UPDATED: Minnetonka Toys "R" Us Closed, but not Closing

On March 7, the Minnetonka City Council was expected to approve a proposal which would double the size of Minnetonka’s existing store, located near .

But that’s not what happened. Instead, residents living near the proposed 'superstore' location asked to postpone the vote until the next time the city council meets.  

“Many issues are not resolved to my satisfaction,” Richard Stewart told the council. “We are not opposed to the project, we just want to iron out details.”

Richard Stewart and his wife Linda, also present at Monday night's meeting, live in the 13900 block of Knollway Drive South in Minnetonka-- directly behind the shopping plaza where the Toys “R” Us is located. The Stewarts said that by virtue of being the most outspoken in their neighborhood, they have become the informal representatives of about 50 families who live nearby and who have concerns about the proposed development. To date the Stewarts are the only neighborhood residents who have filed formal objection over the project with the city.

“The neighborhood is concerned about the increase in noise and activities in night hours with the increase in the size of Toy R Us,” Linda Stewart wrote in a letter to the Minnetonka Planning Commission earlier this month. “These issues have been ongoing problems for the neighborhood since 1990.”

Despite the objections, the Minnetonka Planning Commission approved the plan on March 3 and until minutes before the meeting began on Monday night, the council was expected to, in-turn, give the measure their green light. 

“The retail economy in Minnetonka is still pretty strong-- people are continuing to invest in projects like this,” said Minnetonka Community Development Director . 

At the meeting, Ward 3 council member Brad Wiersum, who represents those residents living near the proposed site, told Mayor Schneider he also thought it was a good idea to put the brakes on a formal go-ahead. 

“Let’s get this thing nailed down, do it right, so we don’t have lingering frustration,” Wiersum said. Shortly thereafter, the Minnetonka City Council voted unanimously to delay a vote which would approve the project until March 28.  

The proposed project will not only remodel the but also add a new Babies “R” Us store next door, into what was formally an , but which now sits vacant. The result will be a 60,808 square foot '"R" superstore'-- one of only 32 in the country.

Minnetonka’s Toys “R” Us store is currently closed to undergo the major changes, including a new exterior facade and joint entrance. It is slated to reopen in September 2011.  In the meantime, Wischnack said she is confident that the planning commission will address any neighborhood concerns.

“We will follow-up, we will make sure they are doing what they are saying they will do and we want the neighborhood to report back if they aren’t,” she said.

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MARCH 17 UPDATE:  According to the city, staff had a productive meeting with Knollway neighbors Linda and Richard Stewart on March 12, to discuss items they raised at the March 7 council meeting. A number of items, many of which are included as conditions of project approval were discussed and no new issues, other than a missing stop sign at a driveway, came from the meeting. Staff suggested developing an information sheet for neighbors about common questions for the Ridgedale Festival development and contact information to address issues that may arise from time to time. Staff is following up on a few detailed questions about pond elevations and dredging.