Winter 2019-20 Hometown Messenger

City seeks funding for 169 overpass, river stabilization This fall, the city requested state bonding assistance for two capital improvement projects it would like included in the 2020 bonding bill. State leaders toured the area to review the projects in October. If they are included in the bill, the state could potentially provide up to 50 percent of project funding. House and Senate bonding committees will make recommendations to their respective bodies for bonds that may be issued in mid-2020. US 169 PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS REQUEST: $2.4 million for construction of a

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

#AsktheCity

CAN THE CITY REJECT A BUSINESS OR DEVELOPMENT? If a business fits within a zoning district's permitted use, the city cannot prohibit it. However, the Planning Commission and City Council can establish conditions for development for any project requiring rezoning, a conditional use permit, variance or planned unit development. I WANT TO OPEN A BUSINESS IN SHAKOPEE. HOW DO I KNOWWHERE I CAN LOCATE? Before purchasing a building or house, it's a good idea to understand how the structure can be used and what future development in the area is planned. We encourage you to contact the city's Planning Division to discuss your ideas and city zoning regulations. HOWWILL I KNOW IF DEVELOPMENT IS PLANNED FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD? The city has legal requirements to notify property owners within certain distances of proposed projects requiring conditional use permits, variances and rezoning. We also post all public hearings in the Shakopee Valley News and on the city website, as well as install large yellow or white signs at the site of major development projects. More info: www. ShakopeeMN.gov/currentdevelopment.

City staff often receive questions about proposed development projects. Sometimes these projects are concepts; other times they are working through the approval process. DO ALL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL? No. Projects require different levels of approval depending on use and zoning. For example, a new restaurant moving into an existing commercial building would be considered a permitted use and not require any Planning Commission or City Council approval. However, a restaurant wanting to build a new facility in a undeveloped area would need to go through a plat process to create a lot, ensure it meets zoning requirements and receive council approval. I READ ABOUT A PROJECT ONLINE. WHENWILL CONSTRUCTION START? Just because a project is in the news does not mean it's a done deal. Projects must be reviewed by multiple agencies before reaching the City Council. In fact, many developers bring concept proposals to the city's Development Review Committee before even submitting an official application to work out bugs and identify challenges.

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pedestrian/bike bridge over Highway 169 from Southbridge to the Quarry Lake area. WHY: There are no access points for pedestrians and bikes over 169 between County Highway 83 and Stagecoach Road.

QUARRY LAKE PARK

PROPOSED OVERPASS

169

DEAN LAKE

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BENEFIT: The trail would improve connections and safety in east Shakopee. It was recently acknowledged as a regional link by the Metropolitan Council. RIVERBANK STABILIZATION REQUEST: $ 11.73 million for riverbank stabilization along the Minnesota River WHY: The riverbank has been eroding for many years—almost 100 feet during the last 40 years. Without stabilization, an additional 50 feet will erode, sending hundreds of thousands of yards of silt downstream and damaging the city’s main trunk sanitary sewer line and the regional trail and the park system. BENEFIT: The city aims to reduce erosion by lowering the existing riverbank and protecting the shoreline using concrete break ways, riprap and concrete steps along with removal of existing scrub trees and vegetation. By creating a more natural edge to the river and allowing the river to naturally climb the riverbank, erosion will be limited while allowing better access to the river in non-flood times. This will also assist with the proposed cultural trail along the Minnesota River from the historic Holmes Street Bridge to The Landing.

NEWS & NOTES

City wins Local Government Innovation Awards This fall, the City of Shakopee received two awards for its innovative work in local government. The city and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community were recognized for their collaborative work on the Shakopee Cultural Corridor, which will celebrate the region’s history and Shakopee’s long heritage with the river. By using things like augmented reality, people will be able to experience what the area was like when it was the original Dakota village to when Shakopee was a major river port. The city was also recognized as part of a collaboration with Burnsville, Apple Valley, Farmington and Northfield for development of automating the election judge hiring and training process. The process streamlines recruitment, hiring and assignment and management of poll workers for primary and general elections. The awards recognize projects in five different categories – cities, counties, schools, townships and Native nations. Shakopee was recognized as part of two of the four awards given to cities.

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