Edina council vacates four duplicate easements at former Macy’s site; approves $8,700 donation for scholarships

The Edina City Council voted Feb. 18 to adopt Resolution 2025-16, vacating four designated duplicate easements at 7235 France Avenue, the site identified in staff materials as the former Macy’s property. The motion, moved by Member Jackson and seconded by Member Pierce, passed by voice vote.

Engineering Director Chad Milner told the council the request covers four exceptions identified in the resolution — a duplicated sanitary sewer easement (No. 9), two sidewalk/right-of-way-related easements (Nos. 13 and 14) and a transit easement (No. 18). Milner said the duplicated sanitary easement would be consolidated in a single document and that the city will “hold all the easements that we do need in the future until any sort of development project occurs.” He emphasized that the city will not vacate easements it expects to need for infrastructure tied to future projects.

During the public hearing, resident Jamie Westin asked who would have jurisdiction over the 9 Mile Creek Trail that runs along the south side of the property, whether the trail would remain open during construction and where detours would be located. Milner and staff answered that the 3 Rivers Park District, working with the city and staff contact Danny McCauley at the park district, would be part of decisions about closures and detours and that the trail would be kept open when it is safe to do so.

Member Reusser expressed concerns about a scenic and open-space easement (No. 13) that appears to encompass a larger area beyond the parcel and requested clarification that the legal descriptions apply only to the parcel under consideration. Milner reiterated that legal descriptions are parcel-specific and that larger, earlier documents and easements will be retained except for the four enumerated exceptions.

Council then moved to adopt Resolution 2025-16; the mayor called for voices and the motion carried. The council also approved Resolution 2025-17, accepting donations on behalf of the city, including an $8,700 gift from the Edina Community Foundation to the Parks & Recreation Department’s connect-card scholarships, which help families pay for youth programs.

What’s next: staff said they will keep the easements the city needs for sidewalk and transit access until a development project triggers a formal adjustment, and coordination with 3 Rivers Park District will determine whether and how the trail is temporarily closed for construction.