Edina Planning Commission hears concerns on zoning, reviews major Southdale project
The Edina Planning Commission held a public hearing on March 13 for a major redevelopment proposal in the Southdale District while residents raised safety concerns about building setbacks and pushed for residential zoning of a long-troubled commercial lot.
The commission heard from three residents during the public comment period before moving to the main agenda item. One resident warned commissioners about safety risks from extreme setback variances, citing problems at the former Burley's site where power lines could not be kept the required 10 feet from a building. "There's a very good reason why setback numbers are what they are," the resident said. "It's not just oh we want to do a bigger building. This is just plain safety."
Another resident, Sarah Irwin, asked the commission to immediately rezone the former Kevin Keys Auto Body lot to residential instead of waiting for the city's 2028 comprehensive plan update. She noted that two previous commercial proposals for the site had been rejected due to traffic hazards on Vernon Avenue. "Instead of taking more time, energy, and tax money to try to figure out what would work on that spot, I'm asking you to change the zoning so that the owners can move forward with what we already know does work—housing," Irwin said. Commission Chair Bennett acknowledged the feedback and said the city is working to identify areas for zoning review to align with the comprehensive plan.
A third resident asked about the accessibility of the Grand View pedestrian bridge, noting that while its long walkway met ADA slope requirements, it might still be challenging for wheelchair users. Chair Bennett directed the resident to the engineering department for details.
The commission then held a public hearing on a proposal to redevelop a 22-acre Southdale parcel. The applicant proposes rezoning the site from PUD to PCD 3 zoning and constructing a 107,000-square-foot medical office building, an 8,000-square-foot restaurant, and a multi-level parking deck. The plan includes preserving approximately 90% of the site's existing tree grove and creating an accessible pedestrian pathway with an elevator connecting to the Cornelia residential neighborhood. Staff recommended approval, noting the rezoning aligns with the comprehensive plan and is necessary to enable development on the long-stalled site. Commissioners questioned the design's impact on pedestrian experience, particularly for seniors, and how the restaurant's back-of-house operations would function. A final vote on the proposal was not taken during this meeting.
Our proprietary artificial intelligence agent analyzed publicly available documents including meeting agendas, minutes, and transcripts to write this story to help inform local residents. Feedback helps us improve, so please consider rating how we did with the thumbs up or down below.
Go deeper on this topic
Research related meeting documents and build a brief — without rewriting the story.
Full analysis
Votes (4)
Community Comment: Safety Concerns Regarding Setback Variance at Former Burley's Site
A resident expressed concern over a power line setback issue at the former Burley's site, which was minimally addressed by XL Energy. The resident used this as a 'cautionary tale' for the Planning Commission to be more diligent in future decisions regarding extreme setback variances, prioritizing safety over development size.
Community Comment: Request for Immediate Rezoning of Kevin Keys Auto Body Lot to Residential
A resident advocated for the immediate rezoning of the former Kevin Keys Auto Body lot to residential, citing two previous commercial proposals that were rejected due to the site's characteristics and traffic hazards on Vernon Avenue. The resident argued against waiting for the 2028 comprehensive plan update. Chair Bennett acknowledged the feedback and stated that the City is working on identifying areas for zoning review to align with the comprehensive plan.
Community Comment: Inquiry on Grand View Pedestrian Bridge ADA Status
A resident requested an update on the Grand View pedestrian bridge, specifically questioning its ADA compliance regarding a long walkway that, while meeting slope requirements, might still be challenging for wheelchair users. Chair Bennett directed the resident to the engineering department for detailed information and committed to internal follow-up.
Public Hearing: Southdale District Preliminary Rezoning, Site Plan, Variances, and Subdivision
The applicant proposed redeveloping a 22-acre Southdale parcel by rezoning it from PUD to PCD 3, constructing a 107,000 sq ft medical office building, an 8,000 sq ft restaurant, and a multi-level parking deck. The plan includes extensive tree preservation, enhanced pedestrian connections (including an accessible East-West route with an elevator), and exceeding stormwater treatment requirements. Variances were requested for building transparency, first-floor height, and overall building height. Commissioners questioned the design's impact on pedestrian experience, particularly for seniors, back-of-house operations for the restaurant, and the project's adherence to broader urban design guidelines for creating prominent public 'street rooms' given the tight site constraints.
Notable Quotes (10)
the power line issue as far as the setback goes and safety of anybody working on that building and maintaining it in the future finally did get addressed but barely because I know those power lines still cannot technically be 10 ft away from the structure.
there's a very good reason why setback numbers are what they are it's not just oh we want we just want to do a bigger building this is just plain safety
instead of taking more time energy and tax money to try to figure out what would work on that spot I'm asking you to take um the steps necessary to change the zoning so that the owners can move forward with what we already know does work on that spot in this 100% residential neighborhood and that's housing
identify potential areas of change as well as kind of cleaning up and marrying zoning to the comprehensive plan so there aren't these anomalies of different zoned areas with how they're guided and the comprehensive plan which is the more overarching document
I went out there and took a look at basically the the length of the um what's considered basically the walkway as opposed to a ramp being 100t and I'm just wondering if there's any implementation or design of the project that's not complete yet that may be addressing like a Runway uh wheelchair if somebody is trying to just help them up or not
staff does support the rezoning again it reestablishes that original zoning on the site allowed uses include the office medical restaurants and banks which would all be located on on the site um the PCD 3 as I mentioned is consistent with the zoning to the East and to the south and east again consistent with the comprehensive plan and the existing PUD um no development is taken place so there has to be some kind of reasonable rezoning of the site in order to get development on the site
we really want to expand and enhance this site as a center of employment and economic Vitality especially as it relates to the health and wellness piece uh near the Fairview Medical Center
approximately 90% of the site area encompassing the tree Grove is being preserved with a new proposal this includes greater attention to uh to care of the existing Grove by way of new plantings prunings and removal of Deadfall within that Grove Additionally the plan voluntarily incorporates the city's more aggressive future tree ordinance
as I look through how people will walk through this site um the cars coming in and out of that back lot you're going to have to cross traffic path multiple times and then you're going to have to cross on the West Side um the entrance into that parking garage I'm both concerned about the confusion that that may present for seniors the distances that that may present for anyone with any sort of Mobility impairment and honestly just the traffic pattern
it it's hard for me to I guess swallow that just out of kind of the design principles that are you know kind of laid out for the design experience guidelines it's really to create prominent Street rooms between buildings
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
The overarching document guiding city development, from which small area plans and zoning stem.
Guidance documents that help make long-range decisions for land use, mentioned with the Westy Dina plan.
A new zoning ordinance in proposal, mentioned as part of the Planning Commission's work plan.
An ordinance that has been withdrawn from tonight's meeting agenda.
Planned Unit Development zoning, the current zoning of the 22-acre Southdale District parcel, approved in 2017 but undeveloped.
Planned Commercial District 3, the original zoning of the Southdale District parcel, and the requested rezoning designation.
A zoning district that the Southdale parcel was rezoned to in 1984, based on its primary office uses.
Design principles informing the proposed Southdale redevelopment, particularly for building massing and public realm connection.
A future policy voluntarily incorporated by the applicant for tree preservation and reforestation on the Southdale site.
An interactive GIS tool available online for residents to assess flood risk.
Regulations that the storm water management plan for the Southdale redevelopment must meet.
Source document
Was this story helpful?
Other Topics from This Document
Southdale District Redevelopment Proposal
ADA Access and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.