2026-05-12 Resolution 12423City of Richfield May 12, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 12423
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Motion by: Hayford Oleary
Seconded by: Burk
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A SITE PLAN FOR
6503 NICOLLET AVENUE SOUTH
WHEREAS, an application has been filed by Baleo Fitness with the City of Richfield which
requests site plan approval for a change of use for a 3,911 square foot tenant space in the
Richfield Shoppes North from retail (Xfinity store) to a 24-hour (Anytime) fitness studio, property
legally described as follows:
LOTS 1 THRU 15 INCLUSIVE EXCEPT THAT PART OF LOT 9 LYING SOUTH
OF THE NORTH 49.00 FEET THEREOF AND EAST OF THE WEST 38.00 FEET
OF SAID LOT 9 SUBJECT TO HIGHWAY.
WHEREAS, the Zoning Code Section 544.13, Subd.9, states that an applicant may
request a modification of the minimum required number of parking spaces by submitting a study
of anticipated parking demand; and
WHEREAS, the proposed site plan meets all other requirements necessary for granting
site plan approval as specified in Zoning Code Section 547.13, Subd.8, as listed in the Required
Finding Statement and as detailed in City Council Agenda Item No.2026-367; and
WHEREAS, Zoning Code section 509.25, Subd.7, requires that non-conforming site
improvements be upgraded to comply with current code to the extent practical; and
WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing was mailed to properties within 350 feet of the
subject property and published in the Sun Current newspaper on April 16, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Richfield held a public hearing at its
April 27, 2026, meeting and recommended approval of the proposed site plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has fully considered the request for site plan approval;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Richfield,
Minnesota, as follows:
1. The City Council adopts as its Findings of Fact the WHEREAS clauses set forth above.
2. The City Council further adopts as its Findings of Fact the findings listed in the Required
Findings Statement.
3. The proposed site plan is hereby approved subject to the following conditions:
a. Separate sign permits are required.
b. All required parking spaces must remain available and un-obstructed year-round; they
may not be used for snow storage.
City of Richfield May 12, 2026
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO. 12423
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c.The property owner is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of all exterior
improvements in accordance with approved plans.
d.The applicant is responsible for obtaining all required permits and compliance with all
other City, County, and State regulations.
Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall:
e.Provide final site plan with installation details, showing the location of 15 bike racks (30
bike parking stalls) for staff review and approval.
Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, the applicant shall:
f.Enter into an escrow agreement for outstanding items and provide a surety equal to
125% of the value of any exterior improvements not yet complete, per Zoning Code
Section 547.17.
Prior to the release of the surety:
g.All exterior improvements shall be installed.
h.All requirements of the escrow agreement shall be met.
4.This approval shall expire one year from issuance unless the use for which the permit was
granted has commenced, substantial work has been completed or upon written request by
the applicant, the Council extends the expiration date for an additional period, as required
by the Zoning Ordinance, Section 547.13, Subd. 9.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 12th day of May, 2026.
VOTING AYE VOTING NAY
Supple, Mary Supple, Mary
Burk, Walter Burk, Walter
Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Sharon
Coleman-Woods, Rori Coleman-Woods, Rori
Hayford Oleary, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sean
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
Required Findings
Anytime Fitness / 6503 Nicollet Avenue South
Site Plan Approval (Subsection 547.13) In evaluating a site plan, the Planning Commission and
Council shall consider its compliance with the following:
a) Consistency with the various elements and objectives of the City’s long range plans including, but
not limited to, the Comprehensive Plan.
• The proposed site is not included in any small area or other long-range plans separate from the
Comp Plan. The use is consistent with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
b) Consistency with the purposes of the Zoning Code.
• The proposed use is allowed in the C-2 zoning district, however the parking does not meet the
City’s current requirements. Zoning Code Section 544.13, Subd.9, states that an applicant
may request a modification of the minimum required number of parking spaces by submitting a
study of anticipated parking demand. The request is not a formal variance and therefore the
variance review criteria do not apply. The analysis was done by a professional engineer with
expertise in traffic and parking analysis, and was based on Institute of Transportation
Engineering (ITE) parking research. The analysis indicates that, due to the off-set in peak
hours of the various uses within the center, the anytime fitness will not have a negative impact
on the parking demand. Therefore, staff finds that the proposed change of use is consistent
with the purpose of the Zoning Code.
c) Preservation of the site in its natural state, insofar as practicable, by minimizing tree and soil
removal, and designing any grade changes so as to be in keeping with the general appearance of
neighboring areas.
• N/A; no external changes are proposed.
d) Creation of a harmonious relationship of buildings and open spaces with the terrain and with
existing and future buildings having a visual relationship to the proposed development.
• The building is existing and no external changes are proposed.
e) Creation of a functional and harmonious design for structures and site features including:
i. Creation of an internal sense of order for the various functions and buildings on the site and
provision of a desirable environment for occupants, visitors, and the general community;
• The site layout is existing, no external changes are proposed.
ii. Appropriateness of the amount and arrangement of open space and landscaping to the design
and function of the development;
• No changes to the site layout are proposed.
iii. Appropriateness of the materials, textures, colors and details of construction as an expression
of the design concept of the project and the compatibility of the same with the adjacent and
neighboring structures and functions;
• The building is existing with no changes.
iv. Adequacy of vehicular, cycling and pedestrian circulation, including walkways, interior drives
and parking, in terms of location and number of access points to the public streets, width of
interior drives and access points, general interior circulation, separation of pedestrian, cycling
and vehicular traffic and arrangement and amount of parking so as to be safe, convenient and,
insofar as practicable, compatible with the design of proposed buildings, structures and
neighboring properties.
• No external changes are proposed. However, the addition of bike racks will enhance
the ease of biking to the shopping center, which will help to alleviate the parking
demand.
• The arrangement of access (both vehicular and non-vehicular) and parking is
generally safe, convenient and compatible with surrounding properties.
f) Creation of an energy-conserving design through design, location, orientation and elevation of
structures, the use and location of glass in structures, and the use of landscape materials and site
grading.
• No external changes are proposed.
g) Protection of adjacent and neighboring properties through reasonable provisions for such matters
as surface water drainage, sound and sight buffers, preservation of views, light and air, and those
aspects of design, not adequately covered by other regulations, which may have substantial
effects on neighboring land uses.
• No external changes are proposed.