Edina officials are adopting new height limits for large-home developments, which many longtime residents have derided as "monster houses" in recent months.
City Council members this week unanimously approved an ordinance that limits single- or double-family houses to 40 feet in height. It limits houses on smaller lots -- 75 feet wide or less -- to a maximum height of 35 feet.
Edina's current height limit is measured as 30 feet to the midpoint of the roof, but the new ordinance clarifies the maximum height allowed for any point on the house.
Council Member Scot Housh said while 40 feet seems appropriate now, the limit could be adjusted in the future. "Maybe it'll be 50 feet in five years or so, because we're all getting bigger."
No residents came forward to oppose the ordinance during Tuesday's council meeting.
Edina's "monster house" debate heated up last fall after residents of the 5300 block of Oaklawn Avenue posted a video on YouTube to protest construction of a house that would be almost twice as large as other houses on the block. They packed several public meetings to make their case.
During Tuesday's meeting, council members discussed amending the ordinance to allow houses to be taller than 40 feet if it didn't conflict with the character of their neighborhood. But they decided against it.
"I think it's confusing when you add language like that in," Council Member Ann Swenson said.
