Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Conditional Use Philbrook topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Edina council leaves public record open on Philbrook Lane floodplain rebuild; action continued to Nov. 6
Summary
Staff recommended approval of a conditional‑use permit and variances to replace a nonconforming home at 4208 Philbrook Lane in a FEMA floodway; the council closed verbal testimony, left written comments open through Nov. 2, and continued the item to the Nov. 6 meeting for action.
The Edina City Council on Oct. 15 heard a staff presentation and homeowner testimony about a proposed teardown and rebuild at 4208 Philbrook Lane that sits in a FEMA floodway.
Assistant City Planner Chris Hawker told the council the property is currently in the floodway and that the owners propose to demolish a 1960 rambler and build a new, smaller footprint home that would require a conditional‑use permit and two variances: a left‑side yard setback variance (4.09 feet from the 10‑foot requirement) to match an existing nonconforming setback, and a 22.7 percent variance from the 50 percent maximum for exposed exterior basement wall area (the proposed exposure could cause the basement to be counted as a third story under code). Hawker said the overall roof‑height measurement from existing grade would remain within the R‑1 district limit and that staff recommends approval subject to conditions including compliance with an engineering memo dated Sept. 16, a Minnehaha Creek Watershed District permit, certification of the stem wall by a licensed structural engineer, and a successful FEMA LOMAR/LOMA process.
Homeowner Michael Bush described the property as a third‑generation family site and said the design team had worked to reduce neighborhood impacts with lower rooflines and increased setbacks on one side. Architect Heather Monham made exhibits available and offered to answer technical questions.
Council action and public record: with no one testifying orally tonight, the council closed verbal testimony but left the public comment period open for written submissions until noon on Sunday, Nov. 2. Council moved to continue consideration of the item to the Nov. 6 council meeting to allow staff time to receive written input and finalize any outstanding technical clarifications.
Why it matters: the request involves constrained floodplain engineering and multiple regulatory steps (local approvals followed by FEMA map revisions) that mean final building permits are contingent on further approvals and certification. Staff repeatedly emphasized that even with local approvals, FEMA’s LOMAR (letter of map revision/administrative amendment) is not guaranteed and is required before the new home could be removed from the floodway designation.
Next steps: written comments accepted through Nov. 2 will be added to the record; the council is scheduled to consider action on Nov. 6, 2024.
