HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-06CITY OF LAKEVILLE
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
November 6, 2025
Chair Zimmer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given.
Chair Christine Zimmer, Vice Chair Scott Einck, Pat Kaluza, John Swaney,
Jason Swenson, Amanda Tinsley, Mark Traffas, Ex-Officio Jeff Hansen
None
: Kris Jenson, Planning Manager; Heather Botten, Senior Planner; Dawn Erickson,
Community Development Recorder.
The October 16, 2025 Planning Commission meeting minutes were approved as presented.
Planning Manager Kris Jenson stated there were no announcements.
Chair Zimmer opened the public hearing to consider the application of Andrew Strohbehn for a
conditional use permit to allow the construction of a detached accessory building greater than the
gross floor area of the principal structure, located at 16415 Klamath Trail.
Andrew Strohbehn introduced the project, indicating that he has a need for the proposed size of
the building to store personal and recreational vehicles and equipment. The structure will not be
used for commercial or home occupation purposes.
Ms. Botten presented the staff report. The property is 11.49 acres in area and the lot is zoned RA,
Rural/Agricultural District. The applicant is proposing to construct a 3,500+/- square foot
detached accessory building. The attached garage is 1,485 square feet for a total of about 5,000
gross square feet of accessory buildings.
According to Dakota County GIS the finished square footage of the home is 2,840 square feet. City
code allows accessory buildings to exceed the size of the principal structure by CUP. The total
allowable combined accessory building square footage in the RA District is 8,712 square feet.
Chair Zimmer opened the hearing to the public for comment.
There was no public comment.
to close the public hearing at 6:05 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2025 Page 2
Voice vote was taken on the motion.
Ayes – unanimous
Chair Zimmer asked for comments from the Planning Commission.
• Commissioner Traffas asked if the city forester reviewed this and if the tree preservation
ordinance applied to this situation. Ms. Botten stated she would have the City Forester look at
it prior to the City Council meeting.
to recommend to City Council approval of
the conditional use permit to allow the combination of accessory buildings to exceed the gross
floor area of the principal structure in the R/A, Rural/Agricultural District located at 16415
Klamath Trail and approval of the findings of fact dated November 6, 2025, subject to the following
stipulations:
1. The accessory building shall be constructed in the location identified on the site plan approved
with the conditional use permit.
2. Exterior building materials shall conform with the standards and criteria in section 11-17-9 of
the Zoning Ordinance.
3. The detached accessory building shall be kept, used, and maintained in a manner that is
compatible with the existing single-family home on the property and shall not present a hazard
to the public health, safety and general welfare.
4. Sanitary sewer service shall not be provided to the detached accessory building, and the
detached accessory building shall not be used as a dwelling.
5. No home occupation shall be conducted within any attached or detached accessory building
on the property. No attached or detached accessory building on the property shall be used for
the operation of any commercial business or storage of commercial equipment.
6. A building permit application shall be submitted to and approved by the Building Inspections
Department prior to commencing construction.
Chair Zimmer opened the public hearing to consider the application of the Muslim American
Society of Minnesota for a conditional use permit for a religious institution use to be located within
an existing building at 8670 210th Street.
Muneeb Ahmed introduced the project. Mr. Ahmed stated he has been a resident of Lakeville for
seven years and that the Lakeville Masjid will be a place for worship that will serve families and
contribute positively to the city.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2025 Page 3
Ms. Jenson presented the staff report. Lakeville Masjid (mosque) is proposed to occupy the entire
5,244 square foot, two story building. The subject property is zoned O-R, Office Residential
Transition District, which allows religious institutions by conditional use permit.
The mosque proposes prayer space for up to 143 attendees, with expected peak attendance to be
around 125 people. The Zoning Ordinance requires one space per three seats of design capacity of
the main assembly, which in this case is based on the rug layout within two prayer rooms in the
lower level. Forty-eight parking spaces are required and the existing parking on site has 75 spaces,
in excess of Zoning Ordinance requirements.
The applicant submitted a narrative that indicates that prayer services are held five times per day,
with expected attendance of up to 20 people. The most heavily attended services are two prayer
services on Fridays, held at noon and at 1:30 p.m., where attendance is expected to be upwards of
125 people. Ms. Jenson noted a correction to the narrative; while the nearby Grace Community
Bible Church did give permission on one occasion for the mosque community to use their parking
lot for an event, there is no agreement in place – formal or informal. Ms. Jenson also noted that
she had received a question prior to the meeting as to whether there would be a call to prayer that
is broadcast outside the building, and the applicant has indicated that the call to prayer would only
be broadcast inside the building, not outside.
There is a shared parking easement for the site with the City of Lakeville, to allow up to 31 parking
spaces for use by those using the adjacent outdoor ice rinks. The easement does not grant the City
exclusive use of the spaces. The peak time of use for the rinks are evenings and weekends from late
December through mid-February. The applicants are aware of the easement and do not anticipate
any conflicts between the mosque attendees and rink users for parking spaces, given the different
peak times for use.
Chair Zimmer opened the hearing to the public for comment.
The following people spoke in support of the CUP:
• Mariam Abubakar, 20849 India Circle
• Saif Ali, 16771 Jacksonville Court
• Asha Ali, 7750 183rd Street West
• Sharafat Ali, 16771 Jacksonville Court
• Mohammed Nesro, 7682 207th Street West
• Jamal Syed, 18327 Ironstone Way
• Maeda Muneeb, 16097 Kennard Court
• Hibo Qanyare, 7072 205th Street West
Additional public comment:
• Mike White, 20675 Hollins Avenue, asked for a delay because he only received the postcard
notification four days ago.
• Jeff Rich, Senior Pastor Grace Community Bible Church, wanted to clarify that there is not
an agreement for overflow parking with the church.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2025 Page 4
Motion was made by Kaluza, seconded by Swaney to close the public hearing at 6:31 p.m.
Chair Zimmer asked for comments from the Planning Commission.
• Commissioner Kaluza asked for a review of the notification process and what the requirements
are in the ordinance and statutes by Ms. Jenson. Ms. Jenson explained that state law requires
the public hearing notification be published in the City’s official newspaper at least 10 days in
advance of the public hearing. State law also required that the city mail notification of the
public hearing to all property owners within 350 feet of the subject property and that the
Zoning Ordinance requires notification to all property owners within 500 feet. The postcards
for the notice were mailed on October 23, 2025. State law also notes that a public hearing is not
invalid if a property owner does not receive a public notice. Ms. Jenson stated it is unfortunate
if the postcards were not delivered in a timely manner but they are mailed well in advance of
that notification requirement for the public hearings.
• Commissioner Kaluza inquired about religious holidays where there may be a larger
attendance than usual and how that situation is handled. Mr. Ahmed stated Masjid service is
on Friday, and there are multiple sessions for Friday prayer, which is how they manage in other
places. He also shared there are two major holidays – Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha – for which
they would combine with other congregations and lease space for the event. The covered rink
at Hasse Arena was used earlier this year for such an event.
• Chair Zimmer asked if the parking lot is full, what is the solution. Mr. Ahmed said they have
volunteer parking staff who would not allow any more people in the lot if the parking is full.
Chair Zimmer inquired during the winter ice season if the parking spots are filled by people at
the ice rinks would cars be towed. Mr. Ahmed stated he doesn’t think the situation will happen
and they would leave those 30 spots for people for the rink and just fill the other spots. If it
happens, they will not have the cars towed.
• Commissioner Swaney asked if there would be a traffic study done for this situation. Ms.
Jenson stated this is not a situation where a traffic study would be considered necessary.
• Commissioner Swenson stated that the Planning Commission sees plenty of religious
institutions come forward typically that have the same parking requirements in place and this
proposal meets the parking requirements.
to recommend to City Council approval of
a conditional use permit to allow a religious institution within an existing building in the O-R,
Office Residential Transition District, and approval of the findings of fact dated November 6, 2025,
subject to the following stipulations:
1. The maximum total capacity of the two prayer rooms shall not exceed 225 persons.
2. The floor plan shall be consistent with the plan and narrative described in the application and
approved by the City Council to ensure compliance with Zoning Ordinance requirements.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2025 Page 5
3. A building permit shall be issued prior to commencing interior alterations on the building
interior that require a permit.
4. Signs require a sign permit to be issued prior to installation and must meet Zoning Ordinance
requirements.
5. Parking shall not occur on any public street.
6. The use and site shall be in compliance with any federal, state or county law or regulation that
is applicable and any related permits shall be obtained and documented to the city.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Erickson, Community Development Recorder