Permit Issued for Minnetonka Medical Center

North Memorial is ready to begin work on Minnetonka Medical Center being built between Highwood Drive and Highway 7.

Planning, engineering and natural resources staff have reviewed a grading permit request and crews can now begin tree removal, grading, and installation of utilities, according to a Wednesday update from the City of Minnetonka.

Residents were initially worried about what the project would mean for their homes. But the building is now about 4,000 square feet smaller and farther back from Highwood Drive. It has about 61 fewer parking spaces. It also has more berms and preserves more trees in order to screen Highwood Drive neighbors from the activity.

When the council considered the project last month, a representative for Highwood Drive residents said they were feeling more confidence in the project.

Other news you should know about today:

• Get to know Minnetonka’s City Council candidates: The League of Women Voters of Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and Hopkins has scheduled a candidate forum for 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in the Council Chambers at the Minnetonka Community Center.