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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdinaDec2021City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Work Begins on Shaping Future Cahill District Area Features More Than 160 Businesses BY DAN REISIG The next time you find yourself driving Minnesota State Highway 100 in the southern half of the city, take a moment to gaze westward and think about the possibilities. That’s the charge that residents and business owners in Edina have been tasked with as the City starts work on the Cahill District Plan. “I really want to make sure that we have a diverse set of opinions and representation of those in the community helping to shape the future plan for that district,” said Cahill District Plan Co-Chair Kate Agnew. The Cahill District is bounded by West 70th Street (north), Cahill Road (west), Highway 100 (east), and the Bloomington city line (south). Two years ago, the City completed a Small Area Plan for the 70th and Cahill Neighborhood Node. This project expands on that by including all of the industrial and business park areas to the south and east. “That district is in a fantastic location in the metro – easy access to the airport, freight delivery, and easy for employees and customers to get there,” said Economic Development Manager Bill Neuendorf. “When this district was zoned, it was built and designed as a place to do business – not just retail sales, but wholesale trade, professional jobs and light industrial jobs. For decades, it’s served as a really important part of Edina’s business community.” Neuendorf said that despite its relatively small size and little retail sales, the area accounts for $3.1 billion in trade, about 24 percent of Edina’s economy. As the needs of the businesses have changed, such as lower demand for parking and office space due to remote work, the Cahill District planning process provides an opportunity to shape the vision of the area for years to come. Some potential uses include new offices or warehouses, childcare centers, or housing and retail. “I think it’s going to challenge us to think about development and land use within our community in a way we haven’t before,” said Agnew, who also chairs the Planning Commission. “In this area, it is just ripe with opportunity. That’s the really exciting part – there’s so much that we can do in this area, and there are so many amazing ideas. I really want that diverse input, and to really be thinking creatively and with Edina’s best future in mind.” In mid-November, Agnew, along with Co- Chair and fellow Planning Commissioner David Alkire, held an interactive forum to kick off the project. There, they explained the scope and history of the district and gained valuable feedback as to potential future uses of the area. A working group was also launched, giving those interested Edition: Edina DECEMBER 2021 Volume 8, Issue 12Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City in further participation a seat at the table. “It’s clear that there are a lot of passionate community members who are invested in seeing this district continue to evolve, and I look forward to building out the working group that is going to take this on and really drive it forward,” Agnew said. “We’re looking forward to talking with the neighbors and the businesses,” added Neuendorf. “We want to find out, ‘What does the future look like for them? What’s missing? And what can the city do to help fill those missing pieces?’” The working group will begin regular meetings in February 2022 and complete its work by May 2023. The District Area Plan will be approved by the Edina Planning Commission and City Council, then presented to the Metropolitan Council for approval before it is adopted into the City’s Comprehensive Plan later that year. Learn more about the Cahill District Plan and how to get involved by visiting bit.ly/BTECahill. Co-Chairs Kate Agnew and David Alkire welcomed a crowd of nearly 100 at the Cahill District Plan Kickoff Meeting on Nov. 15. (Photo by Dan Reisig) 22 BY THE NUMBERS Braemar Golf Dome Edina Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd., was originally built in the early 1980s by a private company. It was acquired by the City in 1988 and the name was changed to “Braemar Golf Dome.” The Dome is open from Nov. 1 through mid- April and is the largest and longest-hitting indoor practice facility in the Twin Cities. It is equipped with Toptracer Range Technology. For more information, visit BraemarGolfDome.com. – COMPILED BY RICARDO ACOSTA 100,000 44 2013 golf balls available for practice at the Braemar Golf Dome Hitting bays across two levels the year Braemar Golf Dome was rebuilt after a fire the year before BY BRITTANY BADER You could be one of the 98 volunteer residents who brings talent and perspective to City of Edina projects, policies and programs by serving on an advisory board or commission. From Dec. 1 through Jan. 14, applications will be accepted online for open positions on the Arts & Culture Commission, Board of Appeal & Equalization, Community Health Commission, Construction Board of Appeals, Energy & Environment Commission, Human Rights & Relations Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission and Planning Commission. No prior experience on a board or commission is necessary. Applicants must be 18 years of age and live in Edina. Community Engagement Manager MJ Lamon, who coordinates the Volunteer Edina program, said the City is looking for applicants of different ages and genders, education levels, housing types and experiences. “We more or less do a talent assessment of the individual to see how they can be involved with our local government. Everybody has a skill set to share,” she said. Arts & Culture Commission Chair Rebecca Sorensen and Planning Commission Chair Kate Agnew are proud of their contributions to the City. “You will get a good look behind the curtain and gain a deeper understanding Residents Encouraged to Serve on a City Board or Commission Applications Accepted Through Jan. 14 for Arts, Energy, Health and More 14 hours open daily, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. into what makes local government tick,” said Sorensen. “The Commission represents our community, and it is a big responsibility for anyone who serves to think about their lived experience and how to help inform [the City] on making the best decisions for Edina.” “If people are looking to get involved in the community, this is a really, really great way to get connected, build out a community within our community, and just get a better understanding of how things work at the City level,” said Agnew. “I just really encourage others who are even a little bit interested to dive in, apply and use this as an opportunity to get more engaged.” New appointments begin March 1, 2022 and are typically three years in length. On average, Lamon estimates that a volunteer’s contribution is 4-6 hours per month. To learn more or to apply, visit EdinaMN.gov/apply_bc. Contact Lamon at 952-826-0360 or MLamon@EdinaMN.gov. Get involved in a Board or Commission! Above, City Council and Board and Commission members get an infrastructure tour with Engineering and Public Works. (File Photo) BRAEMAR GOLF DOME 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov UPCOMING EVENTS Sunday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. Good News Big Band, Edinborough Park Amphitheater Tuesday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Friday, Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m. Movie Night in the Amphitheater, “Trolls World Tour,” Edinborough Park Monday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Tuesday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Friday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve, City offices closed Saturday, Dec. 25 Christmas Day, City offices and facilities closed Sunday, Dec. 26 Kwanzaa Friday, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve, 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 In a move to achieve greater building efficiency and its greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction goals, the City Council recently adopted a Sustainable Buildings Policy. The new policy will affect approximately two-thirds of large building proposals in Edina each year. Cities cannot establish building requirements that are stricter than the building code, but with financial levers and authority over land use, cities can use sustainable buildings policies as a tool to make progress toward their sustainability goals. “Climate change in Minnesota is here. The state’s climate today is warmer, wetter and less predictable than in the past thanks to an accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere,” explained Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock. According to the Regional Indicators Initiative, building energy use accounted for approximated 60 percent of GHG emissions in Edina in 2018. An electricity action plan by Xcel Energy found roughly 60 percent of building energy use comes from commercial buildings, not houses or multi-family buildings. Most notably, the top 20 percent of commercial energy accounts consume nearly 90 percent of Edina’s commercial electricity use. “Large buildings are the greatest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in Edina and, based on energy benchmarking data from 2019 and 2020, are not operating more efficiently than buildings built 20 years ago, despite advancements in sustainable design technology,” Hancock said. “This policy lever is required to drive new construction to adopt more efficient building techniques and achieve efficiency targets that meaningfully contribute to making progress on the City’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.” The new policy goes into effect April 1, 2022, and will apply to new construction and significant renovations that seek either public funding or rezoning as a Planned Unit Development. Under the policy, developers must select and comply with a third-party rating system such as LEED or MN Green Communities for best practices. They must also adhere to the City’s overlay, or list, of sustainability requirements, including electric vehicle charging capability and bird-safe glazing. In other business last month, the City Council: •Approved a change to a proposed redevelopment of the U.S. Bank site at 7001 and 7025 France Ave. Under the latest plans, the existing office- and-bank building would be razed and three new buildings constructed: a one-story bank with drive-thru; 24-story, 267-unit apartment building with 1,500 square feet of retail; six- or seven-story office-and-retail building; and eight-level freestanding parking ramp. •Approved a spending plan for unobligated money collected in the Pentagon Park, 70th & Cahill and Southdale 2 tax-increment financing districts. Recent changes in State law allow cities greater flexibility to use unallocated funds to support redevelopment housing efforts. The City will use the Special Projects and Redevelopment Capital (SPARC) Fund of $9.65 million to “spark” projects that achieve goals of its Comprehensive Plan. All projects will be considered by the Housing & Redevelopment Authority and must create or retain jobs and start before the end of 2025. The City Council next meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7; 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13; and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov. – COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE City Adopts Sustainable Buildings Policy to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Majority of New Construction Projects Must be ‘Greener’ 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE Escanee este código para ver en español NextGen Trees to Benefit Southeast Section of Edina Program Aims to Plant 1,000 Trees in Areas Lacking Them BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND The NextGen Trees project aims to boost the lacking tree canopy in the southeast quadrant of Edina by planting 1,000 saplings. The current tree canopy in southeast neighborhoods is around 12 percent. The average in Edina is 30 to 35 percent, and more affluent neighborhoods like Country Club have a canopy closer to 40 percent, explained City Forester Luther Overholt. Boosting the canopy is important. According to the U.S. Forest Service, trees: •Save energy and money by shading buildings, lowering summertime air tempertures and reducing wind speed. •Reduce carbon dioxide in the air by taking it in and by reducing the demand for heating and air conditioning that produce such emissions. •Increase property values since homes with many trees sell for 3 to 7 percent more than those with few or none. •Reduce stormwater runoff and flooding. •Improve air quality by absorbing air pollution. Perhaps the most surprising benefit is trees create healthier communities overall. Trees help draw people outdoors to spend more time with each other, in nature and being active. All of this contributes to better physical and mental health and reduces crime. “With people quarantining at home and potentially without reliable income, it’s more important than ever to do what we can to help keep energy bills low and homes safe to spend prolonged times in,” said Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock. The City is pursuing grants to boost the $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money for NextGen Trees. The seedlings, about 6-8 feet tall, will be planted on public and private property starting in Spring 2022, with a focus on multi-family complexes and affordable housing. Overholt plans to use climate-adaptive species such as oaks, Kentucky coffeetree, gingko, redbud, tamarack and white pine. “We will plant a diverse mix of species to increase our tree diversity in the city,” he said. This creates visual variety and keeps a single pest or disease, such as emerald ash borer, from wiping out a significant portion of the canopy. Southeast residents who live in apartments or other multi-family units are asked to contact their complex management or property owners to request trees, since the City needs permission to plant them on private property. Tree-planting events and adoption opportunities will be announced starting in early spring. For more information, contact Overholt at LOverholt@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0308. The City plans to hold more volunteer tree-planting events like this October one that added 75 trees to Fred Richards Park. (Photo by Dan Carpenter) EdinaMN.gov/Police Take your keys with you Make sure you lock all windows and doors In your car, don’t leave valuables visible Even when you’re home, close garage doors T M I E Tell TIME to avoid being a victim of a crime. CITY OF EDINA 4801 WEST 50TH STREET EDINA, MN 55424 ***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGEPAID TWIN CITIES MN Permit No. 3932