Public Hearings

A public hearing is an opportunity for residents to express their opinions about specific projects after the details have been presented at a Planning Commission meeting.

Typically, a public hearing follows these steps:

Developer presents project
Planning Commission members ask questions for clarification
Public hearing for project is opened for input
Planning Commission closes public hearing and may provide recommendation to City Council
In some cases the project may be continued to another meeting before any action is taken

Development Review Process Flowchart

City Council meetings follow a similar format and the Council makes final decisions.

Contact the Planning Division with questions regarding the public hearing notice you received, the development process in general or to provide written comment on a proposed project.

Related Information/Resources

Land Use Review Process

The land use review process is illustrated in the flow chart shown above.

Not all applications are the same, but generally, once a property owner submits an application the following actions occur:

City staff review it for conformance with applicable regulations
Planning Commission reviews the proposal and conducts a public hearing
Planning Commission provides recommendations to the City Council
City Council reviews proposal and recommendations and conducts another public hearing
City Council direct staffs to draft documents approving or denying the application

Maps

Proposed Development Project Signs

Public Hearing Notices

If you’ve received a public hearing notice, your property may be near by a potential land use change.

The letter is a direct invitation to provide comment, either in writing or during a specified meeting. Written comments are welcome any time before the public hearing.

Many land use applications within the City require a public hearing, including:

Zoning changes (changing the zoning classification from one designation to another)
Site plans (review of a new building or addition for commercial or industrial property)
Preliminary plats (subdivision of property)
Variances (variation from certain regulations)

The City sends a public hearing notification letter to all property owners within at least 500 feet of a project. The staff project planner's name and email are included in the public hearing notice. Residents are invited to learn more about a project by contacting the project planner or by reviewing the project plans available at edenprairie.org/DevelopmentProjects.

Written comments are shared with the Planning Commission and/or City Council, and are considered public data.

Development Process FAQs
- What is a Planned Unit Development (PUD)?
  A PUD is an alternate zoning procedure under which land can be developed or redeveloped in a creative and efficient way when sufficiently justified under the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
  
  The objective of a PUD is to encourage a higher level of design, amenity and public benefit than is possible to achieve under otherwise applicable zoning regulations. The end result can be a product which fulfills the objectives of City plans, including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Plan and all other relevant plans, and planning policies of the City while departing from the strict application of the use and bulk regulations as detailed in the Zoning Ordinance.
  
  A PUD is intended to permit and encourage flexibility. It is common for a PUD to include relief from multiple sections of the Zoning Ordinance.
- What is a subdivision?
  A subdivision divides a parcel into 2 or more parcels.
- What is a text amendment?
  A text amendment changes, or adds, the specific requirements found in the Zoning Ordinance.
- What is a variance?
  A variance is a formal request to depart from the strict reading of the ordinance and often involves relief from a numerical requirement like a setback.
  
  The City may grant a variance if the applicant can prove:
  - The deviation is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the intent of the ordinance(s)
  - There is a practical difficulty with respect to the lot
  - The variance will not impact the character of the neighborhood in a negative way.
- What is a zone change?
  A zone change changes the zoning classification from one use to another.
  
  In general terms, uses include single-family residential, attached family residential, commercial, office and industrial.

City of Eden Prairie

Public Hearings

A public hearing is an opportunity for residents to express their opinions about specific projects after the details have been presented at a Planning Commission meeting.

Development Review Process Flowchart

Related Information/Resources

The land use review process is illustrated in the flow chart shown above.

The City may post a sign on property that is the subject of certain land use applications, which provides ways to find more information.

If you’ve received a public hearing notice, your property may be near by a potential land use change.

Development Process FAQs

What is a Planned Unit Development (PUD)?

What is a subdivision?

What is a text amendment?

What is a variance?

What is a zone change?