Dear Chanhassen Residents,
On Monday night, the City Council approved an updated Planned Unit Development Ordinance and Development Plan 8.2 for the Avienda Development. This email will focus solely on sharing information related to Avienda, which is 117 acres located in the vicinity of Highway 212, Powers Boulevard, and Lyman Boulevard.
This is one of the largest mixed-use developments to come before the city in many years. Many of you have followed the development’s progress since 2017 and even before. A neighborhood meeting on August 11 drew more than 60 residents. We appreciate the time, comments, and questions that we received and used to help make improve the project for Chanhassen. Like all projects, regardless of size, your feedback, input, and involvement is important to us. I have heard concerns that decisions are already made based on what the developer wants, and resident feedback does not matter. This is unequivocally untrue. While we are working closely with the developer, we do so to ensure the end result benefits Chanhassen. I will continue to communicate upcoming public meetings and other opportunities for input throughout the process, but if you have feedback or questions at any time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Councilmembers, or any member of city staff.
Click the purple button below for a status update and a link to the project page.
Housing
The development has been approved for 768 units of housing. It will be a combination of single-family homes, townhomes, row homes, apartments, and senior housing. The townhomes and row homes are both anticipated to be built by Charles Cudd. Final numbers and design must still go through the approval process at both the Planning Commission and City Council, allowing for continued public participation. These numbers are consistent with the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan; therefore, public safety, infrastructure, and school districts plan for this increase.
Retail & Entertainment
The western part of the site includes a grocery store, sit-down and fast-casual restaurants, and other retailers. The city is requiring a 25,000 sq ft. entertainment building/space/use. A previously planned movie-theater complex has been replaced with a gathering plaza surrounded by restaurants/retail. The developer is working to secure an entertainment-restaurant user that would fulfill the vision to draw residents and regional visitors alike. The concept drawings show sample activities like pickleball, shuffleboard, and life-size chess. Like you, we are looking forward to learning more about the new businesses and amenities that will choose to locate at Avienda.
Green Space/Walkability
We recognize that walkability throughout the property is a priority. The pedestrian walking paths and tree-lined walkways can be difficult to decipher on the plan due to scale, but this expectation has been clearly communicated to the developer. There is 29.9 acres of greenspace throughout the 117-acre parcel, including the focal open space/lawn area that will be programmed by the surrounding businesses and open to the public. The developer stated their goal is for visitors to park once and walk to multiple destinations and has planned sidewalks and paths to support doing so.
Public/Private Partnership
The described plans are all similar to previously shared development plans. What is new is that the map of the SE corner of the site (District 3) now has hash marks over the top. The development plan for this area is being reimagined. The city and developer are working together to explore a public/private partnership for a recreational or entertainment facility. The goal for this 16-acre portion of the site would be to increase the regional draw and build a new multi-use facility that is unique to Chanhassen.
I share this for transparency purposes. As I said at the City Council meeting on Monday, we are on the 1-yard line with discussions and know we have a long way to go. As the PUD worked its way through the decision-making process, including the neighborhood meeting and the Planning Commission, we heard that the “regional” and “destination” elements were missing from the larger plan. In response, the developer agreed to the city’s request to take a pause on this section and explore partnership opportunities. Some of the early ideas for the facility include ice rinks, an indoor walking track, meeting spaces, arts, and entertainment. We still need to define the partnership, the scope, and the structure. We will use the feedback gathered by the Parks Referendum Task Force as we begin this exploration. The idea is still very new but aligns with our Strategic Plan, which says we will explore public/private partnerships in order to build new innovative places and spaces. Much more to come.
While this email might elicit more questions than it provides answers, I also hope it gives you confidence about the process and excitement about what this site will be. I am always available, so please let me know if you have any questions or comments at eryan@chanhassenmn.gov.
I hope the first few weeks of school are off to a great start! Have a happy fall!
Warmest Regards,
Elise Ryan
Mayor of Chanhassen
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