6016 Vernon Avenue, Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Site Plan with Variances

This is Ken Dragseth and Mary Dragseth 6058 Blake Ridge Road Edina. We live across from the old Kee's auto site. We are very much in support of the Ionna Rechargery station. It is both a very good addition to the neighborhood, but it's also promotes the sustainability and lack of use of fossil fuels. We support this plan and hope that it will go through by the board. Thank you. (This voicemail was received 5/20/26 at 11:43AM and transcribed by City Staff)

Yes, I'm calling regarding the rechargery, to go on Vernon, the former Kevin Kee's site. My name is Storey Holland, and I live at Blake Bridge Town Homes, and I've been an Edina resident almost 50 years and three sons through the high school or through the public school here, and they're in their forties now and they, they're against it too. I don't like the 24/7 no attendant, and, I think, a residential home would be really nice there. Thank you. (This voicemail was received 5/20/26 at 8:33AM and transcribed by City Staff)

Our house (part of Olde Vernon) looks directly at this site. We have tried to be open-minded, but after much consideration, we cannot support this idea…for many reasons:
-It will not serve our neighborhood. It will only bring additional traffic off the freeways into our neighborhood and the already extremely busy Vernon Ave. It will bring bright lights at night. It will have awnings and signs that degrade the residential feel of our neighborhood.
-The 24-hour un-attended “lounge with vending” that will be attached to this project will only bring trouble to the neighborhood, at all hours of the day and night.
-Variances will push the usage of this small lot to its very edges, with charging bays for 14 cars at all times. We suspect that trees might even be removed. It will be intrusive
-A 24-hour charging station with unattended lounge, restrooms and vending certainly doesn’t fit into an all-residential neighborhood. It belongs in an area with other commercial and retail buildings.

We ask you to please find a residential-oriented solution for this site.

Lyle and Cheryl W.

Katie S, I live about a mile away near Yancey Park, but my family frequently (almost daily) walks along Vernon to get to Bredesen Park.

Redevelopment of this vacant lot should reflect the character and needs of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. A 24-hour lounge or convenience store raises concerns about late-night and early-morning traffic, noise, lighting, and the potential for the site to function as an overnight gathering place rather than simply a charging location.

Additionally, because this is a popular biking and running route, I would like to know what measures would be taken to ensure pedestrian and cyclist safety is not compromised by increased traffic and activity.

My wife, daughter, and I walk past this property frequently and we always discuss how perfect of a spot this would be for a coffee and pastry shop. It would be low impact to neighbors as hours would be morning to early afternoon, and most patrons would be grabbing drinks to go! Perfect for grabbing a coffee and going for a walk around Bredesen :)

I live directly across the street from this site, and am in favor on an EV charging station. Having lived across from the site when it operated as a car repair business, I anticipate this use will bring similar levels of noise and traffic. An EV charging station represents a novel and forward-looking business opportunity, and one provides a precedent for sustainability goals. I believe providing residents with energy alternatives demonstrates a commitment to community resilience. For example, condo owners across the street do not have access to an EV charger in their garage, so this project could increase their options for an EV vehicle. Having visited the IONNA site in White Bear Lake, I am comfortable that the site will be well-maintained, quiet, and practical. I appreciate the city council's engagement and careful decision-making on this topic.

I live directly across the street from this site, and am in favor on an EV charging station. Having lived across from the site when it operated as a car repair business, I anticipate this use will bring similar levels of noise and traffic. An EV charging station represents a novel and forward-looking business opportunity, and one that provides a precedent for sustainability goals. I believe providing residents with energy alternatives demonstrates a commitment to community resilience. For example, condo owners across the street do not have access to an EV charger in their garage, so this project could increase their options for an EV vehicle. Having visited the IONNA site in White Bear Lake, I am comfortable that the site will be well-maintained, quiet, and practical. I appreciate the city council's engagement and careful decision-making on this topic.

I used to live ~100 yards from this site on Kaymar Drive and the City's lack of decision making on this site is part of our reason for leaving the neighborhood. What a miss on the couple of proposals to create charming, neighborhood gathering spots. Now you want to create what basically seems like a hang out spot for rideshare drivers. Yikes, I'm glad we are leaving.

I agree with the neighbors against this project on the points of: 1. Not that beneficial to the neighborhood. 2. Unsupervised 24/7 indoor area likely to be a problem. 3. Very much against changing from MDR to NN. This could ultimately change the character of the entire area. 4. Not happy with increased paving and cutting down mature trees. 5. Only low bushes on Vernon side, no trees. 6. Two exits on to Vernon right through a bicycle lane and speeding traffic, big accident risk. 7. Increased traffic.
Why can't the city buy the property and just have some green space, pollinator garden, monarch way station or fenced tot lot? The building could be used for storing some city equipment.
PK - Corner of Blake RD and Vernon.

The City Planning Commission had two excellent opportunities to turn this site into an actual neighborhood amenity—first with a restaurant and then with a take-out pizza parlor. Both proposals had the enthusiastic backing of neighbors who wanted a walkable, community-oriented space.

Now, we are being asked to settle for this absolute dud: a 24/7 commercial filling station wedged directly into a residential neighborhood.

The logic behind this IONNA project is completely backward. Most folks in Edina who drive an EV already charge it in their own garage. This facility isn't designed for the people who actually live here; it won’t be used by anyone in the neighborhood. Instead, it’s a beautifully tailored staging ground for highway commuters and rideshare drivers looking for a place to loiter, sit in idling cars, and use an unstaffed vending lounge at 3:00 AM.

This site is tucked deep into a residential area where our kids ride their bikes and walk to school. Priority should always be given to projects that add value, connection, and character to the neighborhood. This project does the exact opposite, bringing all the burdens of a 24-hour commercial truck stop with zero benefits to the residents.

The City made a terrible error rejecting the neighborhood amenities we actually wanted. Please don’t compound that mistake by forcing an unwanted, unstaffed highway pit stop on residents who actually have to live next to it. Reject this proposal.

How does this project benefit those of us living in nearby neighborhoods? We live two blocks away and I have yet to speak with any nearby residents who would use the service—the few I spoke with who have EVs have their own chargers. As others have said, this project will likely only attract transient drivers who have little or no connection to or interest in the neighborhood. I fail to see how this project improves the neighborhood or is a benefit to local residents. Please reject this proposal.

We live in the Blake Ridge Townhomes development across Vernon from the Kees site, and while the charging station proposal seems less obtrusive than the restaurant options that have been rejected, and far less massive than the memory care proposal, it still presents more problems than it solves. It does not serve the neighborhood; EV drivers charge at home. We agree with the many commenters who fear the impact of a 24-hour commercial operation; we wonder what kind of hanging out would ensue, both inside the facility and at the charging stations. And like other proposals, this use seems like a fingers-crossed venture that may well fail, which would send us back to the drawing board. We would urge the council not to settle for this option out of frustration--it's not the worst idea, but it's far from the best. What would be best? Green space, with residential a close second.

David Lillehaug, resident of Olde Vernon just down the street on the other side of Vernon. Whatever the solution to this property, the City should not allow 24 hour commercial use in a residential neighborhood, especially for a convenience\vending building that, it appears, will be unstaffed.

Our house and front door on Vernon Ave. are 200 yards away and look directly at this property. We are not totally for or against this proposal (although we’d much prefer a duplex or tri-plex or something residential). We are concerned about how a 24 hour/7 day a week/365 day a year automobile filling station might impact our neighborhood. Concerns range from excessively bright night lighting, to unwanted loitering/parking/noise, an unmanned/unsupervised lounge, additional freeway traffic on Vernon and in the neighborhood, etc.

If this moves forward, we hope Edina planning will ask very hard questions and make as many demands as possible to keep this development from becoming intrusive. Developers (green or not) are paid to maximize usage of a site and that’s what they will do. Please get maximum concessions on everything from: no excessive lighting or signage; not a single current mature tree on the property being cut down; no change in the size or configuration of driveways; no over-building of charging stations (currently 7 stations, which means 14 cars. Maybe it should be less until it can be determined if this is a good neighbor.) And demand that they follow through on every fence/bush/tree/landscaping device they have promised (and then ask for more), to minimize this site’s impact on a 100% residential neighborhood.

My husband and I live next door to this site. Compared to previous considerations for replacement businesses, I think the recharging station has potential. The noise level will be less, traffic less, and parking on neighborhood streets less invasive. The only situation that would make me happier is to turn this irregular property into city owned green space.

As a nearby resident, I do not believe this is an appropriate location for an EV charging station. Public charging infrastructure is most effective in destination settings such as retail centers, workplaces, or major travel corridors where drivers already expect to stop.

Placing a charging site in a residential area risks introducing unnecessary transient traffic, idling, and late-night activity that could alter the character of the neighborhood without providing a meaningful benefit to local residents. Increased lighting and around-the-clock vehicle turnover are also legitimate concerns.

This location does not appear to serve the surrounding community, but instead primarily outside users. For that reason, I strongly urge the city not to approve this site for an EV charging station.

We strongly support the Ionna EV station proposal for 6016 Vernon Ave. It meets zoning requirements for the site and will be less disruptive to the immediate neighborhood than previous proposals. It will be, in essence, be a 21st century version of a service station for cars.
Joan and Leigh Johnson, 6105 Eden Prairie Road, #13

I think this is an excellent proposal for a difficult piece of property. It would not be intrusive to the neighborhood, particularly with the dimming lights when not in use. By far, the best alternative for this site. Thank you for your time to find a workable solution. I am in favor of this proposal.

We concur with the previous comment that an EV station will not serve our community and will likely be a 24/7 hang out for Uber drivers. This is a residential area. Keys auto was a quiet business with little traffic. We wish Edina would just buy the property, make it a green space with a walking path (which it sort of is now). As neighbors, we’d even donate to such an effort.
Tim and Lori, Highwood Dr W

I live on Berne Circle just across the street from the proposed site. I do not support the idea of a charging station in the neighborhood. This will end up being a perfect hangout for Uber Drivers waiting to being called to drive someone since Uber has a deal with Tesla on using their autos. As others have commented, this does not benefit the community and I don't like the idea of cars driving in and out with so many school age kids in the area. This does not benefit the community but places the community at risk with those that do not live here.