Eagan Planners Back a New Animal Hospital on Pilot Knob Road

TLDR

• Eagan's Planning Commission recommended the animal hospital plan 6-0 on Aug. 25, 2026.
• The clinic would move into 2781 Pilot Knob Road and add 600 square feet.
• The site has 14 parking spaces, with backup plans for more.
• Dogs, cats, and small pets are in; horses and routine boarding are out.

A new Eagan animal hospital is one step closer to opening at 2781 Pilot Knob Road. On Aug. 25, 2026, the Planning Commission backed the plan 6-0.

This one is mostly about giving an old medical office a new use. Eagan has done that before, including when Crunch Fitness took over the former Kowalski's.

What the Commission Backed

The applicant asked for a conditional use permit. That's city talk for special permission to use the property in a way that needs extra review.

Animal clinics are allowed in this business zone with that permit. City staff said the use fits nearby offices and shops.

Secretary Whitfield made the motion to recommend approval. Member Walsh seconded it. All six commissioners voted yes.

The recommendation includes 10 conditions from the staff report. The transcript did not read those rules aloud. Anyone checking the fine print should use the City of Eagan's meeting and agenda page.

The City Council makes the final choice. The city's Planning Commission page explains that the commission only reviews plans and sends recommendations forward.

From Medical Office to Pet Clinic

The building has 3,067 square feet now. It was built in 2000 and has been used as a medical clinic.

Inside, the new plan would have six exam rooms. It would also have a front desk, lobby, surgery room, lab, and treatment areas.

A 600-square-foot addition would go on the west side. It would hold an X-ray room, kennel area, office, and staff break room.

The addition meets the city's space and yard rules. The outside materials would match the current building. The old sign can stay where it is.

Some trees are dead or missing. Those would need to be replaced. Any later parking lot work would need another city review for water flow and slopes.

The city's Planning and Zoning page is the place to follow official land-use records. For a bigger look at local projects, see our story on Eagan's 2026 building boom.

The Parking Plan

The site has 14 marked spaces. That number raised the most questions.

Owner Kyle Stalpes said the clinic usually has five to seven workers on site. That should leave seven to nine spots for clients.

His plan is simple. Clients get the spaces closest to the door. Workers park farther back.

There is also room for two staff-only overflow spaces north of the building. If that still isn't enough, a backup layout showed about 20 spaces after restriping.

The driveway onto Pilot Knob Road would not change. The city also said the planned addition leaves enough green space.

Parking can make or break a reused building. That same issue has come up in other Eagan Planning Commission projects, especially when an old site gets a busier use.

Dogs and Cats, Not Horse Trailers

A resident named Tom Lopak asked the night's best practical question. Would the clinic treat horses?

That matters because a truck and horse trailer need lots of turning room. This lot is small.

Stalpes said the clinic would treat almost all dogs and cats. It may also see small pets, like rabbits and bearded dragons.

But no horses are planned. He said there would be "nothing large enough that would have to go on a trailer."

The clinic would not offer normal boarding at this Eagan site. Animals could stay only when they need treatment.

The meeting transcript's auto-caption spelled the clinic "Mendota Animal Hospital" and the owner "Stoltzfus." The clinic's website and the city's filed CUP materials use Mendakota Animal Hospital and Kyle Stalpes.

What Happens Next

Staff said the plan would go to the first City Council meeting in September.

The auto-caption says Sept. 3. But Eagan's official calendar lists a regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Check the agenda before you make plans.

If the council says yes, the owners can move ahead with the permit rules, inside remodel, and building addition. The parking lot rebuild could come later.

The Bottom Line

Eagan planners gave this one a clear yes. The clinic fits an office area, and the parking plan has a backup.

The council vote is the last big city step. Until then, the project is recommended — not finally approved.