City code

Section 850.01 - Findings, Purpose and Objectives.

850.01 Findings, Purpose and Objectives.  The Council finds that Edina has emerged from an era exemplified by unparalleled growth and development and has entered a period of stability, reuse and redevelopment; that some of the standards and regulations which guided initial development of the City are not appropriate for guiding future development and redevelopment; and that standards and regulations for guiding future development and redevelopment should be based upon the stated goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan of this City, as from time to time amended, which constitutes the City's statement of philosophy concerning the use of land within its jurisdiction. Through the enactment of this Section, the Council intends to implement this statement of philosophy so as to provide for the orderly and planned development and redevelopment of lands and waters in Edina, to maintain an attractive living and working environment in Edina, to preserve and enhance the high quality residential character of Edina and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare.

Specifically, this Section is intended to implement the following objectives, some of which are contained in the Comprehensive Plan:

Maintain, protect and enhance single family detached dwelling neighborhoods as the dominant land use.

Encourage orderly development of multi-family housing that offers a wide range of housing choice, density and location while maintaining the overall high quality of residential development.

Control the use, development and expansion of certain non-residential uses in the Single Dwelling Unit District in order to reduce or eliminate undesirable impacts of such non-residential uses.

Encourage a more creative and imaginative approach to the development of multi-family developments.

Provide an enjoyable living environment by preserving existing topography, vegetation, streams, water bodies and other natural land and water forms.

Encourage mixed use developments which:

A.     Provide housing for persons of low and moderate income.

B.     Include recreational facilities and parks.

C.     Harmoniously integrate residential and non-residential uses.

D.     Encourage the increased use of mass transit.

E.      Reduce employment-related automobile trips.

Encourage orderly development, use and maintenance of office, commercial and industrial uses which are compatible with the residential character of the City.

Recognize and distinguish commercial districts at the neighborhood level, the community level and the regional level, so as to provide retail establishments compatible in use and scale with surrounding properties, especially those used for residential purposes.

Establish requirements for parking and loading to minimize impacts on public streets and surrounding properties.

Establish standards for landscaping and screening to contribute to the beauty of the community, add to the urban forest and buffer incompatible uses from one another.

Preserve buildings, lands, areas and districts which possess historical or architectural significance.

Protect surface and ground water supplies, minimize the possibility of periodic flooding resulting in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards and related adverse effects.

Allow interim uses of closed public school buildings.

The Council also finds that sexually-oriented businesses have adverse secondary characteristics particularly when they may be accessible to minors or are located near residential properties or schools, day care centers, libraries and parks, and such businesses can exert a dehumanizing influence on persons attending or using such residential properties or schools, day care centers, libraries and parks.

Sexually-oriented businesses can contribute to an increase in criminal activity in the area in which such businesses are located.

Sexually-oriented businesses can significantly contribute to the deterioration of residential neighborhoods and can impair the character and quality of the residential housing in the area in which such businesses are located, thereby exacerbating the shortage of affordable and habitable housing for City residents.

The concentration of sexually-oriented businesses in one area can have a substantially detrimental effect on the area in which such businesses are concentrated and on the overall quality of urban life. A cycle of decay can result from the influx and concentration of sexually-oriented businesses. The presence of such businesses is perceived by others as an indication that the area is deteriorating and the result can be devastating -- other businesses move out of the vicinity and residents flee from the area. Declining real estate values, which can result from the concentration of such businesses, erode the City's tax base and contribute to overall urban blight.

The regulation of the location and operation of sexually-oriented businesses is warranted to prevent the adverse secondary effects of such businesses on the City's crime rate, its retail trade, its property values, and in general the quality of the City's neighborhoods, commercial and industrial districts, and urban life.

The Council also finds that the Greater Southdale area, especially that portion contained within the Planned Commercial District, is of vital interest to the welfare of the entire City and, therefore, the Council hereby adopts the following additional objectives with respect to this area:

A.  To contribute to maintaining and enhancing the Greater Southdale Area as a unique and vibrant regional retail destination.

B.  To encourage a range of housing types within the Greater Southdale Area.

C.  To encourage a mixed use shopping, living and working environment that meets the needs of residents and visitors and helps mitigate the effects of traffic by reducing vehicle trips and miles by allowing residences in close proximity to  employment and services..

D.  To increase the allowed density of development in the PCD-3 subdistrict to be more comparable with other planned commercial districts in the City and other zoning districts in the Greater Southdale Area and to permit a level of development intensity appropriate for the area.

E.   To reduce setback requirements from public street rights of way in order to encourage and permit a closer relationship between storefronts and streetscapes.

F.   To ensure that residential development in the PCD-3 subdistrict is compatible with non-residential uses.

G.  To more efficiently utilize public infrastructure by taking advantage of peak demand variations among land uses.

H.  To allow a density of development that improves the feasibility of mass transit services utilized by residents, shoppers and employees of the Greater Southdale Area.

I.    To provide incentives to encourage affordable and life cycle housing.

J.   To encourage development of an active pedestrian environment and pedestrian accessibility to and among developments.

K.  To encourage the inclusion of green spaces, open space, locations for public art, landscape buffers, parks, plazas, fountains, water retention areas and other similar spaces for the use and enjoyment of residents, visitors and employees and to enhance the quality of the human and physical environment.

This Section divides the City into districts and establishes minimum requirements for these districts as to the location, height, parking, landscaping, bulk, mass, building coverage, density and setbacks of buildings and structures and the use of buildings, structures and properties for residences, retailing, offices, industry, recreation, institutions and other uses. This Section also provides procedures for the transfer of property to another district, procedures for the issuance of conditional use permits, establishes the Zoning Board of Appeals, provides for the administration of this Section, and establishes penalties and remedies for violations. This Section also establishes overlay districts designed to preserve buildings, lands, areas and districts of historic or architectural significance and to protect surface and ground water supplies and minimize the possibility of periodic flooding resulting in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards and related adverse effects.