V.1. 2024-05 100 Jackson Ave N - Cargill Outlot - Zoning Map Amendment
CITY OF HOPKINS
P&Z Report 2024-05
To: Planning and Zoning Commission Members
From: Ryan Krzos, City Planner
Date: August 27, 2024
Subject: 100 Jackson Ave N – Cargill Outlot – Zoning Map Amendment.
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Following a public hearing, MOTION TO: Approve Planning & Zoning Resolution
2024-12 Recommending the City Council Approve an Ordinance Rezoning 100 Jackson
Ave N from IX-S with a Planned Unit Development to RX-TOD with a Planned Unit
Development.
OVERVIEW
Cargill Incorporated, the property owner, is requesting a Zoning Map Amendment
(Rezoning) of 100 Jackson Ave N. The subject parcel is an undeveloped 0.57-acre
parcel currently zoned IX-S, Employment Mix Suburban Center with a Planned Unit
Development. The applicable Planned Unit Development is the approval granted for the
Excelsior Crossings development. IX-S is the same zoning designation as the large-
office building parcels of Excelsior Crossings. An undeveloped 0.52-acre parcel, fronting
on the intersection of Jackson Avenue N and St Louis Street is currently zoned RX-
TOD, Residential-Office Mix Transit-Oriented District (TOD) Center with a Planned Unit
Development. The subject property and the adjoining undeveloped lot were approved
as a retail/office component of the Excelsior Crossings development.
The request would rezone the subject property to RX-TOD in order to facilitate an
administratively-processed lot combination of the two parcels. At this time, no specific
development requests are contemplated; however, the property is being marketed for
such. Any future development of the subject property would require City review of a site
plan approval request. A public hearing is required for this rezoning request. Based on
the findings in this report, staff recommends approval of the requested rezoning.
BACKGROUND
In 2006, the City granted land use approvals, including a Planned Unit Development, for
the Excelsior Crossing development. As part of the Planned Unit Development guiding
the redevelopment site, an approximately one-acre area of land, including the subject
property, was envisioned as a retail area meant to complement the office uses. Site
development plan approvals were granted subsequently for the three office buildings.
Planning & Development
In 2008 the then property owner requested site plan approval of a 14,300 square foot
day care facility on the subject property. Despite having land use approval, the day care
facility project never moved forward. At the same time the owner also proposed a
subdivision plat that defined the retail outlot which was comprised of the subject
property and the adjoining undeveloped property. When that plat was being recorded
with Hennepin County, the retail outlot was split creating the two lots in the current
configuration. At the time, the County believed the lot needed to be split because the
subject property area was within a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District and the
adjoining portion was outside of that boundary. A lot is not able to be partially within a
TIF boundary. City records show that both parcels have been within the TIF boundary
since its inception.
When the Development Code was updated in 2022, the IX-S zone was applied to the
subject property as it was the designation of the adjacent office properties. The RX-TOD
zoning was applied to the Jackson Avenue fronting lot as the other lots along Jackson
had that same designation. Cargill is now requesting a rezoning of the subject property
to RX-TOD which would establish a unified zoning designation for the subject property
and the adjoining undeveloped parcel. The rezoning is requested to facilitate a lot
combination of the two parcels, as the Development Code does not allow more than
one zoning designation on a lot.
Community Engagement and Comment
The Zoning Map Amendment procedure requires a public hearing. The City published
notice of this public hearing in the official paper and mailed notices directly to property
owners and residents within 500 feet of the subject property. As of the writing of this
report, the City has not received any comments on this item. Staff will provide an update
to the Planning and Zoning Commission on all public comments received during the
public hearing.
ANALYSIS
The Hopkins Development code regulates the use and development of land in the city
to implement the vision and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. A central function of
the development code is to divide the city into discrete zones, regulated by specific
standards in each. Changes to, or assignment of, new zoning designations may occur in
the form of a Zoning Map Amendment (rezoning). In making recommendations and
decisions regarding approval of a Zoning Map Amendment, the City must consider at
least the following factors:
(1) Whether the proposed zoning map amendment is in conformity with the
comprehensive plan; and
(2) Whether the proposed zoning map amendment corrects an error or
inconsistency or will help meet the challenge of a changed or changing condition.
Legal Authority
Decisions on Zoning Map Amendments are considered a legislative action. When
considering a legislative action, the City is assigning zoning classifications or creating
development standards to regulate the types of uses and/or structures. Under the law,
the City has wide flexibility to create standards that will ensure the type of development
it desires; however, these regulations must be reasonable and supported by a rational
basis relating to promoting the public health, safety, and welfare.
Criteria Evaluation
Staff has evaluated the zoning map amendment request and offers the following
findings:
Criterion 1 - whether the proposed zoning map amendment is consistent with the
comprehensive plan:
The Comprehensive Plan identifies the subject site with the Commerce and
Employment future land use category. The proposed RX-TOD zoning
designation in conjunction with the applicable Planned Unit Development controls
for the site would be consistent with guidance for Commerce and Employment
Districts as they allow for retail and office uses.
The Commerce and Employment District areas are envisioned as being
contemporary auto-oriented development supporting regional and interstate
commerce. Uses in commerce and employment corridors is expected to include
a mix of commercial, office, service, medical, research and technology uses.
Secondary uses may include retail and office/showroom uses. A characteristic of
the commerce and employment district is high visibility and excellent vehicle
access. The subject site is consistent with this guidance. Accordingly, staff finds
that this criterion is met.
Criterion 2 - whether the proposed Zoning Map Amendment corrects an error or
inconsistency or will help meet the challenge of a changed or changing condition:
the rezoning would correct an inconsistency between the current map and the
land use approvals that were granted for Excelsior Crossings. The RX-TOD zone
allows for office and retail uses which were envisioned for this site. Accordingly,
staff finds that this criterion is met.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Vote to recommend approval of the requested Zoning Map amendment for 100
Jackson St N. By voting to recommend approval, consideration of a first reading
of the Ordinance will be scheduled for the September 3, 2024 City Council
meeting. A second reading of the Ordinance is required for adoption.
2. Vote to recommend denial of the rezoning request. The Ordinance would be
scheduled for consideration of a first reading by the City Council at the
September 3, 2024 meeting with a recommendation to deny. Should the
Planning and Zoning Commission consider this option, it must also identify
specific findings that support this alternative.
3. Continue for further information. If the City finds that further information is
needed, the item may be continued.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• P&Z Resolution 2024-12
• Current Zoning Map
• Current Future Land Use Map
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNNESOTA
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2024-12
A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN
ORDINANCE REZONING THE PROPERTY AT 100 JACKSON AVENUE N, WITH PID
19-117-21-31-0069 FROM IX-S, EMPLOYMENT MIX SUBURBAN CENTER WITH A
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO RX-TOD, RESIDENTIAL-OFFICE MIX TOD
CENTER WITH A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, The Cargill Incorporated (“the Applicant”), the property owner of 100
Jackson Ave N, with PID 19-117-21-31-0069, has requested a rezoning of the property
from IX-S, Employment Mix Suburban Center with a Planned Unit Development to RX-
TOD, Residential-Office Mix TOD Center with a Planned Unit Development; and,
WHEREAS, this property is legally described in Exhibit A; and,
WHEREAS, the procedural history of the application is as follows:
1. That the above stated application was initiated by the Applicant on July 26,
2024; and,
2. That the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission, pursuant to published and
mailed notice, held a public hearing on the application and reviewed such
application on August 27, 2024 and all persons present were given an
opportunity to be heard; and,
3. That written comments and analysis of City staff were considered; and,
WHEREAS, staff recommended approval of the above stated application based
on the findings outlined in Planning and Zoning Report 2024-05 dated August 27, 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning & Zoning Commission
of the City of Hopkins hereby recommends the City Council approve an ordinance
rezoning the property with PID 19-117-21-31-0069, from IX-S, Employment Mix
Suburban Center with a Planned Unit Development to RX-TOD, Residential-Office Mix
TOD Center with a Planned Unit Development.
Adopted this 27th day of August 2024.
______________________________
Whitney Terrill, Chair
Exhibit A
Legal Description of Subject Parcel
That part of Lot 3, Block 1, Excelsior Crossings 2nd Addition, embraced within the
following described three parcels:
(1) Lot 3, Block 1, Excelsior Crossings
(2) Lots 1 and 10, Block 13, West Minneapolis Center, and the vacated North and South
alley in said Block 13; and Lots 14 and 15, except the East 16 feet of Lots 14 and 15,
Block 4, West Minneapolis Center, and that part of vacated First Street North, dedicated
in West Minneapolis Center, lying between the Southerly extensions across it of the
West line of the East 16.00 feet of Lot 14 and the West line of Lot 14 in Block 4, West
Minneapolis Center and that part of the South Half of vacated First Street North,
dedicated in the plat of West Minneapolis Center, lying easterly of the southerly
extension of the west line of the East 16 feet of Lot 14, Block 4, said plat, and westerly
of a line drawn from the southeast corner of Lot 13, said block, to the most northerly
northwest corner of Parcel 34C, City of Hopkins Highway Right-of-Way Plat No. 1
(3) That part of vacated 1st Street North, dedicated in the plat of Excelsior Crossings,
described as beginning at the northwest corner of Lot 4, Block 1, said plat: thence on an
assumed bearing of South 87 degrees 31 minutes 58 seconds East, along the north line
of said Lot 4, a distance of 17.50 feet; thence North 43 degrees 53 minutes 44 seconds
West a distance of 15.57 feet to the west line of said 1st Street North: thence South 32
degrees 35 minutes 57 seconds West, along said west line of 1st Street North, a
distance of 12.42 feet to the point of beginning.