10-19-2025 - Agenda Packet Planning Commission - PC Packet

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Narrative There are practical difficulties concerning the existing site, the existing home, and the thin strip of lot area that is outside of the 75’ setback. The proposed design of the site, house and plantings offer an integrated solution – aiming to improve the lot’s relationship with the shoreline and Lake Minnetonka waters. Prior to summarizing the challenges and proposed solutions, the project goals will be summarized. The existing home was designed by John Howe – a famed former lead of Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio and historically admired continuum of Prairie Style’s transitional aspects in mid-century modernity. This 1975 house is an archetypal model of that aesthetic transition; and the new Owner purchased it with no intention of demolishing and rebuilding on the lot. Much like Howe’s architectural homage to Prairie Style with ebb-and-flow into transitional modernity; the new 865 Partenwood Owner & project team were committed to evolving aspects of the home as-built while preserving the existing general aesthetic. The exterior massing and earthen material palate of the exterior are of the same naturally-harmonic order with the existing. The proposed volume of the new home utilizes almost the exact footprint of the existing while adding three modest and longitudinal cupolas and hallway dormers. These illuminating masses peek above the existing rooflines only a few feet while providing excellent daylight and tripane efficiency to elevate the health of the family and reduce use of electric lighting. The north face of the kitchen will be removed and the foundation below this and the porches will dialed back 18” further from the shore for the proposed Kitchen “addition” (item #1. In drawings) that will better accommodate hungry four-bedroom house family and guests; while the modest accompanying Dining area extension provides a Prairie Style- esque “node” for dining that is intimate – allowing the exterior of new “Robie House” brick to alleviate the oblong angle that ties the existing home’s kitchen and living spaces. The solution of the Dining extension (item #2) does not extend further west than the existing westernmost foundation for the existing kitchen and 2nd level structure. It is an architecturally correct and modest spatial proposal. Atop the Kitchen on the upper level is the proposed “extension” of the Primary Bedroom 1 (item #3) which occupies the area of the existing deck. Note the accompanying Bathroom extension (item #4). Down the dormer-lit Upper Level Hall on the northeast end of the home is the Primary Suite 2 which offers a new small 24sf balcony off the bedroom that mimics the existing two balconies to the southwest; and resolve an otherwise flat and pillar- like elevation in this corner from the exterior. The accompanying overhang and the balcony are more harmonic with the existing home elements and overhangs. This corner of the home is nestled along and behind much existing foliage and trees to the east and north- 147