Edina council advances West 72nd Street reconstruction; sewer upsized, sidewalk planned

Edina City Council members on Dec. 8 advanced the West 72nd Street neighborhood reconstruction to the design and bidding phase after a public hearing in which residents urged attention to parking, tree canopy and lighting near Cornelia Elementary.

Assistant city engineer Aaron Ditzler and Director Chad Milner told the council the project is tied to a South trunk sanitary sewer upgrade and would increase the sewer main to a 36‑inch (3‑ft) trunk on 72nd Street between Cornelia Drive and France Avenue. The staff presentation described replacement of water services, gate valves and hydrants, spot storm‑sewer repairs and a proposed street cross‑section that narrows the existing concrete street from about 28 ft to 24 ft and adds an 8‑ft shared‑use path on the south side.

Why it matters: the project combines costly underground work — staff estimated the sanitary sewer portion at about $4.2 million — with surface and pedestrian improvements. Roadway and pedestrian elements were shown as funded partly by special assessments and partly by property taxes; staff estimated roughly $313,000 of roadway costs would be specially assessed and described other utility work as paid from utility funds and not assessed to property owners.

What staff said: Milner described the opportunity to reconstruct streets and utilities together. Ditzler summarized the city’s pavement management approach and schedule: design this winter, contractor bidding in March, council award in April and construction starting in late April or May 2026 with season completion in fall 2026. He said the city hired an appraisal firm under the requirements of state statute Chapter 429 to test that assessments do not exceed the special benefit in market value.

Resident concerns and responses: South Cornelia resident Sandy Carlson said the 7,200‑block development had been approved on the basis of adequate on‑site parking and asked the council to hold the developer to that representation and to “reject” any plan that burdens 72nd Street with overflow parking. "You must hold them to their word and reject this request," Carlson said. Developer representative Ted Carlson of Orion Investments said the project has adequate on‑site parking and that his team was borne to pay the majority of the assessment; he also suggested limited on‑street parking could aid trail and park access.

Several neighbors, including Neil Johnson and Miriam, supported the proposed median and pedestrian improvements but asked staff to protect mature trees and to ensure the so‑called pork‑chop turn restriction at the 7200 France driveway prevents cut‑through traffic near the elementary school. Milner and staff said barrier curb is the city standard, that tree preservation will involve the city forester during design and that the pork‑chop will be accompanied by signage to limit left turns.

Council action and next steps: councilmembers voted to close the in‑person public hearing, keep online input open through Dec. 10 and take final action at the Dec. 16 council meeting. Staff will return with any design refinements and the contract award recommendation in the spring.

Costs & assessments: staff presented a project total of about $6.4 million with the bulk in utilities; roadway and pedestrian elements include an assessable portion (estimated in staff slides at roughly $313,000) and a property‑tax share. Property owners will receive assessment notices about one year after construction completion; payment options include paying up front, a 25% upfront option and a 15‑year roll‑over on property taxes, and deferral options for qualified seniors.

The council’s Dec. 16 meeting will be the next formal opportunity to amend or approve the project and any assessment schedule.