Residential Variances

Applicant Submittal

A 3.6 foot side yard setback variance for a 1^st floor addition above an existing nonconforming garage at 6125 Westridge Blvd. The subject property is approximately 19,441 square feet in area, consisting of a one story home with a tuck-under garage, located on the east side of Westridge Blvd. The existing one-story home was built in 1956 and is original in construction. The applicant is proposing a 3.6 foot side yard setback variance from the property line to allow for a main floor addition above the existing nonconforming tuck-under garage located 6.4 feet from the side lot line. The ordinance requires a 10 foot side yard setback. The applicant is undergoing the addition in order to accommodate an extra room and open deck area. Today, the home complies with all required setbacks with the exception of north side yard setback. The home was constructed prior to current setback requirements and did not require a variance for the garage setback. An addition above the existing nonconforming garage to the north side of the home will be no closer to the side lot line than the existing garage below. The proposed addition will encroach the 10 foot side yard setback by 3.6 feet and no closer than existing. The request is to allow the addition to simply match the setback of the garage below.

Final action on this project is taken by the Planning Commission.

Please contact Assistant City Planner, Kris Aaker with questions regarding this project. 

All comments are reviewed by the governing body to gain insight into community perspective and values. This information in addition to other factors like legal requirements, infrastructure needs, long-term strategy, cost, etc help inform the decision. The feedback collected is not considered a "vote". 

Everyone has the right to share their opinions and comments on the related project. While individuals may have varying opinions, respect each person's experience and insight.

Comments are considered part of the public record. When making a comment:

1. provide your full name
2. let us know your relation to the project (i.e. physical address, neighborhood, visit the area often, etc)
3. respect the views of other participants even if they don't agree with you

If you have questions, please use our Q&A tool. 

Applicant Submittal

A variance is requested from the zoning ordinance basement requirement for a new home to be rebuilt at 6800 Brittany Road. A variance is requested from the following ordinance requirement:

Basements. All single dwelling unit buildings shall be constructed with a basement having a gross floor area equal to at least 50 percent of the gross floor area of the story next above. 

The property is 42,986 square feet in area and is located on the west side of Brittany Road.  The previous home on the lot was built in 1970 and has been removed with the property currently a vacant lot. The applicant is requesting a variance from the minimum basement requirements in order to construct a new one story home at 6800 Brittany Road. The goal is to have one level living. The proposed home will conform to all of the zoning ordinance requirements with the exception that it will not have a basement. The City of Edina’s zoning ordinance requires that all new homes have a basement. 

Final action on this project is taken by the Planning Commission. 

Please contact Assistant City Planner, Kris Aaker with questions regarding this project. 

All comments are reviewed by the governing body to gain insight into community perspective and values. This information in addition to other factors like legal requirements, infrastructure needs, long-term strategy, cost, etc help inform the decision. The feedback collected is not considered a "vote". 

Everyone has the right to share their opinions and comments on the related project. While individuals may have varying opinions, respect each person's experience and insight.

Comments are considered part of the public record. When making a comment:

1. provide your full name
2. let us know your relation to the project (i.e. physical address, neighborhood, visit the area often, etc)
3. respect the views of other participants even if they don't agree with you

If you have questions, please use our Q&A tool. 

The Planning Commission approved this variance request at the May 13, 2020 meeting. The decision was appealed to the City Council. The City Council public hearing date is June 16 and the final decision meeting date is July 21. 

The City Council denied this variance request. 

Updated Applicant Submittal

The applicant is requesting an 18.6 foot front yard setback variance to the required front yard setback along Morningside Road. The subject property is a corner lot and is required to maintain two front yard setbacks, one on Morningside Road and one on Alden Drive. 

The applicant is proposing a new home oriented off of Morningside Road. The existing single family home has a 10.2 foot setback from Morningside Road, the proposed setback is 11.2 feet. The new home is setback further from Alden Drive than the existing home. 

Applicant Submittal-Original

Final Action on this project is taken by the Planning Commission. 

Please contact Assistant City Planner, Emily Bodeker, with questions regarding this project. 

The applicant is requesting to increase the first floor elevation 1.91 feet higher than the allowable 1 foot increase in first floor elevation in order to construct a new two story home at 89 Woodland Circle that backs up to Minnehaha Creek. The property is 23,314 square feet in area and is located on the south east side of Woodland Circle and Woodland Lane, and is within the floodplain. The City of Edina’s Engineering standards require the basement elevation of any new home to be 2 feet higher than the FEMA base flood elevation. The existing home was built prior to the first FEMA floodplain study conducted in 1979 to determine flood risk areas.  

A variance is requested to allow the first floor elevation of the new home to exceed the first floor elevation of the existing home by more than one foot. The current home on site has a basement elevation of 861.65’ and a first floor elevation of 869.75 feet above sea level. The established floodplain elevation is at 860.1’ with a required protection elevation of 862.1’. The minimum basement elevation must be no less than 2 feet above the flood elevation so the minimum basement elevation required is 862.1’. Both the existing home and new home are walk-outs. The existing walk-out is at 861.65,  .45 feet below the required low opening elevation. The new basement low opening will comply with the minimum low opening requirement established for the property. The new walk-out basement will be brought up to low opening requirement and will provide a ceiling height of 8’-10”. The proposed first floor elevation of the house will be at 872.66, which will be1.91’ higher than the 1foot increase allowed by ordinance, (a 2.91’ total increase). 

Applicant Submittal

Please contact Assistant City Planner, Kris Aaker, with questions regarding this project. 

Final Action on this project is taken by the Planning Commission.