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

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…