Shakopee Board of Adjustment and Appeals Regular Meeting – November 6, 2025

The Shakopee Board of Adjustment and Appeals met on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at City Hall, 485 Gorman Street. The agenda listed a 7:00 p.m. start; the transcript indicates the meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. All seven commissioners were present. The board unanimously approved both conditional use permits on the agenda, each by a 7-0 roll-call vote.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously after no additions or subtractions were offered.
• The board unanimously approved the meeting minutes from October 9, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No interested citizens addressed the board during the open citizen comment period at the start of the meeting.
• During the first public hearing, applicant Aaron Judish (PRS Towing and Transportation) said he bought into the business in September 2025, believed his partner had completed the CUP application, and did not object to the proposed conditions. Property owner Eugene Hansen said the original 8-foot fence was legal when installed 25 years ago under a conditional permit and was later removed and replaced in the same location by another builder.
• During the second public hearing, several Riverside Fields-area residents and neighborhood association board members spoke against the proposed memory care facility. Todd Cruz cited the building’s mass and 30-foot setback, called it imposing for the neighborhood, and worried visitors would use the association’s pool parking lot for overflow. Jackie Tessing raised privacy concerns about a three-story building overlooking the neighborhood pool, cited 80 petition signatures against the project, and argued the CUP findings were not met. Alina Slitsky, a resident since 2005, said the building would hurt property values and worsen traffic and trespassing problems already associated with nearby businesses; she also asked for construction cleanup. Dean Haider opposed placing a multi-family-style facility in a single-family neighborhood and called it an eyesore. Amy Yanta asked why the empty lot near Valvoline was not chosen and also asked that construction debris be cleaned up. At a later point, Todd Cruz cited 75 petition signatures, an apparent discrepancy with the earlier 80-signature figure.

Discussion Items

Conditional Use Permit for Exterior Storage of Vehicles – 1515 Maras St.

• The raw transcript alternately refers to the address as 1515/1550 Maris/Merris; this summary uses the agenda address, 1515 Maras St.
• Staff reported that PRS Towing and Transportation was operating without the required CUP. The application was submitted in June 2024 but was incomplete, and the applicant signed a lease in October 2024 for roughly 2,900 square feet of office/warehouse space and 23,100 square feet of outdoor storage. The city learned of the operation through the Shakopee Police Department in July 2025.
• The proposal was to store up to 30 vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats, campers, and semi-trucks, inside a fenced area for up to 45 days. Staff recommended approval of Resolution PC 2025-006 with nine conditions, including limiting fenced exterior storage to 20,000 square feet, prohibiting storage outside the fence, moving the fence at least 20 feet back from the west property line, planting two trees by June 1, 2026, and prohibiting scrap tires, auto repair, and self-storage.
• Commissioners asked about enforcement if the business continued operating without meeting conditions. Staff said the business could be brought back before the board and the CUP could be revoked, with appeal to the city council. Commissioner Forsyth expressed concern that the business had operated for a year without a CUP, making revocation threats less meaningful.

Conditional Use Permit for Housing Designed to Serve Persons With Disabilities – 8205 Crossings Blvd.

• Staff presented a proposal by Angels Living Property Shakopee LLC for a 40-unit, three-level assisted living and memory care facility on a 1.4-acre site zoned B1 highway business. The building height was 39 feet 6 inches, below the 45-foot maximum. The applicant proposed 27 off-street parking stalls, six more than the 21 required under city code (one per three units plus one per employee on the largest shift of seven employees).
• Staff noted that a similar CUP had been approved years earlier but expired because the project did not move forward. The proposed use is a listed conditional use in the B1 zone and complies with the 2040 comprehensive plan. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including off-site parking arrangements for events.
• Applicant representative Eric Reiners, Fusion AE, said residents would be seniors paying rents that vary by level of care, generally around $4,500 to $6,000 per month, with minimum-care residents paying around $2,000. He also described 24/7 care, memory care, and similar facilities operated by the group in other cities.
• Board discussion acknowledged the neighborhood concerns but noted the property has been zoned B1 and could be used for other permitted uses without a CUP, such as a fast-food restaurant, which could generate more traffic. Commissioners commented that the memory care facility is likely less intrusive than other allowed uses, that residents should have checked zoning before purchasing, and that parking and sightline concerns could be addressed through signage, tree planting, and communication between the applicant and neighborhood association.

Key Outcomes

• The board unanimously approved Resolution PC 2025-006, granting a conditional use permit for exterior storage of vehicles at 1515 Maras St. The motion passed 7-0.
• The board unanimously approved Resolution PC 2025-007, granting a conditional use permit for housing designed to serve persons with disabilities at 8205 Crossings Blvd. The motion passed 7-0.
• The board adjourned to the next regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025.