Planning Commission okays Sunset Hill addition
WestHealth’s new look also approved
Plymouth Planning Commission Nov. 7 discussed proposed additions to Sunset Hill Elementary School, 13005 Sunset Trail, Plymouth.
The application before the commission included a 2,036 square-foot building addition to the school’s cafeteria. The addition would extend to the courtyard located in the center of the school.
Sunset Hill also applied for a 6,939 square-foot addition on the southeast side of the school to allow for the construction of three classrooms and a restroom.
To allow for the addition of the three classrooms, Sunset Hill would also reconstruct a drive aisle around the southeast side of the school. South of the drive aisle, a four-foot retaining wall would be constructed.
Sunset Hill has also proposed building a rain garden to handle storm water treatment. Treated water would travel through a storm water pipe to run off into an existing wetland.
City staff found the application to be sound and recommended its approval.
“It will begin as soon as the school board approves the process,” said Joe Matson, Building and Grounds Director at Wayzata Public Schools. “It should begin in December and run into August.”
Matson noted that there would be barrier fences to separate the school children from the construction sites.
“I hear a lot about how crowded [other area schools] are,” said Commission Chair Jim Davis.
“It’s good to see an expansion,” said Commissioner Marc Anderson.
The application was approved by the Planning Commission and will go before the City Council Nov. 13.
WestHealth’s New Look
The commission also discussed an application from St. Paul-based graphic design firm Visual Communications to alter existing signage at the WestHealth Campus, 2805 and 2855 Campus Drive, Plymouth.
WestHealth is part of Allina Health and features a fully accredited laboratory, pharmacy, emergency and urgent care services.
Visual Communications was hired by WestHealth to revise and improve signage on the campus to be consistent with other Allina and Abbott Northwestern properties.
The city approved a revised master sign plan for the property in 2008. WestHealth now proposes to change existing signs and remove other signs to make navigation clearer.
City staff found that the new application decreases the amount of signage on the property by 128 square-feet.
“The signage would reflect the corporate identity of the property owner while assisting visitors in finding the most direct route to their destination,” said Marie Darling, Senior Planner of Plymouth’s Planning Division.
Commissioner Anderson questioned the zoning of the WestHealth campus in light of recent additions and growth, specifically the 18,000 square foot emergency room added this year.
“This may seem a silly question, I have been assuming that this building functions as a medical clinic, but when you talk about transitional care and an emergency room, it sounds like you’re talking about a hospital,” Anderson said, addressing the applicant. “What do we have here?”
“It’s really kind of a one-stop shop where you can get the right care,” said Tracy White, Director of Facilities Management at Abbott Northwestern. “We’re just adding to it, we’re not trying to do anything different.”
City staff responded in saying that the site is zoned correctly within the Planned Unit Development Application, which allows for changes.
“I think the expansion they’re doing here is great,” said Anderson. “It’s a great direction for Plymouth.”
The commission approved the application, and it will go before the City Council at the Nov. 27 meeting.
