Owners of 4701, 4703, 4705 and 4707 Meadow Road, (collectively "the Properties"), are requesting a 3-foot height variance from the maximum height requirement of 6 feet to allow a 9-foot-tall fence along France Ave. adjacent to the easterly property lines of “the Properties”. Sec. 36-1255 of the Edina City Code limits fence height to 6 feet in the specified area. All properties in the request have two-story single-family homes with back yards that have frontage along the 4700 block of France Avenue. All Properties currently have six-foot fences along their east property lines.
Metro Transit is currently in the process of converting its bus line 6, which runs in part on France Avenue from 44th and France to the Southdale Transit station, to a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) e-line. As part of the conversion to a BRT line, numerous changes will be made on the 4700 block of France. Changes include the installation of a 60' long bus platform, or station, on both the east and west sides of the street. The 4700 block of France will have stations directly across from each other, rather than on diagonally opposite sides of an intersection. The stations, include bus shelters which are 12 feet long with a sloping roof. The front of the shelters are 12.5 feet tall; the backs are 8.6 feet. The shelters are lighted and heated. The station will have a 14-foot-tall LED illuminated pylon sign. Stations also include "talking" fare card machines, bike racks, trash and recycling receptacles. As part of the e-line project, Hennepin County is installing a median strip through the 47th/France intersection, preventing a north turn on France from 47th. Crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons will be installed on both the north and south sides of the intersection; a new 30-foot streetlight will be installed on the southwest corner.
The request for a taller fence according to the applicants is to minimize the additional visual, noise, light, air and sound pollution to which the Properties will be exposed to given the BRT e-line stations.
Owners of 4701, 4703, 4705 and 4707 Meadow Road, (collectively "the Properties"), are requesting a 3-foot height variance from the maximum height requirement of 6 feet to allow a 9-foot-tall fence along France Ave. adjacent to the easterly property lines of “the Properties”. Sec. 36-1255 of the Edina City Code limits fence height to 6 feet in the specified area. All properties in the request have two-story single-family homes with back yards that have frontage along the 4700 block of France Avenue. All Properties currently have six-foot fences along their east property lines.
Metro Transit is currently in the process of converting its bus line 6, which runs in part on France Avenue from 44th and France to the Southdale Transit station, to a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) e-line. As part of the conversion to a BRT line, numerous changes will be made on the 4700 block of France. Changes include the installation of a 60' long bus platform, or station, on both the east and west sides of the street. The 4700 block of France will have stations directly across from each other, rather than on diagonally opposite sides of an intersection. The stations, include bus shelters which are 12 feet long with a sloping roof. The front of the shelters are 12.5 feet tall; the backs are 8.6 feet. The shelters are lighted and heated. The station will have a 14-foot-tall LED illuminated pylon sign. Stations also include "talking" fare card machines, bike racks, trash and recycling receptacles. As part of the e-line project, Hennepin County is installing a median strip through the 47th/France intersection, preventing a north turn on France from 47th. Crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons will be installed on both the north and south sides of the intersection; a new 30-foot streetlight will be installed on the southwest corner.
The request for a taller fence according to the applicants is to minimize the additional visual, noise, light, air and sound pollution to which the Properties will be exposed to given the BRT e-line stations.
Public Input- 4701, 4703, 4705, 4707 Meadow Road Fence
The City of Edina offers several ways for people to provide input on development projects. Regardless of the method, all public input is considered, so people need to use only one method.
Instructions for leaving a public comment below:
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Please introduce yourself, your neighborhood and your thoughts about this project. Example: Barbara Smith, The Heights. The project is two blocks from my home and my children would have to walk past it every day on their way to school. Please consider adding sidewalks to this project.
Other ways to provide comment:
1 - Leave a voicemail with your public input at 952-826-0377. Staff will submit the transcribed voicemail to Better Together Edina. (Available once project application is submitted)
2 - One public hearing will take place for variance requests in the City Hall Council Chambers, 4801 W. 50th St. Attend the meeting in person to give public input or watch the meeting live from home on Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) or EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings(External link). Call in to provide live testimony at 786-496-5601. Call in Conference PINs are provided in the meeting agenda which can be found at EdinaMN.gov/Agendas(External link).
If you have any difficulties with participating, contact Community Engagement Manager, MJ Lamon at MLamon@EdinaMN.gov(External link) or 952-826-0360.
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Yes I think it is only fair they get a fence to block the eye sore that few people will ride.
Jeff b gisselbeck
6 months ago
Hi, I hope this is the Planning Commission and this is about the proposed fence extension heights along France Avenue between 47th and 48th Street (4701, 4703, 4705 and 4707 Meadow Road) along France Avenue. My name is Brian Lambert and I live at 4007 West 49th Street and I have no objection to raising the height of the fence. It seems like a good idea considering the traffic and everything else that travels down France Avenue. That’s my input and Thank You. (Transcribed by Planning Staff Tuesday, September 17, 2024 11:55 AM)
Emily Bodeker
7 months ago
Hello, I’m not certain if I am reading it right but this is Christine Rhodes Deco at 4703 White Oaks Road, Edina, Minnesota and I am calling in support of a variance for the fence off of Meadow Road to separate the homes from the road. I completely support a 9-foot fence due to the increase in traffic, the speed of the buses and also the lights that I think we will have from the new bus stop on France Avenue. Again, this is Christine Rhodes Deco at 4703 White Oaks Road who completely supports the variance for increasing a 6-foot fence to 9 feet along France Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets. Thank you. (Transcribed by Edina City Staff September 17, 2024 11:00 AM)
Emily Bodeker
7 months ago
I fully support the application for the variance. Will have no negative impacts on the neighborhood and provide a consistent backdrop for the development. In many ways similar to the fence approved on the north side of 50th across from City Hall as that too provided additional screening for the homeowners for a project that had public benefit.
Yes I think it is only fair they get a fence to block the eye sore that few people will ride.
Hi, I hope this is the Planning Commission and this is about the proposed fence extension heights along France Avenue between 47th and 48th Street (4701, 4703, 4705 and 4707 Meadow Road) along France Avenue. My name is Brian Lambert and I live at 4007 West 49th Street and I have no objection to raising the height of the fence. It seems like a good idea considering the traffic and everything else that travels down France Avenue. That’s my input and Thank You. (Transcribed by Planning Staff Tuesday, September 17, 2024 11:55 AM)
Hello, I’m not certain if I am reading it right but this is Christine Rhodes Deco at 4703 White Oaks Road, Edina, Minnesota and I am calling in support of a variance for the fence off of Meadow Road to separate the homes from the road. I completely support a 9-foot fence due to the increase in traffic, the speed of the buses and also the lights that I think we will have from the new bus stop on France Avenue. Again, this is Christine Rhodes Deco at 4703 White Oaks Road who completely supports the variance for increasing a 6-foot fence to 9 feet along France Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets. Thank you. (Transcribed by Edina City Staff September 17, 2024 11:00 AM)
I fully support the application for the variance. Will have no negative impacts on the neighborhood and provide a consistent backdrop for the development. In many ways similar to the fence approved on the north side of 50th across from City Hall as that too provided additional screening for the homeowners for a project that had public benefit.