Edina City Council — Transcript
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Metro Transit E-Line Bus Rapid Transit Project
Macy's Furniture Store Site Redevelopment (7235 France Avenue)
General Obligation Bond Issuance for Eden Wilson Redevelopment
Pedestrian Safety and Infrastructure Concerns
City Manager Performance Objectives Review
Park Amenities and Maintenance
Flag Lowering Protocol
Votes (7)
Adoption of Meeting Agenda
Dissent: None; item 6C removed by request for separate consideration
Moved by Member Jackson [~00:08:00] · Seconded by Member Pierce [~00:08:00]
Council reviewed the published meeting agenda. Member Risser and Member Pierce requested removal of item 6C (Resolution 2024-37) from consent agenda for separate discussion.
Resolution 2024-37: General Obligation Bond Issuance ($2,730,000)
Dissent: None
Moved by Member Risser [~00:16:00] · Seconded by Member Jackson [~00:16:00]
Municipal advisor Nick Anut from Ehlers explained that $5.4 million of bond proceeds will fund Eden Wilson TIFF district public improvements including roundabout reimbursement ($2M) and roadway/traffic safety enhancements ($3.2M). Member Risser questioned whether interest costs were factored into TIFF feasibility calculations. Staff confirmed interest expense (4-5% anticipated) was included in original TIFF budget but exceeds original estimates. Member Pierce noted the project represents a full-circle opportunity to address pedestrian concerns raised by Sunny Slope residents during Maison Green approval.
Metro Transit E-Line Bus Rapid Transit Project Presentation
Adam Smith (Metro Transit BRT Manager) and Eric Thompson (Community Outreach Coordinator) presented the E-Line project: 13-mile corridor with 34 stops, construction 2024-2025, service launch late 2025. Key details: France Avenue construction with southbound detour on Xerxes; five intersections will share single detour; northbound France remains open; temporary signals at 39th and 60th Streets; work phased 5-6 weeks per intersection; businesses remain open with maintained pedestrian/vehicle access; parking ramps accessible; weekly email updates and construction hotline provided. Metropolitan Council Representative Angel Mara Cameron praised the project and city partnership. Council members asked about service span (confirmed to run until 1-2 AM), weekly newsletter signup, and static website availability. Staff confirmed construction hotline and email updates available.
Macy's Furniture Store Site Redevelopment (7235 France Avenue) - Public Hearing
Dissent: Planning Commission voted 5-1 for approval; Council members expressed concerns about architectural treatment of north facades, pedestrian experience on France Avenue, wind effects, dog park location, and ADA accessibility, but no formal dissent recorded at this stage
Director Teague presented preliminary rezoning, overall development plan, site plan, and subdivision for mixed-use redevelopment. Project proposes: four building pads; 471 residential units (58 affordable at 50% AMI); 68,000 sq ft office; retail/restaurant; 45% public realm dedication; setback from Promenade increased from 15 ft to 35+ ft; three restaurants added; 9-Mile Creek Trail widening proposed (10 to 15 ft); 11-story building shifted south; parking reduced from 4 to 1 level in NW building; enhanced landscaping; public art (4 locations); EV charging (5% with 10% future capacity); rooftop solar on east buildings; owner-occupied affordable units (5 units). Planning Commission recommended approval 5-1. Staff recommends approval. Public hearing closed; public input open until June 9; action continued to June 18. Applicant team (Enclave, Lifestyle Communities, ESG Architecture, Confluence Design) presented 3D flythrough showing: pedestrian-first design; restaurants wrapping corners; central plaza with lawn/gathering space; tiered seating; dog park (with concerns raised about Promenade location); connections to Centennial Lakes and 9-Mile Creek Trail; future France Avenue crossing accommodation (underpass or overpass); flexible parking for public use; art installations; green walls on south facade. Council raised concerns: (1) North wall of SW building creates sheer wall/shadow effect; (2) North facades of NW and NE buildings uninspiring from France Avenue approach; (3) Wind tunnel effects from tall buildings near Promenade; (4) Perception that central plaza feels private despite public easements; (5) Lack of direct ADA access from France Avenue; (6) Sidewalk design removes boulevard buffer on France; (7) Dog park location near Promenade may create noise/smell issues; (8) Permeability calculations exclude public pathways; (9) Financing feasibility given market conditions. Applicant responses: (1) Transparency and art/murals soften SW building north wall; (2) Acknowledged architectural concerns on north facades; proposed interactive facade/projection possibilities; (3) Wind study not standard but can be explored; (4) Programming and activation (restaurants, art, lawn events) create public feel; (5) ADA access available from north and south via restaurants; (6) Setback increased to accommodate future France crossing; (7) Dog park location being reconsidered; park board concerned about congestion on Promenade; (8) Developers confident in financing; equity partners and lenders tentatively committed; single tenant committed to 35,000 sq ft of 68,000 sq ft office space; NW building designed for flexibility (office/residential mix) to ensure financial feasibility; construction start August-September 2025, close January 2025.
Community Comment - Pedestrian Walkway Safety (50th Street)
Resident Ryan Green (4904 East Sunny Slope Road) requested enhanced pedestrian walkways along 50th Street between Wooddale Park and Highway 100, noting stress about children walking to OGG for mass and school. He praised Chad Milner's responsiveness and requested that contractors provide alternate pedestrian routes during utility construction rather than blocking sidewalks with construction barrels.
Community Comment - City Manager Performance Objectives
Resident Ralph Siker (4311 Cornelia Circle) raised concern that specific performance objectives discussed in January and March work sessions were not included in City Manager Scott Neil's 2024 performance objectives memo. He requested that Council review the work session recording to address this discrepancy.
Staff Response to Prior Meeting Community Comments
City Manager Scott Neil responded to three questions from prior meeting: (1) Drinking fountains at outdoor parks - activated around Memorial Day (risk of freezing before then); cleaned regularly when open; residents can report issues via 311 app. (2) Grand View Bridge closure signs - six signs in place; two recently unhooked; city staff reconnected and reinforced chains. (3) Flag lowering protocol - notices from Governor's office go to Jennifer Benart, distributed to all facilities; city reconsidering policy to lower flags at time of notice rather than only during staffed hours.
Notable Quotes (16)
I do think it's just the way that this has happened I think it's worth just highlighting... we had a resident uh believe it was rich green uh talk about pedestrian Pathways right right outside here in front of Sunny Slope um and when we talked about uh when we approved the Mason green project we had a discussion about well what other public realm benefits could we make... and so I do think it's just this is a neat opportunity to be able to say um this is kind of Full Circle how in this particular instance the process worked
5.4 million of the amount that's anticipated for this year's bonds are going to be backed by the revenues derived from that project and that Tiff fund and they're going to go towards paying for those roadway Traffic Safety enhancements
one of the things that uh bus Rapid Transit projects really emphasize is having a frequent reliable schedule 7 days a week throughout the day and so that frequency has been um really successful on other projects... a lot of that growth is coming at those you know midday times those weekend times
if I'm going down to a link scheme can I take the brt there and get home if it runs into overtime
this project meets the overarching objective of the Sou D plan which is to maximize pedestrian activity throughout the district with the public realm as the connective tissue that gives the district its unique identity
we went through I think a really great engagement process that's been about a year and a half long process with a lot of different touch points with different stakeholders in the community um that feedback means a lot to us um and we take it to heart and are hopeful that as we go through this presentation you can see some of the feedback we received hopefully reflected in the plans
this would also be the very very first time we would have a developer succeed with a project where they have followed the Southdale design guidelines and they've put in a north south access road and an East West Access Road
when I look at my house lot I can't go halfway into the street to calculate what I can build and I'm just wondering um because that's the approach we're taking when it comes to subdividing will these divisions be compliant
when I think about Lun berer Le and I was trying to imagine with the site that I was looking at um how close the walls of the building were going to be compared to where the ramp going up to Lun Bley is and it's really kind of nice the way you go up a ramp and you're pulled back from the street and you're elevated above it as you take that pathway um there's a lot going on here but the connector and I have to say putting the connector right there you know and I think I might be the only one who is concerned by you know Shifting the prominade further to the North
the reason it looks different is because it's never been done before right we're kind of meeting all the goals that we've met before so it'll look a lot different than it's looked before the density is going to feel heavier there's going to feel like there's no room for cars there's no room for parking but that's because it is primarily focused on landscape and pedestrian
I get a little bit nervous here when I watch you going on the virtual down the north side of that south building Southwest Building... it looks to me like it's might be 60 80 80 feet tall uh and so I'm walking in the on the on the southide there in the shade where that one person is and I get this this sheer wall above me here
we have a single tenant that's already committed to 35,000 of that space uh and we also know in working with similar um uh consultants in jll that there's additional demand for the the remaining space here in this project so we're we're feeling like we're we've right sized it
the original proposal was 100% office a big reason why we switched it out to what it is today is for flexibility and that flexibility is built all around being able to perform that's the main reason why we have it buil out the way that we do
I've got a small army of children uh we go to OGG for uh both mass and for school and watching my kids make that Trek from East Sunny Slope over to OLG is uh stressful to say the least... it would be nice if on this the rest of this project and future projects if contractors could provide an alternate right of away for pedestrians
on two separate occasions January and March of this year four specific performance objectives were addressed to be included in Mr Neil's objectives and the memo that he shared for that in in preparation for that meeting included none of those nor was there a specific discussion of those individual goals that were laid out I find this disturbing
the city's Park maintenance Park maintenance division uh strives to have drinking Waters fountains in Parks active around Memorial Day uh before that they're subject to risk of freezing and and destruction
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Authorizes sale of up to $2,730,000 in general obligation bonds for Eden Wilson Redevelopment TIFF district public improvements
Adopted guidelines (circa 2015-2019) for development in Southdale district; emphasize pedestrian activity, public realm connectivity, and smaller building parcels
City planning document that designates Macy's site as Community Activity Center and guides density/development standards
Current zoning for Macy's site; proposed to be rezoned to PUD (Planned Unit Development)
Proposed zoning for Macy's redevelopment; allows flexibility from standard PCD3 requirements in exchange for public benefits including affordable housing and public realm
City policy requiring 5% of parking stalls have EV charging with ability to expand to 10%, rooftop solar on buildings, and 10% affordable housing units
Metro Transit 13-mile corridor project with 34 stops; construction 2024-2025, service launch late 2025
Parking and traffic analysis for Macy's redevelopment concluding no roadway improvements needed and adequate parking provided