Star Tribune Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:02:34 CST
Edina may halt home demolitions to study impact of 'McMansions'
Edina is at the center of the monster-home debate. Residents say they are a blight on cozy neighborhood roads. Builders say a moratorium would stunt economic activity. ... This week, Edina may impose a moratorium on home tear-downs as the city tries to respond to residents' complaints about giant homes going up next to modest Cape Cods. The proposed ordinance, expected to go to a City Council vote tonight, would prohibit single-family homes from being demolished until April 15. Tear-downs that were already in the permitting process would be allowed to go forward, and there would be exceptions for disasters, such as a house damaged by fire. With aging housing stock and highly desirable neighborhoods, Edina has been at the epicenter of the monster-house debate in the Twin Cities. The city already has modified its building requirements to try to make sure new homes fit in with the old, but Mayor Jim Hovland said it's clear that goal has not yet been met. "It still doesn't seem like we're quite there at that sweet spot," he said last week. "It's probably fair to say that the Oaklawn neighbors were the tip of the spear here. The [city] council wasn't comfortable anyway, but having those neighbors come to us gave us further pause."
[[keywords: LandUse;Housing;Metro;]]
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