Summary
5:30 P.M. - WORK SESSION (TRAINING ROOM)
The City Council received an update from Level Seven Development on the proposed Avienda development. Level Seven discussed recent activity and anticipated next steps ahead of a formal Planned Unit Development amendment.
Developers reported progress on the site, including the start of construction on 412 luxury apartment units by Dorn Companies and the signing of a lease with a grocer for a 65,000 square foot store that would include a wine and spirits component and four fuel pumps.
However, Councilmembers expressed broad concern about a perceived shift away from the original vision of a high-end, walkable destination toward a more auto-oriented, commercial development, and emphasized a desire for future proposals to better reflect long-standing community expectations.
Pleasant View Road Improvements - Concept Design Review
The City Council discussed a concept design review for the Pleasant View Road Improvements project, continuing a public engagement process that began with a community open house and resident survey in November 2025. Staff presented two alternative design approaches and sought early council direction as the city moves toward refining a preferred option.
City Engineer Charlie Howley summarized survey feedback, noting strong support for addressing deteriorating pavement and a clear emphasis on minimizing impacts to private property, followed by concerns about speeding, bike and pedestrian safety and overall cost. Staff used those priorities to shape a revised concept focused on reducing the scale of reconstruction.
Council reviewed two options. Option 1 would fully reconstruct the corridor, including roadway widening, stormwater infrastructure and safety upgrades, would be planned as a 2-yr construction project and comes with an estimated construction cost of approximately $8.7 million. Option 2 would use a full depth reclamation approach to rehabilitate the existing pavement while still incorporating targeted drainage improvements, spot repairs to utilities and corridor-wide safety measures, and be done during a single year of construction. That option carries an estimated construction cost of approximately $2.8 million.
Council members expressed a preference for advancing the full depth reclamation option, citing lower cost and reduced impact to private property. Staff was directed to proceed with design and planning for that approach, and to evaluate further the single year of construction in 2027..
Facility Naming
The City Council discussed the proposed naming of the city’s new community center, a topic that grew out of earlier planning for the Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center and subsequent resident feedback about confusion over the facility’s identity. Staff outlined the rationale for considering a more straightforward name and shared a recommendation to adopt “Chanhassen Community Center” to better reflect the building’s role as the city’s primary, community-owned facility. Councilmembers agreed to make this change.
7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MEETING (City Council Chambers)
Consent Agenda
The Council unanimously approved the following items on the Consent Agenda. They were:
Proclamation Designating January 27, 2026 as Rick Rice Day
The City Council issued a proclamation honoring the retirement and long-standing service of IT Manager Rick Rice, who recently concluded a 41-year career with the City of Chanhassen that began in the Fire Department in 1984. Council thanked Rice for his service to the city and recognized Mr. Rice’s contributions to public safety, city operations and support for residents and staff across the organization.
