City Reviews 100-Unit Applewood Pointe Senior Co-op

Developers say this is the answer for active Minnetonka seniors looking to sell their homes, but neighbors of the development site have serious concerns.

United Properties Residential has submitted a concept plan to the city of Minnetonka to redevelop the existing commercial property south of Big Willow Park and west of Gilliam Field (12201 Minnetonka Blvd.)

The project is known as the Applewood Pointe Senior Cooperative.

The submitted plan contemplates construction of a four-story, senior cooperative building. The building would contain 90–110 for-sale units; the units would range in size from roughly 1,000 to 1,800 square-feet. The estimated selling price per unit is $330,000. At least one resident must be 62 or older.

At a neighborhood meeting on Sept. 19, approximately 50 people were in attendance. According to city documents and City Planner Loren Gorden, many area residents indicated general support for the redevelopment of the commercial property, while raising questions about building height and traffic implications. Several patrons of the existing commercial businesses expressed concern about their closure and possible relocation, the city also reported.

Until leases expire or are bought out early, the company would honor all leases until 2021. At that time, all buildings, which are considered in poor shape by the developer, would be torn down and construction would begin from the ground up.

The city's planning commission informally reviewed the project on Nov. 7, and the city council will review it on Nov. 18. The informal review is intended to provide general comments and direction of the project– no actions or approvals will be granted until a formal application is submitted.

A United Properties Residential representative addressed the planning commission on Thursday, citing the need in Minnetonka and elsewhere for more senior housing. The planning commission asked about contaminated soil removal, drainage management and traffic control. 

Minnetonka resident Mary Noonan spoke in front of the commission and developer, saying she shares her largest property line with the site.

"I have very serious concerns," she said. "We live in a very populated area in a cul de sac with beautifully sculpted lots. We don't want to hear 40 air conditioners. I don't want to look out and see 4-stories of tenants and windows and then another story of roof. I think it's way too big."

She added that she'd like to see the plan scaled down to at maximum two stories. "I think this (plan) would really take away from the beauty of Minnetonka," Noonan said. "And I think it's self-serving of United Properties to sell (the units) and not respect the community that's already there."

Another resident of Minnetonka, Jackie Regan, also spoke against the the size of the proposed building. 

"I'd like to see this site improved and this certainly would do it, but I have two major concerns," she said. "The height. I just think it is too large for what exists on Minnetonka Blvd. It will be a squeeze to get it in there, but I think the height is a little excessive.

"My most serious concern is for safety. That is especially for cars traveling from the east to the west. There will be collisions there."   

The subject site is 4-acres in size and has a mixed-use guide plan designation meaning residential, commercial and office uses would be appropriate. Current zoning is B-2, Limited Business District.  

The building would be served by a surface parking lot adjacent to Minnetonka Boulevard, as well as underground parking.

United Properties Residential is owned by the Pohlad family. The company has similar properties in Roseville, Maple Grove and Bloomington. The homes continue to sell very well with lots of referrals from residents in other locations, the commission was told. What makes this site desirable to United Properties is the onsite access to bike trails, in anticipation of active residents. 

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