• Complete the Development Review Application.
• Print the form on your printer. Remember to proofread carefully.
• Sign your form and return it with your check for the application fee and any other information required (from the appropriate Application Checklist or as requested by staff).

The following applications require a public hearing before the Planning Commission:

• Development Review Application
• Application Fee Schedule
• Application Deadlines

The city recognizes that the development process inherently presents a risk. To mitigate that risk, the City of Chanhassen has committed to a thorough pre-application process through which development proposals can receive an initial review by city staff before formal applications are made. This pre-application process ensures that potential applicants are fully aware of applicable codes and ordinances and the public hearing process before investing in a complete set of formal application materials.

Communication is key to the development process. Therefore, city staff are available to meet with businesses, landowners, and developers twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. Meetings are broken down into two types: a Sketch Plan Meeting or a Pre-Application Meeting. Applicants should request to be on the schedule at least two weeks before the meeting date.

Sketch Plan Meeting

• Attendees likely include applicants/landowners only.
• The applicant will share plans (i.e., a sketch site plan and/or concept elevations), which should be included with the initial meeting request email.
• Example level of feedback provided by staff:
  • Parking: The developer/applicant should be aware that the city code indicates the number of parking spaces required for this type of development. Those requirements can be found in the City Code, Section 20-1124 Required Number of On-Site Parking Spaces.

Pre-Application Meeting

• Attendees include applicants/landowners and any consultants (i.e., architects, engineers, etc.).
• The applicant has completed a preliminary site plan, and the most current set of plans (i.e., preliminary civil, stormwater plans, etc.) should be included with the meeting request email.
• Example level of feedback provided by staff:
  • Parking: The site plan shows 25 parking spaces, the city code requires 32. Applicants must update this prior to formal submission.

The Sketch Plan Meeting is entirely voluntary and provided for the benefit of a potential applicant. City code requires a Pre-Application Meeting for all subdivisions, planned unit developments, variance requests, site plan approvals, and Interim and Conditional Use Permits.

To be placed on a meeting agenda, a formal request and the appropriate supplemental information should be submitted, and staff will follow up to confirm the meeting date and time.

• City code requires all properties within 500 feet of the subject site to be notified of the application in writing. Any interested party is invited to attend the meeting.
• The staff prepares a report on the subject application. This report includes all pertinent information and a recommendation. These reports are available by request.
• At the Planning Commission meeting, staff will give a verbal overview of the report and a recommendation.
• The item will be opened for the public to speak about the proposal during the hearing process.
• The Commission will close the public hearing, discuss the item, and recommend it to the City Council.
• The City Council may reverse, affirm, or modify the Planning Commission’s recommendation wholly or partly.
• Rezonings, land use, and code amendments take a simple majority vote of the City Council except for rezonings and land use amendments from residential to commercial/industrial.
• Minnesota State Statute 15.99 requires all applications to be processed within 60 days unless the applicant waives this standard. Due to their complexity, some applications may take several months to complete. Any person wishing to follow an item through the process should check with the Planning Department regarding its status and schedule for the City Council meeting.
• A neighborhood spokesperson/representative is encouraged to provide a contact for the city. Often developers are encouraged to meet with the neighborhood regarding their proposal. Staff is also available to review the project with any interested person(s).
• Because the Planning Commission holds the public hearing, the City Council does not.
• Minutes are taken, and any correspondence regarding the application will be included in the report to the City Council.
• If you wish to have something to be included in the report, please contact the Planning Staff person named on the notification.
• If a constituent or resident emails staff or the Planning Commission, it must be part of the public record based on the State Statute. If a constituent or resident sends an email to the Mayor and City Council, it is up to each City Council member and Mayor if they want it to be made part of the public record. There is no State Statute that forces the Mayor or City Council to share that information with the public or be made part of the public record. Under State Statute, staff cannot remove comments or letters provided as part of the public input process.