[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6280765,"mediaKeyId","2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd","parentId",2611166,"title","Planning commission recommends approval for Southdale Library and Edina Art Center plans and a building-height variance","audioSeconds",4462,"startMs",1028000,"endMs",5490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd&start=1028&end=5490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd/thumbnail_1028000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280765/Edina/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Planning-commission-recommends-approval-for-Southdale-Library-and-Edina-Art-Center-plans-and-a-building-height-variance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280765-627bb7163ddc2d30296345b736406935/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145626&Signature=UUIAFnITzhEiFZDKd4Nsqn5ebjD9Q-0KAErA9EOnLX1Of-QCYqu9ROGUauPmWnDJbptLrWm-nUEJPG6SZ7pmVMCueirIHxmdJr42uQRoJfDG4de3WMYjNCH~ZhswPqvNmK622pElwL9W3ib1ZF91OdcbFNnQOfyTm6kVHXkkzuk0f-eW06nMwHhMZ34PWdUnRLcqyJusKHwPfL8UeYXzp0sf~QnlYGzQQi1ECM7nb1ICYDhqQhlZUZ4F39Ta-r6B-uMTn~in5WRGPxrlRwHuJqhms9NKr3Y5X-3buvfJu8r0AEr5pxfgF9SRSdXbXq3JYHE4q9bTZVZP1hEEnzIYKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Edina, MN","date","2025-03-13T16:33:30Z","article","The Edina Planning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend that the City Council approve a conditional use permit, site plan and building-height variance for Hennepin County’s proposed Southdale Library and Edina Art Center at 7001 York Avenue South.

Hennepin County and MSR Design presented a proposal to demolish the existing regional library and county service center and construct a new, more compact campus on the north half of the 7.75-acre site. Emily (city staff) told commissioners the existing library campus contains roughly 76,000 square feet of library space and a 38,000-square-foot service center; the proposal would replace that footprint with a new 43,000-square-foot library and a 16,000-square-foot art center.

County project manager Liz Viderico said the building sits at the southeast corner of York and 70th Street and that the county’s outreach has included nearly 100-person workshops and an open house. “We are embracing an opportunity to improve accessibility, strengthen our programming and partnerships, provide green space and showcase through sustainable design,” Viderico said.

MSR Design principal Matthew described the design intent: a building pulled toward the York street edge with the south half of the property restored as wetland, passive green space and trails. He said the design emphasizes daylighting, native planting, stormwater detention and reduced impervious surfaces. Landscape architect Britta Hansen said the permanent pools on the south part of the site would be “approximately 8 feet deep” and will hold water except in extreme drought.

Staff recommended the commission recommend City Council approval, saying the project meets conditional-use standards and meets code except for the building height. Emily said the existing library’s top height is roughly 60 feet; the proposed building would measure 59 feet from average existing grade, exceeding the R-1 district height norm for nonresidential buildings. “Staff believes that the proposed variance for building height is justified,” Emily said, noting nearby buildings are comparable in height and the site sits in the Greater Southdale District where greater height and density are contemplated.

The project includes parking, pedestrian and bike connections and a large amount of below-grade parking. Staff and the applicant described multiple parking counts during the presentation: in the staff report a minimum of 60 stalls is required by code; staff and the project team later described a plan with roughly 182 stalls overall (figures discussed included an 84-stall total in one staff summary, and later the team described “about 182 parking stalls” split between surface and underground). The project team said it relied on parking studies of the current library and arts uses to size the lot and that the design attempts to minimize the visible area of parked cars by lowering much of the lot into the landscape.

Commission questions ranged from tree preservation and the city’s tree ordinance to fenestration rules, pedestrian and bike access, and the proposed division of green space and managed wetlands. County staff said tree-preservation requirements are administered by the city forester and will be addressed prior to building permits; the county said it will work with the forester on tree preservation, onsite transplantation or escrow mitigation as needed.

Library director Scott Dimstra said the county intends the new facility to be “a warm welcoming space” for a broad range of residents, serving programming, technology access and community services in addition to collections. Hennepin County staff indicated a late-2027 opening is the current target for completion.

After public comment — a single in-person speaker who said he supports the project — the commission voted in roll call to recommend City Council approval. The roll call recorded ayes from Commissioners Nelson, Alkire, Padilla, Smith, Day, Felt, Hanneman and Chair Bennett. Commissioners also asked that the county and the city coordinate on trail connections and other items before City Council review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Edina Planning Commission Meeting / March 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission voted to recommend City Council approval for a new Southdale Library and Edina Art Center at 7001 York Avenue South, including a building-height variance to allow a 59-foot structure on a 7.75-acre site.","taxTitle","Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota","taxId",5133,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6280770,"Edina planning commission approves front-yard setback variance for 5205 Minnehaha Boulevard",825,131000,956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd&start=131&end=956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd/thumbnail_131000.jpg","/articles/6280770/Edina/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Edina-planning-commission-approves-front-yard-setback-variance-for-5205-Minnehaha-Boulevard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280770-6146c16d592b505581d0dfe4b3c0cc86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145626&Signature=CdRI72mROGC0CRHYJqam~U98pLnsDGWc7RCXIEqG7G50twa9l1R94jlHaDmkhUnTmoAdraJD11gsXMyKDyfnErRVDhoD0LoKJmnSN0wEKWPXSQ4~8fVYwBkeZZQ7VFcvB0dgbOgK8FSIJTUZo6EEGoC2t67FDnyzDBYfXK~pEON0Eud~DdjklWW82XEFaPs8yMk7WRv72G-z9JWf5H~PTb~eQpmY48yItdxlF0ChfoClgupEtt986WqtJO8kLrikIJSVSfPauk~7fOCUT~nlHjmcx3PrFeFYnrzr-bi~qXTwWb0rCC4akQdHi81RmvoMGPzC9pUGU5E7MTFNd--uwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Edina Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a front-yard setback variance for 5205 Minnehaha Boulevard, allowing the owners to tear down the existing house and build a new home at a setback matching the adjacent house to the north.

Staff and the applicant told commissioners the lot is constrained by a sharp curve in Minnehaha Boulevard that pushes the required front setback far into the site, creating a practical difficulty.

Planner Carrie (staff) told the commission the front-yard setback for the lot is calculated as the average of the two adjacent homes — about 60 feet — and that, “staff is recommending approval subject to the findings and conditions that are outlined in your staff report.” She said the proposed new home would match the existing home’s setback and would not alter the “essential character of the neighborhood.”

Applicant Fazashai, who purchased the property in October 2024, described neighborhood outreach and the project design. “Our goal is to build a house that would fit the lot in the neighborhood,” he said, adding that the proposed structure would be one-and-a-half stories and remain in the same general footprint as the existing house. Fazashai said he met with nearby neighbors and shared elevations with households within 300 feet of the property.

Commissioners noted the city routinely approves similar variances on nonstandard lots when a proposed house matches the existing setback pattern and does not encroach closer to the street. After brief discussion the commission made and seconded a motion to approve the variance; a voice vote carried the motion.

The approval carries conditions listed in the staff report, including compliance with other code requirements at building permit review. Commission discussion also noted the tree preservation ordinance applies at permit stage: if trees are removed at the time of building permit the owner will need to meet the tree replacement rules or work with the city forester on mitigation or escrow options.

The applicant may proceed to building permit review subject to the conditions in the staff report and standard permit checks on tree protection, grading and other site work.","The Planning Commission voted to approve a variance allowing a new house to be rebuilt at the same front setback as the current home on a curved section of Minnehaha Boulevard, citing unique lot geometry and matching the existing neighborhood pattern.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6280760,"Planning commission forwards Lincoln–Londonderry Small Area Plan to Met Council review",2024,6028000,8052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd&start=6028&end=8052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2611166-62505780d167fc3aeb36582246bfc5bd/thumbnail_6028000.jpg","/articles/6280760/Edina/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Planning-commission-forwards-LincolnLondonderry-Small-Area-Plan-to-Met-Council-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280760-75651a9b6672055bcf742b3433080280/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145626&Signature=m6qpny3WKjPweAeqHgZmGcvL1XjwZ3U9IaloWu-L381BRH37MItVJKbfj0M~YFrRyihYFlEgs1PGukdondI1mpnpHOzdDHlvQs87Zqm6B4vRCoVCyDb8yJBZQn8Lb2O5kyaA4elZwj5qlRNFw9m5obumCsOsJOim47u~zYC6d7PNpDgKuYJKYJCS5LG86pLVl8NhdhKCufexFspBGPdEpjgbCuipahV2SHYvbkU8jROsU0i0bd-cONZVLJ2inZIG5un57g~E9KhbXUaApydeUdEoiLkcGH97AmRyaJueY2zhM0zV6XWW4Fg9aeOaFrNl8gHSjrQWV7R9GUt--GzGWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Edina Planning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend that the City Council authorize staff to submit the Lincoln–Londonderry Small Area Plan to the Metropolitan Council for review as an amendment to the comprehensive plan.

The plan, prepared with consultant MEN Collaborative and a citizen working group, lays out short-term public-realm improvements — trails, pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades, greening and wayfinding — and longer-term land-use options should regional sewer-capacity constraints be resolved. Project manager Zach Lacham presented the document and summarized community engagement and the plan’s vision: “The Lincoln Londonderry area will be a welcoming gateway to Western Edina. There will be shops, restaurants, homes, and jobs all in a natural setting along 9 Mile Creek,” he said.

Draft recommendations distinguish actions that are feasible under current constraints — smaller-scale code and streetscape changes, trailhead improvements and beautification — from larger redevelopment scenarios that require additional sewer capacity, financing and master planning. City staff and the working group recommended a two-track approach: implement public-realm and design guideline changes now while reserving larger zoning or sewer investments for the next comprehensive-plan cycle.

Commission discussion focused on sewer capacity, the document’s role relative to the comprehensive plan, and whether the small area plan should be more prescriptive now or leave flexibility for market-driven change. Commissioner Hanneman voiced opposition and said the plan had been shaped by reaction rather than proactive policy; Commissioner Padilla abstained from the final vote. The roll call recorded six ayes, one abstention and one nay: Commissioners Nelson, Alkire, Smith, Day, Felt and Chair Bennett voted in favor; Commissioner Padilla abstained; Commissioner Hanneman voted no.

Staff will forward the plan and the Planning Commission’s recommendation to the City Council for authorization to submit the plan to the Met Council for formal review and adoption as a comprehensive-plan amendment.","After year-long outreach and a working group, the commission voted to send the Lincoln–Londonderry Small Area Plan to the Metropolitan Council for review as an amendment to the comprehensive plan. Commissioners discussed sewer-capacity constraints and long-term redevelopment options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission recommends approval for Southdale Library and Edina Art Center plans and a building-height variance

Edina planning commission approves front-yard setback variance for 5205 Minnehaha Boulevard

Planning commission forwards Lincoln–Londonderry Small Area Plan to Met Council review