COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
From the Community Development Director
Dear Mayor Case, City Council, Commission Members and City Manager,
It’s my pleasure to share the 2024 Community Development Annual Report with you. Community Development staff members take great pride in representing the priorities of Eden Prairie’s elected and appointed officials in our daily work As you read this report, you’ll see the many ways Community Development achievements have advanced the City’s goals and objectives.
It’s clear Eden Prairie remains a community of choice, as evidenced by the variety of development projects that were reviewed and either began or were under construction in 2024 These developments bring a myriad of benefits for the City, including additional housing choices, an increased number of affordable units, increased employment opportunities, additional retail options and site improvements for residents.
Community Development staff members continue to collaborate with and support the efforts of many local organizations, including nonprofits, social service agencies, Eden Prairie Schools, the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. Cultivating and maintaining these relationships is essential to understanding and serving the needs of organizations, residents and employers within our City
The City’s commitment to quality is reflected in the continued growth of its market value In 2024, Eden Prairie’s estimated market value rose to $14.54-billion. Assessing staff members engaged with property owners throughout the City to thoughtfully address questions on property valuations and the assessment process
Housing and Community Services staff members served over 1,000 walk-in customers in 2024. They provided assistance with employment, social service resources and housing. Staff members also administered over $500,000 in funds supporting affordable housing and human services needs through partnerships with local non-profit organizations.
I’m proud to lead the Community Development team Their dedication to pursuing excellence while serving the community and representing the City of Eden Prairie is inspiring. On behalf of our staff, thank you for your continued support. I look forward to more successes in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Julie Klima Community Development Director
Mission
The Community Development Department supports the long-term vitality of the City through land-use planning and development review activities, maintaining an environment that fosters local businesses, addressing housing and community service needs, and providing responsible property valuations.
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE VALUES
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CITY COUNCIL
Lisa Toomey I Mark Freiberg I Mayor Ron Case I PG Narayanan I Kathy Nelson
Eden Prairie is a “Plan B” City, meaning it has a council-manager plan of government where all policy and legislative decisions are the responsibility of the City Council. The Council delegates all administrative duties to the City Manager.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURE
Community Development determines department priorities based on direction from the City Council.
Community D e v e lopm ent Directo r
Assess-ng
Community Development Staff
CITY COMMISSIONS
There are seven City commissions that advise the City Council and perform work on behalf of the Council. Community Development provides staff liaisons to four of those commissions.
Local Board of Appeal and Equalization
The Board of Appeal and Equalization meets annually to review resident appeals of property valuations and determine the correct values or classifications. Jonathan Thompson, City Assessor, is the liaison to this group.
Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC)
The HPC advises the City Council on safeguarding the heritage of Eden Prairie through the preservation of sites and structures that reflect significant elements of the City’s history. Beth Novak-Krebs, Senior Planner, serves as the HPC liaison.
Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC)
The HRDC advises the City Council on matters of diversity, civil and human rights, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Paja Xiong, Community Services Manager, is the HRDC liaison.
Planning Commission
This commission provides a preliminary review of development proposals land-use he City
An HRDC member speaks at the 2024 Iftar dinner
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Assessing
The Assessing Division estimates the value of all Eden Prairie properties annually according to statutory requirements, following a statistical analysis of market sales to meet standards set by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The assessed values are used as a basis for property taxes the following year Assessing completes individual property reviews following the yearly valuation notice mailing They must review 20% of existing properties each year with a physical inspection. Staff members also complete appraisal analyses for use as evidence in Minnesota Tax Court, and they are tasked with estimating values attributable to new construction for each assessment.
David Lindahl Economic Development Manager
Economic Development
The Economic Development Division is responsible for services that promote business and development growth, and support the overall economic vitality of the community. Division services include business development, promotion and retention; infrastructure and development public financing support; real estate sales, leasing and acquisitions; support for new development and redevelopment; and transportation advocacy
Jared Brooks Appraiser I
Callie Saumweber Appraiser I
Zak Rexford Appraiser I
Jim Wise Appraiser III
Jody Carlson Assessing Technician
Alex Oldefendt Assessing Supervisor
Jonathan Thompson City Assessor
Paja Xiong Community Services Manager
Housing and Community Services
The Housing and Community Services Division provides support for residents seeking safe, decent and affordable housing. They also assist with the production and preservation of affordable housing options. Another role they perform is administering funds to local nonprofits, and grants that help people make repairs to their homes, buy homes for the first time, find jobs and connect with needed social services
Planning
The Planning Division works with developers, community members and organizations for long-range planning and current development projects This team is also responsible for maintaining the City’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances, administering sign and telecommunication permits, and providing support for the Planning Commission and Heritage Preservation Commission.
Amy Mitchell Administrative Assistant
Ben Schneider Planner I
Sarah Strain Planner II
Beth Novak-Krebs Senior Planner
Jeremy Barnhart City Planner
Mohamed Duale Community Services Representative
Jeanne Karschnia Housing Services Coordinator
Jonathan Stanley Housing and Community Services Specialist
How We Engage With the Community
Words In Action Contest submission
Almost every task we perform involves interaction with the Eden Prairie community, whether it’s through a commission meeting, helping a landowner with questions about uses for their property, visiting a home to assess its value, or coordinating the annual Words In Action Contest as part of Black History Month. Keep reading to learn about a few more ways Community Development connects with residents and businesses.
Housing and Community Services
Last year staff members managed over $494,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds allocated to the City by the federal government to provide loans to residents with basic housing needs. This requires time spent with residents to ensure eligibility and complete paperwork.
The loans help with significant housing repairs, accessibility upgrades so seniors are able to continue living in their homes, or down payments for first-time homebuyers. Staff members are also responsible for making sure the City is in compliance with the guidelines that come with CDBG funds.
Planning
The team strives to provide our community with easy access to information about development projects. One way this is accomplished is through the , which includes information about proposed, approved and in-progress developments in Eden Prairie In 2024, an “Email Staff” button was added to the map so community members can easily provide comments. Physical signs with links to the Development Projects Map are also installed on properties proposed for development prior to public hearings
Development Projects Map
Economic Development
provides an essential connection between the City and the local business community. Economic Development Manager Dave Lindahl hosted several bus tours throughout 2024 for residents, business leaders and students. The tours are always well-received they’re fun, informative and a great way to showcase how Eden Prairie is thriving. He also engages with younger residents by presenting at Career Round Table and Civics in Action events at Eden Prairie High School, and is the City’s liaison to the Chamber of Commerce.
Assessing
Every year the team inspects 20% of properties in Eden Prairie. Last year that meant visiting 5,209 properties. Of those visits, 537 (10%) involved interior inspections, meaning the owners made an appointment to have an appraiser come inside their home or business to ensure the information on file for their properties is as accurate as possible. The other 90% of visits are exterior-only inspections.
Bus tour with Eden Prairie High School Capstone class
An Eden Prairie appraiser on his way to a site visit
Assessing Accomplishments
Assessing is responsible for establishing valuations and classification of all real estate properties in the City for purposes of taxation. By state law, the City must annually adjust values of all active parcels, physically inspect existing properties once every five years, estimate values for all new construction and appraise newly platted property. In 2024 work was completed to prepare for the 2025 assessment. The tables below compare 2022-2024 information gathered by Assessing staff members for that purpose.
2022: 22,826
2023: 22,916
2024: 22,930
$13,485,585,500
2023: $14,387,631,800
2022: 21,959
2023: 22,046
2024: 22,049
2023:
$611,853
$659,440
2022: 84 2022: $513,200
2023: 77
2024: 111
Local Board of Appeal and Equalization
2023: $536,400
2024: $543,700
members completed 74 reviews prior to the board meeting, including 19 appeals with Assessing staff In 2024, 171 inquiries were received. classifications of properties. appeals by individual property owners and make determinations on values or This Board consists of five members appointed by the City Council who hear valuation
recommendations to the board.
Market Value Assessments
Assessing maintains records for every property in Eden Prairie. Adjustments are made to market values based on actual real estate sales of comparable properties from the past year and physical inspections of existing properties. Additional market value estimates are made for building additions, remodeling and other improvements.
The Assessing team coordinates the mailing of valuation notices every year to individual property owners, typically in early March. The notices inform property owners of value and classification. Various amounts may appear on the notice, including:
Estimated market value
New improvement value
Veterans exclusion
Homestead market value exclusion
Taxable market value
Eden Prairie Market Value Trends
The assessed value of all taxable property in Eden Prairie
for the past 10 years.
$9,078,339,200
$9,633,243,700
$9,872,802,500
$10,209,614,900
$10,663,246,100
$11,121,835,000
$11,432,806,600
$11,797,011,500
$13,485,585,500
$14,387,631,800
$14,540,000,000
Property Tax Allocation
Economic Development Accomplishments
Economic Development touches many parts of the City’s work to encourage growth, foster the creation of jobs, and ultimately ensure that residents and businesses have a highquality location to live and work.
Community Involvement
In 2024, Economic Development coordinated several programs to support local businesses. “Breakfasts with the Mayor” take place a few times a year with a small group of business leaders to give the Mayor and City leaders a chance to gather suggestions and feedback. Individual “Meet and Greets” with local business leaders have been occurring since 2002. These are meant to help City leaders learn how they can positively impact businesses in Eden Prairie. The Mayor and City leaders met with eight businesses in 2024.
Dave Lindahl, Economic Development Manager, can often be seen at community events or hosting bus tours that showcase the City’s economic growth, development and redevelopment for residents and businesses. The City has a long and active partnership with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and Dave served on the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee and attended the Day at the Capital and the Session Priorities Dinner this year. He also lead a bus tour for Chamber members.
Meet and Greet at the new Allina Health facility
Wayfinding and LRT Support
Dave often represents the City at Eden Prairie High School. In 2024, he presented at several career round tables and Civics in Action
He also participated in the annual events.
Career Expo and the school’s Flight
Plan 2035 long-range planning.
A big win in 2024 for Economic Development staff (and for the City) was securing a $200,000 grant from Hennepin County to build a trail from the Golden Triangle LRT station to nearby multifamily housing. In addition, staff secured approval to redirect funding for an alternative trail location along Shady Oak Road. Economic Development, in collaboration with the Engineering Division, also coordinated installation of entry signage at the Three Rivers Bridge and City West LRT Station.
City staff members at EPHS Career Fair
Sign at City West LRT Station
Sign at Three Rivers Bridge
Housing and Community Services Accomplishments
Housing Policy
Housing and Community Services (HCS) staff members strive to ensure Eden Prairie residents continue to have access to fair and stable housing. The Property Managers Collaborative is one of the City programs that supports this goal.
edenprairie.org/PMCollaborative
Funding for Community Organizations
CDBG, the City grants around $148,500 from the General Fund to local organizations that In addition to assistance, 11 residents with car repair services and 5 families with childcare costs. their homes, 16 families with rent/mortgage maintenance services so they could continue to live in granted to local nonprofits helped 41 seniors with In 2024, $67,000 in CDBG funds organizations. for these funds and determines distributions to local HCS ensures compliance with regulations government. Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the federal Eden Prairie receives annual Community Development This program is meant to keep managers of multi-family properties informed about new laws and best practices related HCS hosts a quarterly meeting for property managers
provide services to residents.
Community Services
Residents are able to drop in during business hours to get help from HCS staff members with things like filling out employment applications, unemployment paperwork and Housing Choice Vouchers. In 2024, HCS assisted over 1,000 walk-in clients. Staff members also help with referrals to appropriate social service agencies for housing, immigration and other concerns. Since a majority of requests from residents are for help finding employment, staff members continue to foster relationships with local businesses, such as Costco and Flagstone Senior Housing, to maintain a “pipeline” for employment referrals. to the well-being of their tenants. A few of the topics covered in 2024 were: social service resources for tenants, property management ethics, encouraging sustainability practices, and AI in property management. More information about the Property Managers Collaborative is available at .
Housing and Community Services Programs Administered by
First-Time Homebuyer Loans
No-interest, deferred loans for down payment assistance. In 2024, three first-time homebuyers received loans. Total Amount Spent CDBG —$30,000 TIF —$10,000
Housing
Rehabilitation Loans
No-interest, deferred loans for homeowners to help maintain their properties. Typical repairs include HVAC, water heaters, doors, windows, roofing and siding.
Loans are forgiven after 20 years, and 26 families received loans in 2024.
$172,000
Emergency Repair Program $82,000
Provides loans to seniors for emergency repairs including HVAC, water heaters and
Amount Spent households received loans in 2024. Loans are forgiven after three years, and 11 senior handicap-accessible upgrades.
Homes Within Reach/WHAHLT $57,000
Two homes were purchased by Homes Within Reach/WHAHLT for low-
Total Amount Spent income homebuyers in 2024. to moderate-
Race Equity Action Team (REAT)
Each City department integrates equity and inclusion principles into their work plans. Community Development assists by coordinating the City’s internal Race Equity Action Team (REAT), which is comprised of several staff members from every department. In 2024, REAT focused on educational opportunities for staff.
Paja Xiong leading a training about Hmong history and culture
Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC)
$81,000
The HRDC acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters of diversity, civil and human rights, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2024 the HRDC coordinated the Human Rights Awards, the Black History Month Words in Action Contest, a community Iftar celebration and the Human Library event for .
PeopleFest! A Community Celebration of Culture
Planning Accomplishments
Development Projects
Planning Division staff members reviewed several development projects, including 11 that were also reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. The process for each project varies, but it usually takes several months and involves reviewing plans, gathering feedback from other departments, providing feedback to the developer, preparing to bring the project before the Planning Commission and City Council for approval, and then preparing the development agreement.
Some of the larger projects submitted in 2024 were Preserve Village (Chipotle), Enclave at Manor Road, Lotus Villas, Nexus (the redevelopment of American Family Insurance), Wunderlich Manufacturing expansion and Marshall Gardens.
Additional information about these and other development projects can be found on the City’s .
Development Projects Map
Rendering of Marshall Gardens townhomes
Rendering of Nexus at Opus Park
Permits
Planning staff members review applications for signs and telecommunication sites to ensure they meet City standards before issuing permits. There were 54 sign permits and eight telecommunication permits issued in 2024.
Code Amendments
Planning staff members continuously review City Code and the Comprehensive Plan to ensure both reflect market conditions and City goals. In 2024, two code amendments were reviewed and approved by the City Council that promote land use and landscaping goals. In addition, three Comprehensive Plan Amendments were processed.
Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC)
The HPC promotes preservation of Eden Prairie’s history. In 2024 progress was made toward hiring a historical consultant to chronicle the history of the early Indigenous population of Eden Prairie. The HPC also made progress in
documenting the location of the old Eden Prairie Railroad Depot in preparation of nominating it as a locally designated Heritage Site. HPC members rolled up their sleeves to provide hands-on TLC to this site by doing brush cleanup. Another site of interest to the HPC is the Old Grist Mill in southeastern Eden Prairie near Pioneer Trail. This site has been investigated and foundations from the old mill have been located.
Rendering for a sign permit that was approved in 2024
Top: historic photo of the Old Grist Mill
Right: part of the Grist Mill foundation the HPC recently located
2023-2027
Community Development Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan is a five-year vision of the priorities Community Development is working toward. It is meant to inform the public of key projects and initiatives, communicate funding sources, potential redevelopment and development sites, and foster coordination between Community Development, other departments and the City Council.
The prior Strategic Plan was approved in 2017 and branded as the Strategic Plan for Housing and Economic Development. The 2023-2027 Strategic Plan was revised to include the broader efforts of the entire Community Development Department. Additional details were added
The updated 2023-2027 Community Development Strategic Plan is available at focusing on the Race Equity Initiative, development and redevelopment opportunity sites, and funding sources for housing and economic development initiatives. An additional revision was made in 2024 to include a new funding source of Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA). These funds must be spent in support of affordable housing programs.
edenprairie.org/CommunityDevelopment