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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncilConnection10_16_2012Council focuses on future of Art Center At a work session prior to its regular meeting, the Council met with the Art Center Board to hear the results of a study and plan the future of the facility. Sutton & Associates recently finished a study of the Art Center’s operations and or- ganizational structure. Con- sultants recommended the City hire a permanent director for the Art Center, focus on raising funds that will allow the facility to expand its offer- ings in visual and performing arts and other artistic forms, and give careful considera- tion to any proposals to en- hance the Art Center building, as it might benefit from being at a different location. Art Center Board members will solicit feedback from the community on the facility’s mission, draft recommenda- tions based on the study and forward them to the Council before the end of the year. Council OKs zoning ordinance amendment The Council amended the City’s zoning ordinance to allow for a new produce stand. Fairview Southdale Hospital requested a zoning ordinance amendment to allow produce stands in the Regional Medi- cal District, similar to those allowed in the Planned Com- mercial District. As a part of the do.Town initiative, Fair- view Southdale Hospital would like to have a very small farmers market at the northeast corner of 65th Street and Drew Avenue, to primarily serve its employees. The market would consist of no more than five vendors selling fruit, vegetables, herbs and fresh-cut flowers. The market would only be open one day per week, on Tuesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. from June through October. With no concerns, the Council approved the zoning ordi- nance amendment. Council gets first peek at plans for new restaurant building A developer presented his idea for an upscale restau- rant on France Avenue. Frauenshuh Commercial Real Estate Group presented a sketch plan to develop the northeast corner of 7700 France Ave. with a single- story 7,500-square-foot build- ing for a restaurant. The 7700 France property totals 17 acres and contains a six- story, 319,000-square-foot office building and a 7,623- square-foot, single-story of- fice building used by a bank in the southeast corner of the site. The restaurant would be de- signed for seating up to 250 people and would provide 93 dedicated parking spaces in addition to the shared park- ing with the office building. Planning staff believes shared parking might work well since the restaurant and office would have different peak time operations. A summary of the Oct. 16 Edina City Council meeting Oct. 19, 2012 Volume 14, Issue 18 Council Connection Upcoming meetings: • Human Rights & Relations Commission, 7 pm. Oct. 23 • Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Oct. 24 • Art Center Board, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25 • Transportation Commis- sion, 6 p.m. Oct. 25 City Contacts City Manager Scott Neal 952-826-0401 Assistant City Manager Karen Kurt 952-826-0415 City Clerk Debra Mangen 952-826-0408 Interim Art Center Director Michael Frey 952-903-5729 Community Development Director Cary Teague 952-826-0460 Director of Engineering Wayne Houle 952-826-0443 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 The proposed restaurant would be made of high- quality stone, glass and met- al. An area for outdoor dining is envisioned, though it might not be used. Council members were gen- erally pleased with the con- cept and recommended the developer seek Planned Unit Development rezoning. Council adopts utility franchise fees The Council approved new utility franchise fees to cre- ate a new revenue stream to accelerate the construction of sidewalk, trail and non- motorized transportation projects around the commu- nity. The utility franchise fees are estimated to generate more than $1 million in new reve- nue every year. In addition to construction costs of side- walks and trails, the fran- chise fee revenues will be used to fund lighting, right-of- way acquisition, consulting and staff costs. One new staff position will be created to oversee the projects. The franchise fee for a resi- dential utility account is $1.45 per month for both Xcel and CenterPoint Energy customers, for a total of $2.90 per month. The addi- tion of the proposed fran- chise fees raises the monthly bill in each case by approxi- mately 1.6 percent. There are higher monthly fees for commercial accounts.