Planning

Cary Teague
Planning Director

Edina was the first village in the State to appoint a Planning Commission—that was in 1929. In 1957, the City hired the State's first full-time Planning Director. It was evident then, as it is now, that planning is an integral part of Edina's past and future.

Although the City is more than 98 percent developed, the Planning Department is still confronted with the challenges of continually changing land uses. Properties that are redeveloped and that are surrounded by existing established neighborhoods, services and streets require a sensitive and careful review to ensure a compatible and sensitive result. The Planning Department reviews development and redevelopment proposals with the guidance of the City's long-range Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

The Comprehensive Plan is the City’s long-range guide to how property should be developed or redeveloped.

The Zoning Ordinance defines the current rights that owners have for their properties. The Zoning Ordinance regulates many aspects of land use, such as the type of use, sign regulations, landscaping requirements, setbacks and density regulations.

Click here for zoning classification information.

Requests for zoning changes, conditional use permits, subdivisions and final development plans require review by the Planning Commission and approval by the City Council. Variance requests are heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Planning staff serves as liaison to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, making recommendations on the land use issues.

Variances
Homeowners and business owners who want to make improvements to their properties that don't comply with city zoning standards will have a more difficult time doing so following a recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision. In late June 2010, the court handed down a ruling that greatly restricts cities' ability to grant variances to property owners who face special circumstances.

In the court case, which involved a garage addition in Minnetonka, the court stated that to establish the "undue hardship" required for a variance, the applicant must show that "the property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use" without the variance. This standard is much stricter than the previous standard. Prior to the ruling, applicants only had to show that they would like to use a property in a "reasonable manner" prohibited by the zoning ordinance.

Unless and until the legislature takes action to provide a more flexible variance standard, cities will not have the authority to grant a variance unless an applicant can show that their property cannot be put to a reasonable use without the variance.

If residents or business owners have questions about how this decision affects plans they might have, they should contact the Planning Department at 952-826-0369 for assistance.

The Planning Department also performs the following functions:

·         Maintains and updates the City's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map.

·         Advises the Heritage Preservation Board.

·         Advises developers, land owners and residents about the requirements for land use, plats and zoning.

·         Administers and oversees the Community Development Block Grant Program.

·         Issues sign permits.

·         Oversees U.S. Census data.

On a typical day, the Planning Department will:

·         Meet with developers, land owners and residents inquiring about development or redevelopment of property.

·         Review residential, commercial and industrial building plans.

·         Answer residents' inquiries regarding building setbacks, lot coverage and building height requirements.

·         Review sign permit applications and answer inquiries regarding size, location and height requirements for signage.

·         Review plans and answer inquiries regarding radio and television antennas and towers.

·         Field questions and process applications for the Community Development Block Grant Program for low-income homeowners who wish to improve their properties.

·         Field questions regarding home occupations.

·         Conduct follow-up inspections and investigate complaints regarding Code compliance.

In a typical year, the Planning Department will:

·         Process 75 variance requests.

·         Submit to the City Council between 20 and 30 requests for subdivision, rezoning, final development plan and conditional use permit approval.

·         Process 100 sign permits.

·         Administer $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding.

For more information, contact the Planning Department at 952-826-0369.