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

Hi, my name is Nancy Newcomb. I am the Board President over here at the condos located at 5725 Blake Road S. This is about the Station Pizza they’re looking to put on Vernon Avenue here, or where Kee’s Auto used to be. We would love to have Station Pizza over here. I've taken the consensus of all the residents here, and it would be a wonderful asset to have in a neighborhood. Thank you. (Voicemail transcribed by City Staff. Received 11/26/24 at 1:00 PM)

Hi, I'm calling to give input on the 6016 Vernon Avenue development proposal. I live at 5725 Blake Road. My name is Polly Kiesel. I live on the corner of Vernon and Blake Road in the condominium building. I am very much against the restaurant idea. I strongly oppose the rezoning. I'm really against any development that would add more traffic and noise to the area. I moved here to get away from traffic and noise, and I was really surprised at how loud it is here. It's already very loud, and I'd like to see the site used as a mini park with more trees, plantings, and benches. Maybe even a neighborhood dog park for small dogs. I moved here for open space, nature, and Bredesen Park. I feel like the neighborhood is developed enough. Thank you very much. Bye. Bye. (Voicemail transcribed by City Staff. Received 11/8/24 at 10:22am)

Hi, my name is Lisa Gardner and I live at 5821 Merold Drive. I am calling to voice my opinion that I’m in favor of the pizza restaurant that is trying to happen at the Kevin Kee’s site. So, yes, I'm in 100% support and I think it would be a great addition for our neighborhood. Thank you. (Voicemail transcribed by City Staff. Received 11/12/24 at 8:18pm)

Strongly Oppose proposal for New Pizza Restaurant..Best Use
Would be New Zoning for 5 or 6 units Maximum..Condos or Townhome..Traffic on Vernon now is already a Nightmare especially during Morning and Evening Commutes..After 45 years in Edina Real Estate I have now seen pretty much it all..Current Owner Probably should have done his due diligence..2 years ago..

Nancy Phinney, Countryside. I strongly support the pizza place - or some other cafe - in this area. 20 seats seems reasonable and honestly - offering take out and delivery would be super convenient. I would love some place I could walk to and there is nothing in this area within walking distance. Thank you.

My name is Matt and I live in the condos at 5725 Blake Road. I'm opposed to this pizza restaurant because the lot really doesn't have the space for it, it would bring undue traffic, and would not fit into the residential character of the neighborhood that we love. That the restaurant succeeds is unlikely, then we're left with a bigger, uglier building than what's there now. If they plan to serve alcohol, this is an even harder 'No' due to safety concerns. Turn it into a little park or something.

Hi, my name is Bruce Freeman. I'm at 6112 Eden Prairie Road, just down from 6016 Vernon Avenue. It was the Kevin Kee’s and now they want to make it a pizza place and I think it's great. I hope they go ahead with it and get some flexibility on what they can put there so they can make this work and put that space the good use. Glad to have a restaurant of some type in the neighborhood. Thank you. Bye. -Transcribed by City Staff (Voicemail received 11/19/24 at 3:56 pm)

Hi, this is Paul Schmidt calling at 6033 Kaymar Drive. My wife and I are in support of the Station Pizza restaurant at the current Kevin Kee’s automotive location under the following conditions: There would be no vehicle access from Kaymar Drive or Eden Prairie Road and parking would not be allowed to drive on Kaymar Drive or Eden Prairie Road for patrons that would visit the restaurant. Behind the location is a very quiet neighborhood that is full of young families with children and elderly individuals that walk on the streets and the children are playing on the streets. Having access from either of these 2 streets would greatly increase traffic and that would definitely curtail the existing culture, as it is, in the neighborhood. -Transcribed by City Staff (Voicemail received 11/17/24 at 4:48 pm)

I live just down the road and think a pizzeria at this location would be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood! It’s a convenient spot for families and residents nearby to grab a meal without needing to venture too far. Supporting local businesses like this not only enhances our community but also brings us together in shared spaces. I’m excited to see this project move forward!

Brian, Parkwood Knolls. 20+ year Edina resident. We are in favor of a restaurant or coffee shop at the Kevin Keys site. We would love a walkable place to grab a bite or coffee in our neighborhood!

Don't bother asking a question as you won't get an answer. I don't think BTE is really even looked at by city staff. Just my opinion. Kathleen

The decision of the Planning Commission to approve a pizza restaurant at the Keyes site, irrespective of the opposition of the immediate neighbors that will be negatively impacted by this restaurant, is alarming. Edina has a reputation of ignoring public comments of its citizens and proceeding with preconceived plans. A perfunctory hearing of opposing views has met the requirements for public comments. Those comments were ignored. Instead, we received a patriarchal “don’t worry, you are going to love it after you get used to it” justification for the approval. Perhaps the commission members should actually walk the property and see firsthand the inappropriateness of this location, tucked into an existing residential neighborhood.
It would be encouraging to see the Edina City Council override the commission and focus on the needs of the people most impacted by this proposal, and not by some preconceived notion of what our neighborhood should look like.
We purchased homes in this residential neighborhood because we knew the Comprehensive Plan designation was residential and as such, our lifestyle and home values would be protected.

I think the project should be approved because there is nothing down that way and I live nearby and would be nice too have someplace too walk too that serves good I know people say there are pizza places are neighing a few or or 3 or but the question I have there pizza and is very good compared too a few in the outside area of this project

Why doesn’t Edina government just admit what they want the property for is low income or affordable housing instead of making people who try too put a business and spend money on a project or present plans that the city government does not want

Hello, I had looked on the better together Edina development but didn't see any spot where you could type anything in. So, I thought you could transcribe this. This is David Wilson; 5604 Heather Lane and I live about 2 blocks from the pizzeria that you're thinking about letting in Edina. I Really hope that you guys change the zoning on this that Kevin Keys facility has been there for what is it? 50 years? 70 years and we need to do something different with it. If you look at this section of Edina, we are really in a food desert. The closest place is out on 169, which is quite a way or back to Jerry's. Both of which are not really walkable for anybody so really hope it goes through and we don't pay too much attention to the renters that live right next door versus homeowners that are living in the area and paying taxes and have planted roots. I've been here for 27 years, so anyway, hopefully it goes well, and we can keep moving on versus having a building that's been sitting for couple years with nothing happening at all whatsoever. So. We can create some jobs and 1 of our neighbors that's going to own it that lives in Edina and make some money off it and people can have pizza and everybody will be happy and the condos that are by the street. I've rode by bike past there several times. There's a lot of cars that are on that street that runs parallel to Vernon Avenue. So that's just kind of par for the course for those condos and town houses, apartments in there. That it's going to be busy there. And that's part where they are living and they bought into when they moved into an apartment and it's right next to a garage. So all right. Good luck.
Transcribed by City Staff 11/15/24

We are in favor of a pizza Station restaurant. ~Or a cute coffee shop that would serve coffee, cinnamon rolls, soups…..
C.Morgan ~Highlands

Here we go again.
Same song…Different verse
This lot is already zoned as
Medium Density RESIDENTIAL…since 1980
Why do we need to go through the process of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment with multiple variances?
Why do we have to develop a NEW Neighborhood Service designation --just to meet the needs of a commercial enterprise that does not fit into the neighborhood and…
May or may not succeed
Vernon Ave was the original route for HWY 169 and at that time it was legitimate for a gas station to be built there.
TIME HAS CHANGED the area.
• Vernon is no longer a hwy.
• Families have developed the area into a RESIDENTIAL community
* Why is it incumbent on the City of Edina to protect an owner from a bad purchase decision? We have all made mistakes in our lives. At a certain point, it is best to recognize the mistake, accept and own the consequences and move forward.

In the words of the STAFF REPORT ON P. 7…
MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL MAY BE THE BEST LONG-TERM USE OF THE PROPERTY.
It is time to end this recurring debate and establish once and for all that this property needs to be designated ONLY for Medium Density Residential.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Pam Allen 6105 Eden Prairie Road, Edina, MN #15

Transcribed by City Staff 11/14/24

Hi, my name's Andrew Gardner. I live on Merold Drive. I'm calling regarding the proposed Station Pizza property on Vernon Avenue, which I'm in full support of. Um, I disagree with any of the comments that suggest turning the property into a public park or something like that, which would require the city to either buy the property or the current owners to donate it, which certainly seems unlikely. I think the highest and best use for the property is to make it into a tax revenue generating restaurant, which would be great to have in the neighborhood. Thanks. Bye.
Transcribed by City Staff 11/14/24

This is Ken Dragseth and I live at 6058 Blake Ridge Road, Edina, MN and am calling regarding the Station Pizza proposal for the Key’s automotive site. I live across from the street from there. I strongly urge the Planning Commission and Council to support this proposal. Our community in this area needs something for our eating facilities. There is nothing in this part of town that's close. I think its time for the Planning Commission and City Council to move forward with a positive thing for this area. I lived in this area for 24 years and have seen the transition from key automotive to the variety of proposals. This seems like an excellent proposal. I hope that the Planning Commission, and eventually the Council will approve it. Thank you.
Transcribed by City Staff 11/13/24

This is Gretchen Gray. I live at 6105 Eden Prairie Road, Edina, MN, and I'm calling about the public hearing for the applicant Jack Shafer Station Pizza proposal, and I object to it on the basis of the fact that there isn't space for that. There's not an adequate parking area, and I really object to this and I don't think that the request should be approved. Thank you.
Transcribed by City Staff 11/13/24