Longstanding Businesses Could Disappear With Shady Oak Road Expansion

Hopkins and Minnetonka planners have an idea for what a revamped Shady Oak Road could look like—just don’t call it a plan.

The proposal envisions demolishing the building that now houses Hopkins mainstays Syndicate Sales, and . In its place, a 6,500-square-feet office building would be built.

(Click on the maps and PDF to the right to see the complete details.)

Governments will not seize the properties, which would require owners to voluntarily sell. So planners at a joint meeting between the two cities Thursday avoided calling it a “plan" and instead used terms such as “scenario concept.”

Property owners have good reason to consider selling, though. Hennepin County has long planned to widen Shady Oak. When Minnetonka and Hopkins last discussed the project in 2006, planners expected a wider road that would have required the county to purchase properties along the route outright. That would have given businesses more money—and the option to move elsewhere.

But the expansion has since been trimmed in order to cut costs—about $6 million worth. The narrower road will no longer require the purchase of entire properties. Instead, its edge will come within a few feet some businesses’ front doors—eliminating parking and likely crippling their ability to attract customers without compensating them enough to relocate.

To compound the problem, Hopkins and Minnetonka won't get the full $9 million of so-called “community works” money earmarked at the earliest planning stages. That money could have been used to help keep businesses in Hopkins or Minnetonka.

The “scenario concept” addresses both problems. Replacing the existing building with one about half the size will preserve a nearly identical number of parking spaces for any businesses that move in afterward. And it is doable with the $3 million in community works money the communities are likely to receive.

Council members generally supported the idea.

“I think it’s a winning concept. It dramatically improves the roadway, and it minimizes the impact on the businesses,” said Minnetonka Councilman Brad Wiersum—noting he understands businesses will still see substantial impacts.

Still, others wanted to make sure businesses and residents are on board before fully endorsing the project.

“I’ll be able to buy in after I’ve had a chance to hear the businesses sound off in 2011 terms,” Hopkins Councilman Rick Brausen said.

That should happen at a meeting with property owners in January. The two councils will then approve the road plan in February. Meanwhile, city staff will work with Hennepin County to line up approval of the community works dollars.

If everything goes as planned, 2012 will center on design, 2013 on right-of-way acquisition and 2014 on construction.

“Shady Oak Road is going to have to get done,” Hopkins Mayor Gene Maxwell said.