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

Sandra Davis here and I live on Harold Woods Lane in Parkwood Knolls. I have long been a proponent of having something close by that we could walk or bike to. I like Station Pizza and this is a great option. This is the right kind of zoning for this property and it supports both small business and the community. I am all for it.

Judy Straub Parkwood Knolls: This sad empty building has been an eyesore for far too long. It would be wonderful to be able to walk over and pick up pizza for dinner, or walk over with neighbors and enjoy dining in. It seems everything else in Edina gets approved, it's time to approve/rezone this site so people may enjoy it! I fully approve of this project, it will be a great addition to the neighborhood.

My family (husband, two children and I) live in the neighborhood behind this property where Kevin Kees previously existed. We are in full support of the proposed changes. This business opens up an opportunity for busy families like ours to get a meal within walking distance which can be a challenge. It’s time for some change and I think the current proposal is an appropriate step in the right direction. I believe it will serve the community well.

I support a restaurant 100%!!! I know some of the neighbors have resisted but they will quickly change their minds when they see the restaurant as a fun addition to the neighborhood!
Please let me know if there's other ways I can support this project. Thank you ----Kris Fielding

We live in the Todd Park neighborhood and would love to see this restaurant added to Edina at the proposed location! We fully support it!

Our family lives in the Highlands neighborhood and love the idea of Pizza Station. 4 votes for a family dining/take out versus more housing!

Would prefer a coffee shop/bakery, but very supportive of rezoning to food establishment

I have lived in the Melody Lake neighborhood for 20 years. Station Pizza should be developed. It would be a nice, low-profile restaurant that, in today's digital and online environment, would serve to bring the community together.
And come on....who wouldn't want a charming pie shop in their neighborhood?

Let's do this!

I would welcome a restaurant at this location. I was sad when the last opportunity did not pass. People are looking for more of a small community feeling and places of this nature provide that. I’m sure the hours will be reasonable so the neighbors won’t be bothered by noise. The kids in the area will like it. It will provide employment- perhaps for high school kids. I imagine smell is a concern but I never smell Davannis when I am around that area. I hope there will be some outdoor seating. Lastly, it is very similar to what they did with the gas station at the cross section of Wooddale and Valley view. People love that and it is right in the middle of a neighborhood. Best of luck!
Penelope

Great idea. I live within blocks of this location, and (for the 2nd time!) please approve this location for a neighborhood gathering spot with great food. It's exactly what this neighborhood needs.
To make this happen, get creative with parking and zoning and give West Edina the same consideration as you do for East Edina.

I live in the Countryside neighborhood and think this would be a fantastic addition to the area. We currently have zero restaurants we can walk to or easily bike to and would love for this site to become a restaurant where we can gather or easily grab something to go. West Edina needs local food options!! It is desperately missing from our neighborhood. We are a restaurant desert right now!!!

I live in the Chowen Park neighborhood and I've lived in Edina since 2007. As a former owner, who was forced to open their business in Minneapolis (boo) because Edina's liquor laws didn't allow distilleries and cocktails rooms at the time, I fully support any business to open in Edina. If these people want to open a pizza place - let them. We should be supporting small business owners and the tax dollars they bring to the community. If I could go back in time to 2014, 2015, I would've rallied Edina to change their laws, opened my business in Edina and my business would probably still be open, but it's not. We have a family with two small kids and we enjoy eating out and having nice establishments in Edina to be patrons of. I like to keep money in the local community and support those business owners. Are people worried about traffic, parking? Sure, should they be? No. I live very close to Pizzeria Lola and Gia and we have never had issues with people parking and being loud near our homes and I've lived in my home since 2007. They just opened a new nail salon near our house and I will be happy to give them my business as well. I hope the business is able to open and I can't wait to bring my family there. Best of luck to the business owners.

I think this is a fantastic project. I hope we don't lose out again to the knee jerk NIMBYs.

We would enjoy having a new restaurant in the neighborhood. We hope this can be approved.
Jim and Allison Gaasedelen

I have been an Edina resident since 2007. I live in the Highlands neighborhood which is close to the site.

I think this would be a great addition to our part of Edina. I would enjoy walking up with my family to get a pizza and ice cream. I would enjoy the opportunity for takeout as well. I do not think this would be disruptive. I think it would definitely add value to the community.

Please approve.

As a resident living less than two blocks north of the proposed Station Pizza location and a parent of two young children, I fully support this project. A pizzeria would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, providing a convenient dining option for families and fostering a stronger sense of community. The current use of the property as an auto repair shop is outdated, and the redevelopment into a residential property is obviously something that doesn’t make financial sense or a developer would have been on it years ago.

This business has the potential to create a vibrant, family-oriented gathering space while promoting local economic growth. By prioritizing take-out and delivery, the plan minimizes traffic and parking concerns, addressing the common worries about new developments in residential areas.

My name is Heidi Moon and I live at 6009 Leslee Lane, a few blocks north of this site. I fully support the idea of having a restaurant and gathering place that is walkable for our neighborhood. It would be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood and would increase our community bond by providing a gathering place, be an employer for our local youth and being the only dining option in walking distance for our neighborhood- something much needed and good for our health and the environment.

My husband and I live at 6005 Eden Prairie Rd Unit 109. I have read most of the comments on the BTE page and watched both the Planning Commission and City Council meetings in regard to the Kevin Kees property. Many of those who support Station Pizza have mentioned it as a “gathering place.” A gathering place as I see it, is somewhere you can talk, spend time and linger over a drink or snack. Edina is already rich in gathering places. When we have company, we pack a lunch and find a picnic table at one of the many parks. The children are entertained by playground equipment, ball fields and other children they meet there. When the weather changes, other indoor areas are available. There are no time constraints. Station Pizza will be a business and their main goal is to make money. The more pizza they sell, the higher their profits. It’s much better to sell 40 slices of pizza in 2 hours than 10 slices and have people milling around for 2 hours. It’s about profitability for any business which goes on this site. The interest of a gathering place will fade like the seasons. Residential use will be more long standing and a much better investment of this property.

Yeah, my name is Cort Lundeen and I live in the Chowen park neighborhood. I'm commenting on the Station Pizzeria project. I have lived in the area of for 13 years and know the owners of Station Pizza, and have visited their other restaurant. I feel it would be a great addition to the neighborhood and the West side of Edina. I don't think any of the traffic issues or sidewalk issues would be a big deal to bring this local community business into Edina, as the owner lives in Edina and has been a great community member. Thank you. (voicemail transcribed by City Staff. Received 12/5/24 at 3:00PM)

I live in the Melody Lake neighborhood, about 1 mile from the proposed site. Station Pizza would be an excellent addition to the area. It addresses the current shortage of restaurants in West Edina, offers a gathering place for our community, and replaces the eyesore currently occupying the space.

After seeing many proposals come and go for this site, an excellent option is in front of us. Much thought has been put into the proposal, and I strongly encourage the Council to support this excellent addition to our community.