Council continues Lincoln‑Londonderry small‑area plan hearing; plan splits short‑term fixes from capacity‑dependent changes

The Edina City Council on April 16 heard the Lincoln‑Londonderry Small Area Plan and agreed to leave the public hearing open until noon Sunday, April 27, continuing formal action to the council’s May 6 meeting.

The plan was prepared at the request of the Planning Commission and a community working group and was developed by MEN Collaborative with consultant Zach Lokrum. Planning Commission members and a seven‑member community working group led outreach that included pop‑up events, walking and biking tours, a business survey and multiple public workshops. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend adoption on March 12.

Consultant Zach Lokrum summarized the plan’s central finding: sewer capacity across the western Edina service area is near full utilization, a constraint that limits immediate opportunities for major redevelopment that would add sewer demand. In response, the small‑area plan separates recommendations into two categories: “current‑capacity” actions that can proceed now (trail and streetscape improvements, water‑quality and policy changes, small open‑space upgrades), and “capacity‑dependent” measures that would require sewer infrastructure changes or system connection options before larger land‑use changes occur.

Lokrum said the plan’s vision is that “in 2040, the Lincoln‑Londonderry area will be a welcoming gateway to western Edina” with shops, homes and jobs in a natural setting along Nine Mile Creek. Community priorities identified in engagement included preserving green spaces and the creek, improving safety and walkability, and supporting small, locally focused shops and third‑place gathering spots.

Ryan Day, a Planning Commission member and co‑chair of the small‑area working group, described the outreach campaign and emphasized the team’s effort to reach renters, business owners and nearby residents through targeted events. Commissioner Mary Weatherfelt thanked the working group and neighborhood volunteers for sustained engagement.

Council members asked for clarifications about which recommendations could proceed now and which depend on sewer improvements; Lokrum said implementation would be staged and that full redevelopment options should be addressed in the next comprehensive plan cycle when infrastructure questions may be resolved.

The council approved a motion to close public testimony on the small‑area plan at noon April 27 and continue action to May 6. Staff noted one minor engineering wording adjustment will be included in the May 6 packet.

If adopted by the council, the small‑area plan will be added as an amendment to the city comprehensive plan and forwarded to the Metropolitan Council for review.