West metro briefs: Minnetonka brewery wins approval to replace historic store

Brewery wins approval to replace historic store

Plans for a new microbrewery in Minnetonka that would be the suburb's only taproom and replace a century-old business are moving forward after getting unanimous approval from the Planning Commission for a conditional-use permit.

Husband-wife owners, JD and Megan Park, want to open Unmapped Brewing Company with an outdoor patio next May.

It would replace Kraemer's hardware store, which has been a staple of the Glen Lake neighborhood for more than 100 years and is scheduled to close Dec. 1.

The Parks, who live in Minnetonka, plan to lease the 9,000-square-foot facility at Excelsior Boulevard and Eden Prairie Road.

"I just think it looks like a great project. … I think it would bring a lot of vitality to the area," Planning Commission member Deborah Calvert said at the meeting.

The hardware store opened in 1909 as a general store for farmers, and since has relocated to newer buildings at the same intersection.

He will be one of the investors in the brewery and plans to help out in the taproom.

The brewery plans will go to the City Council for a vote on Oct. 24.

KELLY SMITH

Parking on public streets and alleys in Golden Valley will be prohibited from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. from Nov. 1 to March 31, a shorter period of time than last winter.

However, parking on all public streets is prohibited after a snowfall of at least 2 inches until it has stopped snowing and the street has been plowed to the curb line.

During the times when parking is prohibited, city crews are expected to plow and treat streets for snow and ice. Vehicles parked on the street at those times could be ticketed.

Residents can request a temporary overnight parking extension by filling out a "Winter Parking Waiver" form online at goldenvalleymn.gov.

miguel otÁrola

Job seekers can acquire some new skills and other job searching tools at a first-of-its-kind event Oct. 19.

The South Hennepin Workforce Center in Bloomington will host sessions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will include a personalized interest assessment, résumé and video creation and résumé assistance — services that Hennepin County officials say are unavailable at any other workforce center in Minnesota.

The event, which is open to the public, is not a job fair but part of an effort to move away from the long-standing model of self-service job resources to being more hands-on and offering networking, White said. For more details, go to hennepin.us.

KELLY SMITH

The Hennepin County Board has appointed James Atchison to his third term as county assessor, extending his duties through 2020.

Atchison's time with Hennepin County dates back to 1992, when he was a commercial appraiser.

County officials said that under Atchison, the assessor's office has consistently valued and classified property fairly, meeting all the requirements set forth by the state Department of Revenue and coming in under budget.

miguel otÁrola

Organizations can apply for grants from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation from Nov. 1 to Dec. 23.

Most local nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations qualify to apply for grants. Priority is given to arts and culture, recreation and environment, social services and the foundation's youth initiative.

The community foundation has awarded 550 grants to more than 60 organizations since its formation.

Application materials are available online at epcommunityfoundation.org. Applicants should also submit a letter of interest to Executive Director Mark Weber at mweber@epcommunityfoundation.org.