Planning commission backs Lakeville Soccer Club’s indoor facility at 21300 Juniper Way

The Lakeville City Planning Commission on Jan. 15 recommended the City Council approve a conditional use permit for the Lakeville Soccer Club to operate an indoor soccer facility at 21300 Juniper Way.

James Beard, finance manager for the Lakeville Soccer Club, said the organization has grown and outgrown its leased facility at Heron Way, forcing it to rent winter training space in Dundas, Minnesota. The club seeks to occupy about 21,000 square feet of a recently completed, roughly 190,000‑square‑foot multi‑tenant Office Park building for indoor turf fields, office space and storage; staff reported the building already houses a 42,000‑square‑foot pickleball facility to the south.

Staff said the site offers about 280 parking spaces after prior reconfiguration and that the soccer facility’s maximum on‑site occupancy would be about 56 people including coaches and staff. Staff advised that peak hours are nights and weekends and that some overlap with the neighboring pickleball use is possible; suggested mitigation methods include increased on‑site staff to direct drop‑off traffic and staggered programming times. Staff recommended approval with two stipulations listed in the 01/05/2026 planning memo.

Beard said the club intends to consolidate operations — eliminating the need to rent space in Dundas — and would primarily use the facility for training and practice, with occasional adult tournaments. Commissioners asked about possible conflicts with semi‑truck activity at loading docks; Beard said most industrial traffic occurs in daytime hours while club activities would be mainly after 5 p.m.

A motion to recommend City Council approval of the conditional use permit, subject to the two stipulations and findings of fact, carried on roll call. The commission looks forward to the club’s expanded local presence, and the recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action.