6016 Vernon Avenue, Station Pizza-Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Rezoning and Site Plan with Variances

A list signed by 57 (now 59) immediate neighboring homeowners of the Kee’s Auto Shop Site was sent to the mayor and council members. We are not opposed to Station Pizzeria or having restaurants on the west side of Edina, but we are opposed to its placement on the Kee’s site. As community members, we believe the pizzeria on this small lot will very negatively impact the character and quality of life in our immediate neighborhood. We do not want to experience air pollution and odors from the proposed restaurant’s large industrial kitchen, to put up with glaring lights from the outdoor signage and parking lights, to endure noise from restaurant operations and patrons, and to have to compete with restaurant patrons for parking on the streets in front of our homes. And in the future, we do not want to be forced to endure other possible PCD-1 retail operations (such as a new restaurant or expansion of the current one with the addition of a liquor license, a possible cannabis dispensary, or other objectionable retail options). We recommend the Kee’s site be rezoned residential and developed in accordance with the city’s Comprehensive Plan. We ask the mayor and city council to vote "No" and to commit to finding a viable solution that would maintain or enhance the character and quality of life in our existing neighborhood. As for the vast majority of the people who are commenting on this site wanting the pizzeria, would they still want it if it were to be placed right next door to them?
Joan Johnson,
Eden Prairie Road
Kee’s Auto Shop Neighbor

My family currently lives in Parkwood Knolls for the past 6 years and I grew up on Highwood Drive for 20 years.
We fully, 100% support the development of the Kevin Kees auto shop into a restaurant concept. The area is lacking any sort of community gathering space and an absolute food desert.
I ask the mayor and the city council to please look in the mirror and ask why this particular project has been such a hurdle to get over when it appears every project in the 44th & France, 50th & France and Southdale area is green lighted and had zero regard for overdevelopment resulting in absolute gridlock and extreme congestion in those areas.
The auto shop has been an eye sore in the neighborhood for over 40 years. The time is now to make a decision and move forward with what the people want and approve the restaurant proposal or move on and make it into a neighborhood park/green space.
J. Rezac & family

Please listen to the majority of people who live within a block of the proposed site. We do NOT want anything other than residential in an otherwise totally residential neighborhood. The traffic will become a problem with not enough parking especially since the city is unable to control the maximum number of people they can seat. They are lying to everyone about the maximum number of 20. Please do not allow this to happen.
Bob Melander
6105 Eden Prairie Rd. #35

The Zerbe family supports this plan. -Judith Zerbe (Transcribed by City Staff. Email received 12/7/24 at 1:17PM)

I’m an avid walker ( I walk Bredeson Park several times a week and love it.) Many comments site “walkability” as a positive feature of the proposed pizzeria. There are no sidewalks along Vernon Ave in front of the site! Parkwood Knolls is lovely; I’ve lived in 2 properties here for nearly 20 years. I understood when we bought that the lots are larger, sidewalks fewer (nearly non existent) and I would not have the amenities (banks, grocery stores, restaurants) that you’d find if we lived near 50th & France, 44th & France etc.
The reason this proposal would require so many variances, and code/Comprehensive Plan changes is because neither the site nor the neighborhood are suitable for this commercial enterprise.
However—Edina needs more housing, particularly multi housing.
The adjacent condo building to the Keeys site has indicated they would consider selling a portion of their property to accommodate a multi housing building. That would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood and Edina.
Please take into consideration that the features of “community” and “walkability” lauded by proponents are not honestly achieved with one pizzeria on an unsuitable site; a multi housing residential property would achieve much more for Edina as a whole without the spillover negative effects on the immediate neighborhood and very real safety issues with drivers on Vernon Ave.
Thank you for reading and considering my input.

We are in support of Station Pizza joining the Edina Community. I know a lot of people were disappointed when the last restaurant proposal fell through I hope this doesn’t have the same outcome. There seems to be concern over parking, to me the parking lot at Kees looks bigger than the lot at Red Cow (50th&France) and Station is much much smaller restaurant so I don’t think there will be that many cars parking in the neighborhood, there’s a lot of successful restaurants without any parking in the Mpls area near 50th and doesn’t seem to be an issue with families, elderly etc.. sidewalks do surround the restaurants which are great/necessary and I would assume it would increase property value being in a neighborhood in walking distance to a successful restaurant.

Tom Bymark, Birchcrest neighborhood. Adding Station Pizzeria to the neighborhood would be a fantastic idea and I'm in full support of it! Locally-owned businesses are the backbone of our vibrant and positive community. A pizza shop offers a casual, family-friendly environment where neighbors can connect and families can grab lunch or dinner. Additionally, it provides job opportunities for locals and keeps money circulating within the community.

There will always be people who are against community growth and connection, poking holes in plans and looking for issues everywhere. However, the comments shared prior to mine are overwhelmingly in favor of the position addition of Station Pizzeria. Let's support healthy development such as this one and continue to make Edina a great place to live and dine. Thank you.

City Council,
My name is Darlene Munson, and my husband and I own unit 210 in 6005 Eden Prairie Road, the condo building directly to the west of the Kees site. Our unit personally overlooks this site so we are very invested in what happens to this site. The residents here have expressed concerns about people parking on Eden Prairie Road (have a lot of elderly and young children in the neighborhood) and walking down the north pathway to get to the restaurant, but actually the most direct way to access the proposed restaurant is by cutting through our side yard. Our side yard is for our residents to enjoy conversations with their neighbors. And we do not want individuals walking through the yard late into the evening to return to their cars.
Concerned about the additional noise from car doors, cars running (delivery vehicles) headlights shining into our bedroom and more.
I never heard the number of employees and where they will park. And what happens if the pizza restaurant closes in the future and who or what business will take over?

I am against this proposal and want to see residential there on the site.

I'm also the Vice President of the HOA board here and want to also mention that we had a conversation with one of the owners about the possibility of selling part of our side yard to make the property larger and perhaps more enticing, but we did not advance it very far because the owner couldn't commit to only using the land for residential. Our building has expenses, insurance keeps going up for us, so we have folks here who are interested in selling some of the side yard but only if we can guarantee that it would be used for a residential development. In fact 3 of our Board members own units that directly face the site and are open to selling off some of the land, but only if it is for residential use, not commercial.

I overlook this site and do not support the pizzeria. It was originally proposed as a takeout only place but is now a sit down restaurant and that will result in overflow traffic into our neighborhood and individuals cutting through our property to access the restaurant. So I would encourage you to vote no on this.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Roger Roe, and his wife, Paula, who currently live in Whitehall (4 yrs) and previously in Parkwood Knolls (20 yrs) are adamantly opposed to this pizza restaurant proposal, primarily because the site is so small adequate parking on the property will be impossible. This necessarily means parking will spill over onto Eden Prairie Rd where there’s barely enough off street parking now for residents and their guests. Inadequate parking means unsafe parking as well as increased walking and driving hazards. Someone’s trying to force a square peg into a round hole by suggesting this tiny space can support a commercial establishment with all its attendant needs: Delivery of product issues, sanitation issues, noise issues, intrusion into a quiet residential neighborhood issues. We, the immediate neighbors most affected negatively by the prospect of this proposal don’t want it and surely don’t need it, much less do they deserve it.

After reading the comments for, I am surprised that none of them show any concern for those living across the street or next door to the site. I would love to walk to Highlands, Parkwood Knolls or Indian Hills to have pizza but somehow I don’t believe the people who live there would be nearly as excited. Imagine what will happen to the property value of the houses directly across the street or next door. Also, all these people who say they are going to walk or bike there will soon tire of that once winter comes which means more CARS! So definitely NO!
Susan Larson 6105 Eden Prairie Rd #17

I am very interested in the comments recently submitted regarding the Kees site. The biggest curiosity to me is that the proponents of this pizza place do not live in the immediate area. It DOES make a difference.
Of particular interest is the opinion that a person would have to go to 50th & France to find a place to gather. Davanni's and Olives Pizza are within 2 miles of this site. Both walkable and bikeable. I am concerned about the noise and safety of trucks delivering ingredients at odd hours in our quiet neighborhood. Our kids will be at risk from the traffic on Vernon, and from the egress and entrance to the pizza place. There is a better solution that would not adversely affect the immediate neighbors. If it was being proposed in Birchcrest or Highlands or down Olinger...where so many of the proponents live, that would be fine if it with me.

My name is Laurie Kuyath. I live on Jeffrey Lane behind the Kevin Keys property. We are a family of three. I support this smaller-sized pizza restaurant 100%. It would be a great improvement to the property and offer a family-friendly place to meet on the west side of Edina. Thank you for your consideration.

We live at 6236 knoll drive Brent and Joanne Anderson. We are in favor of the pizza place. Wish it was a burger place cause we have one already by Londonderry and 169

Michaelanne d., Parkwood Knolls. We are in support of this proposal. This would be great for the area and an excellent use of the space.

This pizza station sounds like a good solution. Most traffic will be in and out quickly, and they’ll provide an excellent service to the surrounding area. Anything is better than an abandoned auto repair shop. Let’s use this space to enhance the neighborhood. Restaurants, locally owned, enhance neighborhoods. I support this Option.

Is this even a question?

I will have this place on speed dial! Large pepperoni please.

Our family is in full support of this plan to convert into a pizza restaurant. We are neighbors in Parkwood Knolls - we think this project improves the area and provides a needed food option. The current situation of the property is an eye sore and we look forward to development. Nick Jude 5117 Scriver Rd. Edina

We support this project for additional amenities to add to quality of life for our neighborhood.
The Hester Family (Highlands Neighborhood)

Stockwell family highlands
We Support this 100%
Thank you

Nancy P - I live near Bredesen Park and would LOVE a place we could walk to for dinner! The current building is an eye sore and sitting empty does nothing for our community. Bring us something we can all enjoy! Love that we can walk to this!!