2025-11-24 Planning Commission Minutes - SignedCALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Holmvig-Johnson at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
OPEN FORUM
There were no speakers.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
M/Kennealy, S/Taraldsen, to approve the agenda.
Motion carried: 5-0
M/Kennealy, S/Taraldsen, to approve the minutes of the Regular Planning Commission
Meeting of September 22, 2025.
Motion carried: 5-0
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Regular Planning Commission Meeting
November 24, 2025
Planning Commissioners Present: Eddie Holmvig-Johnson, Cole Hooey, Brendan Kennealy, Matt
Taraldsen and Brett Stursa
Commissioners Excused: Benjamin Surma and Stephanie Kowalkowski
Staff Present: Sam Crosby, City Planner; Ruby Villa, Planner I
Others Present: Greg Dick, Lakewinds Co-op
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
ITEM #7a
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR AN INTERIM USE PERMIT
TO ALLOW TEMPORARY AND OCCASIONAL EMPLOYEE PARKING ON A
VACANT LOT ADJACENT TO LAKEWINDS CO-OP.
Planner Villa presented Agenda Item No. 7a.
Greg Dick, Store Manager of Lakewinds Co-op, introduced himself to the Commission and
discussed future plans for Lot 4 as well as the reasoning behind the request for 122 days per
year.
Chair Holmvig-Johnson opened the public hearing. There were no speakers.
M/Hooey, S/Taraldsen, to close the public hearing.
Motion carried: 5-0.
M/Kennealy, S/Stursa, to recommend approval of a five-year Interim Use Permit for
occasional employee parking on vacant Lot 4.
Commissioners and staff discussed the history of the site and whether the issuance of an
Interim Use Permit precludes development. Chair Holmvig-Johnson and Commissioner Hooey
expressed reluctance over granting an outright 5-year term.
M/Holmvig-Johnson, S/Hooey, to amend the recommended action to reduce the term to
3 years with an optional 2-year administrative extension.
Commissioners further discussed the implications of granting a 5-year term, the
possibility of Lot 4 being turned into permanent parking, and whether Lot 4 is a developable
parcel.
Motion to amend failed: 2-3.
Original motion carried: 3-2 (Holmvig-Johnson and Hooey dissenting).
LIAISION REPORTS
Community Services Commission: Commissioner Hooey stated that at the October
meeting the Commission discussed the Public Works project at Adams Hill Park.
City Council: Chair Holmvig-Johnson reported that at the last meeting, he presented an
update to the Council regarding last year’s Planning Commission activities. Also, the
Truth in Taxation meeting will be on November 25.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA): Commissioner Stursa stated that the
HRA met in November and heard from Ehlers regarding Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Districts and the status of each one in the City. The HRA also decertified three TIF
Districts. Lastly, staff provided an update regarding Penn Station; abatement will begin
soon.
Richfield School Board: Commissioner Kennealy had no report.