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RESOLUTION NO. 2014-153
RESOLUTION APPROVING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT
TO REVISE AND REPLACE THE PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES SECTION OF
TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER 7
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Edina,Minnesota, as follows:
Section 1. BACKGROUND.
1.01 The Comprehensive Plan states that"sidewalks and paths provide safe movement for all
individuals of all ages, decreased the dependency on motor vehicles, and encourage active
lifestyles." The Comprehensive Plan also indicates that in order for the City's sidewalk system
to be effective, it should provide network continuity with broad geographic coverage and
without notable gaps.
1.02 In the City's 2013 Quality of Life Survey,41 percent of respondents indicated that Edina has
too few sidewalks, and 73 percent of those who believe Edina needs to improve its walkability
indicated that more sidewalks would do so.
• 1.03 In December of 2012, the City created the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety (PACS) Fund,which is
a dedicated source of funding for the construction and maintenance of non-motorized
transportation infrastructure. Property owners are no longer assessed for new sidewalks.
1.04 In August of 2013, the City Council unanimously approved the Living Streets Policy,which
includes the following principle: "The City will plan, design,and build high quality
transportation facilities that meet the needs of the most vulnerable users (pedestrians,cyclists,
children, elderly, and disabled) while enhancing safety and convenience for all users, and
providing access and mobility for all modes."
1.05 As part of the overall Living Streets Plan, staff has been preparing a new Sidewalk Facilities
Map based in part on the 2008 Comprehensive Plan, the approved Living Streets policy and
input from City staff, officials and residents.
1.06 At their July 1 Work Session,City Council expressed a desire to approve an updated Sidewalk
Facilities Map prior to the approval of the overall Living Streets Plan (anticipated by early of
2015). Council also directed staff to bring the Sidewalk Facilities Map forward for amendment
into the Comprehensive Plan, so that an approved sidewalk network can be considered during
the planning and design of current and future roadway reconstruction projects.
1.07 On October 22, 2014 a public hearing was held with the Planning Commission regarding
amending the Sidewalk Facilities Map to the Comprehensive Plan. At that meeting testimony
was heard and the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Comprehensive
• Plan Amendment.
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RESOLUTION NO.2014-153
Page 2
1.08 The following is the timeline for approvals and amendment to the City of Edina
Comprehensive Plan:
• Sidewalk Facilities Map posted for public comment(Speak Up,Edina!) October 3
• Informational packet received by Council October 7
• Planning Commission Public Hearing and Approval of Amendment October 22
• City Council Public Hearing Regarding Comprehensive Plan amendment November 3
• City Council Vote Regarding Comprehensive Plan Amendment December 2
1.09 The proposed amendment indicates the Edina streets that currently have sidewalks along with
those streets where sidewalks are planned in the next 20 to 30 years. The following should be
noted:
• The Plan is not meant to indicate on which side of the street future sidewalks are to be
installed;that decision will be based on input from more thorough engineering studies and
stakeholders prior to design and installation
• If a sidewalk is not indicated on a particular street,this does not preclude that street from
being considered for a sidewalk in the future as its context criteria (e.g.traffic counts,
speeds,redevelopment) may change over time,and residents are free to petition for a
sidewalk as well.
• Future sidewalk design(e.g. location,boulevard width) can vary depending on impacts
such as existing trees, steep slopes,etc.
Section 2. FINDINGS
2.01 Approval is subject to the following findings:
1. Goals of the Comprehensive Plan include safe walking,bicycling and driving,and
promoting health;the proposed amendment would assist the City in meeting these goals
by planning for a citywide pedestrian transportation network based on adopted policy
and data.
2. The City's Living Streets Policy states that sidewalks are required on all arterial and
collector streets, and where streets abut a public school,public building,community
playfield or neighborhood park;the proposed amendment meets these goals.
3. The proposed amendment reflects thoughtful and considerable construction of criteria,is
data-driven,and is consistent with the Living Streets Policy vision and value of
supporting the transportation needs of all Edina's residents.
i
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-153
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Section 3. APPROVAL
• NOW THEREFORE,it is hereby resolved that the City Council of the City of Edina,approves the
Comprehensive Plan amendment as follows,subject to Metropolitan Council approval:
Pedestrian Facilities
The goal of this section is to build upon the current City practices to create a framework for planning
and implementation of future sidewalks.Sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities are an important
component of the City's transportation infrastructure.
Sidewalks and paths provide safe movement for individuals of all ages and abilities,decrease the
dependency on motor vehicles,and encourage active lifestyles.An effective municipal sidewalk
system provides network continuity such that there is broad geographic coverage for a range of users
and uses,without notable gaps.
Sidewalks should provide a comfortable space for pedestrians between the roadway and adjacent
land uses.Sidewalks are the most important component of pedestrian mobility.They provide
opportunities for active living and access to destinations and critical connections between multiple
modes of travel,as users of motor vehicles,transit and bicycles all must walk at some time during
their trip.
Refer to the Sidewalk Facilities Map (Figure 7.10) for locations of existing and future sidewalks.
Sidewalks are required:
• Where a street abuts or is in the vicinity of a public school,public building,community
playfield,or neighborhood park.Termini to be determined by context.
• On both sides of minor arterial streets.
• On one or both sides of collector streets.
• As required by zoning code or condition of plan approval.
• When one or more of the context criteria are met(see below).
The following context criteria may be used when determining whether an otherwise optional
sidewalk should be required. The criteria may be applied in any combination,using engineering
judgment. An optional sidewalk may be required when:
• A sidewalk is recommended by the Edina Active (Safe) Routes to School Comprehensive Plan.
• The street is located at an identified park or commercial destination.
• Average daily traffic is greater than 500 vehicles.
• 85th percentile speed is greater than 30 mph.
• There is a history of crashes involving pedestrians walking along the roadway.
• Transit stop(s) are present.
• A sidewalk would create a logical connection between destinations.
• Site lines,roadway geometry,or insufficient lighting makes it difficult for motorists to see
pedestrians walking along the roadway.
• The street width is less than 27 feet.
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Citizen-and/or business-petitioned sidewalk locations will also receive important consideration as
they are brought forward for City review.
Sidewalks within the City are divided into the following three categories. It is possible that a sidewalk
may fit into more than one category:
State-Aid sidewalks are located adjacent to Municipal State-Aid Streets (MSAS).
Active Routes to School sidewalks are identified by the Edina Active Routes to School
Comprehensive Plan(approved on Feb 3,2014) as recommended to improve connectivity and
safe routes to schools.
City sidewalks are sidewalks that meet the requirements and/or context criteria above.
Sidewalks shall be a minimum of 5 feet wide to provide adequate space for two pedestrians to
comfortably pass side-by-side.Wider sidewalks (8 to 12 feet) are recommended where pedestrians are
likely to travel in groups,such as near schools and in shopping districts,or where adjacent to transit
stops.
A standard 5-foot boulevard (the space between the sidewalk and the curb or edge of pavement) shall
be provided whenever possible to increase pedestrian safety and comfort,as well as providing space
for snow storage. In shopping districts characterized by zero-lot lines, street furniture and/or on-
street parking,sidewalks may be wider with no boulevard. Additionally,a shallower boulevard or
curbside sidewalk may be constructed when the cost of constructing a five-foot boulevard would be
excessively disproportionate due to existing right-of-way or topographical constraints.Curbside
sidewalks shall have a minimum width of 6 feet unobstructed for travel(5 feet clear of sign posts,
traffic signals,utility poles,etc.,plus one foot for snow storage/clearing operations).
Financing of the future sidewalks are separated into two categories:
1. State-Aid Costs cover any proposed sidewalk located adjacent to a State-Aid designated
roadway and are paid by a combination of State-Aid funds and the Pedestrian and Cyclist
Safety (PACS) Fund.
2. Active Routes to School and City Costs cover any proposed sidewalk located adjacent to a
non-State-Aid designated roadway and are paid 100 percent by the Pedestrian and Cyclist
Safety (PACS) Fund.
Sidewalks that are required as a condition of developer approval would be funded by the developer.
The City should search out additional funding sources,such as grants or partnering with other
agencies,for larger projects that have regional significance. One potential important source is the Safe
Routes to School Program in which Mn/DOT allocates federal funds to projects of merit selected on a
competitive basis.
Sidewalks located on State-Aid roads or within the Public School Zones will be maintained by the
City of Edina. Typical City maintenance includes snow removal and repair of broken or shifted
• sidewalks.Sidewalks in other areas must be maintained by the property owners.
RESOLUTION NO.2014-153
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ATTEST:
e ra A. Mangen, ity be James B. govland,Mayor
STATE OF MINNESOTA )
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN )SS
CITY OF EDINA )
CERTIFICATE OF CITY CLERK
1, the undersigned duly appointed and acting City Clerk for the City of Edina do hereby certify that
the attached and foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Edina City Council at its Regular
Meeting of December 2,2014, and as recorded in the Minutes of said Regular Meeting.
WITNESS my hand and seal of said City this day of ,2014.
City Clerk