Developers propose four townhomes at 5516 Vernon Ave.; council offers design, tree and parking feedback

Abundance Properties presented a sketch plan to the Edina City Council on Feb. 4 for a proposed redevelopment of 5516 Vernon Ave. that would demolish an existing single‑family house and build four townhome units under a planned residential development (PRD2) zoning designation.

City staff described the site as roughly 38,000 square feet in the Grandview area, guided for low‑density residential in the comprehensive plan and currently zoned R‑1 (single‑family). Director Carrie Teague told council a formal application would require a comprehensive‑plan amendment to low‑density attached residential, rezoning to PRD2 and site plan review; staff reviewed the usable‑lot‑area calculation and concluded the project would comply with PRD2 standards and would not need a usable‑lot variance.

Applicants from Abundance Properties—Jordan Crockett (operations/project manager), Rashad Kendi (co‑founder) and Darren Fletcher—said they own the lot and are proposing four owner‑occupied townhomes, each about 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms and attached double garages. They described sustainability and energy‑efficiency features including LP Smart Siding, Energy Star appliances, high‑efficiency HVAC (up to 97%), low‑E glazing and prewiring of garages for electric‑vehicle chargers. The applicants stated target sale values in the roughly $750,000–$950,000 range and said their aim is owner occupancy.

Council members broadly signaled that the proposed unit count and scale appeared compatible with the neighborhood’s recent “missing middle” rezonings, but they offered several design suggestions and concerns: - Preserve mature oak trees where possible. Multiple council members urged applicants to minimize tree removal or shift building pads to retain established oaks along the west lot line. - Reduce impervious surface and guest‑parking visibility. Council members suggested pervious pavers, reconfigured guest stalls, and minimizing hardscape to preserve yard and play space. - Reconsider Unit 4 orientation to improve the street‑front experience. Council Member Agnew and others recommended the architect test rotating or reorienting Unit 4 so the principal entry reads as a front face on Vernon. - Provide a designated safe interior space for severe weather in slab foundations. Applicants said the area under the stair and adjacent mechanical/utility space in each unit would serve as a shelter location.

Director Teague noted a nearby precedent—an older Vernon development rezoned previously from R‑1 to PRD2—and recommended including adjacent lots in any comprehensive‑plan amendment to create a consistent guidance area. Staff also told council that a prior planning commission review had led to recalculation of usable lot area; the project now complies with that metric.

Developers said they have completed initial surveying and topographic work and have invested several thousand dollars in preapplication steps; they signaled they will return with more detailed plans. Council members encouraged further refinement of facades, tree preservation plans, pervious parking surfaces and interior finish levels to match the stated price range.

Ending: Applicants will refine the plan and return for formal application materials (comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning and site plan review); staff will include tree impacts and impervious‑surface calculations in subsequent review materials.