***This page is retired. Please go to our official website: www.PWKUnited.org for information, signs, and to donate to our legal fund*** City only accepts paper petitions, so we have begun a door to door campaign to collect paper petition signatures now. http://www.PWKUnited.orgChange.org petition will be closed and no longer monitored as of Aug 15th. *** WE STILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND DONATIONS, go to our official website: www.PWKUnited.org for information, signs, and to donate to our legal fund***

Developer Solhem Companies has proposed an enormous, 73-foot-high, 5 story, 100% affordable housing project at the entrance to Parkwood Knolls, on the northwest corner of Lincoln Drive and Londonderry Road. This project, IN VIOLATION OF EXISTING ZONING CODE, will adversely affect the architectural character of the neighborhood, traffic and safety, and property values. At a June 15th meeting, the city council approved Solhem Companies to explore MHFA (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency) financing for this project.

The Parkwood Knolls neighborhood strongly opposes the proposed development at 5780 Lincoln Drive, Edina as currently defined in the Solhem Sketch Plan of June 2023:

****NO REZONING yard signs now available. https://www.pwkunited.org/donate to get yours****

1.     Zoning should be a commitment to the community. The city should not violate the zoning code to shoehorn this project into the Parkwood Knolls neighborhood.

a.     The zoning code does not allow the Proposed Development.

b.     Even a variance within the current PID-1 zoning does not allow the proposed project.

c.     The only way for the city to approve it is to re-zone (spot-zone) this particular parcel only, and designate it “PUD”, meaning the council can make up new rules for this particular parcel of land, no matter the consequences to the surrounding neighborhood. This process undermines the purpose of the city’s zoning code, and causes Edina residents to understand that zoning will be inconsistent and subject to the influence of developers.

d.     When neighborhood residents invest their life savings in Parkwood Knolls properties, they rely on the zoning code to protect their investments.

2.     The Development would place far too many people on 2.5 acres of land.

a.     Between 250 and 300 people would live on just 2.5 acres—in 89-141 units of one, two, three, and four bedrooms.

b.     The developer’s plan proposes 100% affordable housing. However, it wouldn’t matter if the developer were proposing a luxury apartment building. The small, 2.5 acre parcel of land, the local services (very few amenities), public transportation (minimal), and congestion and busy streets near Bren Road and Highway 169 do not support a high-density development.

c.     Traffic would be made much worse, endangering pedestrians, bikers, and children.

d.     In addition, there is no parking in the area, and the Proposed Development would not accommodate its residents’ 150-250 cars.

3.     Better options would serve Parkwood Knolls and Edina.

a.     Parkwood Knolls residents chief complaint about the area is that there are no services.

b.     There are few services and places to eat—only Olive’s Pizza, Caribou, a dry cleaner, and a UPS store.

c.     The neighborhood would support a redevelopment where much-needed services and restaurants provide employment, boost property values, and are consistent with the architectural character and symmetry of a neighborhood valued for its “park-like essence”, including its large lots, many trees and wooded areas, and quiet streets.

4. This petition is just a start. We need you to get involved!

• Please email the Edina City Council and the Planning Commission to let them know your opposition to the zoning and variance changes needed for this project. CityCouncil@EdinaMN.gov; cteague@EdinaMN.gov; sneal@EdinaMN.gov 
• Please pick-up your "No Rezoning" yard sign.  https://www.pwkunited.org/donate
• Please donate to help pay for our legal representation: https://www.pwkunited.org/donate
• Please send this petition to 5 neighbors.
• Make sure you can get our updates: Settings> Manage My Communication Preferences> ✅ There is an update to a petition I’ve signed

***Please go to our official website: www.PWKUnited.org for information, signs, and to donate to our legal fund*** City only accepts paper petitions, so we have begun a door to door campaign to collect paper petition signatures now. Change.org petition will be closed and no longer monitored as of Aug 15th. *** WE STILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND DONATIONS, go to our official website: www.PWKUnited.org for information, signs, and to donate to our legal fund***