Edina Council Weighs Affordable Housing at Fire Station Site
The Edina City Council directed staff to continue researching affordable housing options for surplus land at Fire Station No. 2 during a work session Wednesday, though one council member raised concerns about the process and site safety.
The Edina Housing Foundation and architects from LHB presented three development concepts for the fire station property: townhomes, a hybrid model, and multifamily housing. Architect Mike Madden told the council that multifamily construction offers the most efficient path to affordable housing, with the ideal project size being 40 to 65 units per building.
Council members debated whether the site should prioritize homeownership opportunities or rental units, and discussed infrastructure challenges including stormwater management and access through the fire station parking lot. Mayor Hovland questioned whether housing represents the best use of the land, asking staff to evaluate whether the city has other needs that might take priority.
Council member Risser dissented from the general consensus, expressing frustration that presentation materials were not shared before the meeting. "This is the first time I've seen those images," Risser said. "We really need to have all of the material that we are reviewing provided to us before the meeting." Risser also raised concerns about site safety and access issues.
In a separate discussion, consultants Zach Lock and Luke Miranda updated the council on the Lincoln and Londonderry Small Area Plan, a strategic framework for development along Edina's western edge near 9 Mile Creek. The consultants identified a significant obstacle: the area's sewage system cannot support new high-density construction. Lock told the council that no single development project in the area would justify the cost of upgrading the sewer infrastructure, meaning the city would need to either connect to Minnetonka's system or undertake a major citywide upgrade.
The consultants proposed a dual-track approach that would allow short-term public improvements like pedestrian connections and park enhancements to move forward while the city addresses the longer-term infrastructure question. Council members praised the methodology behind the community engagement process. No formal votes were taken on either agenda item, as both discussions were informational in nature.
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Votes (2)
Fire Station Site Development Concepts
Dissent: Council member Risser expressed strong concerns over lack of preliminary dialogue and site safety/access.
The council reviewed density options and pedestrian connectivity. Key concerns included site access through the fire station parking lot, the financial difficulty of family-oriented co-op housing, and the need for procedural transparency regarding meeting materials.
Lincoln and Londonderry Small Area Plan Status
Dissent: None; general praise for the methodology from the council.
Consultants Zach Lock and Luke Miranda presented community feedback themes. A critical 'sewage constraint' was identified as a barrier to new building permits, requiring a potential connection to Minnetonka or a large-scale city-wide upgrade.
Notable Quotes (4)
This is the first time I've seen those images... We really need to have all of the material that we are reviewing provided to us before the meeting.
The multifamily is the most efficient way to do affordable housing. The sweet spot is really in that 40 to 65 units in a building.
What I don't know is is there a potential need that the city has for this balance of this site that would be more important or primary than housing.
There is likely no use that we could propose on Lincoln in the Parcels that are in Lincoln Londonderry that by itself would make a cost effective reason to upgrade the sewer.
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
Guides connectivity and land use in the Southdale district, impacting the fire station site.
Strategic framework for the future development and character of the western edge of Edina.
The city-wide planning document that will need to address regional sewage capacity issues.
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Other Topics from This Document
Lincoln and Londonderry Small Area Plan Update
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