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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil_Connection_4_3_2012WSB to coordinate France Avenue pedestrian project The Council hired WSB & Associates, Inc. to complete engineering services for pe- destrian crossing improve- ments on France Avenue. The City has been granted $1 million in Federal Trans- portation Enhancement funding for the project. In order to receive the funding, the project documents must be complete by March 31, 2013. Construction is ex- pected to take place next summer. Since the City needs to be aggressive to keep the project on schedule and the Engineering Depart- ment is currently short staffed, the City Engineer recommended the City con- tract the engineering ser- vices for the project. WSB will oversee the pro- ject’s development, design, bidding and construction services at a cost of $265,070. Council continues study of sports dome The Council voted to hire a consultant to study possible locations for a “sports dome.” Last year, a group of Edina residents who wish to devel- op an indoor sports facility for recreational and competi- tive athletic activities came forward. A working group of the Park Board was estab- lished to determine if there is community need and de- sire for such a facility. The working group deter- mined that there is signifi- cant community interest in the construction of a sports dome. Members also deter- mined that due to limited field space in Edina, it is in the community’s best inter- est to build a sports dome in a location that results in a net gain of an additional ath- letic field that can be used throughout the year. The desired solution is a new rectangular-shaped artificial turf field with an inflatable dome over it during the win- ter months. At a work session last month, the Council agreed to continue studying the matter and recommended that the Braemar Park area be exam- ined first, in case an oppor- tunity arises to build a sports dome alongside a new golf dome. The new golf dome would replace the structure deflated by fire earlier this year. Cost of the continued study will be $12,000. The consult- ants, Park and Recreation Consultants, believe they can complete that part of the study within six weeks. Their findings might be available for the Council to review as early as May 15. Council reviews sketch plan for new Byerly’s The Council reviewed sketch plans for another redevelop- ment on France Avenue. A summary of the April 3 Edina City Council meeting April 9, 2012 Volume 14, Issue 8 Council Connection Upcoming meetings:  Heritage Preservation Board, 7 p.m. April 10  Park Board, 7 p.m. April 10  Planning Commission, 7 p.m. April 11  Energy & Environment Commission, 7 p.m. April 12  City Council, 7 p.m. April 17 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 City Engineer Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 Parks & Recreation Director John Keprios 952-826-0430 Community Development Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 We’d like to hear from you … If you have any comments, call Communications & Technology Services Director Jennifer Bennerotte at 952-833- 9520. The text of this publication will be available online at www.EdinaMN.gov. www.EdinaMN.gov Lund Food Holdings is pro- posing to tear down the ex- isting Byerly’s store at 7171 France Ave. and build a new 52,000-square-foot super- market with a 96-unit, 7- story apartment building on top. The development would also include a second 19,000-square-foot retail building with a 67-unit apart- ment structure on top. Park- ing for the building would be below the retail space. Pri- mary access to the site would be off Hazelton Road, with a secondary access off France through the Macy’s site to the south. Lunds officials presented their sketch plans to the City Council. Council Members were generally supportive of the mixed-use redevelop- ment concept, but had some concerns about the site plan layout and the location of the proposed loading docks, which would be seen from the Promenade. The Council emphasized the importance of creating greater pedestri- an connections to France Avenue and the Promenade to support the Living Streets concept in the Southdale area. If Lund Food Holdings offi- cials decide to pursue the redevelopment, they will seek a rezoning of the prop- erty to Planned Unit Devel- opment from the Planning Commission and City Coun- cil.