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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_December 20154801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424 952-927-8861 mail@EdinaMN.gov www.EdinaMN.gov The City of Edina Legend: Infrastructure Commercial and Mixed-Use Redevelopment Workforce Communication and Engagement Community Vision Aviation Noise The 45-degree weather was welcomed as families laced up their skates before taking part in open skating at the Backyard Rink as a part of Braemar Arena 50th Anniversary Dec. 5. The Arena celebrated its golden anniversary with the Edina Historical Society by displaying artifacts and photo boards in the lobby and each rink. Vendors also filled the lobby and handed out goodies while hockey players prepared for their games that day. Speak Up, Edina! DECEMBER 2015 Volume 2, Issue 12 Edi tion: The City’s next online discussion is now available at www.SpeakUpEdina.org. The discussion, which focuses on outdoor ice rinks, is available until Feb. 8. The City operates 12 seasonal outdoor ice skating rinks at Arden, Cornelia School, Countryside, Creek Valley, Highlands, Lewis, Normandale, Pamela, Strachauer, Todd, Walnut Ridge and Weber parks. All locations have warming houses, general skating rinks and hockey rinks. The rinks are open from mid- to late-December until February or early March, depending on weather conditions, and are groomed daily. In the discussion, the City asks whether residents use the seasonal outdoor ice rinks in neighborhood parks, what they think of the quality of rink set up and maintenance throughout the winter, what their favorite ice activity is and whether there should be more structured programming on the rinks. Feedback from this discussion will be compiled and presented to the City Council Feb. 16. This month, the City has been gathering feedback on snow plowing and winter parking restrictions. Questions asked include whether the parking restrictions have an effect on their parking decisions; whether a different restriction system, such as even-odd parking or snow emergencies, would be preferred; and if residents think the penalty for a parking restriction violation is fair. Feedback from this discussion will be compiled and presented to the City Council Jan. 19. To weigh in on a discussion, visit www.SpeakUpEdina.org. Edina is accepting applications from residents through Jan. 31 to fill open seats on the City’s advisory Boards and Commissions. There are a number of seats open on the 10 different boards and commissions, including the Arts & Culture Commission, Board of Appeal & Equalization, Community Health Commission, Construction Board of Appeals, Energy & Environment Commission, Heritage Preservation Board, Human Rights & Relations Commission, Park Board, Planning Commission and Transportation Commission. “[Serving on a board or commission] is a good way to get involved in our community,” said Project Coordinator MJ Lamon. “Most people may not know this opportunity exists. Being a Board or Commission member entails more than going to meetings a couple hours each month; it is a position that carries more weight than other volunteer opportunities in terms of making a difference.” “Some of the benefits [of serving on a board or commission include] not only giving back to your community, but feeling like being more of a stakeholder,” said Planning Commission Chair Michael Platteter. “You have a lot of impact and you can influence the direction and the growth of the City.” Lamon stressed that the City is looking for a diverse range of applicants. The City’s boards and commissions cover a wide range of interests and expertise levels, so volunteers are almost always able to find a good fit. “We’re hoping for a diverse group of candidates to reflect our community. We are looking for applicants of different ages, races, ethnicities and backgrounds. I encourage anyone interested in serving to complete an application,” said Lamon. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and live in Edina. Most appointments are three years in length and begin in March 2016. Applications must be received by Jan. 31, 2016; interviews and orientation will be held in February. To learn more or to apply, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/advisory-boards- commissions. Applications for student board and commission seats will open in April. For more information about City of Edina boards and commissions, contact Lamon at 952-826-0360 or mlamon@EdinaMN.gov. City Seeks Volunteers for Boards and Commissions Braemar Arena Celebrates 50th Anniversary When designing buildings, architects go through a plan review process that involves revisions, edits and multiple trips back and forth to City Hall. With Edina’s building plan review system moving from the standard large-format paper plans to electronic submission and review, efficiency will increase for everyone involved. “We think this is a good, forward-thinking move [by the City],” said Ed Farr, President of Edward Farr Architects, Inc. “It will make for a quicker plan review turn-around time and I think it’ll be good for our clients.” For more than a year, Chief Building Official David Fisher, Building Inspector Jim Hall, Building Inspector Greg Bomsta and I.T. Specialist Katie Bisek have worked together to organize, create and implement the new system using Avolve software. The technology is designed for electronic plan submission, review and workflow. “Going paper-free with this process will be a huge time saver and benefit for everybody involved,” Fisher said. Currently, when someone submits a building permit application, a 30-by-42 inch piece of paper travels from department to department for reviews. At each department, an additional piece of paper is attached to the plan that includes edits, revisions and mark-ups before it is sent to the next destination, creating a large roll of paper. The document, which lays out a structural image of the building plan, begins its journey in the Planning Division where zoning issues are reviewed. Next, the document is brought to the Engineering Department for grading and drainage review. Afterward, it is sent off to the Public Works Department for tree ordinance review. Finally, the Fire- Rescue & Building Inspections Department reviews building code compliances. If the plan is approved, a permit is issued. With the new online plan review system, the entire process will be completed electronically. Architects and other contractors will submit their plans and permit applications online. From there, edits, revisions and mark-ups can all be done on the computer by staff. The document will be available for multiple staffers to review simultaneously, making it easier on each department by saving time and resources. Bisek and her team have trained almost 40 staff members and dozens of architects and contractors on how to use the program. Online classes were the final part of the training, which included test plans for staff to become oriented with the program before its launch Jan. 4. “[The program] is much more collaborative than the system they use right now,” said Bisek. “I think it will bring more transparency in the process for residents to be able to see the plan in the process. It’s more interactive.” For more information, contact Fisher at 952-826-0450 or dfisher@EdinaMN.gov. Building Review Plans To Go Electronic Ph o t o b y K a y l i n E i d s n e s s Ph o t o b y M i a V a c a n t i Braemar Golf Dome has been recognized by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) as one of the country’s top 50 stand-alone facilities in 2015. The GRAA recognizes practice facilities and teaching professionals whose accomplishments have stood out over the past year. This is the first time that Braemar Golf Dome has received this recognition. “The awards are judged by a panel of PGA professionals and they look at the growth of the game, as well as how many lessons, how many clinics and how much player development is done at each facility,” said PGA Magazine Digital Operations General Manager and GRAA Member Matt Frey. “That’s what the point of this award is, to highlight the amount of work done at these courses to promote [the game of golf].” “It is a great honor to be recognized by ours peers and receive this award,” said Braemar Golf Course General Manager Joe Abood. “The City of Edina should be proud of the investment taken to make the Braemar Golf Dome the best in its class.” Frey explained that in addition to the quality of the facilities and the player development resources, judges also review the quantity. “[For example, we look at] the amount of range balls or sets sold, how often the inventory is replenished or how many sales you do a year,” Frey said. “[Braemar had] a tremendous amount of lessons given for a, presumably, shorter season – well over 2,000.” The judging panel also appreciated the special programs Braemar Golf Dome offers, including the programs offered to players with physical and mental disabilities and serving as the home of the University of Minnesota Men’s and Women’s winter practice, as well as several high school programs. Abood is proud, but not surprised, that Braemar Golf Dome has received this recognition. “The Braemar Golf Dome has one of the largest-hitting areas to see the ball flight. It has 47 practice stalls so you can always find a spot here at Braemar and we feature the smart tee dividers that actually tell you how far your ball travels in the air and it also gives you your ball speed,” said Abood. “It’s an excellent practice tool for the indoor player.” In addition, Braemar Golf Dome features a putting green that mimics an outdoor putting green with undulation and break, as well as some of the top PGA teaching processionals in Minnesota. The winners of the GRAA 2015 Awards are listed in the December 2015 issue of Golf Range Magazine as well as on www.GolfRange.org. For more information, contact Abood at jabood@EdinaMN.gov or 952-903-5754. Braemar Golf Dome Wins Golf Range Association of America Award PGA Professional Debi Knutson gives a patron a few tips to improve his swing while at the Braemar Golf Dome. Ph o t o b y M i c h a e l B r a u n DECEMBER 2015 Upcoming Events Tuesday, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m. Community Health Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall. Thursday, Jan. 7, 4 p.m. Public Art Working Group, Edina City Hall. Friday, Jan. 8, 6:30 p.m. Friday Family Movie Night, Edinborough Park. Sunday, Jan. 10, 1-5 p.m. Winter Ice Festival, Centennial Lakes Park. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m. Park Board Meeting, Edina City Hall. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m. Heritage Preservation Board Meeting, Edina City Hall. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Thursday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. Energy & Environment Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Saturday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. Walk With The Mayor, Southdale Center. Saturday, Jan. 16, 6 p.m. Dinner and a Movie, “Inside Out,” Braemar Golf Course. Monday, Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, City Hall Closed. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. City Council Meeting, Edina City Hall. Thursday, Jan. 21, 4:30 p.m. Arts & Culture Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Thursday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m. Transportation Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m. Human Rights & Relations Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. Thursday, Jan. 28, 4:30 p.m. Arts & Culture Commission Meeting, Edina City Hall. The Grandview area has been the hotbed of several years’ worth of discussions, work and studies regarding redevelopment of the City’s former Public Works site and the area as a whole. Two separate studies currently under way are taking this interest to the next level. Grandview Transportation Study What sort of transportation challenges and opportunities exist in the Grandview area? How will future development and changes affect how residents and shoppers navigate the area? This fall, the City hired architecture and engineering firm LHB, transportation firm and national transportation planning experts Nelson/Nygaard Consulting, and Alta Planning + Design to lead the study and answer those questions. The consultants will identify needs, challenges and opportunities to review and evaluate recommended changes to the Grandview transportation network to meet the community’s long-term needs. The transportation study builds off the 2011 development framework for Grandview and will provide an analysis of existing transportation conditions and explore, refine, clarify and expand on recommendations made in the framework. The study focus is on the Grandview area as a whole, not on one specific site. The process kicked off in November with a public workshop and presentations to the City Council and Transportation Commission. In mid-February, additional meetings and public input sessions will be held as part of “Imagine Week.” Participants will have an opportunity to imagine Grandview’s transportation in several different high- and low-density redevelopment scenarios. “We want to involve those who live and work in and around Grandview and hear, from their perspectives, the challenges and opportunities that exist for all modes of transportation in the area,” said Transportation Planner Mark Nolan. For more information and future meeting dates, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/Grandview, or contact Nolan at mnolan@EdinaMN.gov. Operations and Feasibility of Public Facility What would the financials of a multi-use community center look like? How could the space be programmed? How would it compete against the rest of the market in the Twin Cities? A new study seeks to answer those questions. In late 2014, the City partnered with Frauenshuh Inc. to study and plan potential redevelopment scenarios for the City’s former Public Works Site at 5146 Eden Ave. In June, the City Council provided preliminary direction on its preferred development scenario – a mixed-use, public/private development. Soon after, ESG Architects was asked to further refine that scenario, imagine the look and feel of a potential Grandview community facility and conduct a preliminary architectural study to ensure civic program elements are feasible for the site. The City Council generally agreed that the Edina Art Center and Edina Senior Center could be combined at this site, creating multi-generational community programming, with the intention of closing the two existing facilities. However, before staff or the Park Board can make a recommendation to the City Council on the facility and programming components, further study and refinement is needed. HGA Architects & Engineers was selected as a partner and lead for the feasibility study. Its work will consist of visioning and programming, site analysis and conceptual design, and estimating costs. Pros Consulting was selected to complete an operational analysis of the feasibility study, including a business plan for the facility. The operational plan will include revenue and expense details, financial modeling and pro formas. It will also work with HGA and City staff to study programming needs and interests and to determine the operational feasibility of each programming component. Sutton + Associates was selected to complete an analysis of the arts portion of the study. In addition to making recommendations on programming and operations, it will also study the arts market of the Twin Cities to determine which arts components are needed and desired in Edina and which components would be successful. “This is a critical next step in the planning of a potential community facility at Grandview,” said Parks & Recreation Director Ann Kattreh. “This study will take information and data that has already been collected from resident input, further study the needs and interests of residents and the competitive market, determine which components fit best into a new facility and then study the financial viability of the facility.” Two open houses will be scheduled for this process: the first 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, to gather information to include and consider in programming models and the second March 10 to gather final feedback. The entire process should be complete in May. For more information, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/parks or contact Kattreh at akattreh@EdinaMN.gov. More apartments will soon come to Edina near Southdale Center. Bull Moose Construction received unanimous preliminary approval from the City Council to raze the former Best Buy building and build a new multi- family apartment building at 3101 W. 66th St. and 6612 Xerxes Ave. The new building, called Gateway Pointe, will sit in the southeast corner of 66th Street and York Avenue on 2.1 acres. The building will be six stories and include 210 apartment units. A 1,760-square-foot restaurant/coffee shop with outdoor seating is also included. The building will have two levels of parking; one at grade and one underground. Public parking for the restaurant or coffee shop will be available at grade. Extensive landscaping will also be included with 85 new and existing overstory trees and understory shrubbery. A “pocket park” green space on Xerxes Avenue will be connected to the site and the greater neighborhood through a network of sidewalks. Future residents of the development will also enjoy a fitness center, second- floor outdoor pool and plaza deck with vegetation and convenient access to businesses, shopping and transit. While the application for the project was submitted before the City’s new affordable housing policy went into effect Nov. 1, the developer will provide 5 percent, or 10 units, of affordable housing. These units will contribute to the City’s goal of 212 units established by 2020. ”It’s great for those in the service industry who work in Edina that this project is providing some affordable housing so they can live near where they work,” said Cary Teague, Community Development Director. This development joins a multitude of other new housing options in the Southdale area. In the last two years, more than 1,200 new apartment units, including this project, have either opened or are currently under construction. Additional units are proposed in northwest corner of 66th Street and York Avenue, opposite of the former Best Buy. ”This continues to show that Edina and the Southdale area are desirable for development,” Teague said. “The continued interest and redevelopment will help with the viability and success of Southdale Center and the greater Southdale area.” The developer expects to return to the City Council this spring for final plan approvals. For more information, contact the Planning Division at 952-826-0369. The Edina Parks & Recreation Department encourages residents to get outside and get moving this winter. Do both by skating at one of the City’s outdoor ice rinks. Outdoor ice rinks are among Edina’s most popular winter activity destinations, with 12 conveniently located at neighborhood parks around the city: Arden, Cornelia School, Countryside, Creek Valley School, Highlands Lewis, Normandale, Pamela, Strachauer, Todd, Walnut Ridge and Weber. Each of these parks has one hockey rink and one pleasure rink, and is lit and accompanied by a warming house. Outdoor skating is also available at Centennial Lakes Park and the Backyard Rink at Braemar Arena. The regular park rinks are open to the public 4 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. There are special hours on holidays and non-school days. Braemar’s Backyard Rink hosts open skating Friday evenings from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Centennial Lakes Park skate rental hours are 4 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sundays and most school holidays. Although rentals do not open until 4 p.m. on weekdays, the skating rink opens at noon to accommodate those with their own skates. All outdoor rinks are free to use. “We want to encourage people to get out and get moving,” said Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Susan Faus. “It is important to stay active, even during the winter.” In order to flood the regular park rinks, the temperatures need to consistently stay below freezing. “Each year is different, but this year, we’re going to have a later start,” said Recreation Supervisor Eric Boettcher. “We are hoping for colder weather so that we can complete the rinks, but right now it looks like they’ll be ready around the first week in January.” In preparation for skating season, the Park Maintenance Division works eight hours a day to create the sheets of ice. Teams of two people are assigned to three rinks and responsible for upkeep throughout the season, including weekends. “Starting at 3 a.m., we have a guy out there sweeping the rink. After that, we add water, smooth the ice, shovel the edges and walking path and take care of any other maintenance the rinks may need,” said Public Service Worker Bill Hanly. The Park Maintenance team is also responsible for plowing walking paths and parking lots after a snowfall. “The outdoor rinks in Edina are some of the best quality rinks,” said Hanly. “The great thing about Edina is that we usually open our outdoor rinks weeks before other cities do.” With the exception of Centennial Lakes and Braemar Arena, all of the outdoor rinks have an attendant who is responsible for overseeing the facility while it is open. There are about 48 high school students who have assigned shifts at the facilities. While at the rinks, they open and close the warming house, turn on the lights when it gets dark, put the nets on the ice and take attendance every half-hour. In addition to public use, the outdoor rinks are used by youth athletic associations and adult sports programs Monday through Thursday. Each youth hockey team has two practices a week at an outdoor rink. For more information, contact Boettcher at 952-826-0432 or eboettcher@EdinaMN.gov. City Continues to Study Grandview Glide Into Winter Fitness at Edina’s Outdoor Rinks Apartments to Replace Former Best Buy Su b m i t t e d p h o t o Top: Rink before ice. Bottom: Rink with ice. The Gateway Pointe received preliminary approvals from the City Council, which will replace the former Best Buy site at 66th Street and York Avenue.