HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_May-2024_WebNatural Resources Restoration Underway at Bredesen Park
$500,000 DNR Grant Provides Funding for Habitat Work on More Than 30 Acres
BY BRITTANY BADER
Bredesen Park is Edina’s second-largest
park, popular with residents for its biking
and walking trails that weave through
nature. While the sprawling 206-acre park
is frequented by many who appreciate its
water and wildlife views, it has some not-
so-welcome visitors: invasive species that
have been degrading its habitats.
The City recently received a $500,000
Conservation Partners Legacy Grant from
the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) through the Outdoor
Heritage Fund that will allow for the
restoration of more than 30 acres adjacent
to Nine Mile Creek over the next three
years. The project will remove invasives
like buckthorn shrubs, black locust and
Siberian elm trees, among others, and
restore native oak savanna and wetlands.
This project helps the Climate Action
Plan’s green spaces and water goals.
Removing invasive vegetation is expensive,
and the grant allows the City to get
much further in its natural areas work
in Bredesen—and much more quickly—
where previous funds only allowed work
to be done piecemeal, acre by acre.
“We knew there was a significant need at
Bredesen because we were only managing
about 5 acres out of a couple hundred at
the time of the grant application,” said
Water Resources Manager Jessica Wilson.
With the grant’s help, work on the
acreage began in March, and the rest of
this year will be spent removing invasives
and preparing the site. Seeding and
native plantings, including oak species,
goldenrod, aster, prairie clover, milkweed,
columbine, wild rye and rush, will begin
in late 2024 and continue throughout
2025. There will be intensive management
in 2026 to ensure native plants get
established and to control any invasive
plants that regrow.
The result benefits park users, wildlife and
areas downstream along Nine Mile Creek,
the Three Rivers Park District regional
trail system, and the entire City of Edina
natural areas system.
“Water quality, air quality and how we
care for the land are all connected. So
caring for the land at Bredesen Park will
have a positive effect on the creek and
water quality as well,” said Wilson.
“We are putting in a habitat that is friendlier
to bumblebees, butterflies and other
pollinators. One of the native pollinators that
will benefit from the habitat restoration is
the rusty patched bumblebee, a federally
endangered species found in and around
the park. We also hope it brings more
native birds back for birdwatching,” said
Sustainability Specialist Matthew Gabb, who
managed the grant application for the City.
Upon completion of the project, the
restored area of 300 new trees and 1,000
shrubs will look like a prairie, with open
spaces and spread-out oak trees, along
with grasses and flowering plants. The
project will then transition to a part of the
City’s long-term natural areas management
program and join up with the already
managed area directly surrounding the creek.
“We want to keep the park well-managed
and sustainable for the current and next
generation of park visitors—both humans
and wildlife—to enjoy,” said Gabb.
Though the grant is paying for a
majority of the restoration work, the
City is providing $50,000 in matching
funds for a total of $550,000. For
more information about the
Bredesen Park restoration project,
contact Gabb, mgabb@EdinaMN.gov
or 952-826-1611.
Signs around Bredesen Park, 5901 Olinger Blvd.,
inform park visitors of the invasive plant removal
and restoration project taking place over the next
three years adjacent to Nine Mile Creek. (File Photo)
KEY:
Bredesen Park Boundary
Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail
Existing Trail
Nine Mile Creek
RESTORATION AREAS
Forest/Woodland (to Savanna)
Upland Shrubland (to Savanna)
Upland Non-Native
Grassland (to Upland Prairie)
Lowland Shrubland
(to Enhanced Condition)
Lowland Non-Native
Grassland (to Lowland Prairie)
Herbaceous Wetland
(to Enhanced Condition)
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
Edition: Edina
MAY 2024
Volume 11, Issue 5Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
Arts & Culture Commission
4:30 p.m. fourth Thursday of the month
Kawthar Benarouch*
Caroline Byrd
Ann Curtin
Jennifer Faeth
Alyssa Fram
Lex Li*
Tim Scully
Maxine Steinberg
Brian Stemmler
Laura Westlund (Chair)
Alana Zbaren
Board of Appeal & Equalization
Meets twice in April of each year
Katie Broich
Bob MacPhail
Scott Roti
Sean Walker
Community Health Commission
6:30 p.m. second Monday of the month
Mary Absolon (Chair)
Megan D’Orazio
Matt Giljahn
Andrew Hawkins
Anoushka Jha*
Andrea Leszko
Nick Mattison
Tracy Nelson
Andrea Patineau
Jay Shapiro*
Brenna Smithson
Construction Board of Appeals
Meets as necessary
Alex Conzemius
Ryan Holten
Chip Howard
Dave Solohub
Austin Wagner
Nearly 100 residents volunteer their time each year to be part of the City’s 10 advisory Boards
and Commissions. These groups advise the City Council on various projects and, at times, make
recommendations to the City Council. The Commissions also have work plans that include their
own projects to improve Edina. Each commission includes two students who are typically high
school juniors or seniors.
Board members and typical meeting times are listed below. Meetings are open to the public.
For more information on Boards and Commissions or their work plans, visit EdinaMN.gov/Commissions or contact Special Projects &
Engagement Manager MJ Lamon at MLamon@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0360.
*Student Commissioner. The City is currently accepting applications for Student Commissioners whose terms will start Sept. 1.
Students should apply at EdinaMN.gov/Volunteer before May 19. Interviews will be conducted in June with appointments
made by the City Council in July.
Energy & Environment
Commission
7 p.m. second Thursday of the month
Brooke Bartholomew
Ukasha Dakane
John Haugen
Angela Langsweirdt*
Bayardo Lanzas
Cory Lukens (Chair)
Hilda Martinez Salgado
Griff Pugh*
Stephen Schima
Tom Tessman
LeeAnn Weber
Heritage Preservation Commission
7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month
Kaelie Breiter
Bob Cundy
Thomas Everson
Theresa Farrell-Straus
Shawn Jarvinen
Kathleen Kiely*
Jane Lonnquist (Chair)
Devon Nickels
Brad Olson
Katie Pope
Sanjana Varadhan*
Human Rights &
Relations Commission
7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month
Devarsh Borah*
Jasmine Brett Stringer Moore
Bianca Dawkins
Mark Felton
Fartun Ismail
Daisy Khalifa (Chair)
Muna Mohamud-Karie*
Joon Park
Jim Nelson
Jon Rogers
Jan Stone
Parks & Recreation Commission
7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month
Alessa DiLorenzo*
Matt Doscotch (Chair)
Chris Garazatua
Sonja Holtey*
Bob Kane
Joe Luangrath
Leah Pettit
Judi Pfuhl
John Spanhake
Bryce Weaver
Ericka Welsh
Planning Commission
7 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays
of the month
David Alkire
Jimmy Bennett (Chair)
Will Bornstein
Ryan Daye
Meriwether Felt
Clare Hahneman
Sarah Hu*
Lou Miranda
Bonnie Padilla
Alex Schultze*
Quincy Smith
Transportation Commission
6 p.m. third Thursday of the month
Roger Bildsten
Chris Brown
Sam Donnelly*
Andy Lewis (Chair)
Evangelia Karoussos*
Bruce McCarthy
Bethany Olson
Jill Plumb-Smith
Adam Rosen
Tricia Rubenstein
Grant Wright
City of Edina Advisory Boards & Commissions
2
Public Invited to Learn About Three Periods of Genocide in Ukraine
Human Rights & Relations Commission to Host 13th-Annual Days of Remembrance Event
BY REHAM ALEMAM
The City of Edina has observed the national
Days of Remembrance annually since 2011.
This year’s event will be held 7-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 15, in the Council Chambers
of Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St.
In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is
called Yom Hashoah. In the United States,
Days of Remembrance runs from the
Sunday before Yom Hashoah through the
following Sunday. The 2024 dates for Days
of Remembrance are May 5-12.
At the recommendation of the Human
Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC),
the City Council updated the City’s Days
of Remembrance Proclamation. The
proclamation was first approved in 2011.
In the years that followed the first Days of
Remembrance proclamation, the HRRC has
diligently organized events to both recognize
and educate the community on the
significance of this solemn occasion. This
year, the HRRC will continue the tradition
with the 13th-annual Days of Remembrance
event. This year’s event promises to explore
the theme of “Genocide in the Ukraine:
From Stalin to Hitler to Putin.” By delving
into the complexities of current and past
atrocities, attendees will engage in crucial
dialogue aimed at fostering understanding
and resilience.
Commissioner Jim Nelson, who is leading
plans for the event, underscores the ongoing
commitment of Edina. “The City of Edina
has long supported the Human Rights &
Relations Commission in its annual program
remembering the horrors of the genocidal
holocaust in Germany and Eastern Europe.
This year’s Days of Remembrance continues our
tradition and seeks to expand the awareness
of our community that genocide did not end
in Germany and continues to this day, focusing
in this program on the three historic genocides
affecting the Ukrainian people,” he said.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Ellen Kennedy,
an Edina resident who is a nationally and
internationally recognized expert on the subject
of genocide and other human rights issues, as
our keynote speaker.”
Kennedy, founder and Executive Director
of World Without Genocide, has expertise
in human rights advocacy and has received
numerous accolades for her work, including
recognition from the United Nations.
As attendees gather, organizers say they
will not only be remembering the millions
of lives lost to genocide but reaffirming
their dedication to upholding the values of
tolerance, inclusivity and compassion.
The program will be broadcast live on Edina TV
(Comcast Channels 813 and 16) and streamed
live at EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings.
For more information about the City of
Edina’s Days of Remembrance program, visit
EdinaMN.gov or contact Special Projects
& Engagement Manager MJ Lamon, at
MLamon@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0360.
Ellen J. Kennedy, founder of World Without Genocide,
will be the keynote speaker for “Genocide in the
Ukraine: From Stalin to Hitler to Putin” at the 2024 Days
of Remembrance event at City Hall. (Submitted Photo)
- COMPILED BY LAUREN SIEBENALER
Learn what it takes to keep Edina orderly and functional at the
Public Works Department’s “Big Trucks” Open House 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, May 23, at the Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility,
7450 Metro Blvd. This free event, typically held in even-numbered
years, is open to everyone and will be held rain or shine. Come
check out the facility while Public Works, Park Maintenance and
Engineering staff demonstrate some of the unique tools and
technology they use.
BY THE NUMBERS
Public Works ‘Big
Trucks’ Open House
1,692
total Open House
visitors in 2022
552
flowers/vegetables
planted in 2022
beef and veggie dogs
served in 2022
1,000
25+
vehicles to see in 2024
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
At the start of the calendar year, a quarter of Minnesota was in “extreme drought,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Edina gets its water from aquifers that are 400 to 1,000 feet deep, pumped by groundwater wells. Most suburban public water suppliers also
get their water from these same aquifers. Drought affects everyone’s supply, underscoring the need for individual and communal conservation.
Reduce Water Use
For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks or dnr.state.mn.us/drought.
Only water your lawn
on assigned days.
Homes or businesses
with even-numbered
addresses can water
their lawns only on
even-numbered dates. Homes or businesses
with odd-numbered addresses can water
only on odd-numbered dates.
Water lawns and plants only in the morning or
evening. Lawn watering is allowed only before
11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on your scheduled days.
Load dishes into the dishwasher
without rinsing them.
Run the dishwasher only
when it’s fully loaded.
Fill the sink to wash dishes
by hand instead of letting
the water run.
Turn the faucet off
while you shave or
brush your teeth.
Only wash full loads
of laundry.
Identify and fix water leaks.
The City mails a water leak
checklist to properties
with high water usage
for this purpose.
Install low-flow
showerheads and
faucet aerators.
Take shorter showers using
low-flow showerheads
instead of baths.
Use a large pan to clean
vegetables rather than
letting the water run.
Helpful actions you can take
Access Cost-Share Funds With a
Home Energy Squad Visit
A Home Energy Squad visit is the first step to accessing the City of
Edina’s Climate Action Fund cost-share and to ask questions about
your home’s electrification opportunities. During the visit, a two-
person team will inspect your insulation, test for air leaks, replace
inefficient light bulbs and more. Visits are offered year-round, and
both homeowners and renters are eligible.
The City of Edina helps pay for residents to receive this service
using money from its Conservation and Sustainability Fund,
offering households with an annual income of $100,000
or less no-cost visits and households over
this amount a 50% discount.
Schedule a visit online at
mncee.org/HES or call 651-328-6220.
Audit your irrigation
system. Consider
installing a smart
irrigation system with
moisture sensors.
Check your system
for leaks and make sure your sprinkler
heads aren’t wasting water by spraying
the driveway or sidewalk.
Replace even just part of
your turf lawn with native
plants that require less
watering and are more
resilient and adapted to
Minnesota’s climate.
4
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
Edina residents cashed in on $52,000
in rebates from the City’s Community
Climate Action Fund in 2023. This year,
$100,000 is available for projects that
improve energy efficiency, plus electric
bicycles are now eligible for rebates.
Chowen Park resident Yunus Balioglu
upgraded to an induction stove and got
$500, which covered nearly 20 percent
of the cost.
“Moving into an older home, we knew
we wanted to make energy-conscious
upgrades,” Balioglu said. “Thanks to the
Edina Climate Action fund, we were able
to do just that! The team was extremely
helpful and responsive, which made the
application process easy and smooth.
We definitely plan on considering the
fund to help inform future home
improvement projects.”
What rebates can I get and how much?
The Climate Action Fund provides partial
or full matches of utility rebates on projects
such as adding insulation or installing
certain heat pumps or solar to your home.
It also offers rebates on induction stoves
and e-bikes. Some options:
Some totals include bonuses for people
who meet age, income, veteran status
or other criteria. These are for single-
family through four-unit buildings. Other
rebates are available for larger residential
or commercial/industrial properties. Only
certain heat pumps qualify.
What’s the e-bike rebate?
Residents who purchase an e-bike at a
licensed Minnesota bike shop can receive
$500, or $1,000 if you meet certain
criteria. An additional $200 is available
for an e-cargo bike or adaptive e-bike.
“Every single resident can participate,”
said Sustainability Specialist Matthew
Gabb. “It’s for a renter or a homeowner.”
About 40 percent of all car trips are 3
miles or less, according to the National
Household Travel Survey. An e-bike can
replace a car for these in most conditions,
saving people gas money and cutting
carbon emissions, which helps the City
reach its Climate Action Plan goals.
“Cargo bikes are even better at replacing
car trips because you can do your grocery
shopping, take the kids to school, even
haul lumber with them,” Gabb said.
How do I get started?
For e-bikes, see the rules and application
at EdinaMN.gov/ClimateFund.
For homeowners, start with a Home
Energy Squad visit.
“They come to your home. They’ll install
LED bulbs. They weatherstrip your home.
They might even install a smart
thermostat,” said Sustainability Manager
Marisa Bayer. “They do so much in
that $50 visit.” Plus, they inspect your
insulation and heating/cooling systems,
then provide you with recommendations
for energy-saving projects with estimated
costs and available rebates.
What are the most popular projects?
“We had a lot of heat pumps installed
last year,” Gabb said. “The very, very hot
summer got people thinking more about
how to cool their homes.”
Solar also is popular, but if you want the
most bang for your buck, insulation is the
way to go, Bayer and Gabb said. It’s not
flashy like solar panels, but it can easily
save you $700 a year on your utility bills,
according to Electrify Everything MN.
Where does the funding come from?
A portion of the franchise fee on utility
bills pays for this program.
How do I learn more and get going?
Visit EdinaMN.gov/ClimateFund.
Rebates Available for Home Energy-Efficiency Projects
E-Bike Purchases Are Also Eligible for Rebates This Year
Eligible
Projects
Rebate
Available
Add air sealing and
insulation to walls
and attics
Up to
$3,000
Installing cold-climate
air source heat pump
Up to
$1,750
Installing heat pump
water heater
Up to
$750
Installing induction stove Up to
$750
Purchasing an e-bike $500-
$1,200
The Community Climate Action Fund paid back almost 20 percent of the cost for Yunus Balioglu’s
new induction stove. (Photo by Jason Heuer)
5City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
Businesses Encouraged To Apply for ‘Green Business’ Designation
Energy & Environment Commission to Name Winners After June 17 Deadline
Accredited Investors Wealth Management, 5200 W. 73rd St., replaced its grass lawn with a native
prairie planting as one of many sustainability efforts at the firm, one of Edina’s gold-level Green
Businesses. (File Photo)
The City of Edina’s Energy & Environment
Commission (ECC) is accepting
applications for its Green Business
Outreach Program.
The EEC recognizes businesses that
model green and sustainable actions.
Businesses earn points for taking green
actions within their daily operations
in the areas of solid waste, recycling,
purchasing, energy use, landscaping and
water conservation, transportation and
more. Businesses can earn recognition as
a gold, silver or bronze Green Businesses.
To maintain their recognition level,
businesses are required to resubmit
their application every two years.
In addition to helping more than 550
families shepherd their personal wealth,
gold-level Green Business Accredited
Investors Wealth Management is
committed to safeguarding our natural
resources. “Sustainability as a thread
permeates everything we do here,” said
Managing Partner Becky Krieger. Among
other things, the firm made the decision
to replace its grass lawn with a native
prairie planting.
Silver-level Green Business Paragon Pilates
focuses on overall well being, including
taking care of the spaces around clients.
Those practices include a meticulous
cleaning regimen with products made
simply from tea tree oil, lavender and
water and buying equipment made with
wood from sustainably managed North
American forests.
The Lunds & Byerlys store on France
Avenue, another silver-level Green
Business, is committed to keeping waste
to a minimum, donating unsold food to
Second Harvest Heartland. Managers
have plans in place for spoiled items, too.
“Any and all perishable food waste goes
into pig barrels, which are picked up
twice a week and sent to local farmers for
their pigs,” said General Manager Brian
Miller. Cooking oil from the deli is likewise
reclaimed for use in biofuels.
Businesses of all types taking various
green actions are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be accepted until June
17. Recognitions will be announced before
July 4. Learn more and apply online at
EdinaMN.gov/GreenBusiness.
Businesses that currently hold a designation are:
Accredited Investors Wealth
Management (2022)
Galleria Edina (2023)
Lunds & Byerlys (2022)
Southdale Center (2022)
Western National Insurance Group (2022)
Wooden Hill Brewing Company (2022)
Bellmont Partners (2022)
Edina Community Lutheran Church (2022)
Grandview Tire & Auto (2023)
Interlachen Country Club (2022)
Minneapolis Area REALTORS (2023)
Paragon Pilates & Physical Therapy (2023)
Redline Property Partners (2023)
Southdale Hearing Clinic (2022)
Stranger & Co. (2023)
Waterfront Financial Group (2022)
Lush Cosmetics (2023)Serge and Jane (2022)
6
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, May 1
Start of Asian American and Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.
Vehicle Day, Southdale Center
Sunday, May 5, 6 p.m.
Bavarian Musikmeisters,
Edinborough Park
Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Wednesday, May 8, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Community Clothing Swap Donation
Drop-off, Braemar Arena
Thursday, May 9, 4-7 p.m.
Community Clothing Swap,
Braemar Arena’s Backyard Rink
Sunday, May 12, 6 p.m.
Brio Brass, Edinborough Park
Tuesday, May 14, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Special Election for Hennepin
County Commissioner for District 6,
Polling places
Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m.
Days of Remembrance, “Genocide in the
Ukraine: From Stalin to Hitler to Putin,”
Edina City Hall
Thursday, May 16, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m-4 p.m. and
Sunday, May 19, noon-4 p.m.
Free Spring Buckthorn Dump,
across from Braemar Golf Dome
Sunday, May 19, 6 p.m.
First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band,
Edinborough Park
Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, May 23, 4 p.m.
Public Works “Big Trucks” Open House,
Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility
Monday, May 27
Memorial Day; City offices closed
For a complete listing of meetings
and events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
Watch City Council, Housing &
Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at
EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings
Electrify Everything is a Minnesota
program designed to make home
electrification more accessible and
understandable for everyone regardless of
neighborhood or income by connecting
residents to information and resources
that help them understand home
electrification and why it is important.
The team is made up of the cities of Eden
Prairie, Edina, Minneapolis and St. Louis
Park, with support from the Center for
Energy and Environment and Citizens
Utility Board.
What is home electrification?
Home electrification is the process of
transitioning a home’s appliances away
from using fossil fuels (like natural gas) to
running on clean electricity. Technologies
like heat pumps for heating and cooling,
induction stoves, electric clothes dryers,
heat pump water heaters and insulation
are all key pieces of electrifying a home.
Why electrify your home?
By shifting home appliances that burn
fossil fuels on site to highly efficient
electric options, you can improve indoor
air quality, keep utility bills predictable
and give everyone a chance to take part
in caring for our planet.
Attend a workshop to get started
Electrifying your home is a process. Most
people transition one area at a time as
opportunities present themselves.
Edina residents can register for a free
Electrify Everything workshop scheduled
for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May
15, at Edina Public Works & Maintenance
Facility, 7450 Metro Blvd.
At the workshop, you will learn about
each step of electrifying a home, including
the technical and financial resources
available to help. You will also have the
opportunity to ask contractors questions.
Please RSVP online at
EdinaMN.gov/ElectrifyEverything
or by scanning the QR code.
Electrify Everything Helps Edina
Residents Transition to Clean Energy
Register for Edina’s Free Electrify Everything Workshop on
May 15 to Learn How to Electrify Your Home
Help Rid Edina of Buckthorn
Interested in helping with Edina’s natural areas? Volunteer to assist with buckthorn removal
from Edina parks or public spaces by contacting Special Projects & Engagement Manager
MJ Lamon, 952-826-0360 or MLamon@EdinaMN.gov.
For Edina residents looking to remove and properly dispose of buckthorn shrubs from their
private property, the City is having its free spring buckthorn dump 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday,
May 18, and noon-4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the lot across from Braemar Golf Dome
at 7420 Braemar Blvd.
More details can be found on the City’s website calendar at EdinaMN.gov/Calendar.
Additional DNR Grant Received for Ash
Tree Management
The City of Edina recently received a second grant from the DNR that will provide funding
for removing ash trees damaged by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on public land and replacing
them with diverse climate-resilient species. For every hazardous ash tree that’s removed,
two new trees will be planted. The grant is expected to allow for the removal of 150
diseased trees and the planting of 300 new healthy ones. This project is part of a larger
plan to address the effects of EAB on the city’s ash trees. More information on this project
will be shared once a contractor has been selected and a timeline has been set.
Businesses Encouraged To Apply for ‘Green Business’ Designation
Energy & Environment Commission to Name Winners After June 17 Deadline
7City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov8
To help meet the City’s housing and
sustainability goals, the City Council has
approved a new type of housing in Edina.
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are now
allowed under City Code.
An ADU is a self-contained residential
unit with its own living room, kitchen and
bathroom on the same parcel of land as
a single-family house. An ADU can be
located within, attached to or detached
from the main house. ADUs are known
by many other names, including accessory
apartments, backyard cottages, coach
houses, granny flats, guest houses and
in-law suites, among others.
ADUs have been identified in some of the
City’s guiding documents as a potential tool
to further housing and sustainability goals.
The Planning Commission studied the issue
for more than a year and solicited feedback
from the public before recommending an
ordinance that would allow them in Edina.
The Planning Commission identified several
benefits of ADUs, including the option for
multigenerational living, aging in place and
caring for someone in a semi-independent
living situation such as an elderly parent or
person with special needs. ADUs also meet
a growing need for smaller households,
including couples without children, single
professionals and empty nesters. They can
also allow for a more affordable housing
type not requiring a subsidy. According
to AARP, ADUs can be built for as little
as one-third the cost of a traditional
multifamily unit of the same size and
of comparable materials.
At least 25 other Twin Cities metro-area
communities allow ADUs, including
Bloomington, Hopkins, Minnetonka,
Richfield and St. Louis Park.
Some key components of Edina’s ADU
ordinance include:
•ADUs are allowed only on properties
with a single-family home.
•No more than one ADU is allowed
per property.
•ADUs will be permitted by right rather
than requiring a conditional-use permit.
This lessens the burden on the property
owner and ensures permitting is based
on objective standards.
•Either the ADU or primary home may be
rented, but not both. A rental license is
required to rent either unit.
•The maximum size of an ADU is 1,000
square feet.
City Council Approves Accessory Dwelling Units
New Housing Type Could Help Create More Lifestyle Options
In other business last month, the Council:
•Directed staff to solicit sketches and
information from specific architects for
the Rosland Park pedestrian bridge.
•Proclaimed May as “Building Safety
Month” in Edina.
•Set the vision for Edina’s Clean Water
Strategy. The vision is:
• Edina’s waterbodies are in a healthy
ecosystem equilibrium, where waters
are clear, safe and accessible.
• We control pollutants at their source
and help people do their part.
• We build, operate and maintain
infrastructure and take actions to
capture and remove pollutants.
• We protect and restore nature
ecosystems on land and in water.
The City Council next meets 7 p.m.
May 7 and 21. For more information,
visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
Accessory dwelling units (or ADUs) come in many
shapes and styles. (Graphic Provided by AARP)