Public Hearing: Parking Ordinance Amendments

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This item was tabled at the Wednesday, July 21, 2021 City Council meeting.


In 2020, the Edina City Council requested that the Planning Commission evaluate the appropriateness of the City’s Off-Street Parking Regulations. The City’s current regulations have not been revised since 1992. Many of the current standards have not been amended since 1970. Over the past nine months the Planning Commission has been considering revisions to the off-street parking regulations.

Parking requirements often arise when new developments are proposed. Developers sometimes seek to have more or fewer parking spaces than guided by Edina’s Parking Regulations, and residents are sometimes concerned about proposed developments that are perceived to potentially include too much or too little parking.

Goals and factors considered during the evaluation of the parking regulations include: trends nationally and around the Twin Cities metropolitan area regarding parking requirements; usage of decades-old parking lots within Edina; current and projected quantities and availability of mass transit; differing needs for different areas of Edina, such as locations where the City has provided mass parking facilities; creating incentives for reduced parking, including sustainability incentives, increasing greenspace, and enhancing mass transit and other forms of multi-modal transportation, such as bike/pedestrian connectivity; climate change and equity; reducing surface parking lots; and previous approvals or rejections of requested variances to Edina’s parking regulations. The Planning Commission recognizes the continued need to consider district parking structures, multi-modal options, and a robust mass transit system.



Benefits of reducing minimum parking requirements may include:

  • Lowering cost for building projects could reduce rents for multi-family residential. Potential to provide more affordable housing.
  • Reduction in car emissions (if more people use transit, walk or bike).
  • Potential for more green space and landscaping and potentially public realm/public space.
  • Less surface parking creates more land available for development which increases tax base, which helps keep residential taxes lower.

The following has been considered in the analysis:


A public hearing will be scheduled for the April 28, 2021 Planning Commission meeting to consider the attached Draft Parking Ordinance Amendment. Highlights of the Ordinance Amendment include: Adding incentives for developers to reduce parking including shared parking, bike parking, sustainability and location near transit stops; adding maximum limits on parking spaces; having separate regulations within the City’s commercial nodes; and generally reducing the number of parking stalls required.

A public hearing at City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th. The public comment period closes on Monday, July 12th. City Council will take action at their July 21st meeting.


This item was tabled at the Wednesday, July 21, 2021 City Council meeting.


In 2020, the Edina City Council requested that the Planning Commission evaluate the appropriateness of the City’s Off-Street Parking Regulations. The City’s current regulations have not been revised since 1992. Many of the current standards have not been amended since 1970. Over the past nine months the Planning Commission has been considering revisions to the off-street parking regulations.

Parking requirements often arise when new developments are proposed. Developers sometimes seek to have more or fewer parking spaces than guided by Edina’s Parking Regulations, and residents are sometimes concerned about proposed developments that are perceived to potentially include too much or too little parking.

Goals and factors considered during the evaluation of the parking regulations include: trends nationally and around the Twin Cities metropolitan area regarding parking requirements; usage of decades-old parking lots within Edina; current and projected quantities and availability of mass transit; differing needs for different areas of Edina, such as locations where the City has provided mass parking facilities; creating incentives for reduced parking, including sustainability incentives, increasing greenspace, and enhancing mass transit and other forms of multi-modal transportation, such as bike/pedestrian connectivity; climate change and equity; reducing surface parking lots; and previous approvals or rejections of requested variances to Edina’s parking regulations. The Planning Commission recognizes the continued need to consider district parking structures, multi-modal options, and a robust mass transit system.



Benefits of reducing minimum parking requirements may include:

  • Lowering cost for building projects could reduce rents for multi-family residential. Potential to provide more affordable housing.
  • Reduction in car emissions (if more people use transit, walk or bike).
  • Potential for more green space and landscaping and potentially public realm/public space.
  • Less surface parking creates more land available for development which increases tax base, which helps keep residential taxes lower.

The following has been considered in the analysis:


A public hearing will be scheduled for the April 28, 2021 Planning Commission meeting to consider the attached Draft Parking Ordinance Amendment. Highlights of the Ordinance Amendment include: Adding incentives for developers to reduce parking including shared parking, bike parking, sustainability and location near transit stops; adding maximum limits on parking spaces; having separate regulations within the City’s commercial nodes; and generally reducing the number of parking stalls required.

A public hearing at City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th. The public comment period closes on Monday, July 12th. City Council will take action at their July 21st meeting.


Q&A

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    Why with the city having so many residents over 65 are you reducing parking? Older people don’t ride bikes or walk to the store because they can’t. I think this is a solution looking for a problem. I’m tired of the city saying they want to reduce pollution and continuing to allow so many trash trucks to operate in the city. There is a huge disconnect here. As to affordable housing, do you really think those residents don’t have or need cars? I always think of the error made when the senior center was planned and planners thought, “they don’t drive anymore “. Parking there is a nightmare. In the plan I see a lot of the word “potential”. I think potentially a bad idea. This plan obviously has momentum, but remember not all plans are good.

    Aprilgirl asked almost 3 years ago

    Thanks for your comment. In order to have your comments shown on the Better Together Edina page and included in the packets, please use the "Public Hearing Comments" tab at the bottom of the page here. The information and comments you submit there will be public and able to be seen by the Planning Commissioners. Please note that the deadline is Thursday, April 22nd at noon to be included in the Planning Commission meeting packet. Thanks, Liz Olson Planning Admin.

Page last updated: 22 Jul 2021, 09:09 AM