One of the developers of Hermantown Square and a business partner are planning to construct a building that will house a new restaurant, retail shops and an office on Maple Grove Road if the City Council approves a petition at its Monday meeting.
Steve Paulson and Dean Johnson, who own Nevada Bob's Discount Golf in nearby Burning Tree Plaza, plan to move the store to larger space in the new building as well as bring in a franchise restaurant called Pizza Ranch, which has 31 Minnesota locations.
The 14,510-square-foot building, called Maple Grove Square, also will have three units available for retail and office space on the lower level. Paulson, who built Hermantown Square, estimated there will be 75 jobs in the building.
Maple Grove Square is planned for 1.4 acres on the south side of Maple Grove Road between the Cellular One and Share Advantage Credit Union buildings. The plan calls for 96 parking spots, 33 of which Cellular One and the credit union have agreed to share. The Maple Grove Square parking lot would have two driveways that would be shared with the neighboring buildings.
The proposal also calls for an elaborate underground stormwater chamber system. Paulson said he couldn't say how much the construction would cost because he's just starting to take bids.
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The developers appealed the matter to the council because while the Planning Commission voted in favor of the plan at 4-3, five votes are needed to pass any measure. Therefore, the commission couldn't take action, said Alison Lutterman, deputy city attorney.
The state has a 120-day decision deadline, including appeal, and tabling the matter would have put action past the deadline. Because the City Council has final authority, that's where the final decision rests. The deadline for action is Tuesday.
The commissioners at the May 23 meeting who voted against the plan expressed concern about the size of the building compared to the size of the property. "They were concerned that they were trying to put too big a building on the site," Lutterman said.
If approved, work on the building will proceed quickly. "We would hope to start construction right away" so the building could be completed by winter, Paulson said.
