Hello Chanhassen Residents,
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’ll begin by sharing thanks and gratitude to the Chanhassen Fire Department. At Monday’s City Council meeting, we recognized Firefighter Warden, who retired after 20 years of incredible service. Next, we congratulated four firefighters who received their badges and one firefighter who was promoted to Captain. Their service and commitment to this community are worthy of much appreciation and it’s one of many reasons to be thankful.
 Budget Discussions
At Monday’s Work Session, the City Council reviewed the final 2026 budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and Property Tax Levy in preparation for the Truth in Taxation Meeting on December 15. The preliminary levy was set with a 7.2% increase (annual increase of $78 on a median valued home, $501,600); however, the City Council agreed to lower the final levy to 6.9%. While not extraordinary, the City Council is cognizant of the overall tax impact of other levies (County, School District) on our residents, so we were supportive of this reduction. The final levy, budget, and CIP will be set on December 15. To view a PDF of the budget presentation shown at Monday's meeting, click here.
Lake Ann Park Preserve
City Council received an update on the Lake Ann Park Preserve. While we’re excited that all boardwalks are complete and the park is now accessible, there continue to be challenges with receiving final approval of trail alignment due to an archaeological investigation being conducted by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which was a requirement of a grant application. We are moving forward with the plan to build the Greenwood Shores Parking Lot and the north section of trail from Greenwood Shores to Lake Lucy Lane in the spring/summer of 2026. We are still seeking approval from SHPO of the southern trail that will connect The Park neighborhood and will move forward accordingly.
Highway 7
MnDOT presented its Hwy 7 2029 pavement improvement plan. This project has garnered attention due to the scope of work and how it has been communicated by the MnDOT project team. It is important to note that this project is not managed by the city; rather, our involvement will be to provide input based on resident feedback and the city engineer’s professional assessment of the proposed work. The recommendations currently in the study are a “guide” by the MnDOT team – not a final scope of work. MnDOT is committed to continued outreach and engagement in the coming months. The key goals of the project are safety, vehicle mobility, and walkability/bikability. The survey deadline has been extended to November 30.
Road Projects
Galpin Blvd
The opening of Galpin Boulevard is another item to add to the “thankful” list. We are appreciative of the residents who have endured 2 ½ years of construction and closures. We know it was challenging at times, but, beginning today, the corridor will officially be open. I would be remiss if I did not thank our city staff who worked extremely hard to make a tough situation tolerable with a fantastic end result.
Five Year Plan
Speaking of road projects, on Monday, the City Council approved ordering the plan preparation for the 26-01 project which includes the Vasserman Trail and Fox Hollow Drive neighborhoods. I encourage all residents to look at the 5-year CIP map to better understand when your neighborhood might be impacted by a road project. It is good to stay informed.
Once again, I would like to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I'm grateful to our military stationed around the world protecting and defending our country on this holiday and every day.
Warmest Regards,
Elise Ryan
eryan@chanhassenmn.gov
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