kennedy:** Along the tree line there or? **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yeah. So, there's there's currently a median um with with trees and mulch um that will get um uh that's where some of the tree removal happened, but that will create pedestrian access. [43:39] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** We talked about putting it on the south side. Um, but at the end of the day, Jonas and his staff really know that the most direct path is really what's going to occur with these children. So, um, making it as direct as possible was uh between city staff and civil engineering and actually school. **Gina [Staff]:** Members of the commission, page C200, the site plan does show that. It's one of the earlier pages within the packet. [44:17] **Gina [Staff]:** I've also traced the route on the screen for everyone. There's a ADA ramp and then I've traced the route of how you would get back to the crossings. **Marshia Kennedy:** See, that's what I was looking for. Because if there's a sidewalk, but you can't get onto it, you know, that won't work. So, I I knew you had been thinking about that and I just didn't find the right structure. Okay. All right. That that answers my main question. And then the trees um that are going to be taken taken down um um are accounted for or amplified on the other side of the existing building. [44:59] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Um they're going to be planted throughout kind of this parking lot area. You can kind of see them. There's some of them off top. I don't recall the exact number. I think 17 trees stick out to me uh that need to be um replanted. Is that about right? **Gina [Staff]:** We have 11 that you're planting and they're planted on, you can see this is the landscape plan on the southern part of the parking lot. Some are going back into the medians, right? **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yeah, I knew it was kind of scattered throughout there and I just just verifying that. That really um answers my questions. Thank you very much. That's it for me, chair. [45:35] **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, Commissioner. Um Commissioner Cusk. **Jacob Cusk:** Good evening. Um I guess my first question is what's the anticipated construction schedule? **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yeah. So we're um we obviously have to get through this meetings and set of public approvals. Um and uh we have uh the first phase of this construction period will be to renovate the existing 8147 building. And so, um, that will start, uh, once, um, I'll just call it, um, April/May. [46:21] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Uh we have some existing tenants that are in that building. Um there's a chiropractor and wellness center on the first floor. And then, um, uh, one last tenant on the second floor that's an attorney. And so um per their lease they they have to be out by or before the end of April. So once once that's done and uh but but we do plan to submit for our building permit here in the next month ready for that and then um that phase will be done by or before the start of school. So we're thinking early to mid August and then the work addition will continue to go through and uh that we're hoping it's November December. [47:03] **Jacob Cusk:** Okay. And do you anticipate any construction conflicting with the queueing of the cars? **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Not really. Um most of most of the construction workers are going to arrive um you know they they they typically start their day around 6 a.m. and then they they'll typically leave um probably before dismissal currently. And I don't really see a whole lot of issues. I think um we do have a very reputable contractor um that will certainly be communicating schedules ahead of time. So I think one thing that could conflict are deliveries of materials, but most of the work is going to be done throughout the summer as well. And so most of that big structure work will be done in that summer time frame. [48:05] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yep. Yep. So, if you look at where uh um there's a blue route on the plan that kind of goes around that new addition in the construction. Um during construction, that island will be taken out and used as well. **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah, the area identified on the screen in red is where they anticipate construction fencing will be located. Some material and parking will occur in here. Um but for the most part contractor and construction parking and staging will occur on those lots three and four. [48:45] **Jacob Cusk:** And then my next question uh is mostly for staff. So um we say condition 22 for the you know ultimate build out of the required 104 additional stalls. Um so if required by city staff. So I guess what is the trigger really? Is it it just kind of is staff looking at it on an annual basis and then determine whether there's been any issues reported or how does that work? [49:11] **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah. So we have actively been monitoring this site and working with Jonas and Ben and his team for the last few years actually and identifying different improvements on site. So I think if we saw um significant stacking issues occur or um an increase in parent parking, a decrease in busing, things like that, then we would identify that that needs to be established sooner to have some staff park up there so more room could be freed up in the main lot. [49:41] **Jacob Cusk:** And then what what would be the um because obviously it's a large expense if they have to add that if if there was issues of them not building the new lot in time. What what would be triggered from the city's perspective I guess? **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah, I think we would um look at that through the conditional use permit process. We could look at it through collecting a security um initially to ensure that the proof of parking is installed and identifying what that cost is um and collecting that um if that was necessary. [50:20] **Jacob Cusk:** Okay, no further questions. Thank you. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, thank you, Commissioner. And uh Commissioner Swanson, you're next. **Stephanie Swanson:** Thank you. So, first I just wanted to say thank you for putting in that pathway across the parking lot. When this project was here last time, I had my doubts that teenagers would go all the way around the parking lot or the super smart fourth grader who needs to go over to the high school for calculus class would go all the way around the parking lot. So, I just appreciate that that path is here now. [51:05] **Stephanie Swanson:** And I just had a question about parking as everybody does. Say you are the blue sticker group that is supposed to get there first and you just happen to hit every red light in town. What happens if you get to school not in your pickup window? **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Well, if you get there late, there's not so much we can do. But when the first month of the school year, we're checking every sticker as they're coming in. And if anybody's there early, we make them exit and come back during their time. [51:30] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** and doing that the first two three weeks of school by the third week people are all coming at the right time. Just a matter of those first two three weeks and really making people leave if they're there at the wrong time and then of course if they do come late then let us know so that we can call them and do that kind of thing. But it works. I mean it took a couple two three weeks to get the routine down. [52:04] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** The other thing I'd add to is something that you can't really see on this plan is the amount of staff that the school has during pick up and drop off. Um I'd say there's at least eight staff members out there. **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Especially at high times. So there's a person and um if color is missed there's other staff members down there to direct them. [52:49] **Stephanie Swanson:** That was my only question. Thank you. **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you. And um go to Commissioner Cbrooks. **Shay Cbrooks:** Thank you. Um I'm not sure if my question is for staff or for the applicant. Um but my question is um about the lighting uh after school hours. Um whether or not there's any lighting that's being replaced or added on with the addition around that building to help with the security aspect. [53:33] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** You want to go ahead? You know, we um a lot of that is per code um and um zoning ordinance site lighting and then the photometrics as well. So, um, we have site lighting timers there. And I think, um, the good thing about this site is it was built um in the early 2000s, so most of the lighting in this site infrastructure is relatively newer. Um, and so, I am a lot of area that we're lighting, it's still the same area that needs to be just building the same area that's already being lit. [54:16] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Yeah. And I can see really wanting to add lighting at some point in various spots as the high school grows and there's more after school activities. But um we haven't had any issues. **Gina [Staff]:** And there's parking lot lighting throughout our standard 25 foot lighting poles. They need to be down or directed. We have a minimum and maximum lumen level requirement. Um, so that would be applied that Sean was referencing with the codes. [55:12] **Shay Cbrooks:** Excellent. Thank you. No further questions. **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you. And, uh, Commissioner Parnell. **Jazelle Parnell:** Yes. Just a quick question regarding the construction process. Um, how will distractions to students and local tenants be minimized during this process? Like for example, noise and dust? [55:35] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Um well that's a that's a good question. Um you know on the interior of the building um a lot of the construction areas will be sealed off. Um the the building is essentially a pre-cast building as well. And so um uh there's there's thick pre-cast planks that are that are on the second level. Um the other thing too is um on a rotating basis um the kids um you know there's classes that churn every 57 minutes. [56:20] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** ...and then we have stated testing times for certain Department of Education testing periods as well. So um the outside though... I know the kids really like to look out the windows when building B was going up. We've got blinds to keep them closed. So yeah, and I mean a lot of the construction of this will happen over the summer too. [56:42] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Um especially in the existing space, most of that will happen during summer. **Sean Smith (Applicant):** The other thing that we can do is a lot of the core drilling or framing demo, most of those trades are done after school hours. [57:33] **Jazelle Parnell:** Thank you. No further questions. **John Kollm (Chair):** Thank you, Commissioner. Um, just have a couple of questions. Um I was trying to figure out um this chart on the parking calculations and I went back and looked at the meeting from June as well. So I'm just trying to make sure I understand how we got to the calculations that we got to. Um what we're saying is based on the expected increase in number of students with the expansion. Are we saying on this chart that the code requires 249 stalls plus the additional? What does the code requirement have for parking with the expansion? Are you referring to the graphic on page five of the staff report? [58:31] **John Kollm (Chair):** Yes, I am. Thank you. **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah. So, the code requirements are listed. So, um it has the parking stalls that are required. It would be 253 are required for the school based on the code and the daycare which is existing and proposed to stay until 2031 or beyond. um they would require the 30 stalls. So a total of 283 are required at that stabilization of the 2029 to 2030 school year. [59:07] **John Kollm (Chair):** And without the additional spaces from the proof of parking once the new building is constructed, the number of parking stalls would be reduced down to 237. **Gina [Staff]:** Correct. They are currently they would be at 237 with the addition. So they would be short 46 parking stalls. **John Kollm (Chair):** And then what is the reference around 75 temporary stalls within the bus pickup area? I can see on the site plan those are there are stalls there around that circular area. **Gina [Staff]:** Correct. **John Kollm (Chair):** Are those not counted as part of the... [59:27] **Gina [Staff]:** Correct. We did not count these areas as this area is frequently gated off. Um they have basketball net hoops there. This is where some of the gym recreates. So, we did not as a staff feel comfortable making this a permanent parking area to meet their parking requirements, especially with the buses coming and going, but certainly understanding with construction that some teachers could park in here and not have impacts there um until they can have funding available to build that future proof of parking and have those lots back from the construction staging. I assume you use that bus parking if you have like an after school event or something and you just need some overflow parking. [1:00:30] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** Yeah, that's what it gets used for. If we had a big event during the day, let's say that people would be parking after buses dropped and would be leaving before buses came and wouldn't be having kids outside in that scenario. Theoretically use it in that way too. **John Kollm (Chair):** So, just a point of clarification on Commissioner Cusk's question on condition 22. Is this saying that the additional proof of parking stalls, does this mean that they have to be constructed by fall of 2028, no matter what? and or sooner if the city staff decides it needs to be sooner or is the entire inclusion of the proof and parking dependent upon city staff communication? [1:01:22] **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah. So it's um the former so they are required to provide the parking to meet the ordinance. So at least 46 stalls on those lots. This one is all contained on lot three but on lot three or four depending on the ultimate arrangement. This was just provided as a concept. Um, but they are showing that they could achieve up to 104 with this layout. [1:01:48] **John Kollm (Chair):** I I might just recommend for clarity just to make that two sentences and say put a period at the end of fall 2028 and then say, you know, additional parking could be installed sooner if required by city staff due to parking conditions just so there's no confusion for the applicant's benefit. **Gina [Staff]:** Yes, absolutely. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Um, and then how does the daycare operations impact your drop off and pickup execution, right? Because you already have them there now and you run this color-coded plan. [1:02:24] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** So, it's very minimal traffic. It's not a particular problem for the for the daycare. In terms of within the facility, they have their own entrance and they only connect to this to the rest of the building in emergency. But in terms of parking, we have I think about nine spaces estimated that say daycare parking. Six for daycare parking. Um and those are I don't think I've ever seen them all all six spots being used. [1:03:00] **Sean Smith (Applicant):** Yeah, it's a it's a different type of daycare. It's primarily for corporate users. So it's not necessarily full year round. And so um they have contracts with local corporations where if one of the family members has to travel last minute or something, this is a an option for the child. Um and so from I was talking to Gina about this... they really only utilize at most 15 stalls. Very little space. [1:04:00] **Gina [Staff]:** And for the commission, um, the daycare primarily enters and exits through this access point that I'm circling on the screen, which is why, um, when the stack in the traffic study was backing up beyond that, it was identified to be an issue. we need to maintain this as a full access point. A lot of the bad driver behavior that we were seeing on the site before we implemented some of these solutions were drivers that were getting into this queue line and just wanting to come to this spot. They were actually jumping into the traffic going the other direction to try to bypass it and there was no control of the vehicles going the other way. Um so that is why that is a critical component to maintain the full access for the site um both for parent pickup for vehicles exiting the site and for the daycare use. So they come in this access point they come in to do their pickup and then they exit on that access point as well. [1:04:47] **John Kollm (Chair):** Great. Um while we're on this screen um the lot three so where the proof of parking is going... is there any sort of crosswalk that will take folks from the new proof of parking area over to across where that vehicle stacking is taking place over to the school buildings. [1:05:35] **Gina [Staff]:** That was a condition of the previous approval from June. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. So, it's just not shown on here, but it's in the overall. **Gina [Staff]:** It would be here. Yep. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Just wanted to make sure we didn't lose that. Um, and then is this just there's is there a plan to put like a soccer, lacrosse field in this other lot for space, or is that just a cut and paste? [1:06:01] **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** There currently is a field. Um, it has some maintaining and some striping to do, but they do have that available currently. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. And is there lighting or anything? I didn't see any lighting over there. **Jonas Bugan (Applicant):** There's not. **John Kollm (Chair):** I'm assuming if they wanted to do that in the evening and get that lit, they would have to come back through planning building staff to be able to put that in. **Gina [Staff]:** uh they would likely just work with staff administratively to get that done. Make sure the proper levels are being maintained, heights of poles, things like that. [1:06:36] **John Kollm (Chair):** Um, as you're looking at the plan for landscaping, I just being by the site today to refresh myself on it... the landscaping in front of that black fencing along Hudson Road looks like might could use some attention. um some of it's looking a little out of date and old and some maybe some dead trees or shrubs or things. So that might be worth evaluating as part of your landscaping plan if you're already going to have landscaping efforts on the site just to help improve that visual drive along Hudson Road. [1:07:34] **John Kollm (Chair):** Just a recommendation there to take a look at that. Um, okay. Um, I think that's all the questions that I had. Um, were there any other questions from the public? **Gina [Staff]:** I just want to note um one of the conditions recommended by Commissioner Gentiel prior to the issuance of a building permit expanded directional signage for the bus access area shall be reviewed and approved by staff. And then we will also um work on the edits suggested by the commission for condition 22 and there have been no comments received. [1:08:10] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Are there any additional follow-up questions from any other commissioners? **Commissioner:** I have one more question about condition 22. So we're 46 spaces shy, right? So why does the condition say they have to build 104? **Gina [Staff]:** Yeah, the condition um the wording is identifying that there are there's a plan for 104, but you're correct. It should identify um that parking shall be provided to meet the ordinance. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Yeah. Just for the record, we'll identify the minimum number that would need to be added to lot three and four. [1:08:42] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Any other questions from commissioners? Uh seeing none, staff would be looking for a recommendation. **Commissioner:** I move to approve project number 04-2025-00590 with an additional condition about directional signage and amendments to condition 22. [1:09:10] **John Kollm (Chair):** Is there a second? **Commissioner:** I'll second. **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Um, all in favor say I. **Commissioners:** I. **John Kollm (Chair):** All opposed. Okay. Congratulations. Uh, this will be in the consent agenda... at the next city council meeting on January 28th. So, good luck. Thank you. [1:09:45] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay, next up we have the council report with council member Morris. **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Awesome. Taking it back. Why on consent? **Gina [Staff]:** It's a site and building plan. We did the conditional use permit in June. So it's amendment of the CUP. So just a consent. **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Interesting. Okay. Well, chair and commission members, congratulations to the new members and welcome back for a happy new year and your first uneventful and well attended meeting. [1:10:21] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** It's normally like that. There is uh just a couple of events on the agenda here that I want to remind the commission for... the kickoff event, the commission and council kickoff event on the 21st of this month and next Wednesday. And I believe that that is scheduled for Central Park. Um always exhilarating speeches and presentations from the city attorney and some other folks. But in all seriousness, it's a great event. encourage you to go. New members, I don't think you get an option. So, enjoy it. I'm telling you to enjoy it. It'll be good. Um, it is a busy year for the council as this is January. [1:11:18] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Um, the budget is behind us for at least the next three weeks and then staff has already started working on the '27 budget. Uh, but that being said, it's going to be a very busy year for the city moving in front of us. So, we have a number of large projects either continuing or starting. Everybody's favorite water construction project. um it will not be as severe as it was last year just it won't be much better. So uh it'll be in a different part of the community. So if you weren't directly impacted last year, this is your year. [1:11:49] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Um as we move all water's got to flow over to Hargus Parkway. And so um the pipeline project will continue its second phases as well as principal construction will wrap up hopefully here this fall. And we get it enclosed here. If you've been by Mount Woodbury, which was the largest mounds of dirt that I think the city has seen in a long long time, um they are representative of the amount of work that's going on in that site. And so those are proceeding on schedule, but that's the largest infrastructure project that the city's ever undertaken. And that continues. We also in the meantime thought that we didn't have enough going on. So the public safety building will start in earnest here this year as well. [1:12:37] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** That's the move the redesign and the adjustment of the current public safety building and our temporary home of the old county offices... But that project um is not yet we have not finalized the site and building plan. We are still working that. Would that come to the commission or straight to council? **Dan [Staff]:** That will be on a future planning commission. **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Yeah. So you'll see. It's not done yet, but hurry up. Uh because we got to get some shovels on the ground pretty darn quick. [1:13:17] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Um and so that will also be... Do you have a timeline for that? **Dan [Staff]:** I would think it will be in the next 30 to 45 days. **Steve Morris (Council Member):** That's optimistic. So, uh, yeah, you'll see that soon. Uh, the street maintenance project is a large project this year coming up. It's on the west side of the city, um, and some some pretty major street construction. [1:13:34] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** It's not it's not the largest street reconstruction project, but it is large um, and and very consuming. And so, that will also start here as those projects will start to go out to bid. In fact, I think they already have in some cases, but those will go out to bid. And then other things that the city is working on, and this is the big one that will include uh you folks here on the planning commission... the comprehensive planning task force, which some of you will be serving on, but elements of that will certainly come in front of the planning commission for feedback and insight. Staff will work with you to put that on your agendas, but that's a two-year process that goes for us. Uh but that's a huge undertaking both from a staff time as well as just community involvement and community participation. [1:14:18] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** That's a comprehensive planning is comprehensive and so we want to make sure that we're getting all the elements of the community involved in that. So I encourage you to be knowledgeable about that and involve yourself in that process um as you can. And then lastly, it's our second favorite time of the year, budget being the first. The second favorite time is the beginning of the legislative session. And so that is starting very soon. and we have a number of elements that are in front of our elected officials including a very important election coming up for the open house seat for Woodbury. [1:14:53] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Make sure that you go out and vote in that. But our legislative group we've been in front of them. We've given them our legislative agenda and our thoughts on that. But that will continue to evolve very quickly as the legislative process does. I would encourage you um... this is the first of the year. I only give one compliment per year per staff member. And so Jeffrey [Dahl] has used his one up as of last week. What was it called that? What's the acronym? You government folks. **Jeffrey J. Dahl (City Administrator):** Sensible Land Use Coalition, or SLUC. [1:15:23] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** SLUC. Not very good at the acronyms, but there it is. The Sensible Land Use Coalition. I would encourage you all to either go to the website or ask staff to forward the report that a group of both government officials as well as building experts in the building... Do you want to give a better synopsis of this than I'm going to since you were on it? [1:15:48] **Jeffrey J. Dahl (City Administrator):** Sure. Uh we met through a process sensible land use coalition is a coalition that has been around for over three decades. It was designed and continues to be an arena for public sector and private sector that are doing development work to try to get together, have conversations and move towards a collaborative solution. This was our first attempt to try to address recommendations related to housing affordability. Uh there's been a lot of dialogue at the last several legislative cycles regarding some solutions in their mind of to address the affordability issues in the region. [1:16:27] **Jeffrey J. Dahl (City Administrator):** Many of us including myself did not feel like those were able to be implemented. So instead of continuing to say no, we as a coalition moved forward with several recommendations that Council Member Morris is alluding to. It's a... I think there's 16 recommendations that we will be making towards the legislature as a group of 22 individuals, 11 from the public sector side, 11 on the private sector side, over 500 years of experience in development work. Uh we were on a retreat for a full day and we hashed out kind of what we thought would work, what we thought wouldn't work, and we summarized it in a white paper. [1:17:08] **Steve Morris (Council Member):** Yeah. And this is what the city's been asking for almost since the beginning of these discussions was to be able to sit down at a table and talk about some of these things. And housing affordability is just one of those things, but it's a game of whack-a-mole. If you solve for this, then what are the unintended consequences? And that's really what we're trying to be heard. And this coalition, SLUC, did a good job about addressing some of those and some areas that weren't on our radar that were some good recommendations, I thought, too. So, encourage you to get with staff, go out to the website, and read. For that chair, thank you. Seven minutes. It's well under my time. [1:17:44] **John Kollm (Chair):** Excellent. Well done. Thank you for the update, Council Member Morris. Uh next item agenda is the approval of minutes from our last meeting on October 20th, 2025. Uh, do any council members have any suggested edits or changes to the draft minutes? Seeing none, uh, we'd be looking for a recommendation here. **Commissioner:** I move to approve the October 20th, 2025 minutes as submitted. **Commissioner:** I second. [1:18:20] **John Kollm (Chair):** Okay. Um, all in favor of approving the minutes say I. **Commissioners:** I. **John Kollm (Chair):** All opposed. Excellent. Uh the minutes are approved and meeting is adjourned.