Politics & Government

City Council Makes Big Decisions on Big Projects

On Monday night the Minnetonka City Council voted unanimously to move forward on two major building projects in the city.

On Monday night the Minnetonka City Council made two big decisions about two big development projects in the works.

TOYS “R” US EXPANSION

The City Council unanimously voted to green light a proposal that would double the size of Minnetonka’s existing store, located near .

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That city council go-ahead was expected earlier in the month but instead residents living near the proposed 'superstore' location asked to hold-off because they felt their needs were not being addressed.

Between then and Monday night’s vote, Minnetonka city staff said they held a productive meeting with Knollway neighbors.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The proposed project will not only remodel the but also add a new Babies “R” Us store next door, into what was formally an , but which now sits vacant. The result will be a 60,808 square foot '"R" superstore'-- one of only 32 in the country.

Minnetonka’s Toys “R” Us store is currently closed to undergo the major changes, including a new exterior facade and joint entrance. Constructions crews spent the last couple of weeks demolishing parts of the old structure, awaiting the approval to start the building process, which they secured at Monday night’s city council meeting.

The new store is slated to open in September 2011.

BREN ROAD/ HIGHWAY 169 PROJECT

The City Council unanimously voted to award the $10.7 million construction bid for the Bren Road/Highway 169 interchange project to the Lunda Construction Company out of  Rosemount.

Starting mid-April, crews will rebuild the Bren Road Bridge, which spans Highway 169, adding through lanes and turn lanes and upgrading new trails and sidewalks around the interchange. The project should wrap up by November 2011, though landscaping will continue into 2012.

Construction will likely bring frequent traffic changes and short-term, intermittent ramp and lane closures on Highway 169. The Bren Road Bridge will be closed between June and September. Also in June, Highway 169 will be closed for one weekend as crews remove the Bren Road Bridge deck.

While funding for the $20 million capital expansion project comes in part from the state and city, some businesses will also contribute under a new city financing mechanism. According to city officials, this innovative plan will balance both the public and private benefits of better roads.

For more information on that project from a recent Patch story, click here


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