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06-166j Council File # 06-166 �, SUSSTITUTE - FEBRUARY 15, 2006 Green Sheet# 3029106 RESOLUTION �� C�A�.,SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA y� Presented by 2 RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SUMMARY OF THE 3 SUMMIT HILL / DTSTRICT 16 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 4 AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE SAINT PAUL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 7 WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Section 462353, to cany on 8 comprehensive municipal planning activities for guiding the fuhxre development and improvement of the 9 city; and l0 11 WHEItEAS, the City of Saint Paul, as a local govemment unit within the metropolitan azea, is required 12 under Minnesota Statutes, Section 473.858, to prepaze a comprehensive plan; and 13 14 WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council is authorized under Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.355, to adopt 15 or amend a comprehensive plan or portion thereof after a recommendation by the Planning Commission; i6 and 17 � s WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council adopted, by Council File 98-1133 on March 3, 1999, the Land 19 Use Plan as a chapter of the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan; and 20 21 WHEREAS, the Land Use Plan provided for the adoption of summaries of area plans as addenda to the 22 comprehensive plan; and 23 24 WHEREAS, the Summit Hill / District 16 Neighborhood Plan was prepared by a steering committee of the 25 Summit Hill Association under an inclusive, two-year process; and 26 27 WHEREAS, a summary of the Summit Hill /District 16 Neighborhood Plan was presented to the Planning 2s Commission for its review; and 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after a public heazing on November 4, 2005, and consideration of public testimony, made several changes in the area plan summary regarding a limit on building footprints with the exception of buildings or levels of buildings providing above-ground ramp/structured pazking, building heights, the "rule of five" parking provisions, and a zoning study to rezone commercial properties along East Crrand Avenue; WHEREAS, the Planning Commission recommended, by its Resolution OS-108 approved on December 2, 2005, adoption by the City Council of the area plan summary with the amendments; WHEREAS, the City Council, after a public hearing on February 15, 2006, and consideration of public testimony, recommended amendments to the azea plan summary that the Planning Commission adopted conceming the following areas: .11� i�� 43 • Initiate a study for a zoning overlay district for East Grand Avenue containing the Traditional 44 Neighborhood District design standards as detailed in Sec. 66343 of the Zoning Code, building 45 size and footprint, height lunits, and mechanisms to support and retain small, locally-owned a6 businesses, which may include the adoption of standazds to limit the number of formula business 47 establishments on East Grand Avenue. (G3, G7, and G 10) 48 49 • Add a statement "To help reduce commercial spillover effects on nearby property owners, the 5o approval of site plans and licenses will include efforts to mitigate parking and traffic problems that 51 aze of serious concern to immediately affected businesses and residents." (G6 Commercial 52 Spillover) 53 54 SS 56 57 58 59 • Eliminate the "rule of five" parking regulation on East Grand Avenue. (P93 Parking Supply) Eliminate the statement "However, [the number of lanes on Lexington Pazkway] will have to be reassessed if Ayd Mill Road turned into a linear park or closed at the south or north end." (P4.4 Traffic Management) 60 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the summary of the Summit Hill / District 16 61 Neighborhood Plan, as amended by the City Council and dated February 15, 2006, is adopted as an area 62 plan addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan replacing the 1989 District 16 Plan and the 1989 63 East Grand Avenue Plan contingent upon review by the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities; 64 65 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul hereby initiates a zoning study for the East 66 Grand Avenue commercial corridor to consider a zoning overlay district. 67 68 Absen� Requested by Department of: Benanav Bostrom Harris � ✓ Form Approved by City Attorney By: Adopted by Council: Date Adoption Certified by Council Secretary // By: Appr ved y � . Date — By: Form Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council BY � � Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheef � Depar6nerM/officelcouncil: Date Initiated: �� QE - Planning&.EconomicDevetopment 15-DEG05 Green Sheet NO: 3029106 Contact Person & Phone: Deuartrnent Sent To Person InitiaVDate Zhang Y � 0 lannine & E 000mic Develoo Sod holm � � � Assign 1 lawnin & Economic Develo De arcment Directur-K �G['�� 1 Must Be on Council Agenda by (Date): Number 2 � A (-(, -o G � For t( +f ` Rou[ing 3 a or's Offic Ma or/ASSistant i �i�v� �S �j R�.yry Order 4 oun il i C uncil � Total # of Signature Pages �(Clip All Locations tor Signature) Action Requested: Approval of a City Council resolution adopting a summary of the Summit HilUDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan as an addendum to the City's Comprehensive Plan. The Plannign Commission held a public heazing on November 4 and recommended adooption of the plan � summary with amendments. RecAmmendations: Approve (A) or Rejed (R): Personai Service Contracts Must Answer the Foflowi�g QuesGons: � $_ Planning Commission 1. Has this personffirm ever worked under a contract for this department? CIB Committee Yes No Civil Service Commission 2. Has this person/firtn ever been a city employee? Yes No 3. Does this personffirm possess a skill not normally possessed by any current city employee? Yes No Explain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why): � The Summit HilUDistrictl6 Neighborhood plan was prepazed by a Steering Committee of the Summit Hill Association with extensive community participation. The plan addresses a 75-Squaze block neighborhood bounded by Summit Avenue. Interstate 35E, and Ayd Mill Road. The consulting team of SEH and SWB assisted in the preparation of the plan. AdvanWpes If Approved: This will provide a long-range plan for the next ten years for the Aistrict 16/Summit Hill azea. - g I Disadvantages If Approved: � � �� 2 u�� None �� i Disadvantanes If Not Approved: The existing 1989 District 16 Plan and 1989 East Grand Avenue Plan are expiring at the end of 2005. The new district plan summarywill become the long-term plan guiding development for this azea. Tofal Amount of t�,�" CosURevenueBUdgeted: y ,�L�aJ�E� Trensaction: Fundinp Source: AcGviN Number: - p � e ;"°^'� ;�": �""""'�":' ��" "� F a ��, V�e..� ��P__ i5 Financial tnformation: � yp, p � .g t � ay@ y (Explain) €��AY��` '`�"�''� ddF9lm 1 f LIO�oi Laa J �� e „1_ I � Council File # � Y� ` Resolution # creen sheet # 3029106 NT PAUL, MINNESOTA 1 � 3 � 5 5 7 8 9 10 I1 12 l3 t4 l5 t6 l7 t8 t9 ?0 ?1 �2 ?3 ?4 ZS Z6 7'J 7g 29 30 31 32 33 34 3S 36 37 38 39 Presented Referred To Committee: Date 50LUTION ADOPTING THE SUIVIMARY OF THE SU T HILL / DISTRICT 16 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AS AN ADDE DUM TO THE SAINT PAUL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul i uthorized under Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.353, to carry on comprehensive municipal planning act ities for guiding the future development and improvement of the city; and WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul, as a local�government unit within the metropolitan azea, is required under Minnesota Statutes, Section 473.858, to prepaz� comprehensive plan; and WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council is authoriz�,d under Minnesota Statutes, Section 462355, to adopt or amend a comprehensive plan or portion thereof after �recommendation by the Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council adopted, by Coi Plan as a chapter of the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan; WHEREAS, the Land Use Plan provided for the adoption of comprehensive plan; and File 98-1133 on March 3, 1999, the Land Use WHEREAS, the Summit Hill / District 16 Neighborhood Plan was Summit Hill Association under an inclusive, two-year process; and WHEREAS, a summary of the Summit Hill / District 16 Neighborhood Commission for its review; and of area plans as addenda to the by a steering committee of the was presented to the Planning WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after a public heazing on November 4, 20 , and consideration of public testimony, recommended, by its Resolution OS-108 approved on December 2, 005, adoption by the City Council of the azea plan suimnary with amendments; �0 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the summary of the Summit Hill / District 16 Neighborhood -1 lan, as amended by the City Council, is adopted as an area plan addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive �2 P n replacing the 1989 District 16 Plan and the 1989 East Grand Avenue Plan contingent upon review by •3 the etropolitan Council of the Twin Cities; ��,' �� -4 -5 BE IT THER RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul hereby initiates a zoning study for the east Crrand Avenue c ercial corridor to explore the appropriateness of T"N districts for the Avenue. Requested Hy Department of: Form Approved by City �� — �i- O .�. By: � Adoption Certified by Council Secretary By: Approved by Appxoved by Mayor: Date g By: Adopted by Council: Date ��-_ �; /area Plan Summarv - - - -- '=-- - - - --- � � - -- - - -- --- - Summit AilllDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan Addendum to The Comprehensive Plan for Saint Pau] �tecommended by the Planning Commission — December 2, 2005 ' _ _ ' _ ' __ _ _ '__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Amended and adopted by the City Council -[date] This summary appends to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan the vision and strategies ojthe Summil Hil[/District 76 Neighborhood Plan and replaces the District 16 Plan adopted in 1989. Zhe SummU Hil[/Disbict I6 Neighborhood Plan consists offive major areas offocus, including (1) Grand Averrua Mzxed Use Corridor, (2) Housing and Residential Life, (3) Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation, (4) Pedestrian Safety, Tra�c, and Parking, and (5) Crime Prevention and Safety. Copies af the full-length plan are available for review at the Saint Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development and the offices of the Summit Hil[ AssociationlDistrict 16 Planning Council. i nrafinn The Summit Hil{ neighborhood is an approximately 75 square block neighborhood in the CiTy of St. Paul, bounded by Summit Avenue on the nor[h, Interstate 35E on the south and east, and Ayd Mill Road on the west. The Summit Hill neighborhood maintains and reinforces Grand Avenue as an eclectic mix and balance of housing and small-scale shops, restaurants, and services, both locally and nationally oeie�d: � - Deleted: Amendmrnts �o pl_� - � DeleTed: A Summit HilUDastrict 16 Neighborhood P7an Summary Page 1 � � - � ._ owned, for residents and visitors. Grand Avenue shall continue to be a mix of buildings that respect the historic chuacter of the avenue and neighborhood and that relate closely to the sidewalk and encourage pedestrian activity at the street level. Beautification effor[s on Grand Avenue continue with attention to trees, planters, bench gardens, and historical lighting. Businesses provide parking that is affordable, inconspiwous, attractive, and underground when appropriate. Preserve the pedestrian-friendly, historic residential and commercial character of the Summit Hill neighborhood by providing a healthy balance of transportation options. Address persistent traffic and parking problems in the neighborhood to si�ificantly reduce commercial spillover to residential streets, greatly enhance pedestrian safeTy through traffic calming and enforcement, and reduce the pazking deficit. Summit Hill will continue to be a safe neighborhood with good quality police and fire protection. Personal safeTy will be reinforced through Summit Hill's physical and social nerivorks operating within the neighborhood and along Grand Avenue, with a high level of maintenance of spaces and buildings that create a perception and feeling of safety and belonging. �rri£r Ct toginc The following are strategies that are new initiatives for the City of Saint Paul. The full list of strategies for the Summit Hill Association and other neighborhood pariners can be found in the full-leng[h plan. Grand Avenue Mixed Use Corridor G I Corridor Continuity. Maintain Grand Avenue as a continuous neighborhood retail and residential corridor and conta.in commercial uses and accessory parking within existing boundaries. G2 Streetscape Enhancement Plan. Develop a Grand Avenue Streetscape Enhancement Plan to make Grand Avenue more pedestrian-, shopper-, and bicycle-friendVy, to enhance its aesthetic qualities, and to invigorate its public realm, including Grand Avenue between Oakland Street and I-35E. � G3 Design Standards. Adopt TN2 desisn standards for East Grand in an overlav district. These ,_ . oeieted: xe�o�e P�oPemes ma� aze design standards reinforce human-scale building characteristics, promote quality in architectural wrtenNy zoned OSI, 61, B2, and 83 (only rt[he curtwt �se �s peimmed m materials, reinforce a pedestrian-focused streetscape, promote underground parking for mixed TN2) ro TN2 m orderm appty Ne TN use developments, and visually-screened surface pazking for smaller, singJe-use developments, design gmdeLnes. and promote signage that is consistent with building azchitecture and business function, and complements the eclectic nature of the avenue. G4 Commercial and Housing Mix. Retain BC (commercial uses in residential structures) and residential zoning on Grand Avenue. Discourage rezoning of residential uses on Grand Avenue Summit Hil[/District 76 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 2 to more intensive uses. GS Neighborhood Focus for Commercial Uses. B2 and BC zoning allows uses most appropriate to commercial activity on Grand Avenue. Additional B3 uses are not appropriate for Grand Avenue. A zoning study should be initiated by the City to rezone B3 parcels that are curtently used for B2 or less i�tensive uses. G6 Commercial Spillover. Rezoning and variances ue opposed by SHA in those azeas where parking and traffic problems create u�due hardship for neighboring businesses, residents, and visitors. To helo reduce commercial spillo� er effzcts on nearU� propert� o�+-ners. the approval of site plans and licenses v. il4 i�tclude effotts m mitieate oarkin�� and traffic nro6lems diat are of serious concem to immediatelo affected businzsses and residents_ � neiemd: co�o-oi wmme��ai:Pa�o�e. � '---""""'"----"-"""""""------"""'""'-'---` I effectsonmLmcolnandSummi[ � Avenues The apProval of s�re plans and G7 Locally-Owned Businesses. SHA recommends implementing mechanisms for supporting � F�en�� nowa ne �n�ge,n� ue and retainin small, loca]] -owned businesses. Such mechanisms ma include, for exam le, the mmgaAOn ofparkmg and traftic problems g Y y P ro a level acceptabk to the ma�onry of , adootion of standards to limit the number of formula business establishments on East Grand �'� �mmea�aretyafre�rea n��esse,ana ,, Avenue, campaig�s by the community to promote small businesses, or an assessmen[ district to �� "�` �—_ -�_ _ subsidize small, inde endent businesses. The City will conduct a st�dy on where and how to ceietea: rne rty snen ��r�uY }� --e.""___ "'""'"__-"".._____'_"'____......._____.."____-, cons�drrparkmgando-afficpmblemsm support independent businesses, which mav result in chanees to code or procedures. me �mmea�a�e �e�gneo�nood wne� reviewing sre plans and hcenses G8 Development Opportunities. Create a committee including representatives from the Summit � oeietea: - r Hill Association and GABA to identify these opportunities and outline the types of businesses or mix of uses that might best be accommodated at those locations, and describe the appropriate scale and design. G9 Signs. Rigorously enforce the Grand Avenue Sign Guidelines. SHA should assist LIEP in keeping an up-to-date inventory of existing non-conforming signs. G10 Scale and Height Limits. Adopt limitations of the height and scale on new buildings on East Grand Avenue in an overlav district,�as follows: ..."____"""____""'"______"'"_____""'_____'""__- 1. Limit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 squaze feet or less. 2. Limit new building total size, above ground, to 75,000 square feet or less, includine parkin� 3. Limit buildine haight to three (3) stories or to thiMV feet (30'1 for commercial projects and to thirtv-six feet (36'1 for mixed commercial and residential projects whichever is lower No additional heieht will be allowed, eve� with setbacks. __""...______""'_'"___""""____...._. 4. Work with the City to adopt the desired limitations for East Grand Avenue. Housing and Residential Life HI Property Maintenance and Beautification. SHA will develop and implement a district-wide program to educate and encourage residents to better maintain their properties, as well as their alleys, with regard to trash receptacVes, planting and weed removal. .- Deleted: wiN the excephon of bmldmgs ov levels oChmldmgs pvov�dmg above-�ound ramp/shucWred parkmg, Delet¢tl: TAe buJdmg heiSht bmit shall follow Ne reqmremen6 of tlie m�m6 d�sNCt. Summit Hill/District l6Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 3 � � � .;. � H2 Historic Preservation. Tn collaboration with the Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission, consider a historic site survey of properties south of Grand Avenue and explore the feasibi(ity of expanding the Hill Historic District, desia ating a new district or nominating additional individual sites. H3 Design Guidelines. Summit Hill Association will coordinate a vo{unteer group to develop and implement voluntary desia guidelines for new housing and the renovation of existing housing in azeas not incLuded in the historic district. The guidelines should encourage high quality design that emphasizes being complementary and contextual rather than strict historic replication. Provide design guidelines and historic preservation goals to persons receiving demolition permits and ensure that replacement housing meets al] pertinent zoning requirements, recog�izing that pre-existing non-conforming conditions aze protected by state law. H6 Open Spaces. Advocate for retention of neighborhood green spaces, such as parks and vegetated bluff areas. SHA will explore incentives for property owners to preserve as private open space the undeveloped portions of properties. H7 Housing Density. Ensure that the impact of any increased density conforms to zoning and building requirements, and that the CiTy considers the developmenYs adverse impact on existing municipal services including, but not limited to, traffic and parking. H8 Single-family and Multi-family Residences. Maintain the existing residentially zoned area and retain the mix of housing types (single-family, duplex, townhouses, and apartments) in the Summit Hill neighborhood in existing and new housing developments. Request the CiTy to conduct a zoning study to rezone aparhnents and condos to the existing use. H9 Mixed-Use Buildings (Commercial Plus Residentiai). Ensure that new and renovated mixed-use buildings on Grand Avenue respect the historic nature and character oFthe ❑eighborhood, as well as providing dedicated off-sVeet or underground parking for residents and tenants. HI O Housing-related Parking. Encowage residents to fully utilize existing residential parking opportunities in the neighborhood and to create new off'-street parking or garages when possible. l. Work with the City of St. Paul to enforce ordinances regarding pazking in alleys and inappropriate or excessive parking on individual properties. H12 Housing Options. Maintain rental housing options to continue some measure of affordability in the neighborhood. Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation The Summit Hill Plan calls for recruiting and maintaining block leaders, encouraging volunteerism, reaching out to al{ residents about community events, continuing community Summit HilUDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 4 � � ° _ �: events such as the "Progressive Suppe�" and "Summit Hi11 House Tour," supporting the Grand Avenue Business Association on "Grand Old Day° and "The Grand Meander," using community assets such as institutions and churches, and supporting local cu3tural opportunities and the arts. CLl Linwood Recreation Center. Support Linwood Recreation Center programs for all ages, including sports, communiTy education, arts, and group activities. CL8 Tree Program. Develop a District boulevard tree preservation and replacement plan that seeks to maintain and preserve our valued large trees and provide planting guidelines for new trees in both urban and residential streetscapes. The vegetated bluff areas that buffer District 16 from I-35 and Ayd Mill Road should be preserved, except for prairie bluff restorations. CL9 Gateway and Image Plan. Develop a Summit Hill/District 16 identification plan through the use of urban design techniques including use of bannerslgraphics and/or historicalty sensitive signage placed on the streetscape that identifies that one is in the Summit Hill neighborhood. CL10 Greening the Public Realm. Beautify the public realm throughout the neighborhood to promote increased use and better stewardship. � . 1. Seek out opportunities to incorporate bench gardens in existing parks and in new or redeveloped retail or residential spaces on Grand Avenue. 2. Enhance maintenance of public and private bluff areas by working with residents and the City park staff to remove litter, stabilize slopes, repair retaining walls, and remove buckthom. CLI 1 Linwood Pazk. Enhance maintenance of Linwood Park and develop a landscape design plan for upper Linwood Park. CL12 Ayd Mill Road. Support the installation of off-road pedestrian and bicycle paths adjacent to any redesigi of Ayd Mill Road. Pedestrian Safety, Traffic, and Parking PI Comprehensive Traffic and Pazking Study. Initiate, in cooperation with the City, a thorough, comprehensive traffic and parking study of the neighborhood to determine an appropriate transportation and parking management strategy. Public Works will participate in this process as staff resources and time permits. P2 Specific Safety Measures. Improve pedestrian safety and improve the quality of the pedestrian and bicyclist experience. l. Make selected crosswalks on arterials (Grand, Summit, Lexington, St. Clair, Victoria) more visib{e through a combination of bolder color, striping, texture andfor signage. Encourage the Ciry Police to vigorously enforce laws conceming crosswalks, speed limits, and restricted Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood P[an Summary Page 5 � `�, �. parking near intersections. 2. SHA recommends the elimination of right turns on red at certain intersections along Summit and Grnnd avenues to improve pedestrian safety. 3. Emphasize pazking restrictions neaz intersections usin� signs and yellow paint to clearly indicate no parking. Public Works will install signs on a case-by-case basis. 4. InsTall signs, plantings, and other sigials at neighborhood gateways that announce "Welcome to the Historic Summit Hill Neighborhood,° "Slow Down and Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalks," "20 is Plenry," and "Slow for Children.° 5. Summit Hill Association will work with the City, businesses, and developers to install more bicycle racks, benches, and bus shelters. P3 Traffio-Calming. Utilize traffic calming techniques that include education, enforcement, and engineering resources. Traffic calming includes street design arid regulatory features that cause motorists to drive more slowly and with a greater degree of attentiveness. 1. Encourage the City to rigorously enforce speed limits. 2. Increase driver awareness of speed limits by placing speed monitoring display devices on neighborhood streets. 3. Explore and implement with community and City support specific traffio-calming measures such as, speed humps, traffic circles, bump outs, center medians and additional stop signs. Make traffic calming a part of all street reconstruction. 4. SHA will seek to reduce speed limits on residential streets to 25 miles per hour. 5. Retain I-35E at the edge of Summit Hill as a 45-mile per hour parkway and encourage the Minnesota Department of Transpor[ation to maintain its attractive landscaping in the medians and along the roadway. P4 Traffic Management. Manage traffic flow and street capaciTy to discourage increased volumes and speeds, provide safe and convenient access to properties, and protect pedestrians. 1. Provide better enforcement of traffic and parking laws. Encourage towing of violators. Restrict pazking within 30 feet of intersections, and within 5 feet of alleys and driveways, to ensure visibility. 2. Assess the feasibility of additional traffic controls, such as traffic lights and stop sigus. 3. Parking and vehicle access to and from future development on Grand Avenue shall be sensitive to traffic flow, parking needs, and pedestrian safety. 4. Maintain Summit and St. Clair Avenues, and Dale and Victoria Streets, as 2-lane streets, Grand Avenue as a 3-lane street, and Lexington Parkway as a 3-Iane street south of Grand, not to be widened to accommodate increased traffia � __'"'..._____"'_'___-_""_____"'__ PS Transit. Promote transit use, recapture ridership, and serve the transit-dependent by matching transit service with travel need. 1. Maintain and enhance transit service on Grand and St. Clair Avenues. - D¢ICted: However, dus wdi have b be � reassessed �f Ayd Mill Road mmed m[o a hnear park or closed at the soufi or nonh �a Summit Hell/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 6 Q'� � s 2. SHA encourages maintenance of existing transit shelters, installation of new ones when v�� ;�` � possible, and the elimination or reduction of advertising signs on bus benches and shelters. Summit Hill Association does not want private advertising shelters. 3. Install route maps and schedules at more transit stops. 4. Encourage the Grand Avenue Business Association and other businesses to adopt a merchant-supported toke� system to encourage transit use. 5. Explore additional transit options to cost-effectively increase transit frequency and ridership and to minimize car use and tralFc, such as a trolley for Grand Avenue or by interlining the Grand Avenue transit route with a Mirmeapolis route so that it meets demand for service to the University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, and downtown Minneapolis. P6 Off-street Parking. Adequate off-street parking shall be provided for all residential and commercial uses, in a manner that respects the historic character of the neighborhood. 1. Screen parking lots using appropriate treatments such as a strong landscaped edge along the street and alley. 2. Work with the PoLice Department to develop a plan to dramatically increase enforcement of all exis[ing parking ordinances. Review parking variance history and City parking policies to determine if a revised regulatory approach is required. 3. SHA encourages and supports undergound parking where appropriate. 4. SHA recommends that rooftop parking is adequately screened by parapets, such that they prevent visibility to nearby residences from the rooftop pazking area. 5. Restrict commercial parking lots from areas that are used primarily for residential purposes. 6. Implement more �niform parking zones on Grand Avenue to facilitate more rigorous enforcement. 7. Continue the option of Permit Parking zones for those residents who request them. P7 Shared Parking. Facilitate shared parking agreements. Allow and encourage shared parking in institutional ]ots. The Summit Hill Association, the Grand Avenue Business Association, and the City shall work with propeRy owners to reach parking agreements for shared use of commercial parking as allowed under Statute 62.103 of the Zoning Code, and shared use of institutional lots as allowed under Sta.tute 60.413(15) of the code. Shared parking options should be explored as part of any application for parking variance. P8 Building Removal for Parking. Discourage building removal solely for parking. P9 Parking Supply. Retain and expand existing commercial and residential parking. ]. The Summit Hill Association opposes removal of existing parking without substitute parking being provided at a level greater than or equal to current zoning requirements. 2. The Summit Hill Association opposes parking variances and wants all new residential and commercial buildings to provide parking at a level equal to or greater than the wrrent zoning requirements at the time of permit application. Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 7 ��- � I 3. Eliminate the "Rule of Five" parkin�reeulation from East Grand Avenue. P10 Employee Parking. Find altematives for employee parking where customer demar�d is highest. PI 1 Customer Parking. Tmprove awareness of parking options for Grand Avenue wstomers and visitors. Crime Preventiou and Safety The full Summit Hi(1 Plan calls for continuing to support the Neighborhood Block Watch program, continuing to maintain close working relationships with police and fire departments, and advocating for mounted police, bicycle, and foot patrols. CRl Crime Watch Program. Promote, use, and expand the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program to organize and mobilize the neighborhood to pro-actively approach personal safety and property protection. 1. Continue to support the variety of compatible land uses and densities that characterize the ° eyes on the street° safety of Summit Hill. 2. Evaluate street and alley lighting to determine if improvements are needed regarding lighting levels and distribution. 3. Pursue greater police patrols of Linwood Park and its slopes, particulady after dark, to discourage repeated problems with car break-ins, graffiti, vandalism, and more serious crimes. �rin • h�(�fi c fnr (`iW p rtirinatinn The following actions have been identified as priorities of the community that require leadership or signification participation 6y city government. Community groups and city departments should implement the projects identified in this summary by applying for ciTy resources in competitive processes such as the Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) and Sales Tax Revitalization program (STAR), and working though the regular operating programs of relevant city departments. Planning and Economic Development � G3, G5, G10_ Conduct a studv for an overlav zoning district alon¢ East Grand Avenue. G6. x lor� mechanisms for supporting and retaining small, locally-owned businesses on East _____ _'"'____ _ _ __ " _ _ _ _ - Grand Avenue, such as the ado tion of standards to limit the number of forn�ula business .- establishments on East Grand Avem�e. campaigns by the community or an assessme�t district to subsidize small, independent businesses. � Deletetl: Rezone pmpemes that are I ', wrten0y zoned OS I, B I. B2, and B3 .(only if Ne ciarent use �s pe�miaed m i I 77J2) m 77V2 m order b apply Ne TN '' L design gmdel ' ._T__.... ---=—._,...� j De le[etl: Encourage exp � U eleted: of _. _ -� Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 8 � .� I . - - -_ - _ PS-5. Conduct a trolley study for Grand Avenue. P8 Discourage the removal of historic or residential buildings solely to provide additiona] parking. ' Deleted: GIO.Adop�scalel"vni�for --- � East Gand Avenue as am m�e�Mcnrnt ro the zonng code az stared in G10 g Public Works G2. Participate in a streetscape enhancement plan if initiated by the communiTy. CLI2. Ayd Mill Road. Support the installation of off-road pedestrian and bicycle paths adjacent to any redesign of Ayd Mill Road. Pl. Comprehensive Traffic and Parking Study. PaRicipate in a traffic and parking study of the neighborhood to determine an appropriate transportation and pazking management strategy. P2-1 Make crosswalks more visible to improve pedestrian safety. P2-3 Emphasize parking restrictions near intersections using signs to clearly indicate no pazking. P3-2 Increase driver awareness of speed limits by placing speed monitoring display devices shal] be placed on neighborhood streets. P3-3 Expiore and implement with community and City support specific traffio-calming measures such as, speed humps, traffic circles, bump outs, center medians and additional stop signs. Make traffic calming a part of all street reconstruction. P4-4 Maintai� Summit and St. Clair Avenues, and Dale and Victoria Streets, as 2-lane streets, Grand Avenue as a 3-lane street, and Lexington Parkway as a 3-lane street south of Grand, not to I be widened to accommoda[e increase traffic., PS-5. Conduct a trolley study for Grand Avenue. P6-6 Implement more uniform parking zones on both sides of Grand Avenue to facilitate allow for more rigorous enforcement. Licensing, Inspection, and Environmental Protection P2-5. Encourage more bicycle racks, benches, and bus shelters during site plan review when appropriate ' Deletetl: Thrs wJl have ro be '� reassessed rtAyd Mill Road Nmed m�o a� Imear park or closed at Ne south or norch I rnd Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 9 ��°v_� P6-1. Screen parking lots using appropriate treatments and include a strong landscaped edge along the street and alley. P6-2. Work with the communiTy to develop a plan to dramatically increase enforcement of all existing pazking ordinances provisions related to parking. Review parking variance history and City parking policies to determine if a revised regulatory approach is required. P7-1 The Summit Hill Association, the Grand Avenue Business Association, and the City shall work with property owners to reach pazking agreements for shazed use of commercial parking as allowed nnder Statute 62.103 of the Zoning Code, and shazed use of institutiona] tots as alVowed under Statute 60.413(15) of the code. Shazed pazking options should be explored as paR of any application for parking variance. Parks and Recreation CLI. Linwood Recreation Center. Suppor[ Linwood Recceation Center programs for a11 ages, including sports, community education, arts, and goup activities. CL10-2 Enhance maintenance of public bluff areas by working with residents to remove litter, stabilize slopes, repair retaining walls, and remove buckthom. CLl 1 Work with the community to enhance the maintenance of Linwood Park and develop a landscape design plan for upper Linwood Pazk. Police Department P2b. Vigorously enforce laws conceming existing crosswalks, speed limits, restricted parking near intersections, and other parking and traffic laws. Plannine Commission Findings The Planning Commission finds thaY the Area Plan 5ummary of the Summit Hill Plaq as proposed by the Summit Hill Association, is generally consisYent with the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan and adopted City policies. The Planning Commission questions the proposals to adopt an overlay district for East Grand Avenue, restrict formula businesses, apply size and scale limits as proposed, and eliminate the Rule of Five, and has therefore recommended amendments to the Plan Summary to address these concerns. In 2002, the Summit Hill Association/District 16 Planning Council decided to update its 1989 District 16 Plan. This 2004 Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan represents over a thousand hours of volunteer work by community members. The SHA/District 16 Planning Council designated a Steering Committee to work closely with City Officials, and the consultant team of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) and Sanders W ackeT Bergly Ina (SWB) in a collaborative program over 18 months. Several participation methods, including three Summit HilUDistrict 16 Neigh6orhood Plan Summary Page 10 �� communiTy wide meetings, a neighborhood survey, a wmmuniry video, community vision J boards, a photo gallery, and a Grand Avenue Business Association focus group, were used to solicit and engage a broad and diverse cross-seaion of the community. Summit Hi[I/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 11 ��-1�4 CTTY OF SAINT PAUL 390 Ciry Ha[I Te�epnoae: esi-zee-sslo Christopher B. Coleman, Mayor IS West Ke![ogg Boulevard Facsimile: 651-266-8513 Saint Paul, MN SS102 January 17, 2006 Council President Kathy Lantry and Members of the City Council 320 B City Hall Saint Paul, MN 55102 Dear Council President Lanhy and City Council Members: It is my pleasure to transmit to you the Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan summary for you to consider for adoprion as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive PZan. Prepared by a steering committee of the Summit Hill Associafion with extensive community participation, the plan includes a series ofrecommendations organized around five themes: (1) Grand Avenue Mixed Use Corridor, (2) Housing and Residential Life, (3) Community Life, Public Spaces and Recrearion, (4) Pedestrian Safety, Traffic and Parking, and (5) Crime Prevention and Safery. As you laiow, we now prepare summaries of area plans of all kinds to be considered for inclusion in the comprehensive plan. While the enrire document, The Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan, will be available, adopring a shorter summary as part of the comprehensive plan makes that pIan more accessible for all who want to understand Saint Paul's development agenda. The Planning Commission held a public hearing and reviewed this summary for consistency with other elements of the comprehensive plan and City policy. They recommend the adoprion of the summary with amendments. If you have quesfions, please call Yang Zhang (651-266-6659), who is the PED planner coordinating this plan review. Sincerely, Christopher B. Coleman Mayor Enclosure cc: Merritt Clapp Smith, Summit Hill Associarion Amanda Schultz, GABA Yang Zhang, PED � � CTTY OF SAINT PAUL Chris B. Co[eman, Mayor January 4, 2006 Mayor Chris Coleman and Members of Saint Paul City Council 15 W Kellogg Blvd St. Paul, MN 55102 Mayor Coleman and City Councii Members: DEPARTMENT OF PLANNiNG & � ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT e � ArsthorryScheri[er, Interlm �irector � � � 25 West Fourth Streei Telephane: b51-266-bb55 Samt Pau( MN »702 Fau�mile 651-228-3314 The Planning Commission is honored to transmit to you the summary of the District 16/Summit Hill Plan. The Plan was developed by a steering comm+ttee of the Summit tiill Association over a two-year period with extensive neighborhood participation. It seeks to establish long-term goals and strategies for development and community building for the District 16/Summit Hill area. The Planning Commission held a pubiic hearing on the District 16/Summit Hill Plan summary on November 4, 2005 and received extensive public comments. Based on the public comments and staff recommendations, the Planning Commission proposed amendments to the Plan Summary and recommended its adoption by the City Council as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan, replacing the 1989 District 16 Plan and the 1989 East Grand Avenue Pian. For clarification purposes, the list of changes the Planning Commission proposes is summarized as follows. 1. Overlay district with TN design standards. The Summit Hill Association proposes the adoption of an overlay district for east Grand Avenue. One component of the overlay district is TN District design standards in Sec. 66.343 of the zoning code. At the public hearing, SHA President Ms. Merritt Clapp-Smith stated the design standards are good for Grand but rezoning properties on Grand Avenue to TN is not appropriate. PC Recommendation: Due to limited City budget and enforcement capacity, PED and LIEP staff oppose an overlay district. To achieve the goal of better design on Grand, as an alternative, tfie Planning Commission proposes rezoning properties that are currently zoned 62 to TN2. 63, 61 and OS1 properties could aiso be rezoned to TN2 if the current use is permitted in TN2. With the exception of residential uses and funeral homes, TN2 is more restrictive than 62. Rezoning from B2 to TN2 would prohibit the following uses from being established: club, fraternal organization, lodge hall, green house, pawn shop, coffee kiosk, bingo hall/auction hall, reception hall, auto service station, auto specialty stores, and recyciing drop off. The Planning Commission proposes to keep the existing BC and residential zones unchanged. Please refer to Summit Hill Plan Transmittal Letter January 4, 2006 Page 2 Qf 4 �.°�,� m_ '_ the attached map for areas recommended for rezoning. The map reflects suggestions by the Planning Commission and is not a part of the adopted plan. 2. Formula business study. SHA recommends exploring the adoption of standards to limit the number of formula business establishments on east Grand Avenue, perhaps through City code revisions. PC Recommendation: The Planning Commission believes that a formula business study is unnecessary and questions the desirability and legality of limiting formula businesses. However, if the City Council agrees to explore the option of a formula business ordinance, the following should be considered: • What is the purpose of seeking to control formula businesses? The neighborhood seems divided between seeking to control the size or the ownership of the business. • Legality / Substantive due process • Which categories would be exempt and why? (Grocery stores, real estate offices, banks, etc.) • What is the number of stores before the business is considesed a formula business and why? • What is the size cap of stores - does the rule apply regardless of the size of the shop? • How would one define the characteristics for restricting a formula business in the zoning code? Tfiey would need to be at least as specific as those for a fast-food restaurant. • WhaYs the desired percentage of formula businesses to be allowed in the business mix • Would the City want to completely prohibition or allow some under a Conditional Use Permit? • How wouid this be administered? Whi�h agency will keep track, and whaYs the threshoid? • Finally, will it be worth the effort? The Planning Commission agrees with the goat of supporting small, independent businesses and believes there may be other mechanisms to foster small businesses. Such mechanisms may include campaigns by the community to promote small businesses, or an assessment district to subsidize small, independent businesses. The Planning Commission believes that the City should undertake such a study to explore how to support small, independent businesses. 3. Neighborhood "veto" of variances, site plans, and other permits and licenses The Pian states that "The approval of siie plans and licenses should be contingent on the mitigation of parking and traffic problems to a level acceptable to the majority of immediately affected businesses and residents." PC Recommendation: The City has specific codes and rules that govern site plan and license reviews. These laws were established to ensure consistency and fairness in the process. The City cannot delegate the power to approve or deny applications to immediately-affected businesses and residents. At the public hearing, SHA agreed that the statement was more a goal than for implementation. The Planning Commission recommends rewriting the statement to reflect this sentiment: "SHA urges the City to carefully consider the parking and tra�c problems when reviewing site plans and licenses." � "� �. . " Summit Hili Plan Transmittal Letter January 4, 2006 Page 3 of 4 4. Scale and height limit in an overlay district The SHA Plan proposes adoption of limitations on new buildings on east Grand in an overlay district: • Limit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 square feet or less • Limit new building total size, above ground, to 75,000 square feet or less, including parking • Limit building height to three (3) stories or to thirty feet (30) for commercial projects and to thirty-six feet (36) for mixed commercial and residential projects, whichever is lower. No additional height will be allowed, even with setbacks. PC Recommendation: Today's new construction standards suggest higher heights per floor. The typical floor-to-floor height is 10 to 12 feet per floor for housing and 12 to 15 feet for commercial. The proposed height effectively limits new development to two stories of commercial or three stories of mixed use. In comparison, TN2 allows 35 feet of height for housing or commercial, with setback aliowances. Heights of Grand Avenue buildings are uniikely to cause as much a problem with shadows than in some other neighborhoods. Properties south of Grand cast shadows on Grand Avenue; properties north of Grand cast shadows on the alley and backyards of Summit Avenue properties, which have an unusually long depth of 250 feet. The Planning Commission is concerned that such size limits would make it difficult to provide structured parking in new buildings, which would exacerbate the existing parking shortage on Grand Avenue. The Planning Commission agrees that size limits would be appropriate for Grand Avenue, but believes that developments providing above-ground ramp/structured parking should be exempt from the size limit. The size limit is largely intended to preclude businesses that have a big box character. As an alternative, the Planning Commission proposes rezoning commercial properties to TN2, which contains design guidelines that require new buildings of more than forty (40) feet in width to be divided into smaller increments, between twenty (20) and forty (40) feet in width, through articulation of the facade (Sec. 66.343 (b)(11)). 5. Special crosswalks and yellow curbs The SHA Plan proposes a number of ineasures to increase pedestrian safety, including making the sidewalks more visible through bolder color, striping, texture and/or signage, and painting curbs yellow to indicate no-parking areas. PC Recommendation: Public Works indicated that they have had problems with brick and colored concrete crosswalks on Lexington and downtown, and that they don't paint curbs yellow as a policy. On the other hand, increasing pedestrian safety is an integral part of building higher- density development and promoting alternative travel modes, both are key points in the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission recommends leaving the language in the plan as proposed by the Summit Hiil Association. �p i. _ . Summit Hill Plan Transmittai Letter January 4, 2006 Page 4 of 4 6. Lexington and other streets to remain 2-lane The SHA Plan states that Summit, Grand, and St. Clair Avenues, Dale and Victoria Streets, and Lexington Parkway shoufd be maintained as 2-tane streets, not to be widened to accommodate increased traffic. PC Recommendation: Grand Avenue currently has 3 lanes, and Lexington Parkway has 3 or 4 lanes depending on the block. The Planning Commission recommends modifying the language to make the statement accurate. Pu61ic Works has suggested adding the following sentence, "However, this will have to be reassessed if Ayd Mill Road turned into a linear park or closed at the south or north end." The Planning Commission recommends adding the language suggested by Public Works to allow flexibility in the long term. Elimination of Rule of Five (5) on east Grand Avenue The SHA Plan proposes the elimination of the Rule of Five parking regulation on east Grand Avenue, citing the shortage of parking in the area. PC Recommendation: The Rule of Five has provided small but effective fiexibility in the reuse of existing commercial buildings on Grand Avenue, allowing the parking demand to fluctuate within five spaces without requiring the owner to create more spaces every time the use changes. The Planning Commission feels that these recommendations cannot be implemented without imposing a brake on real estate development and commercial vitality, and that eliminating the ftu{e of Five runs counter to the desire expressed in G7 to foster locally owned businesses. Please feel free to contact PED planner Yang Zhang at 266-6659 with any questions. Sincerely, p°_" Larry erholm Planning Administrator i � � a � � � _ N � � � � � � � Q �_ � (' �� 1 � '' M •: m .�. .... ...-. �z�� ! i i� i J. : i�i�i�f �� i� i :�;i ; ,. . � � �, �,��; . .. ; � i �� i♦ � �v�� 4�� ►�� 1�� ►�� •� ♦� ►�� ►��V�� :�� ►��4�� ,�' _,�; �� .�i �� . :�: .�� ►�� ►�i�i�i�i ►� �� ' �� ►�� ►��i��i' �,'; � � �,�� Opp:' .��ir �� • �� ►!i�i�i�i �� .. �� .„r r� ._ � e 3 m ` 0 ' m m _ m N� c c m ' � m m E E � � m o E c O � U U C� � O m p m m �� y 3 "� L� ["'� _ `�: �`�:u; v.- w� �, ?.h �i{� F� L � L= � �?� � �:-: `u S\Y :i �.�; y`-:i:i/.. � 4 � �� i - °{ � ,. W , �: city of saint paul planning commission resolution file number OS-lOR date December 2. 2005 RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF THE SUMMARY OF SUMMIT HILL/DISTffiCT 16 NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AS AN ADDENDUM TO THE SAINT PAUL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHEREAS the Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan was prepared by a steering committee of the Summit Hill Association and consultants from Short Elliott Hendrickson Ina (SEH) and Sanders Wacker Bergly Inc. (SWB) in a collaborative program over 18 months with over one thousand hours of volunteer work; and WHEREAS the plan details a community planning and investment agenda for an approximately 75-square-block area bounded by Summit Avenue, Interstate 34E, and Ayd Mill Road, addressing issues related to (1) Grand Avenue Mixed Use Corridor, (2) Housing and Residential Life, (3) Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation, (4) Pedestrian Safety, Traffic, and Parking, and (5) Crime Prevention and Safety; and WHEREAS the East Crrand Avenue Small Area Plan was adopted by the City Council in 1989, but there are provisions of the plan that have not yet been fully implemented or remain relevant, and therefore those provisions have been incorporated into the Summit Hill Plan; and WHEREAS the Planning Commission is authorized under Minnesota Statutes Section 462355(2) and Chapter 107 of the Saint Paul Administrative Code to recommend to the Mayor and City Council amendments to the compreHensive plan; and WHEREAS the Land Use Plan, adopted by the City Council on March 3, 1999, provides for the adoption of summaries of area plans as addenda to The Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan upon findings by the Planning Commission that the plans are consistent with adopted City policies; and moved by Tro seconded by in favor ;� against 1 (abstained-Zimmer Lonetti) '� � � .. :%� Summit Hill Plan Page Two of Resolution WHEREAS the Planning Commission, on November 6, 2005, held a public hearing on the Area Plan Summary of the Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan, nolxce of which was published in the Saint Paul Legal Ledger on October 17, 2005; and WHEREAS testunony received at the public hearing reflects a mix of opuuons on the plan, with the opposition mainlq concerning an overlay district with height and scale limits, exploration of a formula business ordinance, design guidelines, and pazking; WIIEREAS the Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee has since worked with the neighborhood and other stakeholders to develop modified language in these areas. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Saint Paul Plamiing Commission fmds that Summit Hi11/District 16 Neighborhood Plan as modified is consistent with The Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan and other relevant City policies and recommends the adoption of the plan summary by the City Council as an addendum to the comprehensive plan, replacing the existing District 16 Plan developed in 1989; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Saint Paul Planning commission recommends that the District 16 Plan (1989) and the East Grand Avenue Plan (also 1989) be rescinded as chapters of the Comprehensive Plan; BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Planning Commission commends the Suminit Hill Association for the extensive neighborhood participation and volunteer efforts involved in the development of the Summit Hi11 Plan. � t.i � .. Area plan Summarv Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Addendum to The Comprehensive Plan for Saint Paul Recommended by the Planning Commission — December 2, 2005 Adopted by the City Council -[date] This summary appends fo the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan the vision and strategies of the Summit HzIC/D'utrict 16 Neighborhood Plan and replaces the District 16 Plan adopted in 1989. The Summit Hill f District ]6 Neighbo�hood Plan consists offzve major areas offocus, including (1) Grand Avenue Mized Use Corridor, (Z) Housing and ResidenKal Life, (3) Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation, (4) Pedestrian Safety, Traffic, and Parking, and (5) Crime Prevention and Safety. Copfes of the full-[ength p[an are available for review at the Saint Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development and the offices of ihe Summit Hili AssociationJDistrict 16 Ptanning Council. The Summit Hill neighborhood is an approximately 75 squaze block neighborhood in the City of St. Paul, bounded by Summit Avenue on the north, Interstate 35E on the south and east, and Ayd Milt Road on the west. The Summit Hill neighborhood maintains and reinfo�ces Grand Avenue as an eclectic mix and balance ofhousing, and small-scale shops, restaurants, and services, both locally and nationally Summit HitllDistrict 16 Neigh6orhood Plan Summary Page 1 Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Ptan Area ��°e�. = owned, for residents and visitors. Grand Avenue sha11 continue to be a mix of buildings that respect the historic chazacter of the avenue and neighborhood and that relate closely to the sidewalk and encourage pedestrian activity at the street levet. Beautificarion efforts on Grand Avenue continue with attention to trees, planters, bench gazdens, and historical lighting. Businesses provide pazking thai is affordable, inconspicuous, aYtractive, and undergound when appropriate. Preserve the pedestrian-friendly, historic residential and commercial character of the Summit Hill neighborhood by providing a healthy balance of transpor[ation op6ons. Address persis[ent traffic and pazking problems in the neighborhood to significantly reduce commercial spillover to residentia] streets, greaHy enhance pedestrian safety tivough traffic calming and enforcement, and reduce the pazking deficit. Summit Hill will continue to be a safe neighborhood with good quality police and fire protection. Personal safety will be reinforced through Summit Hill's physicat and social networks operating within the neighborhood and along Grand Avenue, with a high tevel of maintenance of spaces and buildings that create a perception and feeling of safety and belonging. The following are shategies that are new initiatives for the City of Saint Paul. The full Iist of strategies for the Summit Hill Association and other neighborhood partners can be found in the full-]ength plan. Grand Avenue Mixed Use Corridor Gl Corridor Continuity. Maintain Gtand Avenue as a continuous neigkborhood retail and residential comdor and contain commercial uses and accessory pazking within existing boundaries. G2 Streetscape Enhancement Plan. Develop a Grand Avenue Streetscape E�hancement Plan to make Grand Avenue more pedestrian-, shopper-, and bicycle-friendly, to enhance its aesthetic qualiGes, and to invigorate its public realm, inc}uding Grand Avenue between Oakland Street and I-35E. _ DeleteA: AQopt TN2 duign standards i l for EaR G(vid Avrnue iv an oveday � disVict. G4 Commercial and Hoasing Mix. Retain BC (commercial uses in residential structures) and residential zoning on Grand Avenue. Discourage rezoning of residential uses on Grand Avenue Summit HilUDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary page Z � � � � e_ �,: to more intensive uses. GS Feighborhood Focus for Commercial Uses. B2 and BC zoning allows uses most appropriate to commercial activity on Cttand Avenue. Addirional B3 uses are not appropriate for Grand Avenue. A zoning study should be initiated by the Ciry to rezone B3 pazcels that are curtently used for B2 or less intensive uses. G6 Commercial Spillover. Rezoning and variances aze opposed by SHA in those azeas where pazking and traffic problems create undue hazdship for neighboring businesses, residents, and visitors.IThe Cih� shall carefullv consider oarkina and traffic roUlems in the immediate neieh6orhood when reviewine site olans and licenses. p- - - G8 Development Opportunities. Create a committee including representatives from the Summit Hill Association and GABA to identify these opportunities and outline the types of businesses or mix of uses that might best be accommodated at those locations, and describe the appropriate scale and design. G9 Signs. Rigorously enforce the Grand Avenue Sign Guidelines. SHA should assist LIEP in keeping an up-to-date inventory of existing non-conforming signs. HI Property Maintenance and Beautification. SHA will develop and implement a district-wide program to educate and encoutage residents to better maintain their properties, as well as their alleys, with regard to trash receptacles, planting and weed removal. as.�: - - Deletetl: The approval of srte pians and 6emses shouid be contingen[ on Ne mifigatlon ofpazkmg and traffic pmblems m a level acceptable to fie majonry of immed�ately-affected busmasa and residevts Deletetl: This mcludes explonng the adopnon of sWndards ro Itmrt fie number of formula business estabhslvnents on Eazt Grand Avwue. Where stra[e�es are bese �mplemrnced Uvoup� changes to City regulat�ons or pmcedures, mee� with Ciry staff (Pla�wng and Economm Develapmrn4 and Gcwsing, Cnspecnons, and Emvonmrntal Rotec�o�j ro pursue coderevis�ons � Deleted: in an overlay d�stric[ . - Deleted: orlas,mcludmgparkmg - frormatted: eullets a�nd Numbering � .., -- `CO�11 en : � C�'k�c`a��pucim „ .� b : aa�11%�a�w.., �,�e '. � aes '�'�`'�et '�uew� ', '� x � a �,'` y� _ . , �,�,.�.�„-<,.,.,�w.�a.*,.s�w,� �, s� Deletrtl: <k>Umrt buiidmg Aeight ro H2 Historic Preservation. In collaboration with the Saint Paul Heritage Preservation ' m,msee� �30�� ro� �ommen,ai Pro�e�as Commission, consider a historic site survey of properties south of Grand Avenue and explore the a"a ro rwny-s�x rui @s�� eorm,xea �•, commerc�al and residrnhai pro�ects, feasibiliTy of expanding the Hill Historic District, designating a new dish�ict or nominating ', wn;one�e� �s ��:. No aaa�rio�� ne��,� additional individual sites. ��u ne auowea, e�� n k�ba�ks ¶ Deleted: m an overlav damc[ Summit HilUDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 3 indenendentbusinesses. Housing and Residential Life �� r�:,- � H3 Design Guidelines. Summit Hill Association will coordinate a volunteer group to develop and implement voluntary design guidelines for new housing and the renovation of exisUng housing in azeas not included in the historic district. The guidelines should encourage high qualiTy design that emphasizes being complemeniary and contextuat raYher thaa strict historic replication. Provide desi� guidelines and historic preseroation goais to persons receiving demolition permits and ensure that replacement housing meets all pertinent zoning requirements, recognizing that pre-existing non-confortning conditions aze protected by state law. H6 Open Spaces. Advocate for retenrion of neighborhood green spaces, such as pazks and vegetated bluff areas. SHA will explore incentives for property owners to preserve as private open space the undeveloped portions of properties. H7 Housing Density. Ensure that the impact of any increased density conforms to zoning and building requirements, and that the City considers the devetopmenYs adverse impact on existing municipal services inciuding, but not limited to, traffic and pazking. H8 Single-family and Multi-family Residences. Maintain the existing residentially zoned area and retain the mix of housing Types (single-family, duplex, townhouses, and aparpnents) in the Summit Hill neighborhood in existing and new housing developments. Request the City to conduct a zoning study Yo remne apartmenis and condos to the exis[ing use. H9 Mixed-Use Buildings (Commercial Plus Residential). Ensure that new and renovated mixed-use buildings on Grand Avenue respect the historic nature and character of the neighborhood, as well as providing dedicated off-street or underground pazking for residents and tenants. H10 Housing-related Pazking. Encourage residents to fully utilize existing residential pazking opportunities in the neighborhood and to create new off-street parking or garages when possible. 1. Work with the City of St. Paul to enforce ordinances regarding pazking in alleys and inappropriate or excessive pazking on individual properties. HI2 Housing Options. Maintain rental housing options to wntinue some measure of affordability in the neighborhood. Commauity Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation The Summit Hill Plan calls for recmiting and maintaining block leaders, encouraging volunteerism, reaching out to all residents about community events, con6nuing community events such as tha "Progessive Supper" and "Summit Hiil House Tour,° supporting the Grand Avenue Business Association on "Grand Old Day" and "The Grand Meander," using community assets such as institutions and churches, and supporting loca! culturat opportunities and the arts. CLi Linwood Recreation Center. Support Linwood Recreation Center programs for all ages, including sports, community education, arts, and group activities. Summit Hi[UDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary p age q � r _. - .. ba, � � , CL8 Tree Program. Develop a District bou]evard tree preservation and replacement p]an that seeks to maintain and preserve our valued large trees and provide planting guidelines for new trees in 6oth urban and residential streetscapes. The vegetated bluff azeas that buffer District 16 from I-35 and Ayd Mill Road should be preserved, except for prairie bluff restorations. CL9 Gateway and Image Plan. Develop a Summit Hi1UDistrict 16 identification plan through the use of urban design techniques inc]uding use of banners/graphics and/or historically sensitive sia age placed on the streetscape that identifies that one is in the Summit Hill neighborhood. CLI O Greening the Pub(ic Realm. Beautify the public realm throughout the neighborhood to promote increased use and better stewardship. 1. Seek out opportunities to incorporate bench gazdens in existing parks and in new or redeveloped retail or residential spaces on Grand Avenue. 2. Enhance maintenance of public and private bluff areas by working with residents and the City park staff to remove litter, stabilize slopes, repair retaining walls, and remove buckthom. CLI 1 Linwood Park. Enhance maintenance of Linwood Park and develop a landscape design plan for uppe� Linwood Park. CL12 Ayd Mill Road. Support the installation of off-road pedestrian and bicycle paths adjacent to any redesign of Ayd Mill Road. Pedestrian Safety, TrafSc, and Parking Pl Comprehensive Traffic and Parking Study. Initiate, in cooperation with the City, a thorough, comprehensive traffic and parking study of the neighborhood to determine an appropriate transportation and parking management strategy. Public Works will participate in this process as staff resources and time permiu. P2 Specific Safety Measures. Improve pedestrian safety and improve the quality of th8 pedestrian and bicyclist experience. L Make selected crosswalks on arterials Grand Summtt Lexmgton St Cla�r V�ctoria) more visible through a combination of�aalder e`{ili2T stn�mg,Y�tur -;�mment I��7 "�omanns"wem;. Encourage the City Police Co vigorously enforce laws concerning ctosswa{ks, speed ��"s"a'll iCtimptd#engve�?Jaa]'�S�Gt p6gh'.'rii6ti� limits, and restricted parking near intersections. y�,��,�ea�+p��qe��r�� 2. SHA recommends the elimination of right turns on red at certain intersections along "L��a �aa�ere�orossw�fs'oa ��- ;�. .T.ekmgtonsnd�elavmiown, Tae.P7azm"v Summit and Grand avenues to improve pedestrian safety. :�� 3. Emphasize parking restrictions near intersections using signs,�v.;I,�e11 w��,"�to clearly `�`�°�a�"or�au�tol ,;� indicate no parking. Pubiic Works will install signs on a case-by-case basis. ��"�� mmenr�i6�j �cuo W� aoe: ;,eamxtvrveyetio.vaxapaucy Hoa�ev 4. Install signs, plantings, and other signals at neighborhood gateways that announce p �� "Welcome to the Historic Summit Hill Neighborhood," ° Slow Down and Stop for �jE ��°��v��`.��'. �PCl�E5ln3Yt55fC�' tll¢ Pedestrians in Crosswalks," "20 is Plenty," and "Slow for Children." o��, 5. Summit Hili Association will work with the City, businesses, and developers to install Summit HilUDish-ict 16 Neighborhaod Plan Summary Page 5 Y>i ,�� ,�. „ more bicycle racks, benches, and bus shelters. P3 Traffio-Calming. Utilize traffic calming techniques that include education, enforcement, and engineering resources. Traffic catming includes street design and regulatory features that cause motorists to drive more slowly and with a greater degree of attentiveness. I. Enoourage the City to rigorously enforce speed limits. Z. Increase driver awareness of speed limits by ptacing speed monitoring display devices on neighborhood streets. 3. Explore and imp(ement with communiTy and City support specific traffio-calming measures such as, speed humps, treffic circles, bump outs, center medians and additional stop signs. Make tr�c cafming a part of al] street rewnstruc[ion. 4. SHA will seek to reduce speed limits on residentiat streets to 25 miles per hour. 5. Retain I-35E at the edge of Summit Hi(1 as a 45-mile per hour parkway and encourage the Minnesota Departrnent of Transportation to maintain its attractive landscaping in the medians and along the roadway. P4 Traffic Management. Manage traffic flow and street capacity to discourage increased volumes and speeds, provide safe and convenient access to pmperties, and protect pedestrians. 1. Provide better enforcemenf oftraffic and parking faws. Encourage towing of violators. Restrict pazking within 30 feet of intersections, and within 5 feet of alleys and driveways, to ensure visibility. 2. Assess the feasibility of additional 4affic controls, such as traffic lights and stop sigis. 3. Parking and vehicle access to and from future development on Grand Avenue shall be sensitive to traffic flow, parking needs, and pedestrian safeTy. 4. Maintain Summi�and St. Clair Avenues, and Dale and Victoria Streets as 2-lane streets, --� oeieted:, {- C,rand Avenue as a 3 lane streat and Lexineton Parkwav as a 3 lane street south of __�( ce�eted: � �.. Grand, not [o be widened to accommodate increased traffic. ; �.'�,��'�'L:h�et� '�{ ce i�y ; , �, PS Transit. Promote transit use, recapture ridership, and serve the transit-dependent by matching hansit service with travel need. 1. Maintain and enhance transit service on Grand and St. Clair Avenues, 2. SHA encourages maintenance of exisUng hansit shelters, installation of new ones when possible, and the elimination or reduction of advertising signs on bus benches and shelters. Summit HIll Associa6on does not want private advertising shelters. 3. Install route maps and schedules at more [ransit stops. 4. Encourage the Grand Avenue Business Association and other businesses to adopt a merchant-supported token system to encourage transit use. 5. Explore additional transit options to cost-effectively increase transit frequency and ridership and to minimize car use and traffiq such as a trolley for Cnand Avenue or by interlining the Gtand Avenue transit route with a Minneapolis route so that it meets demand for service to the University of Minnesota, UniversiTy of St. Thomas, and Summit Hill/Dish-ict 76 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 6 Q �m�. � downtown Minneapolis. P6 Off-street Pazking. Adequate ofF street pazking shall be provided for all residential and commercial uses, in a manner that respects the hisforic character of the neighborhood. 1. Screen parking lots using appropriate treatments such as a strong landscaped edge along the street and al]ey. 2. Work with the Police Department to develop a plan to dramatical]y increase enforcement of all existing parking ordinances. Review parking variance history and Ciry parking po]icies to determine if a revised regulatory approach is required. 3. SHA encourages and supports underground parking where appropriate. 4. SHA recommends that rooftop parking is adequately screened by pazapets, such that they prevent visibility to neazby residences from the rooftop pazking area. 5. Restrict commercial pazking lots from areas that aze used primazily for residential purposes. 6. Implement more uniform parking zones on Grand Avenue [o facilitate more rigorous enforcement. 7. Continue the option of Permit Parking zones for those residents who request them. P7 Shared Parking. Facilitate shared parking agreements. Allow and encourage shared parking in institutional lots. The Summit Hill Association, the Grand Avenue Business Association, and the City shal] work with property owners to reach parking agreements for shared use of commercial parking as atlowed under Statute 62.103 of the Zoning Code, and shared use of institutional lots as allowed under Statute 60.413(] 5) of the code. Shazed parking options should be explored as part of any application for parking variance. P8 Building Removal for Pazking. Discourage building removal solely for pazking. P9 Parking Supply. Retain and expand existing commercia) and residential parking. 1. The Summit Hill Association opposes removal of existing pazking without substitute parking being provided at a level greater than or equal to current zoning requirements. 2. The Summit Hill Association opposes pazking variances and wants all new residential and commercia! buildings to provide parking at a level equal to or greater than the current zoning requirements at the time of permit application. ` _ . _ � -' �mmenY�$] �haP1��v&. °', "_ ' "... __ _ ' " " ' " . ' P10 Employee Pazking. Find alternatives for employee pazking where customer demand is �°�'�i°"��e�'�`�'�'�`r`-?�rbt highest. Fn�4 a�iAnYe�'eamm€mai6„'tit�asto i�rtvse3'for 5;vaiieTy�3"tises;�,N7vch •;. ' Pl 1 Customer Parking. Improve awareness of parking options for Grand Avenue customers and �' ��'- Deletetl: <#>Ehmma¢ the "Rule of VISItOTS. Frve" pazking regularion on Eui Grand Crime Prevention and Safety The full Summit Hill Plan calls for continuing to support the Neighborhood Block Watch progam, continuing to maintain close working relationships with police and fire departments, Summit Ki[Z/Distrrct 76 Neighborhood Plan Summary p age 7 � '° � .: _. and advocating for mounted police, bicycle, and foot pah�ols. CRl Crime Watch Progam. Promote, ase, and expand the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program to organize and mobilize the neighborhood to pro-actively approach personal safeTy and property protection. 1. Continue to support the variety of compatibte land uses and densities that characterize the "eyes on the street" safeTy of Summit Hill. 2. Evaluate street and alley lighting to determine if improvements are needed regarding lighting levels and distribution. 3. Pursue greater po]ice patrols of Linwood Park and its slopes, particulazly after dazk, to discourage repeated problems with caz break-ins, graffi6, vandalism, and more serious crimes. Prinritv Arfionc fnr C'ih Parti � fi The following actions have been identified as priorities of the community that require leadership or signification paRicipation by city govemment. Community groups and city departments should implement the projects identified in this summary by applying for city resources in corrcpetitive processes such as the Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) and Sales Tvc Revitalization program (STAR), and working though the regular operating programs of relevant ciTy departrnents. Planuing and Economic Development G3. G5. Rezone ro ercies that are currenU � zoned OS 1. Bl BZ and B3 on! - ifThe current use is permitted in TN2) to'[TI2 in order to abolv the TN desien euidelines "" ------- "" Del¢ted:AdoptlN2designxtandards G6.. ncouraee ex (oration of inechanisms for su ortin and retainin small, local] owned 4 m� o��ay a�n„a eor�� ca�a � � -- - - - pP � - � -- --- .Y- - --.. . I Avrnue.$ businesses on East Grand Avenue, such as campai�s bc the connnunitv or an �ssessment q districttosubsidizesmall indeoendentbusinesses, cs.co�avaa�o,��g:n,ayro��e , 83-zoned paz��ls ihaz are no longer used �, by 63 uses.Q GIO. Adopt scale Jimi�for East Grand Avenue as an amendment to the zonin� code�s stated in D¢leted: Mplemmt -- -- --------------------- GIO. - . , beletetl: and hrigAt PS-5. ConduM a trolley study for Grand Avenue. P8 Discourage the removal of historic or residential buildings solely to provide additional pazking. ', iDeleted. s � � ------- ---- ---- entn'�'mm.nE ?s�3',� z, �' � -- Public Works -------- ------ ----- � �:. : J < ;�tviruBFinaYo�ie�WSS[az;a.taciic.� ;', G2. Participate in a streetscape enhancement plan if initiated by the eommuni �ce��: � �'°""a" �` `R°i` °f h'• Frve on Grand Avrnue.¶ Summit Hr1UDistrict 16Neighborhood Plan Summary p age g - �� CL12. Ayd Mill Road. Support the 'snstallat'son of off=road pedestrian and bicycle paths adjacent to any redesio of Ayd Mill Koad. Pl. Comprehensive Traffic and Parking Study. Participate in a traffic and parking study of the neighborhood to determine an appropriate transpor[ation and pazking management strategy. P2-1 Make crosswalks more visible to improve pedestrian safeTy. P2-3 Emphasize pazking restrictions near intersections using signs to cleazly indicate no parking. P3-2 Increase driver awareness of speed limits by placing speed monitoring display devices shall be placed on neighborhood streets. P3-3 Explore and implement with community and City support specific traffio-calming measures such as, speed humps, traffic circles, bump outs, center medians and additional stop signs. Make traffic calming a part of all street reconstruction. P4-4 Maintain Summit�and St. Clair -�1venues and Dale and Victoria�Streets, as 2-lane street� Deleted:, Gn Grand Avenue as a 3-lane street, and Lexington Pazkway as�3-lane_street south of Grand, not to � oeietea: a be widened to accommodate increase traffic. This will have to be reassessed if Avd Mill Road �.. , oeie�s [urnea mw a i�e�car varK ur ciwcu a� wc ovu�i� v� u��,� cnui__.._....___.._..._..._....._.__......._, 1 Deleted: mo � Deletetl: s PS->. Conduct a trollev studv for Cnand Avenue � � -Ctimmerif[`z „Comm�s`sonre P6-6 Implement more uniform parking zones on both sides of Grand Avenue to facilitate allow i�a�egc;�oa for more rigorous enforcement. Licensing, Inspection, and Environmental Protection P2-5. Encourage more bicycle racks, benches, and bus shelters during site plan review when appropriate P6-1. Screen parking lots using appropriate treatments and include a stcong landscaped edge along the street and alley. P6-2. Work with the community to develop a plan to dramatically increase enforcement of all existing parking ordinances provisions related to parking. Review parking variance history and City parking policies to determine if a revised regulatory approach is required. P7-I The Summit Hill Association, the Grand Avenue Business Association, and the City shall work with property owners to reach parking agreements for shared use of commercial parking as allowed under Statute 62.103 of the Zoning Code, and shared use of institutional lots as allowed under Statute 60.413(I S) of the code. Shazed parking options should be explored as part of any application for parking vaziance. Summit HilUDistriet 16 Neighborhood Plan Summary Page 9 � v � �, ,. �:� Parks and Recreation CLI. Linwood Recreation Center. Support Linwood Recreation Center programs for atl ages, including sports, community education, arts, and goup activities. CL10-2 Enhance maintenance of public bluff areas by working with residents to remove litter, stabitize slopes, repair retaining walis, and remove buckthom. CLl l Work with the community to enhance the maintenance of Linwood Park and develop a landscape design plan for upper Linwood Pazk. Police Department P26. Vigorously enforce laws cortcemiag existeng crosswalks, speed limits, resYricted parking neaz intersections, and other pazking and traffic laws. Plaanin�Commisseou Findings The Planning Commission finds that the Area Plan Summary of the Summit Hill Plan, as proposed by the Summit Hill Association, is generally consistent with the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan and adopted City policies. The Planning Commission questions the proposals to adop[ an overlay district for East Grand Avenue, restrict fortnula businesses, apply size and scale limits as proposed, and eliminate the Rule of Five, and has therefore recommended amendments to the Plan Summary to address these concems. In 2002, the Summit Hill Associarion/District 16 Planning Council decided to update its 1989 District 16 Plan. This 2004 Summit HilllDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plan represents over a thousand hours of volunteer work by wmmuniTy members. The SFIA/District 16 Planning Council designated a Steering Committee to work closely with CiTy Officials, and the consultant team of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEI� and Sanders Wacker Bergly Ina (SWB) in a collaborative program over 18 months. Several participation methods, including three community wide meetings, a neighborhood survey, a communiTy video, wmmunity vision boards, a photo gallery, and a Grand Avenue Business Association focus group, were used to solicit and engage a broad and diverse cross-section of the community. Summit HilUDistrict 16 Neighborhood Plarr Summary Page 10 � � C v`� ��-., ;u Sainf Panl PIanning Commission City Hall Conference Center 15 Kellogg Bonievard West Minutes of November 4, 2005 A meeting of tfie Plauning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, November 4, 2005, at 830 a.m. in the Conferenca Center of City Hall. Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen, Zimmer Lonetti, Lu, McCall, Morton, Present: and Trevino; and Messrs: Aligada, A]ton, Goodlow, Gordon, Johnson, Kong, Kramer, and Mejia. Commissioners Mmes. *Faricy; �Porter, and Messrs. *Anfang *Bellus, *Coletta, Dandrea, and Scott. Absent: *Excused Also Presenf: Larry Soderholm, Planning Administrator, Susan Kimberly, Director of Department of Planning an@. Economic Development, Donna Drummond, Emily U1mer, Yang Zhang, Christina Danico, Casey MacCallum (intem) and Kate Fleming, Department of Planning and Economic Development staff. I. Approval of minutes of October 21, 2005 MOTION: CommissianerAZton moved approval of the minutes of October 2I, 2005. Commissioner Morfon seconded the motion. The motion.carr£ed unanimously on a voice vote. II. Chair's Announcements None IIi. Piana:ng Adm€nisfrator's Annpuneemenfs I.any Soderholm reported on City Council business for last week and announced their agenda for next week, and on the Housing 5000 Celebration at Metro State University Iast week, which marked the achievement af the City's goal of building 5000 additional housing units in four yeazs. �Y;�,"� -'�_ � IV. Public Hearing Item from the Neighborhood & Current Plauning Committee. SummitHill/Distriet 16'Plan (Yang Zhang, 651/266-6591) Yang Zhang gave a staff report. . Chair Johnson read the rules of procedure for the public hearing and announced the notice of the public heazing was published in the Legal Ledger on October 17, 2005, and mailed to fhe citywide Eazly Notification System list of the recipients and other interested parties. "Ihe following people spoke: 1. Ms. Merritt Clapp-Smith, District 16/Sumniit Hill Association (SHA) President, 785 Goodrich Avenue, Saint PauI, Mn. 55105. Ms. Ctapp-Smith passed out information on the overlay disfrict proposed in the Snmmit Hill Plan and the key points of disageement between SHA and PED. Commissioner Gordon asked for clarification on proposal G7, locally-owned businesses, on limiting the number of forn2ula businesses. He asked if formula business is de{ined by size or natute of ownership. Ms. Clapp-Smith responded that people in the community have expressed different preferences. For some it is the look and the scale, but for many it is the atso about local ownership and conttol. Commissioner Gordon asked whether they have reseazehed legal opinions or advice with respect to whether the City has the authority to permit or prohibit an independent business versus a chain business of the same size. Ms. Ciapp-Smith responded that fhey have contacted a professor, an assistant professor and two s?udents from fhe William Mitchell Law Schooi. They looked over the groposal and helped evaluate it and thought it wouId hold IegalIy. Commissioner Gordon requested a list of the commuuities with similaz formuta-business ordinances from Ms. CIapg-Smith. Commissioner Gordon asked for clarification on G6, coznmercial spillover, fhat pIaus and Iicenses should be contingent on the mitigation of pazking and tr�c problems to a level acceptable to the majority of immediately-affected businesses and residents, �Ie asked how "immediately-affected'.' is defined. Ms. Clapp-Smith responded that this statement is more about intent and not for implementation. Commissioner Mejia asked for clarification on the G7, specifically the definidon of Iocally-owaed businesses. � - ,. �a� �. — � < Ms. Clapp-Smith explained that the definition of formula business is still a gray asea Commissioner Zimmez-Lonetrii asked if a business that sfarted on Grand Avenue becomes successful and opens other stores elsewhere, how that affects the original business. What if a business is successful somewhere else, would they be able to open a store on Grand Avenue? Ms. Clapp-Smith responded that if tkey stazted on Crrand Avenue, they would be grandfattieied in. If a business were coming to Grand Avenue, there would be a good chance under fhis formula husiness ordinance that they would not be able to. She admitted that a lot of businesses that are considered "cool." may not be able to come in under the formula business ordinance. 2. Ms. Linda Winsor, 708 Goodrich, Saint Paul, Mn, 55105. Ms. Winsor is a member ofthe District 16 Council and also serves on the Zoning and Land Use Committee, Parking Committee and a member of fhe informal Pazking Task Force. Ms. Winsor recommends that theRule of Five be eliminated on east Grand Avenue. She said that there is a deficit of over 100 pazkiag spaces on east Grand. Ms. Winsor states that Grand Avenue is an incubator of many small independent businesses. These types of businesses do not start in a big box azea. They gain their strength and success and then go out and become more successful. With the formula business ordinance, we will be setting up an important area for this kind of business to tl�rive. 3. Mr. Bill Clapp, 757 Osceola Avenue, 1�` Floor, SainY Paul, Mn 55105. Mr. Clapp supports the proposed size and scale limits, and recalls the City's approval of a 58-foot high building at 745 Grand Avenue as a decision against the neigh6orhood's recommendation. The O�'ord Hill development is also too lazge for the azea. The densities of people on Cnand Avenue are not what is canying the businesses, and you will never get the density of residents high enough to do that. Many people come to Crrand Avenue from other areas. Trying to get greater density on Grand Avenue is not a solution, and will certainly mess up the chazacter of the netghborhood. He stated the formula business ordinance is meant to keep the rents affordable so that the businesses on the Avenue can staq, or ail the independent stores will be priced out. 4. 1�*. Tedd Wicktaan, 870 Osceo;a Avanue, Saint Paul, Mn SS 105..Mr. Wickman is a member of the Summit Hill Association and on the committee that worked on the District 16 Plan. Mr. Todd Wickman asked for support to the adopt the 1'N design standazds in an overlay district. Through the planning process, high quality design both in buildings and for the streetscape is very important to Grand Avenue. This set of design sfandards could be used to keep the quality, looks and aesthetics along the street and in building construction. S. Mr. Dan Cornejo, 1657 Saunders Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55116. Mr. Cornejo is a former resident of Summit Hill and pro}ect manager, for the consultant team of Short ElIiott Hendrickson (SEF� and Sandes Wacker Bergly Ina (SWB). KathIeen O'Neill also worked on the project. The planning piocess is zbout howthis great neighborhood sustains its sense of place as a culturally distinctive, atiractive, premium place to live, work, visit and play as it moves fonvazd over the next ten yeazs within a revitalized Saint Paul. The plan is to be used as a framework to capitalize on opportunities for renewat arid reinvesiment. Mr. Cornejo summazized the extensive neighborhood process and recommended the adopfion of the Disfrict 16 Plan. � r � � � :� Commissioner Lu asked whether they looked at tlie economic perspective during the process , namely, why is Grand Avenue is sttccessful. Mr. Comejo responded that they did an analysis, noticing the smaller shops, smaller Iot sizes, smaller and multiple pazking ]ots and concluded tliat the miz is what works. 6. Ms. Tina Hoya, 1900 Roblyn Avenue, �aint Paul, Mn 55104. NIs. Hoya is a Saint Paul resident and also a commarcial real estate professional. Gtand Avenue kas a un[que chazacter where she and her family regulazly shop and go to restaurants. Ms. Hoya supports the Swumit Hill Associatiou's goals to maiatain Grand Avenues vitality and uniqueness. However, as a real estate professional. Ms. Hoya disagrees with some of the methods. The excliasion of sacalled formuIa businesses is unwise. The mixed of independent businesses and chains on Crrand Avenue aze good and have stayed cunent Fvith the times. Exc2uding a business just because they will duplicate a successful eoncept somewhere eLse will be detrimentat in t]ie long term. Newer developments cfiazge Iugher rents and dtive out small businesses. The proposed restrictions on developments' size, footprints,and height and changes in parking requiremenfs wili futther increase tha cost of development. 7. Ms. Ellen Watters, 401 N. Robert Street, Sainf Paul, IVIn 55101. Ms. Watters is the Seniar Vice President of Economic Development for the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has a strong iaterest in what happens on Crrand Avenue, and be&eves it is an important part of the city's economic vitality. It is estimated thare aze more than 2,200 employees on Grand Avenue, and the Avenue contributes some three million in sale tax and a couple of million in property taYes annually. The Chamber fias cottcems with some of the proposals in the Sumntit Hill Plan, grimarily. azouud restrictions on gzowth ancl investments. Ms, Watters believes that Grand is one ofthe corridors in Saint Paul that can and should accommodate additional growth and investrnents. The Metropolitan Cotincil projected that of SaintPaul will take in an additiona145,000 residents between uow and 2030, which is about 21,000 more househotds. With the restrictions in tlze proposed plan, omwth and investment will be difficult to achieve. In most comukuniry planning efforts thete is room for improvement. Many such processes dou't do a gOOd job of :z:#'o�-ig aud inclediug buSiness owners in the planning process. Ms. Wattets would Ii1ce to see new ways for compiunity planaing input from businesses and properiy owners. Ms. Watters stressed that this is a topic of serious citywide significance and that it would be great to have oYher opport�nities to discuss tfiis further. Commissioaer Gordon asked if tfie Chamber has any proposaI on building heights and size reslrictions, as well as parking restrictions. Ms. Watters responds that what is contaiued in ttie exisring code is adequate. In terms of formula business, she would be resistant to any sort of artificial limitation on the retail matketplace. She would ttot propose any Iimitation on formula businesses. 8. Ms. Shannon O'Toole, 223 S. Avon Street. Saint Paul, Mn 55105. Ms. O'Toole has been on tfie Siimmit Hitl Association for five yeazs and was president of the Association when the City , approached the SHA to update the district plan. Their primary concems were how to ittvoIve the neighborhood and business owners in this process. Both groups aze, ve b �� v � roufines and it is very fiard to et these two ry�3' ��e �1 '� �� g groups togefber so they aze both represented. Ms. O'Toole Fvas on the Steerina Committee and personally took invitations to each business, explaining that their input was very much needed: G�1gA aiso mailed out notices and went door to door. The neighborhood associafion also worked hazd to raise funds to pay for the consultants, which came to $34,000.00. That is how important fhe project was, and after many meetings they did produce a plan. Ms. O'TooIe urged support for the plaa as set forth by the Summit Hill Association. 9. Ms. Georgia Amdahi, ZQ63 Iglehart Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55104. Ms. Amdahl is President of the Grand Avenue Business Association. She explained the azea that is covered by this plan is east of Ayd Mill I�oad. On beha�f of the t�venue busiuesses G.4BA lmows that tlie face and backbone of Crrand Avenue has been its independent; small businesses. The mixed use of the Avenue has been the.pillar of success. There aze businesses that completely support the District 16 Plan and there aze businesses that oppose restrictions on growth and development. `The Board of Directors took a suzyey in August and September. GABA divides the Avenue into five nodes and there are two directors from each node. The directors are to represent what the member businesses in their node believe. The directors in each node conducted a survey that covered-six subject areas. The Rule of Five was not in this survey, The two azeas of the most consensus were the prohibition on fast food and the masimum building height. A sepazate sucvey for the Rule of Five was taken in August, but not many businesses responded. Of the T 8 respondents, 16 were a;ainst the Kule of FiVe and two in favor. The mission of GABA is to promote compatible businesses relationships with everyone on the avenue including non-member businesses as well as witfi the neighborhood. Commissioner Gordon asked if Ms. Amdahl has supplied copies of the survey to tfle City. Ms. Amdahl responded that she has not, but she will. Commissioner Gordon asks whether the survey dealt with tbe formula business issue. Ms. Amdahl responded that it did not. Commissioner Gordon asked Ms. Amdahl how GABA would respond to some form of a limit on formula businesses, maybe a percentage limit. He inqulred whether t�'�ere wouid be support or opposition. Ms. Amdahl responded there would be both but she could not guess the percentages. Commissioner Gordon asked if the City were to impose a percentage on how many businesses could be formula type businesses--17 percent of the mix now is formula business—if GABA would support holding to that percentage or, would support a higher or lower percentage. Ms. Amdahi responded by saying that tfiey would want to maintain what it is now, not higher than the 17 percent. . Commissioner Zimmer-Lonettii asked how £ormula businesses were defined when the s�y� �'� -� ` showed 17 percent of the businesses are fortnula businesses. � U Ms. Atndahl sfated that it was 17 percent of national business. Ms. Clapp-Smith stated that the number came out of a sma11 ad hoc Committee that got together to start looking at this iss¢e and were trying to get a ball pazk of whera Cnand Avenue is at now. It was based on the number of businesses on East Crrand Avenue, not on the amount of f2oor azea. 10. Mr. Robert Stolpesfad, E�ter Realty, 332 Minnesota Street, Saint Paul, Mn SS 10I . Exeter owns five commercial pzoperties on Grand Avenue, and has attended many of the neighborhood mee�ings on alI the issues. Regazdingfih� formuta bnsiness p1an, there aze certaia cfiaitts that people like and some they dan't We need to encourage the smatl businesses in tfiis area. The most loyal customers aze the residettts, and we need to encourage tha miic of businesses so as to keep rasidents and their friends coming back. They aze against the formula business ordinance because it is impossible to Iegislate accord'rng to likes and dislikes, aside from the questionable Iegality of the ordinance. Commissioner Gordon stated the neighbors have some cottcerns that the big box businesses are coming into the azea and displacing the smalt businesses. He asked if Mr. Stolpestad has any ideas to addressthese concerns. Mr. Stolpestad stated tfiat personally he would not want a Wal-Mart or a driv�through McDonald's on the Avenue. But he is concemed is that the restrictions could possibly flurt looal businesses that grown to be successful. The quesrion would be which tenants wouid tie allowed and wFuch woulda'Y be. T1ie bzggest probiem tfiat he fiears froin the residents is the pazking problem, not the types of stores. 11. NIr. Kazl Benson, $77 Grand'Avenue, Saint Paut, Mn SSI05. Mr, Bensou is an independent business owner on Grand Avenue. $e stateed it is the connection to the neighborhood that supports tfie businesses. It is the diversity of businesses on the Avenue that is important to the community. Smalf businesses can compete with bigger businesses because of their uniqueness and oreativity. I3e stressed the importance of diversity. He said that he does not feel they should have restricfive parking, and encourages creafive paricing �ethods. I2. Mr. Michael Hatting, 332 Minnesota Street, Saint Paul, Mn 55101. Mr. $atting is a developer and commercial property maIIager with Exeter Reaity. Their goai is to bring quality projects to enhance the neighborhood. 'I'he most important part is working wi$x residents and businesses in the neighbozfiood. Mr. Hatting disagreed with having a formuia business ordinance and stated that it discriminates against certain of businesses because of tlzeir success and 2ocations. 3'his would exclude locally-based businesses that have become prosperous over time, There should be other, better ways to promote sma11 basinesses. He supported PED's posifion on the plan. 13, Ms. Nancy Breytneier, 745 Cnand Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55105. Ms. Breymeier owns two bnsinesses on Grand Avenue: Strategic Financiai Group and Amore �offee. T1ie pTOcess of the District 16 Plan included rentezs, neighbors, property owners and businesses. Tt was a long and arduous pracess. The continuum of views was large, and the District 16 Plan is a compromise of all those views. Ms Breymeier is the treasurer of the Metro 7BA (Metro Independenf Business Alliance), which is an oiganization representing independeat businesses in the seven-county metro azeas. Currently one fourth of Metro IBA's membership is Grand Avenue businesses 3he `^` encourageed the City to take an active role in looking at the merits of a formula business ordinance. The trend in the past ten yeazs on Grand Avenue has been moving more and more towazds national chains or franchises tflat requireed less than the stated fooiprint recommendations. She believes that this lxend will change the charm of Grand Avenue. She encouraged the Planning-Commission to look into the merits of+he ordinance. 14. Ntr. Gary 7ohnson, 777 Linnwood Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55113. Mr, Johnson talked about three points: first the reasons for living iu the neighborhood, second to comment on the planning process, and third how to improve the planning process. Mr. Johnson likes living here with the " vaziety of businesses, architecture, and the density, convenience and chazm of the neighborhood. i�e said threz things led 26why t�isplan is liice this foday. �irst there was a tot of conjecfure in it. � Of the 4,000 surveys that were sent out, only 200 were zeturne.141r. Johnson thinks there was a lot of hogging the ball, and the SHA President had too much power. The President appointed the task force and the head of the committee and also wrote most of the pian. The City should help oversee the process and should be gresenf at the meetings that were behind closed doors. The task force was too anri-development and had a lot of feaz of change, as well as fear of competirion from other retailers. They should get more property owners to the table and tallc about this plan. - He noted that only once in 75 pages that the words "commercial property owner" were used. There needs to be more transparency and accountability in the Summit Hill District Council. There was disproportional attendance by Lincoln and Summit Avenues residents, There needs to be more respect and leadership in the process of reviewing projects. Some businesses have left Saint Paul and gone to Minneapolis because of this environment. 15. Mr. Rod Brewer, 1064 Summit Avenue, Saint paul, Mn 55105. Mr. Brewer attended foday to gain more knowledge of the process. Mr. Brewer said that business owners and developers had been tallced about, as well as the investments they have in the community, but homeowners also have investments and aze important stakeholders. 16. Ms. John Gelderman, 1812 Valley Curve, Mendota Heights, Mn 55118. Mr. Gelderman is owner of the Oxford Square building, and has 10 to 12 tenants. His main concem with the formula business ordinance is that some of the currently businesses would not be allowed by the proposed ordinance standards because they aze franchises. The mazket has done a great}ob to make Grac:d Avenue what it is today. The other concem is the formula business ordinanbe and defmitions. It wili impossibie to regula:e this. Grand Avesse has a great ba:a:.ce cunently. Leasing wouid be made very di�cuIt if the building owners are restricted so that they cannot iease to a chain or a franchise business that neighborhood doesn't Iike. The Grand Avenue mazket is telling the community where it needs to be. The formula business ordinance is not necessary since it is unlikely there will be too many chains. Sueh an ordinance would be similaz Eo the businesses telling bomeowners that they can't sell their home to people making more than SQ% of the area median income, or fhat the buyez has to be &om Sf. Paul. 17. Ms. Mauzeen Flahaven, 1073 Lincoln Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55105. Ms. Flahauen is the Vice Presidenf of the Summit Hill Association/Disfrict 16 Council, Chair the Zoning and Land Use Committee. This committee has seen a tremendous increase in business app2ications, mosfly for vaziances. Those variances, no maiter what the districtcouncil recommends, tend to get approved by the City. Ms. Flahanen giave two exampies and said the pazking situation has . worsened. Ms. Flanaven has attended �nany meetings of the Zouing Committee of the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeal and tried to describe some of the problems. When the neighborhood was fighting agaiast tcvo fast food restaurants, fhe Chamber of Commerce took the position that all development is good development, and tkat is not true. The plan proposed by SHA is what the majority of the neighborhood wants to see happen and wi11 allow success on both sides. Ms. Flahaven asked the Planning Commisszon to pass tkis plan so they can reach a finai decision that will support all involved. 18. Mr. Don Husband, 149 S. Crrotto Street, #3, Saint Paul, Mn 55105. Mr. Husband is in the Iending business and is speaking from a professional viewpoint. Mr, Husband believes that Gcand Avenue is unique because of the mix of businesses. It is the small and unique busiuesses that have made Grand Avenue what it is today. Mr. Husband is concemed that increased rents would ptzsh out tfie sma1F-iiusinesses. The lazger stores.and francIuses have staying power that the smatler -- - ones don't.have. If we want to continue to p�romote the small businesses; it can't be done witfi ti�e present course. The City needs to change its regulations. 19. Ms. Mazcia Odman, 969 Goodrich Avenue, 9aint Paul, Mn 55105. VIs. Odman is a member of tfie Disfrict 16 Council. NLs. Odman has Iived in the area for 3 5 yeazs and has watched the different stages the Avenue has gone through. She saidgeographically District 16 is one of the smallest districts. There aze about 7,000 people in about 75 sq, blocks. T'he commercial district is 11 blocks long. Tite popuIation both on the commercial corridor aad throughouf the neigh6orfiood is dense. There aze approximately 1,756 residenrial units and 228 commercial units, and the residenfial is about Sd% rental and 50% fiome ownership. There needs to be a plan, and there must be rules,and tegulations. Ms. Odman asked to bring this perspec6ve back to the fable again to establish a plan that can help grow and maintain this small district 20. Ms. Rosalyn Goldberg, 1023 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55105. Ms. Goldberg stated the City needs to set boundaries and guidelines for development so it doesn't get out of control. A great deal of time has been spent on surveys, research; interviews, meetings, to create a vision for Grand Avenue that is balanced and compafible for all. The Avenue is pedestzian friendty, and architechualIy interestiug. This must be pieserved. Changes to fhe Avenue have brought. problems such as more tr�c, pazking; crime, and big businesses. Not all changs is good. Big businesses don't caze abouY Gtand Avenue, they want to take over the small businesses. Their attitude has not been positive. She said the zoniag r¢les are outdated. The city skoutd be a city of neighborhoods. - - - 21. Mr. Mike Schumann, 541 Dayton Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55102. Mr. Schuman of Tra@itions on Grand Avenue, The reason the store is as successful as it is, is because the products and services that they provide attd the visual merchandising that they do. Crrand Avenue is successful because of the look and feel of Ehe Avenue, the types of businesses and products. The lobk and feei is the most important, as weIl as fhe mixhue of business and residents. Mr. Schnmann does not think that chains on the Avenue aze necessarily a bad thing. He doesn't think.iYs practicai to rule out chains t�rough zoning. The biggest threat in his view is the size and scale of buildings thaY are currenfly permitted un@er the zoning code and the Iack of any mandafory azclutecfuiai design rules and guidelines. There should be a Iimit to the size of.the buildings. He proposed that the appIicant for a buiIding permit or site plan should try to obtain approval from 80% of the neighbors. If this percentage is met, the project is automafically approved. If such approval cannot be reached, fhe City should conduct a review process for it. � p 22. Mr. 7ohn Wolf, 695 Grand Avenue, owner of Dixie's on Grand, SainYPaul, Mn SSIUS. 4 Mr. `' � VJolf is a past President of the Grand Avenue Business Association. Mr. VJolf said SHA is mostly driven by residents and can be infimidating for businesses. Ivlr, pJolf likes the feel and look of the Avenue as it is now and he believes there aze enough regulations on business ownezs: DiYie's uses space in Muska Lighting's basement for valet pazking. The apartments in the azea aze not handling their own parking and they aze the reason for most of the pazking deficit. VJith more tenants in tha azea, the situation.would only get worse. 23. Mr. Ron Smith, 733 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55105. Mr. Smith is a Iawyer and owns and leases f1�e Pier One Imports business. The store has more than adequate off=street parking. If' a formula business ordinance was adopted, iY would affect the re-leasing of that locafion. If such an ordinance is eonsidered, he�wants to make sure that the provisions aze laid out in a manner that is very fair and equitable but also works to the best interest of C:rand Avenue. 24. NIs. 5usan Kimberly, Diiector of Planning and Economic Department, gave closing remazks. Ms. KimberIy stated the staff from PED has outlined their concems as a deparfinent on the Summit Hil1 Association's proposal. The work that the Summit Hill Association did was thoughtful, thorough and has been eacpensive. It is also something that causes us a great deat of concern in the Department of Planning and Economic Development and the Administration. Reading the1999 Comprehensive Plan, it is not hazd to see that one of the models that plan ettvisions is Grand Avenue. The idea of commercial mixed use, all together on one street, with many services within wallcing distance tp one's residence, is Grand Avenue. Ms. Kimberly stated thaf she is not saying to throw ouY the plan. At the meetings in August and September'some common ground was being discovered. The Summit Hill Associarion preferred to move the plan along to the Planning Commission, so now it may be the Commission's responsibiIity to find the common ground. It is possible to set size and scale limit for buildings, it is already being done in the zoning code. On Tuesday, November 8, 2005 we will begin to work on the next Comprehensive PIan far tlze future of the c3ty. It is believed that in order to have a vibrant, vitai ciiy, we need to inerease residential densifies in the city. We also need tA meet the goals that are outlined by the Met Council for us for the next twenty years and we need to figure out realistic ways of doing this. The areas where density wi11 probably increase are downtown Saint Paul, along the Mississippi River, and the commercial corridors of the city. The plan discussed today is not only important to Grand Avene but to the whole city. The decision needs to be well thought . out. As staff; we aze more than happy to assist in the process. MOTTON: Commissioner McCall moved to close the hearing but Zeave ihe record open for writfen testimony unti14:34p.m., November 8, 2005. Tke mation carried un¢nimously ox a voice vofe. V. Zoning Commiftee Commissioner Morton gave the Zoning Committee report. # OS-179-232 Nextel - Conditionai Use Permit for cellulaz telephone antennas on an existing residential structure less fhan 60 ft. high. 33 Avon St., NW corner at Grand. (Emity Utmer, 651J266-6591) MOTION: Commissioner Mortan moved the Zoning Cammittee's recomrnertdatzon ta approve the conditioraal use permii with conditions. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. � �� - Interdepartmental Memorandum CITY OF SAINT PAUL DATE: November 21, 2005 TO: Lany Soderholm Yang Zhang FROM: Peter W. Warner Assistant Ciry Attorney RE: Your request for comments regarding a letter from Peter Beck, Esq. which raised legal issues about some of the proposals contained in the proposed District 16 Plan. You asked for comments regarding Peter Beck's letter dated November 8, 2005, in which he expresses concern about the size and height limits and design guidelines in the proposed District 16 Plan. His letter aiso states two proposals in the District 16 plan clearly violate Minnesota law. My comments are as follows: 1. With respect to the comments regarding the size and height limits and design guidelines. I cannot disagree with the general analysis behind the comments. I note that Mr. Beck's comments go more to the application of these ]imits and guidelines as opposed to the size and height limits and design guidelines themselves. It is a well-settled general rule of zoning law that zoning regulations applied in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner will be thrown out. However, it should not be assumed under this rule that a proposal to impose size and height limits or development design guidelines in the plan are "per se" illegal. Cleazly, the CiTy may enact size and height regulations as we11 as design guidelines as noted in Mr. Beck's memo. There may be legal problems only if those regulations and guidelines aze imposed in an arbitrary and unreasonable manner. 2. With regard to the comments that the proposed District 16 Plan will require neighboring businesses and residences to approve of site plans or business licenses and that a proposal to limit "formula business establishments" violate state law, I do not disagree with the legal analysis of the cases sited in the letter. However, I do not understand that District 16 is proposing to have the City delegate away its zoning approval authority to neighboring businesses and residences. Clearly, such a delegation would conflict with state law and the City would, therefore, not AA=ADA-EFA Employer � xe. ,� y ` consider it. And, as noted above, I do not believe that is what the proposed District 16 Plan intends. Moreover, I am not convinced that subjecting a zoning application to some form of "review" by neighboring residences and businesses for commenYs that suggest either approval or disapproval of zoning proposals is "cleazlp: improper or illegal. In fact, the City has done just this for many yeazs under the City's policy of notifying neighborhood district councils about zoning applicafions and including the district council's comments, decisions and recommendation in the zoning reports prepared by City staff in addition to taking public testimony at zoning hearings. It is equally well settled.that testimony from neighbors which raises IegaIly sufficient issues regarding a zoning application may be used by the City when making zoning decisions. I do not understand that District 16 intends to assume the zoning decision authority of the City nor do I understand that District 16 intends to meddle with the "unseen hand" of mazket forces. I also believe that District 16 understands that to be the case as well. AA-ADA-EEO Employer . SUIYlllllt H1ll: AS�C1� , District 16 Planning Council , - 860-Sairt CkairAvenue � Sa'tnt Pau1, Minnesota 55105 - . i�ecember 1 , 2005 _.. Telephone 651-222-t222 ` Fa�c 65] 222-1558 _ St: Paul Planning,Gommission , - - _ �.summithillassociation.org 1400 City Hall`Annex,:25 V11�st Fourth. Street ;, e-mail summdhiltC�visi.com Saint Paul; MN 55102 . Deat Sf Paul Ptanning Commiss�on Members; _ �� On behalfiof the.Executive.Committee`of the.Surrimit Hill AssociationtDistrict 16, -;. � � �Planning Couneil, we would.like ta express our`cor�cerns, akiout the PED�Staff _ ��- recorrimendafions, presented to the C�ov; .18; �Od5;neeting Qf�he Neighborhoed:and Curren�'Pla�ning Ca_mmittee (N,C.PC} ,�e,qarding ttie_�istPiof.16 Axea Plari under rQ�ieuu: `- 1Ne.believe thaf adopfi�g these'recorrimendations woul.d have.a signi�'ieant negative , impact oi� the effect+ven�ss� of the Distnct 'l6 Plan Eo, seNe as�a'pohc� fra[riewo'rk for guidmg put�tic and -p�ivate a�ions ta b.ene�it the. lorig,terrt� sustainabrlFtya�d high �qcral�ty . � ��of�csut�rteigtitiort�ond - and En parficular the Grand Av�nue�Cor►5inerc�al Co�ncio�..0ur �� - eommunitx,worked very ha "rd;on the;plan and:feels sttongty that it repEesen#s°a- fair and �, . ` [esporisible vis�on tliat balanees future growkkrwiit� liWabilrty and resp'ecf farthe uniq�e '> °, and hi5foric �ualiti�:o�the area ;<° - ,_ . , , y , _. � _ .,_. � :, �;� , In:add�Eiorr„we have concerrts that based on;tfie comTnents from tVCPG�members � daiing tfie.Nov '(,8t�` meet+ng; #Frere Has not been atlec{tia#e time.for discuss+on oc:bppaitt��rity td �I "a,rify questiorrs #o fieip sart_out the rriult�pfe issues uncler consideration Without a msire complete evaluation �t the contejcfi or baEkgFOUqd � informaiion_pravided to them,: �t ts d�frbultta rnake �ri infc�rrrteet.d�c�sron.on tkie f?EQ '- `_ _ � Staf� recomrr�endations �%e feel that the DisTrict 16 �?lannin,'g' �ouncil;repre§enta,tives ha�e not had ��me 2o r�Vrew. and considez'tfi�e PED sCaff comments put togetk�ei` sirree ffie Plannirig Gommisston Pub�ic Hearing Tti`ere was also no tirYre during the `meetu�g to ., exchange fhoug�tts o� how these:"poii�ts ofeontenttori'" m�gt�t resolvsd Ttierefore,-#he Executtve Comm�t#ee o�the Summlt Hill Associaf��rt wouJd like to . . � °.: en�ourage.the 4?lanning Gommissi4n to thoag�atfu�ky keep our ca�Eems:in mmd.while ,' - discussi�ig and r�akipg�th�ir:recommenda#ion,on ffi�e `Disfnct �6 AreaFlan � ��, ` �ir�eerely,�, ' , �� `- � €duardo B,arrera, P,resident' �� > � � � � - - �,--Ss.immitHillAssociationlElist�iat1fPia�ning�QUnc�l �: ; _. _ � . .-.. . . , _ � - - , ' � , ,t 4� �}�{'Vl i f'�/ ! L �S O; s.;: ..., . Ndv,� oc,if a�- � �I � cllece�i2r �vo,��' c� P��-�.s� Proposed District 16 Ne�zhborhood Plan Main Points that are requested in the plan. but which Citv staff o�poses G3 Design SYandards. Adopt TN2 design standards for East Grand Avenue in an overlay district. These design standards reinforce human-scale building charactezistics, promote quality in architectural materials, reinforce a pedeshian-focused streetscape, promote underground parking for mixed use developments, and visually-screened surface parking for smaller, single-use developments, and promote signage that is consistent with building architecture and business function, and complements the eclectic nature of the avenue. G6 Commercial Spillover. The approval of site plans and licenses should be contingent on the mitigation of parking and traffic problems to a level acceptable to the majority of immediately-affected businesses and residents. G7 Locally-Owned Businesses. SHA recommends implementing mechanisms for supporting and retaining small, locally-owned businesses. This includes exploring the adoption of standards to limit the number of formular business establishments on East Grand Avenue. Where sirategies are best implemented through changes to City regulations or procedures, tYieet with City staff (Planning and Economic Development, and Licensing, Inspections, and Environmental Protection) to pursue code revisions. G10 Scale and Height Limits. Adopt limitations of the height and scale on new buildings on East Grand Avenue in an overlay district as follows: 1. Limit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 square feet or less. 2. Limit new building total size, above ground, to 75,000 square feet or less, inciuding parking. 3. Limit building height to three (3) stories or to thirty feet (30') far commercial projects and to thirty-six feet (36') for mixed commercial and residential projects, whichever is lower. No addirional height will be allowed, even with setbacks. 4. Work with the City to adopt the desired limitations in an overlay district for East Grand Avenue. P9 Parlang Snpply. Eliminate the "Rule of Five" parking regulation on East Grand Avenue Prepared by Summit Hill Association for Planning Commission Public Hearing, Nov. 4, 2005 pa�e 2o�'f VNhv Traditional Neiahborhood Zoning Disfriet �� u�.y Isn't A Good Match for East Grand Ave TN districts promote a_iype of development pattem that already exists on Grand Avenue - a mix of retail, residential and o�ce uses. However, some of the TN provisions aftow for greater height, tiuilding size, and use types than is compatibie with the historical pattem and density of development on Grand Avenue and its struggle with increasing traffic and parking shortfalts. For the purposes of analysis, we use TN2 zoning, which most closely matches the existing composition and design of Grand Ave. Qllowed Uses Certain uses allowed in TN2 are adamantly opposed by the communiiy, such as fast food (without a drive thrul estabiishments. The parking and traffic difficuities on Grand Ave. are not conducive to adding additiona4 fastfood uses. Residenfial Uses ' The community clearly indicated that it likes the mix of residential, retaii and office uses on Grand Ave., and wants to retain ttiat mix at its current levels. Therefor, conversion of residenYial to business uses is opposed, and all residential zoning should be retained. If rezoning to TN2 were considered, itwould only be on exis6ng busirtess properties. Maximum building size Recent new building additions to Grand Avenue ellicit a common complaint, 'The building is too big. It doesnY fit in." Even wfien fhe bui(ding is well designed, it sticks out The historipl development pattem and scale of Grand Avenue, vyith a mix of smail and medium scale buiidings, is a large part of what makes Grand Avenue affracfive and inferesting to residents, businesses and vis�tors. The buildings do not overwhelm the street or each other. The changing rhythm of facades, heights, and setbaeks offers an interesting, dynamic sfreetscape. Placing a maximum building size on new buildings prevents the con6nued development of out of scale projects that compromise the historic character and human-scale feeling of Grand Avenue and overwhe[m fhe residences across the alteys on Lincoln and Summit Avenues. Heiqht The current mix of zoning on Grand Avenue atlows building heights and sizes that exceed many of the existing buildings. White 1 story buiidings may not be an efficient use of lartd, the variation of heights between 1, 2 and 3 stories is part of the variety that gives Grand Ave�ue its character. Buildings talter than 3 stories, predominantly residential buildi�gs, are seUsack from Grand Avenue, therehy reducing their overpowering feel on the avenue, Unfortunately, many of these buildings loom targe aver their neighbors aqross the atley, a situation strenuously opposed by current residenfs on Lineokh and Summit Avenues. Repeatediy, many people feel that the new buildings over 30 feet seem too tat�, cas6ng larger shadows across Grand and neighboring properties, and creating a jarring change of scale from surrounding smailer buildings. Desiqn Standards TN2 includes some exciting and well thought out design standards. Instead of introducing its own set of design standards, the District 16 Neighbofiood Plan soggests that the TN2 design sNandards are adopfed and appGed to East Grand Avenue. This improves design outcomes on Grand Avenue, using a desigrt model tBat City staff are familiar with and know how to implement, TN Review - Fleuible or Arbitrarv? TND zoning is intended to increase flebbility in project review. TND zoning states that projects shail comply wiYh fhe standards set forth in the zonirrg districf utttess there are °unique circumstances" that make compliance difficuft or impossibie. The criferia to qualify for °unique circumstances" would probably be less sYringent thart those needed to qualiiy for a variance. Review flebbiiify inereases the opportunity for arbifrary decision making on what is appropriate and what is not Flexible standards increase Uie likelihood of disagreements behveert the devetoper, Ehe eommunify, and fhe Cify abouE wfiat is appropriate. This will �esult in protracted rtegotiations and poterttiai lawsuits. Ctear, o6jective standards are ideai in a cortteotious devetopment setting,-such as that created in Summit Hilt where retail and housing uses are back to back. �� 3 0� � ¢ .. C....i r+.-.. �.J � � _. ... Avenue in District 16 Neic�hborhood Plan 1. Adopt TN2 design guidelines for East Grand Avenue, without changing the underly'mg zoning designation. 2. Limit new buildings to a foatpr+nt of 25,000 square feet or {ess. 3. Limit new building total size, above ground, to 75,000 square feet or less, including parking. {Underground parking would not be included in total.) 4. Limit buiiding height to thirty feet (30') for commerciai projects and to thirty six (36') for mixed commercial and residential projects, or 3 stories, whichever is lower. No addifional height for setbacks. 5. Prohibit fast food restaurants (alternative language -"High Volume Restaurants") on East Grand Avenue, including in multi-tenant buildings. \� 6. Eliminate the "Rule of Five" and other grandfathered parking supply exceptions on East Grand Avenue. 7. Consi,der formula business c8p or other mechanism to maintain strong presence of independent businesses on East Grand Avenue. � � W, ._ v �, ��- �f �F � � Summif Hiil Assc. Board will reconsider the height requests at their November meeting. PED staff and developers questioned the propased heights of 30 feet and 3& feet +n re4ation to current construction standards. Therefore, SHA President asked PED to provitle their estimate of current standard construction heights per floor. Current Sfandard Buildina HeiQhts per floor (from Yang Zhang at PED� Commercial Fioor. 12-15 feet Residential Floor: 10-12 feet . Parking Ramp Floor: 8-9 feet Thus, for a three story building, there are the foifowing height ranges... All residential: 30 - 36 feet 1 floor commercial, 2 floors residential: 32 - 39 feet 1 floor commercial, 2 parking: 28 — 33 feet Aif commercial: 36 - 45 feet This does not include grade changes or parapets. Prepared by Summit Hill Assc. For Pfanning Commission 11/4/2005 EXETER REALTY COMPANY E�ETE� November 8, 2005 33`2 MINNESOTA STREEf PHONE SURE W-1710 py� , SAINT PAUL� MN 55 7 07-132g WEg City of St. Paul Planning Commission 25 West Fourth Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 Dear Commissioners: 657-690-2001 657-690-2003 www.exeterrealty. com � � � ,_ "' I write to provide written testimony regarding the District 16 plan proposed by the Summit Hill Association. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Exeter Realty Company, a properry management firm that manages five retail properties on the east end of Grand Avenue. Those properties aze owned by Pioneer Properry Partners LLC of which I am also CEO. I got involved in owning and managing commercial properties on Grand Avenue back in 1974 — 31 years ago — when a group I was involved with purchased the two-story building at the northwesterly corner of Grand and Victoria that is now part of the Victoria Crossing West Mall. I attended the public hearing of the Planning Commission regarding the plan proposed by the Summit Hill Association and heard a lot of people say many good things about Grand Avenue--about how unique it is, about what a great balance of businesses it has, and about the desirable balance between commercial, residential and mixed-use buildings. I have watched the commercial district along Grand Avenue grow and improve over the past 31 years and a large part of what made Grand Avenue what it is today has been allowing market forces to take hold within the confines of existing properties and the current zoning code. Grand Avenue does indeed boast a unique mix but that mix cannot be maintained by imposing limits on building size and height more restrictive than the current zoning code or by imposing artificially-created limitations on "formula" businesses. We have a strong record of supporting independent businesses on Grand Avenue for 31 years. But we do not believe that unduly interfering with the rights of properiy owners is a desirable way to accomplish that goal in the years ahead. We would like to work with the neighborhood, local business and properry owners, and the City to come up with creative programs to promote independent business on the Avenue through incentive programs or an incubator fund to subsidize ]andlords who rent to independent retailers. We look forward to being involved in future discussions. We do not support the elimination of the Rule of Five. When a tenant goes out of business, as a commercial landlord we need to re-tenant that space, and if the use changes we may need a different amount of parking. The Rule of Five helps both landlords and small businesses who want to be on Grand Avenue by making sure that a small increase in required parking spaces due to a change in use does not stand in the way for a good business to open or prevent quality commercial space from sitting vacant. We recognize that there is a parking shortfall on Grand Avenue, due in large part to the number of apartment buildings built on the Avenue during the 1920s and 1930s. We have proposed building a parking deck behind the Victoria West Mall and Milton Mall buildings as a way to bring more parking to the area. We believe it is essential to create more parking on Grand Avenue to ensure its future success. � REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT� INVESTMENT R� MANAGEMENT �`�°.;� _. While we have focused on economic and public policy reasons to oppose certain items in the proposed District 16 plan, we have also asked our land use counsel, Peter Beck, to begin conducting an analysis of the legality of formula business restrictions. His initial memorandum to us snmmarizing his reseazch is attached for your review. Thank you for the opporiunity to provide testimony to be considered by the Commission. V ery truly yours, � � � James A. Stolpestad Chief Executive Officer � �� SOO IDS CENTER 101 O V✓EST $T. GEAMAIM1 STREET $O $OUTH EIGHTH $TREET SIIITE 600 MraNSaeoz[5, MN 55402-3796 $T. CLOUD� MN 56301 6t2632-3000 320ti2-4414 Fax: 612 632-4444 F�ix: 320 252-4482 www.gpmlaw.com www.�mlaw.com MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: RE: DATE: Jim Stolpestad Peter Beck Legal Issues Raised by Proposed District 16 Plan November 8, 2005 I have reviewed the proposed District 16 Plan and have identified two areas of potential concern legally, and two proposals in the Plan which appeaz to clearly violate Minnesota law. The areas of concern include the proposed size and height limits and the proposal to develop design guidelines. Although the City has the power to adopt dimensional and other performance criteria; as with all zoning regularions they must be reasonable and cannot be arbitrary and capricious. The proposal to set an arbitrary limit on the size of buildings, regardless of lot size, could be arbitrary and capricious, particularly if the zoning district allows zero side yard set-backs. The result could be an ordinance which arbitrarily requires that two or three buildings be constructed which would look exactly the same as a single building. If the goal is to give the appearance of multiple buildings, this can be addressed with design guidelines and standazds that are tailored to achieve that goal rather than an arbitrary size limit. Design guidelines, while also a generally acceptable zoning technique, can also be unlawful if they are arbitrary or unreasonable, or are applied arbitrarily and capriciously. The proposals in the Plan which appeaz to me to clearly violate state law are the proposals to delegate the approval of site plan reviews to the "immediately affected businesses and neighbors"; and the proposal to limit the number of "formula business" establishments. I, Ap roval of Site Plans and Licenses bv Neighborine Businesses and Residences. The Plan proposes that, "the approval of site plans and licenses should be contingent on the mitigation of parking and traffic problems to a level acceptable to the majority of immediately affected businesses and residents". Q '� ° .� .,� � This Proposal appears to be direcfly contrary to Minnesota Law. Although Minnesota Statutes, Section 462357 provides for the consent of adjacent landownexs to certain re-zonings in first class cities, the Minnesota Supreme Court has specifi'cally held that non-legislative land use decisions, such as variances and site plan approvals, may not be dele�ated to abutting property owners. Luger v. Cit�fBurnsville, 295 NW 2" , 609 (Minn. 1980). In Luger, the Supreme Court held that the City of BumsviIle could not condition the approvat of a variance on the receipt of a consent in writing from all of the abutting properiy owners. The Court issued a writ of mandamus compelling the City to grant the vaziance, citing from Anderson's Treatise on The American Law of Zoning, as follows: "The number of persons who aze for or against the granting of a variance is neither relevant nor of proper consideration in deteiniining the merits of an application". 295 NW 2" 609, 615. The Luger case cited extensively from the Supreme Court's eazliez decision in Northwestern College v Citv ofArden Hills, 28I NW 2 865 (Nlinn. 1979}. In that case, the Supreme Court states, once again citing Anderson's Treatise on The American Law of Zoning: "Although neighborhood sentiment may be taken into consideration in any zoning decision, it may not constitute the sole basis for granting or denying a given permiY'. 281 NW 2" 865, 869. Conditioning the approval of site plans and licenses on the mitigafion of unpacts, "to a level acceptable to the majority of immediately affected businesses and residents" cleazly falls within the prohibition set forth in the Northwestern College and Luger cases against the delegarion of these decisions to neighboring property owners. II. Locallv Owned Businesses. The District 16 Plan proposes the adoption of standazds to "lunit" the number of "formula business establishments" on Grand Avenue, in an effort to support small, locally owned businesses. The Plan does not define "formula business establishments", but Summit Hill Association representatives have indicated that formula business establishments refers to retail chains or franchise operations with multiple outlets, particularly "national" retailers. In support of this ban on so-called formula business establishments, the Stmimit Hill Association cites the case of Coronadans Or2anized for Retail Enhancement v. CitY �Coronado, 203 Cal. App. Unpub. lexis 5769, decided June 13, 2003. However, the Coronado case, decided by a state court under California law, is not dispositive of ho�v this issue would be resolved under Minnesota law, for a number of reasons. First, the Mimiesota Supreme Court held, in the Northwestern College case, that "a zoning ordinance must operate uniformiy on those similarly situated". 281 NW 2 865, 869. Cleazly, two retail establishments of the same size and in the same business, aze "sunilazly situated", regardless of whether one is owned locally and the other nationally. In Minnesota, a zoning ordinance must treat these sunilazly situated businesses uniformly. -2- � � � Second, the Nliimesota Supreme Court has held that local govemment may not interfere with or attempt to manipulate the laws of economics. In the case of Metro �00, Inc v Citv ofBrookivn Park, 211 NW 2 358 (Minn. 1973), the Supreme Court held tt�at the number of businesses to be allowed within a commercial zoning district is to be determined by operation of economic laws rather than the collective opinion of the City Council. In Minnesota, sunilazly situated businesses must be treated uniformly and economic laws, not the decision of a City Council, must determine what specific businesses will be allowed in a zone that allows the use. A formula business ordinance which attempts to distinguish between similarly situated businesses in an effort to protect locally owned business against the perceived evils of national chains would not cornply with the decisions of the Minnesota Supreme Court. GP�1769411 vl -3- �ng Zhang District 16 Neighborhood Plan Comments Page'I : From: Lori Brostrom <Ibrostrom@comcast.net> � F � ,� ,� To: <yang.zhang@ci.sfpaul.mn.us> Date: 11/7/2005 8:45:57 PM Subject: District 16 Neighborhood Plan Comments I am writing to encourage the adoption of the District 16 plan as presented. Given the extensive surveying and commentary that went into the plan by the residents and businesses, I believe that it reflects the best needs and desires of the community. The issues that the city staff apparently has are difficult to understand, quite frankly. Parking and tra�c, especially along the Grand Avenue corridor and related to increased commerciai development, have been growing issues for years, and the plan takes an even-handed approach to addressing them and trying to find workable (emphasis on that!) sofutions that will prevent the situation from worsening and, hopefully, improving things. These recommendations come from the people who live and work in this neighborhood, and have firsthand knowledge of the issues and problems. Given the unique nature of this neighborhood, the overlays and special zoning rules are a small price to pay to preserve what makes this area special. I ask that the city staff respect the knowledge, research and problem-solving that the many people who contributed to this plan have demonstrated so amply, and work with the neighborhood, not against it, to move into the next decade. Thank you, Lori Brostrom 710 Summit Avenue CC: Jeff Roy <summithill@visi.com> _ _ ___ _ _ _ - _-- - . _ . _ _ _ __ ._ _ __. ang Zhang District 16 Plan _ _ _ Page ; From: "Beth Bergman" <bethb@wetpaintart.com> To: <yang.zhang@ci.stpaul.mn.us> Date: 11/7/2005 324:25 PM Subject: District 16 Plan I heartily support the District 16 pian for limiting development along Grand Avenue. This is a very special place where shops and business owners interact at a high level with the surrounding neighborhood. The changing Iandscape along Grand toward nationally owned chain stores does not fit with this community. It wiil not increase the success of this business area but wiil harm it. Sincerely, Beth Bergman Owner, Wet Paint 1684 Grand Avenue St. Paui, Minnesota 55105 � � � >-� . _:: phone 651/698�431 fax 651/698-8041 email bethb@wetpaintart.com web www.wetpaintart.com (ang Zhang - District 16 Neighborhood Plan Page 1 j From: Karen Engelbretson <karen@kje.com> To: <yang.zhang@ci.stpaul.mn.us> Date: 11/4/2005 3:13:08 PM Subject: District 16 Neighborhood Plan Dear Mr. Zhang, A 25-year resident of the Summit HiII neighborhood, I am writing in support of the proposed District 16 Neighborhood Plan and respectfully request that the St Paul Planning Commission adopt the District's plan in its entirety. Specifically I believe that the District 16 Neighborhood Plan wil! ensure our neighborhood's safety and the unique character of its shopping and services offerings. While many visitors support Grand Avenue, a large and affluent neighboring population sustains it on an everyday basis. The sense of commu�ity we've built, supporting local shopkeepers, a wide variety of necessary services and unique small business keeps our neighborhood united, desirable and valuable. Please adopt the pedestrian-friendly solutions for Grand Avenue and limit the scale of new construction. Grand Avenue is a unique street, surrounded by a valuable neighborhood that deserves the special attention that may be necessary to protect it. Thank you for your time. Karen Engelbretson 1057 Linwood Ave St Paul, MN 55105 651 224-5133 � � 3 � c� • ti CC: Jeff Roy <info@summithillassociation.org> Page 1 of 1 Paul Dubruiel - Fwd: District 16 Plan (Revisions proposed by Gary �ohnson) From: To: Date: Larry Soderholm Dubruiel, Paul 11/8/2005 4:55:50 PM �d �� > .. �� Subject: Fwd: District 16 Plan (Revisions proposed by Gary Johnson) »> "Johnson, Gary" <Gary.Johnson@benham.com> 11/O8/OS 3:03 PM »> Planning Commission Members, Please review the attached version of the District 16 Plan. Jeff Roy, staff person for SHA, sent me a workable draft of the District 16 plan. (The SHA website has a read only file.) Portions of SHA proposed language are crossed out and suggested revisions are iyped in green text. Included in this revised plan are comments made by me in person at the 11/4/O5 PC public hearing calling for a more transparent and representative District Council. The attached draft also proposes creative altematives to the proposed formula retail rules and design guideline discussion. Although the authors of the plan have spent untold hours writing and rewriting the plan, I feel the plan is far from complete and fair. The big oversight in the evolution of the plan was the fack of commercial property owner input. And like those who view the city as an ever evolving place, I am disheartened to see the vocal minority rail against new construction and development a.k.a.'intensity'. Density, retail vitality, architectural variety, both new and old, are the tissue of great cities. i look forward to seeing the democratic process at work. Gary Johnson 777 Linwood Ave This E-maii and any attached files are confidential, and may be copyright protected. If you are not the addressee, any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, piease contact the sender immediately and delete/destroy all information received. file://C:�Documents and Settings�Dubruiel�L,ocal Settings\Temp\GW}00OO1.HTM 11/8/2005 Larry Soderholm FW Grend Ave Problem/Solutions Page 1" From: "Johnson, Ganf' <Gary.Johnson@benham.com> To: "Larry Soderholm" <larry.soderholm@ci.stpaul.mn.us> Date: 11/7/2005 5:51:07 PM Subject: FW: Grand Ave Problem/Solutions Larry, At Friday's meeting i felt pressured to cut short my presentation, so I offer additional comments by e-mail which outline a good alternative to restricting socalled'formula' retail. The second idea tries to provide a mechanism for raising the bar on design for Grand Avenue. Please distribute. I noticed several PC members were not present and others had to leave early, so I will forward my notes from the meeting under separate cover. Thanks, Gary Johnson 777 Linwood Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55105 From: James A. Stolpestad [mailto:jstolpestad@exeterrealty.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 1:42 PM Ta: Johnson, Gary; nrukavina@uproperties.com; rstolpestad@exeterholdings.com;'Ellen Watters'; CSimmons@WelshCo.com Subject: RE: Grand Ave Problem/Solutions Seem like great ideas to me. From: Joh�son, Gary [mailto:Gary.Johnson@benham.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 136 PM To: nrukavina@uproperties.com; rstolpestad@exeterholdings.com; jstolpestad@exeterrealty.com; Ellen Watters; CSimmons@WelshCo.com Sub�ect: Grand Ave Problem/Solutions Ellen please forward this e-mail to Sohn Gelderman (1 do not have his e-mail address.) Chris Simmons/Welsh Co and John Gelderman/CSM did a masterful job at the formula business forum last night. They presented their point of views in an articulate, educational, and constructive manner. Ellen Waters/Chamber of Commerce was to be commended for her planning efforts and the professional way she handled the Q&A part of this presentation. � � � �� _: ';� After the meeting I chatted with Ned, Rob, Ellen about a couple Lar Soderholm - FW: Grand Ave Problem/Solutions �� _ �Page 2; 6� �`°' �- r'• ideas which I think should be discussed at the next meeting, indicating °�' I would draft Ietter outlining a couple probiems/solutions. The objective would be to give city council members a constructive alternative to restricting formula business on Grand Ave. As you alf know, if formula business Iegislation is adopted, property values will go down along Grand Avenue. PROBLEM #1: Independent retailers, especially start-ups, often cannot afford to pay market rate rent (save successful independents such as Cafe Latte, Jute Salon, Bibelo, Creative Kidstuff, Wooletts, etc.). The lay public largely does not understand that even if an independent retailer can afford to pay the same rent as a corporately owned retail store, corporate stores offer a Iandlord the advantages of lower cost financing, higher valuation/lower cap rates, and the peace of mind that the rent check will keep coming even if one of their store is closed before the lease committment ends. SOLUTION #1: The City of Saint Paui could start a fund to help subsidize incubator retail, covering the spread between market rate rent and an independent retailers ability to pay. The city could fund this venture out of the general budget, or propose a smali annual assessment (by way of a referendum at the next election) on commercial and residential property in and around the Grand Avenue trade area. If 1000+ property owners contributed $100/yr, the annual amount of $100,000. could be available for incubator rent subsidies. This would translate to $10/sf/yr subsidy for 10 retailers occupying 1000 sf each. The City of Saint Paul could implement a program which would guarantee lease payments to landlords for one year, should the independent retailer go out of business before the end of a lease committment. PROBLEM #2: Many buildings along Grand Avenue are unattractive. When some retailers and landlords spend money on physical improvements to their buildings, due to lack of design sophistication, the results are often mixed. The city should organize a program which would encourage aiigning talented designers with properry owners. SOLUTION #2: Rather than implement more restrictive design guidelines, the city should encourage the selection of award winning architects for renovation and new construction projects along Grand Avenue. The MSAIA could provide a list of firm names which have won design awards in the past 10 years, to be updated annually. If a firm on the list is hired by a retailer or developer for a project, the cifij could waive building permit fees, SAC or WAC charges, or offer TIF financing, in order to make it financially advantageous. � Another option would be to find one or more foundations to .c. � underwrite desig� fees for projects. See attached file outlining a ti program started 50 years ago by Cummins Engine foundation (faxed today from the director.) According to the literature, 40,000 to 50,000 people visit Columbus each yearjust to see the buildings funded under this design program. A more immediate, less expensive, but probably less effective option would be to establish a design review board of 3-5 architects. Participating architects recieve an annual stipend for agreeing to be available on a short notice to review and comment on renovation and new construction projects. MSAIA could coordinate the selection of architects for this venture each year. Tim Gri�n at the Design Center could coordinate/host review meetings. Questions/Comments? Gary Johnson, Senior Architect The Benham Companies, LLC 60 East Plato Boulevard Saint Paul, MN 55107 651,209.2870 Direct 651.387.3754 Mobile This E-mail and any attached files are confidential, and may be copyright protected. If you are not the addressee, any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete/destroy all information received. This E-mail and any attached files are confidential, and may be copyright protected. If you are not the addressee, any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete/destroy all information received. {��1� �tCP�No� : � r LJol7yrsov� a(so ��pas �¢ �o/%w�:�e�, : 2.Parking rhald be allovied on the nortb ride oflincalnAve�rue, ar a logical and no cqst may to increaringparksng by at Ieart200 .rpaces in the neighborhoad Narrowing the driving nridtb oflincoln, and the �zrullting tra�'ic calming effect will make the .rtreet aafer. � ._ �. �u��: H��D�%��r�Ct �� l��ig��o��a� P�.an A collaborative effort of residents, businesses, and organizations in the Summit Hi11/District 16 community. April ? 2005 ¢"" � - ;� _ s,_ .. ._. Acknowledgements The Sununit Hill Associarion/District 16 Plannnig CouncIl acknowledges the eneTgy, hazd woxk, and wisdom of its citizens, staff, and consultant team that produced this updated Sunvnit Hill / Distdct 16 Neighbothood Plan. Steering Committee Memtt Clapp-Smith, Chaix Nesi Apostolou Merty Beckmau Nancy Bieymeier Dan Dobson Charlie Hazdy Jun Hamson Neil Lagos John McKeen Shannon O'Toole Deboxah RatUmau Kirk VanBlaitcom Todd Wichman Jo� woif SHA Staff Ellen Biales, Executive Duector Cit� of Saint Paul Degatnnent of Planning and Economic Development (PED� Larry Soderholm AICP Jixn Zdon AICP 1111an Torstenson AICP Yang Zhang Consultant Team Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH� Dan Cornejo, Pioject Manager Mike Wozniak AICP Dan Jochum Matt Goldstein AICP Nancy Jacobson ASLA Vezonica Anderson ASLA Sandexs Wacker Beigiv Inc ,SWB� Kathleen O'Neill AICP, Lead PlanneT Williain Sandexs ASLA 2 b!f .� �, Table of Contents Page Chapter Acknowledgements Table of Contents 4 Executive Sutninary 15 Chaptex 1: Introduction 21 Chaptex 2: Neighboxhood Pxofile 34 Chaptex 3: Planning and Development Principles 35 Chaptez 4: Plan Elements 43 Gxand Avenue Mixed Use Corridoi 49 Housing and Residenrial Life 53 Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recxeation 60 Pedestrian Safety, Txaffic, and Pasking 62 Crime Pxevention and Safety 63 Chapter 5: Implementation 55 Appendices I. Planning Context II. Planning Pxocess and Public Involvement III. Txee Pxeservation District - map 3 �� °�`��,� . , ,,, Executive Summary Summit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Addendum to The Compxehensive Plan £ox Saint Paul Recoxnmended by the Planning Couvnission - Adopted by the Ciry Council - This suinuaary appends to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan the vision and steategies of the Sn**�*n�t Hill / Disttict 16 Neighbothood Plan and replaces the District 16 P1an adopted in 1989. The Su**+m;t Hill / District 16 Neighbochood Plan consists of five majot azeas of focus, including (1) Grand Avenue MiYed Use Corridox, (2) Housing and Residential Life, (3) Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recseation, (4) Pedestrian Safety, Txaffic, and Patking aad (5) Crime Prevention and Safety. Location and CurrentLand Use T'he Sutntnit Hill neighbothood is an appxoximately 75 squaze block neighborhood in the City of SY. Paul, bounded bp Sunuiut Avenue on the north, Interstate 35E on the south and east, and Ayd Mill Road on the west. The Suminit Hill neighborhood is connected to five unique neighborhoods: Downtown to the east, West 7`' to the south and east, Macalester- Groveland to the west, and Snminit University and Lexington-Hauiline to the north. The Suuuiut Hill NeighboLhood is comprised of mainiy single-family residences with a mi�c of duplex and multi-family housing dispersed thsoughout. A business and commercial spine runs east-west along both sides of Gxand Avenue with a steong pxesence of multi-family housing and to a lesser degtee remnant single-family incorpoxated within the coxnxnetciat fabric. Schools, chutches and other institutional land uses aze found within the neighboxhood with the highest occuuence along Summit Avenue. Open space and pazkland is limited except fot a lazge neighboxhood pazk that lies between St. Clair and the bluff line that cxeates the southemmost edge of the Snmmit Hill Neighborhood. A tailtoad coaidor lies at the toe of the bluff. OYe1SII VZSZOl2 The Summit Hill neighborhood har developed eightplanning and develaj�mentprinciples u�hich an the core ideal.r draWn from community irrput and the Plan Steering Committee dircursion,c. The.re princi�les an the philorophicalguidepo.ctr that vnld rhaj�e all arpects of the neighbarbood. Also, they are the criteria that all implementation rtralegie r rbould be mea.rrand againrt in terms of evaluating ruaer.r. Principles: 1. AII inctividuals and interest groups communicate openip as stakeholders and stewazds in chaxting Snm�nit Hill/District 16's evolurion as a sustainable neighborhood. 0 �r �. .�, 2. Community spirit continues to be mutnred and expanded through activiries for all ages. 3. Neighbozhood atnbiance is defined and enriched by a well-maintained gseen urban landscape that includes lively and safe public spaces, arts and culture, pedesix�a n connecrions, healthy natural amenities and open spaces, and well-designed new and old buildings that reflect the chazactes, mass and scale of neazby buildings. 4. Community identity and 'unage is expressed thtough high quality design that respects the historic and cultutal values of the neighborhood. 5. All sedevelopment is in keeping with the historic chasactex and scale and includes amenities, such as landscaping and lighting, that aze part of a mutually beneficial, collaborative ptoject. 6. Sutxunit Hill/Distsict 16 supports living choices fot residents of all ages, incomes and lifestyles. 7. Suizuzut Hill/Distxict 16 xespects and enxiches the mutually beneficial xelationship between xesidendal livability and commexcial vitality. 8. Suimnit Hill/District 16's movement patterns emphasize a safe walking, biking, and dxiving envixonment and convenient txansit. Plan Elements: Visions and Strategies Vision The Summit Hill neighboxhood maintains and teinfoxces Gxand Avenue as an eclectic mix and balance of housing, and small-scale shops, xestauxants, and sexvices, both locally and nationally owned, for xesidents and visitoxs. Grand Avenue shall continue to be a mis of buildings that sespect the historic chazacter of the avenue and neighborhood and that xelate closely to the sidewalk and encourage pedestrian activity at the sueet level. Beautification effoxts on Gxand Avenue continue cvith attention to txees, plantexs, bench gazdens, and tustorical lighting. Businesses pxovide paxking that is affoxdable, inconspicuous, attxactive, and undezground when appxopriate. The Suinmit Hill neighbothood xeaches out, publicizes, and communicates to all neighboxs the social and cultuxal events in the community. Maintain a comprehensive and active block leader psogram that pxomotes crime pxevenrion, community functions, and xecycling to all residents in the neighboxhood. Pxomote maintenance and beautification of oux pasks, public and private spaces, and the Grand Avenue shopping coxridox. Pxeseroe the pedestrian-friendly, historic residential and commercial chaxacter of the Sununit Hill neighboxhood by pxoviding a healthy balance of transportarion options. Find suategies to addxess pexsistent txaffic and paxking ptoblems in the neighboxhood. These efforts will �� r ,�, � � _ - _ include siguificandy xeducing commexcial spillovex to zesidential streets, gteady enhancing pedestrian safety thxough txaffic cahning and enfoscement, and xeduction of the paxking deficit. The objectives of tcaffic calnring axe to encoutage safety and enfarcement, cxeate livable neighboxhoods and safei stceets, and combat disruption, pollution and unlawful teaffic activities. Suxsunit Hill will continue to be a safe neighbothood with good quality police and fire protecrion. Petsonal safety will be teinfoxced through Suizmzit Hill's physical and social netwoxks opuating within the neighbothood and along Grand Avenue, with a high level of maintainence of spaces and buildings that czeates a pexception and feeling of safety and belonging. Pexsonal safety is impxoved thxough suategies for visibility (sightlines and lightinp�, readability (a sense of orientarion), and mobility (the abilitp to change one's couxse of moveanent to avoid an undesixable ot unsafe situarion). Grand Avenue Mixed Use Comdor Strategies G1 Corridor Continuitv. Maintain Gtand Avenue as a continuous neighborhood tetail and sesidential comdoz and contain commexcial uses and accessory pasking within existing boundaries. G2 Sueetscape Enhancement Plan. Develop a Gxand Avenue Stceetscape Enhancement Plan to make Grand Avenue moxe pedestrian-, shopper-, and bicycle- friendly, to enhance its aesthetic qualities, and to invigozate its public tealm, induding Gxand Avenue between Oakland Stteet and I-35E. G3 Design Guidelines. Adopt TN2 design standaxds fox East Gxand Avenue in an overlay district. These design standards teinfotce human-scale building chazacteristics, promote quality in axchitectural materials, xeinforce a pedestrian-focused steeetscape, promote underground parking for xni�ed use developments, and visually-screeaed sutface pazking fox smallez, single-use developments, and promote signage that is consistent with building �chitectute and business function, and complements the eclecric nature of the avenue. G4 Comxnercial and Housing Mis. Retain B2-C (commercial uses in zesidential stcuctures) and residential zonu�g on Gxand Avenue. Discouxage rezoning of tesidential uses on Gtand Avenue to more intensive uses. GS Neighboihood Focus for CommeLCial Uses. B-2 and B-2C zoning allows uses most apptopriate to commucial activity on Gtand Avenue. Additional B-3 uses aze not appxopriate fox Gxand Avenue. A zoning study should be initiated bp the City to rezone B-3 pazcels that aze currendy used for B-2 or less intensive uses. G6 Commercial Soillover. Rezonings and variances are opposed by SHA in those areas where pazking and traffic problems create undue hazdship for neighboring businesses, residents, and visitors. Control commercial spillover effects onto Lincoln and Summit Avenues. The approval of site plans and licenses should be contingent �„,� . �. � on the mitigation of pazking and traffic problems to a level acceptable to the majority of-immediately affected businesses and residents. G7 L,ocallv-owned Businesses. SHA recommends implementing mechanisms for supporting and retaining small, locally-owned businesses. This includes e�loring adoption of standazds to limit the number of foxmula business establishments on East Gxand Avenue. Wheie steategies aze best implemented through changes to City xegulations oi psoceduxes, meet with City staff (Planniug and Economic Development, and Licensing, Inspections and EnviTOnmental Pzotection) to pucsue code revisions. G8 Development Opporiunities. Create a committee including representatives from the Summit Hill Associafion and GABA to identify these opporiunities and outline the types of businesses or mix of uses that might best be accommodated at those locations, and describe the appropriate scale and design. G9 Siens. Rigorously enfozce the Gtand Avenue Sign Guidelines. SHA should assist LIEP in keeping an up-to-date inventory of e�cisiing non-confoxming signs. G10 Scale and Hei ht Limits Adopt litnitations of the height and scale of new buildings on East Gzand Avenue in an overlay district as follows: 1. L,ixnit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 squaze feet ox less. 2. Liinit new building total size, above �ound, to 75,000 square feet ox less, including parking. 3. L'unit building height to tl�ee (3) stories ox to thitty feet (30') fox commercial pxojects and to thixty-six feet (36') fox tnised commexcial and xesidential pxojects, whicheves is lowex. No additional heigAt will be allowed, even with setbacks. 4. Woxk with the City to adopt the desued limitations in an ovexlay district fox East Grand Avenue. Housing and Residential Life Strategies H1 Propexty Maintenance and Beautification SHA will develop and implement a district-wide pxogram to educate and encoura�e xesidents to bettex maintain their propexties, as well as their alleys, with x btrard to trash receptacles, planting and weed xemoval. H2 Historic Pxeservarion. In collaboxarion with the Saint Paul Heritage Preservarion Coimnission, considex a historic site survey of propexties south of Gsand Avenue and e�loxe the feasibility of expanding the Hill Historic District, designating a new district ox nominating additional individual sites. 7 �� : �.. H3 Design Guidelines. SHA will cootdinate a volunteex group to develop and ixnplement design voluntaxq guidelines fox new housing and the tenovation of existing housing in areas not included in the historic district. T'he guidelines should encourage high quality design that emphasizes being complementatp and contextua.l iathex than strict histovc replication. Provide design guidelines and historic pieservation goals to persons xeceiving demolition pernuts and ensuxe that replacement housing meets all pertinent zoning requirements, tecognizing that pre-existing non-conforming conditions aze protected by State law. H4 Ogen Sgaces. Advocate fox xetention of neighbarhood green spaces, such as pazks and vegetated bluff azeas. SHA will e�loie incentives for property owners to pzesexve as private open space the undeveloped portions of properties. HS Housing Den T sitv. Ensuxe that the impact of any increased density confoxms to zoning and building tequixements, and that the City considexs the development's adverse unpact on existing municipal sezvices including, but not limited to, ttaffic and patking. H6 Single-fa�ilv and Multi-fatnilv Residences Maintain the e�sting tesidentially zoned asea and xetain the mig of housing types (single-fatnily, duplex, townhouses, and apactments in the Sucmnit Hill neighborhood in e�cisting and new housing developments. Request the City to conduct a zoning study to tezone apastments and condos to the existing use H7 Mixed-use Buildin¢�CoxnxneLCial Plus Residen � Ensure that new and xenovated xnised-use buildings on Gxand Avenue respect the historic nature and chazactex of the neighbothood, as well as providing dedicated off-steeet or undexground parlflng fos xesidents and tenants. ,. I H8 Housing-ielated Paxking Encoutage residents to fiilly utilize existing residential patking oppoxtuniries in the neighborhood and to cseate new off-steeet pasking and gatages when possible. Work with the Citp of St. Paul to enforce otdinances regasding pazking in alleys and inapptopriate or excessive pazking on individual ptoperties. H9 Housinv�Oprions. Maintain rental housing options to continue some measute of affoidability in the neighbothood. Communiry Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation Strategies CLl Linwood Recteation Centei. Support Linwood Recreation Centet programs fot all ages, including sports, communitp education, arts, and gxoup activities. CL2 Tree Ptogtatn. Develop a District boulevazd tree preservation and replacement plan that seeks to maintain and pLeseroe out valued lazge trees and piovide planting guidelines for new teees in both utban and residenrial streetscapes. The vegetated bluff � -_. `° � _. �, azeas that buffer Disteict 16 from I-35 and Ayd Mill Road should be pxeseroed, except for prairie bluff resuorations. CL3 Gatewav and Image Plan. Develop a Sununit Hill/District 16 identificarion plan through the use of �ban design techniques induding use of banners/�aphics and/or historically sensitive signage placed on the stceetscape that identifies that one is in the Suintnit Hill neighboxhood. CL4 Greening the Public Realm. Beautify the public Tealm rhsoughout the neighbothood to psomote incieased use and bettex stewazdship. 1. Seek out opportuniries to incorporate bench gatdens in e�sting parks and in new or redeveloped xetail or residential spaces on Gxand Avenue. 2. Enhance maintenance of public and private bluff azeas by working with residents and the City pask staff to remove litter, stabilize slopes, xepair retairung walls, and xemove buckthom. CLS Linwood Paxk. Enhance muntenance of Linwood Pazk and develop a landscape design plan for upper Linwood Pazk. CL6 Ayd Mill Road. Suppoxt the installarion of off-toad pedestrian and bicycle paths adjacent to any xedesign of Ayd Mill Road. Pedestrian Safery, Traffic, and Parking Strategies P1 Comgrehensive Txaffic and Pasking Studv Initiate, in coopexarion with the City, a tharough, compxehensive txaffic and paxking study of the neighborhood to determine an appxopriate tsanspoxtation and pazking management strategp. Public woxks will participate in this process as staff resources and time pemuts. P2 Sgecific Safetv Meas�es. Improve pedestrian safety and impxove the quality of the pedestrian and bicyclist experience. Make selected cxosswalks on arterials (Grand, Suuunit, Le�cington, St. Clair, Victoria) moie visible thxough a combination of bolder color, striping, texture, and signage. Encoutage the City Police to vigoxously enforce laws concexning crosswalks, speed limits, and xestricted parking neax intersections. 2. SHA xecommends invesdgating the elimnzation of right tums on xed at certain intersections along Suimnit and Gsand Avenues. 3. Emphasize pazking resuictions near intexsecrions using signs and yellow paint to cleazlp indicate no parking. Public woxks will install on a case by case basis. YJ `i °� ��i v� 4. Install signs, pIantings, and othex signals at neighborhood gateways�that announce "Welcome to the Historic Summit Hill Neighbothood," "Slow Down and Stop fot Pedestrians in Crosswalks," "20 is Plenty," and "Slow foi Children." 5. SHA will woxk with the City, businesses, and developeLS to install moie bicycle tacks, benches, and bus shelters. P3 Traffio-Cahning. Utilize txaffic cahning techniques that indude education, enfotcement, and engineering resouxces. Txaffic caluzing includes street design and xegulatory features that cause motorists to drive moxe slowly and with a gxeatei degree of attentiveness. 1. Encoucage the City to rigotously enfozce speed lixnits. 2. Incxease drivex awaxeness of speed Iimits by placing speed monitoring display devices on neighborhood stceets. 3. E�lote and vnplernent with comxnunitp and City support specific teaffic-cahnuzg measutes such as, speed humps, txaffic circles, bump outs, centet medians and addidonal stop signs. Make traffic cahning a part of all street zeconstiuction. 4. SHA will seek to reduce speed limits on tesidential streets to 25 miles per houx. 5. Retain I-35E at the edge of Sumtnit Hill as a 45mile pet hout paxkway and enco�age the Minnesota Depatttnent of Transportation to inaintain its atteactive landscaping in the medians and along the xoadway. P4 Txaffic ManaQement. Manage traffic flow and street capacity to discoarage incteased volumes and speeds, provide safe and convenient access to pzoperties, and pxotect pedesuians. 1. Pxovide bettez enforcement of uaffic and pazking laws, Encoucage towing of violators. Enfotce parking restrictions within 30 feet of intersections, and within 5 feet of alleys and driveways, to ensure visibility. 2. Assess the feasibility of additional tcaffic controls, such as ttaffic lights and stop signs. 3. Pazking and vehicle access to and from fixtute development on Gxand Apenue shall be sensitive to t�affic flow, patking needs, and pedestdan safety. 4. Maintain Suinmit, Gxand, and St. Claix Avenues, Dale and Victoria Stteets, and Lexington Paxkway as 2-lane stteets, not to be widened to accommodate increased traffic. PS Ttansit. Promote tcansit use, recapture ridetskup, and serve the txansit-dependent by matching transit sezvice with travel need. 10 1. Maintain and enhance txansit service on Gxand and St. Clait Avenues. ��^ ` 2. SH.A encousages inaintenance of existing teansit shelters, installarion of new ones when possible, and the elixninarion ox seduction of advertising signs on bus benches and shelters. SuLiunit Hill does not want private adcertising shelte=s. 3. Install route maps and schedules at moxe tsansit stops. 4. Encourage the Gsand Avenue Business Associarion and othex businesses to adopt a meschant-supported token system to encouxage teansit use. 5. Exploxe additional transit options to cost-effecrively incxease txansit frequency and ridexship and to mi.,imi�e caz use and traffic, such as a trolley fot Crrand Avenue oT by interlining the Gsand Avenue uansit route with a Minneapolis route so that it meets demand fox sexvice to the Univexsity of Minnesota, Univexsity of St. Thomas, and downtown Minneapolis. P6 Off-sueet Paxkine. Adequate off-stxeet pazking shall be pzovided for all xesidential and coxnxnexcial uses, in a mannex that xespects the histonc chaxactex of the neighboxhood. 1. Scteen parking lots using appropriate treatments such as a strong landscaped edge along the street and alley. 2. Woxk with the Police Depaxtment to develop a plan to �amatically inciease enforcement of all e�cisting paxking oxdinances. Review paxking variance histoiy and City paxking policies to detemune if a xevised regulatory appxoach is requixed. 3. SHA encourages and suppoxts undexgxound patking wheTe appropriate. 4. SHA recommends that iooftop pazking is adequately screened by paxapets, such that they pxevent visibility to neazby xesidences from the iooftop paxking area. 5. Restxict commexcial paxking lots fxom axeas that axe used primarily fos xesidential puxposes. 6. Implement moxe uniform paxking zones on Gxand Avenue to facilitate moce rigoxous enfoxcement. 7. Continue the option of Perrnit Parking zones fox those xesidents who xequest them. 11 � NT � f P7 Shazed Parkine, Facilitate shared parking agreements. A1Iow and encourage shazed patking in institutional lots. The Summit F3ill Association, the GTand Avenue Business Association, and the City shall woxk cvith propesty owners to reach paxking agreements for shazed use of commercial packing as allowed undex Statute 62.103 of the Zoning Code, and shazed use of institutional lots as allowed undex Statute 60.413(15) of the code. Shated pazking oprions should be esplored as part of anp applicauon foi parking variance. P8 Building Removal fox Patkin� Discoutage building temoval solely foz pazking. P9 Paxkin9 Sug�lv. Retain and expand existing commetcial apd tesidential pazking. 'The SLUmnit Hill Associaaon opposes removal of existing pazking without substitute parking being provided at a level greater than or equal to current zoning requirements. 2. The Suinmit Hill Association opposes pazking variances and wants all new residential and commercial buildings to provide pazking at a level equal to or greater than the current zoning requirements at the time of permit application. 3. Elinunate the "Rule of Five" patking zegularion on East Gzand Avenue. P10 Em�lovee Pazking Find altematives foz emplopee parking where customer deinand is highest. P11 Customer Parl�inp. Improve awazeness of parkiag options for Grand Avenue customets and visitors. Crime Prevention and Safery Strategies CRl Crime Watch Pzogram. Pxomote, use, and e�cpand the Neighborhood Crime Watch Progtam to organize and mobilize the neighboxhood to pio-acrively approach pexsonal safetp and propextp ptotection. 1. Continue to support the variety of compatible ]and 'uses and densities that chazacterize the "eyes on the street" safety of Sununit Hill. 2. Evaluate stceet and alley lighting to detertnuie if improvements aze needed regatding lighting levels and dishibution. 3. Pursue greatet police patrols of Linwood Pazk and its sIopes, particiilasly aftex dazk, to discouxage repeated pzoblems with caz bzeak-ins, gtaffiti, vandalism, and more sexious crimes. 12 4d � _� ? °� � a Planrzing Process In the eazly part of 2002, the Suimnit Hill Associarion/Distdct 16 Planning Council decided to update its 1989 Distdct 16 Plan. This 2004 Sunuiut Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan xepresents oves a thousand hours of coluntees work by community membets. The SHA/District 16 Planning Council designated a Steenng Committee to woxk closely with City Officials, and the consultant team of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEF� and Sandexs Wacket Besgly Inc. (S�/B) in a collaboxarive pxogtam ovei 18 months. In the course of the Sntmnit Hill/Distdct 16 neighbarhood plan update process, sevexal paxticipation methods wexe used to solicit and engage a bxoad and divexse cxoss-section of the community. A Plan Update Steeriug Con�nlittee of twelve members was oxganized to xepxesent the btoad intexests and constituencies that comprise the Suinmit Hill/District 16 neighborhood community. This committee consisted of business ownexs, pxopesty ownexs, and homeownezs. It met xegulaxly with the planning consultants to discuss, inform, and guide the community participation and planning pxocess and to act as a liaison with the gseatex community xegaxding the plan's progtess. The Steexing Coimivttee woxk was supplemented by sevexal meetings of smaller woxk gxoups of volunteeTS who discussed and xevised earliex dtafts of the vaxious elements, as well as sevexal meetings of the fiill Suininit Hill Association boazd who met sevexal times to Leview and xevise the 6na1 dxaft. Three community wlde meetings wexe held in the neighboxhood to invite and engage all intexested neighboihood membexs--tenants, homeownets, business ownexs and employees—in planning pxocess. The f�st two meetings, held November 23, 2002 and January 25, 2003, focused on two bxoad tasks: 1) prioritizing neighboxhood issues and opportunities and 2) cxeating focus axea visions and implementation steategies. Appso�cimately 90-100 people attended the first meeting and appxo�tnately 50-60 people attended the second woxkshop. A final public meeting was held on Februaxy 28, 2004 to piesent the c�aft 2004 Sutsuzut Hill/District 16 Neighboxhood PIan. A Neighborhood Sutveywas pxepated to obtain community opuuon on a zange of neighboxhood issues and concerns—paxticulazly on what people liked and disliked about the Suminit Hill/District 16 neighbozhood and what they wanted to see unpxoved ovex the next ten years. This survey was mailed out to 4000 households and distributed to appxoxitna.tely two hundted neighboxhood businesses. More than two hundxed sesponses wese Teceived. A Colnmunity Video -"PeTSOn-on-the-Sueet" intexviews wexe undextaken to giean community opuuon from a btoad cxoss-section of neighboxhood usexs: visitoxs, xesidents, business patrons, employees, and pxoperiy owners. The objective was to go whexe people gathex naturally in the neighboxhood and ask them informally about theit thoughts on the neighboxhood. This community video consisted of ovex fifty tandom and informal intexviews undextaken by the consultants at vazious neighboxhood gathexing places along Gtand Avenue and at community events at the 13 � � � �. � -�� _.,�� Linwood Rectearion Centex. Interoiewees were asked what they liked about the neighbothood, what they disliked, and what improvements they wanted to see ovez the next ten peazs. Cornmunity Vrsion Boards - Three latge vision boazds that consisted of a neighboihood map, a suggestion box and pens were created and installed at three neighborhood-gathering locations on Gxand Avenue and at the Linwood Recteation Center. These boards ptovided an opportunity fox all neighborhood members and visitots to write their comments about neighbothood issues and concexn and place these comments on the map or in the suggesrion box. These boazds were installed . fox almost a month. • Photo Gallery—Fox the Issues and Opportunities woxkshop on November 23, 2002, a dozen ot mote people took photos of neighbozhood scenes and situations thep wanted to pxotect, wanted to unpLOVe, and what they believed wexe the definina features of Summit Hill. These photos wexe displayed at the workshop. Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) Focus Group — On November 12, 2002, the consultant team led a focus gtoup of 23 pexsons representing 18 businesses and GABA staff that addxessed customer mazket azea issues, pezceprions of Grand Avenue coaidor/Suinmit Hill neighborhood, btoader market ttends, and what changes ox ixnptovements would help them pzosper. � � r� � Chapter 1: Introduction The Purpose of the Plan O� neighl�orhood is an intricate blend of zesidents, businesses, ownets, customers, visitors, buildings, and p]aces. Our neighboxhood has both xealiries and pezceptions, and is constandy changing. Tkus Suisunit Hill/District 16 Neighboxhood Plan is intended to guide public and private acrions in addTessing and shaping that change to benefit the long-term sustainability and high quality of our neighbothood. It is intended to act as a policy fraxnework fox guiding the decision-making of the Sumuiit Hill Association/Disttict 16 Planning Council. Upon xeview by the Saint Paul Planning Coimnission, and adoprion by the Saint Paul City Council, this Plan becomes pazt of the Compsehensive Plan of the City of Saint Paul. The Need to Update the 1989 District 16 Plan As one of the oldest and most populaz neighboxhoods in Saint Paul, the Suinmit Hill/District 16 neighboThood is a xegional and local teeasure of history, azchitecture, distinctive pedestxian-oriented shopping and dining experiences, tree-lined streets, and strong community connecrions. Its dynamic commercial district along Gxand Avenue attracts visitoxs, xesidents, and woxkexs alike. The neighboxhood's Victorian-era housing stock, which is xecognized nationally fos its quanrity, quality and divetsity, continues to be zestosed and enhanced. How does the �eatex neighbothood sustain its "sense of place" as a cultuxally distinctive, attractive, premium place to live, wark, and play as it moves forwazd into the next decade? What needs to be done to addxess the challenge to the greatex neighboxhood that is bxought on by the continuing success of Gzand Avenue? How does Sununit Hill strike a balance between its dynamic commexcial distxict and its aestherically appealing, high quality and historic xesidential azeas? How can the neighboxhood continue to weave its dynamic pieces into a cohesive and richly textured enviuonxnent that stsengthens community life? As change occuts, questions continually face the neighbozhood. 15 � °, � � �. : �; �; In the early pazt of 2002, the Sutrunit Hill Association/District 16 Pla.nning Council began the process of updating its 1989 Distact 16 Plan to achieve the following goals and objectives: 1. Create a plan that xeflects and ptotects the existing charm and historical values and chaxactet of the neighbozhood based on cunent urban design and plauving concepts. 2. Seek citizen, tesident, and business patticipation in developing a plan that reflects consensus and ownership bp a majotity of stakeholders. 3. Cxeate a plan that supports strong and posirive communication between the Distdct 16 Planning Council, the Gxand Avenue Business Association, and the City of Saint Paul. 4. Maintain and enhance the positive qualities that make the Sunanrit Hill neighboxhood a desuable place to live, sfiop, work, and play while balancing Gxand Avenue cotntnexcial and traffic pressutes. How This Plan was Developed This 2004 Suminit Hill/District 16 Neighbothood Plan represents over a thousand hours of volunteer work by community membeLS. The Sunvnit Hill Association/District 16 Planning Council designated a Steering Co�nittee to work closely with City officials, and the consultant team of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. and Sandexs Wackex Bergly Inc. in a process that included rivo community woxkshops and othex participation methods. This dedicated and creative team worked collaboxarively foz ovez 14 months to identifp the majox EG � #� � � � � � issues facing the neighboxhood, xeview demogtaphic changes and ptevious planning efforts involving the neighborhood, exauune all of this infoxmation in the lazgez context of Saint Paul p]anning and development, and draft planning and development pzinciples to guide the prepazation of this Plan update. Subsequendy, vision statements, stcategies, and unplementation measures wexe developed fox the following five dimensions of the community: 1. Gxand Avenue MiYed Use Comdox 2. Housing and Residential Life Oxganization of the Plan The SLUiunit Hill / Disteict 16 Neighboxhood Plan is presented in five chapters described as follows: Chaptex 1: Intxoduction — Pxovides the context and the basis fox developing this plan, a summary of the pxocess by which the plan was developed, and secommendarions foz how the plan should be used. Chapter 2: Neighboxhood Profile — Describes a bxief histoxy of Summit Hill, xecent demogtaphic txends, land use and zoning. 17 3. Community Life, Public Spaces, and Rectearion 4. Pedestiian Safety, Txaffic, and P�king 5. Crime Pzevenrion and Safety ��'��'�� Chapter 3: Plauning and Development Principles — Pxesents the eight pla.nning and development pzinciples that aze the philosophical guideposts thae shape all aspects of this Neighboxhood Plan, are the foundation for the individual vision statements for the subsequent plan elements, and aze the criteria that all implementation stsategies should be measured against when evaluating success. Chaptet 4: Plan Elements — Includes present descxiprion, vision statements, and sttategies fox each of the following five elements: • Grand Avenue Mieed Use Corridot • Housing and Residential Life • Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recxeation ■ Pedestrian Safety, Ttaffic, and Pazking � Crime Pxevention and Safety Chaptet 5: Implementation — Pxesents a list, in spreadsheet format, of all the unplementation strategies, xesponsible parties/participants, and tuning/phasing for caziying out the strategies. How to Use the Plan The Suinmit Hill / Distdct 16 Neighborhood Plan presents a vision for the futute of Suinmit Hill neighboThood, and an agenda foz community action. The Plannuig and Development Principles descxibe the core communitp ideals oz values. The individual elements in Chaptes 4 oufline in more specific tertns the vision statements and the requited acrivities to ensute that the neighbothood xetains its high quality of life, livabilitp, chann, historic chazactex, and market suength. This plan pxovides very specific recoxnmendations to lead and manage the neighboxhood's gtowth and development. Since the neighborhood is nearip fully developed, the natute of change will come in the form of Leinvestment and xedevelopment. As with all land use decisions, itnplementarion of these recommendadons will have different levels of benefit and ixnpact on comxnunity membeLS. There will be difficult choices in implementing the plan; not every individual in the neighboxhood cvill support each decision. Howevet, this plan was developed to represent the best interests of the community as a whole — including current and future xesidents as well as bus�ess ownezs and operntors. Itnplementation will xequite steong leadetship and the on-going active participation and support of the neighboxhood's iesidents and other community membets. This plan is not a blueprint; it is not a zoning code. Rathex, this plan is a framework and guide for decision- mal�ng. To +*�aximi�e the benefit of this plan, it should be used to: � Deteinune the Summit Hill Association / District 16 Planniug Council annual goals, objectives, and budgets. � � � .- ; � • Guide Sununit Hill Association/District 16 tesponses to City of Saint Paul refersals of iezoning applications, site plan xeviews, vaiiance reviews, new land use and development regularions, and any funding progtams that may benefit the neighboxhood. � Foun part of the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Saint Paul, guiding the decisions of the Saint Paul City Council, City departments, and the Planning Connnission. • Assist otheL community groups and oTganizations, such as the Gxand Avenue Business Associarion (GABA), the Block Nutse Pxogxam, and the Linwood Booster Club. ■ Guide all private individuals and developex's repxesentatives in initiating, pxeparing, and finalizing any type of land development ox land use xequestJapplication 'to the City of Saint Paul. • P=ovide the basis fos uutiating changes in the City codes xequised to implement this plan. To help ensuxe that this neighborhood plan is a valid and up-to-date woxking docutnent, it should be xeviewed on an annual basis. The annual xeview may, for example, address the following: • Evaluate the decisions and activities of the Summit Hill Association/Disrtict 16 Council relative to achieving the plan's stxategies. ■ Review the plan's usefulness in pxoviding needed dixection for the decisions that weLe made dwing the pxevious yeaz. • Identify specific acrion items that wexe completed ox initiated and xepoxt on their status. • Idenrify any majot changes in conditions affecting rhe neighboxhood. • Re-evaluate the plan's zecommended policy and strategies for theix on-going validity. � Identify any psoposed xevisions, and/or new policies or stsategies to puxsue. Ovexall, the Suintnit Hill/District 16 Neighboxhood Plan provides specific direction about what is desixed and what should be accomplished as the neighboxhood shapes its future. Each pxoposal, decision, and acrion that affects the neighborhood should be meas�ed against the following criteria: Is it consistent with the Suinmit Hill/Distsict 16 Planning and Development Principles? 19 '�l � Y ...: xY �� 2. . Does it fiicdier the neighborhood's effort to achieve the desirec3 future? 3. Does it satisfy and achieve the neighborhood's vision statements for the five �lan elements? 20 F+ o ,-_ p � � � � , � Chapter Z: Neighborhood Profile Location and Description The Su�nit Hill Disteict is an appxoximatelp 75 squase block neighborhood in the City of St. Paul, bounded by Sutxunit Avenue on the north, Interstate 35E on the south and east, and Ayd Mill Road on the south and west (see map on page 21). The Sununit Hill neighboxhood is connected to five unique neighborhoods: Downtown to the east, West 7`� to the south and east, Macalestex-Gxoveland to the west, and Sutnmit University and Lexington-Hainline to the north. Suintnit Hill f District 16 is one of 17 neighborhood planning and citizen participarion districts in St. Paul. The Southwest Quadxant team of the St. Paul Departrnent of Planning and Economic Development provides city planning and development services to the neighboxhood. Sumtnit Hill/District 16 is within City Council Ward 2. Eariy History Settlement of the Suinmit Hill azea dates back to 1805 when Lt. Zebulon Pike, under oxdets ftom Pxesident Thomas Jeffexson, puxchased a teact from local Native Americans as a site foz a fort. The land consisted of nine miles on each side of the Mississippi Rivex upstxeam from the juncture of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers and included Siunuut Hill. Squattexs occupied this land illegally until 1854 when the land went up for sale at public auction. Sununit Hill subsequendy became a ruxal ttuck and dauy faxm azea supplying the gxowing Saint Paul matket. The first xesidential development of the Suuunit Hill axea took place in the 1850s and 1860s when many wealthy and prominent Saint Paul families xelocated fxom the central riverfxont azea. In 1862, James C. Burbank built Suuin�it Avenue's_fixst mansion at 432 Suuunit. Butbank, who made his foxtune in the rivexboat and stage business, caused a sensation by incorpoiating such amazingly modem features as steam heating, hot and cold watex, and gas lighting in his new home. Gxand Avenue was first platted in 1871 by William S. Wxight, John Mann, and othes pxominent landownets. These men had one of St. Paul's Ssst hoxse-dxawn streetcax lines built on Gxand Avenue in 1872. Mann was vice pzesident of the Saint Paul Stteet Railway Company and Wxight a dixector; they foxesaw the financial benefits of having a txansit line from central St. Paul to their land holdings. The stseetcaz line they built attsacted modexate- income xesidents to the Gxand Avenue azea. Fxom its beginnings, Summit Hill has been envisioned as a pedestrian and transit centered neighboxhood. Residents settled along Gxand and Lincoln as the Gxand Avenue line ptovided inexpensive and convenient uanspoxtarion to the central business district. The more affluent chose to avoid living along Gxand Avenue because of the noise and smell of the streetcass. In the 1880s and 1890s the Cxocus Hill and Gxand Hill neighborhoods became fashionable locations fox the wealthy fainilies of Saint Paul. Sutninit Avenue was known as "Rag Row" 21 � , � ��._�� in the 1890s because many of the leadess of Saint Paul's gtowing wholesale clothing indusriy lived there. Early xailsoad and lumbex barons also lived on Siunnut Avenue and in the adjacent �eas with faznilies such as the Burbanks and Weperhaeusezs leading the social life of the hill districts. After the tutn of the century, the fust majox wave of middle-income iesidents atdved in Suuunit Hill. They settled inaiuly in the southwestem poztion of the district while the affluent €ainilies semained in the noxth and east During the 1920s, as Saini Paul grew to the west, the steeetcaz lines along St. CIa� and Grand pxompted developeis to replace many of the single-fatnily xesidences with apartinent buildings. Gtand Avenue's commezcial development continued to gtow. The St. Paul zoning oxdinance, which went into effect in 1922, made the land along the st�eetcax lines "Commereial". The "Commercial" zoning district pemutted alI residential and commexciai uses. The 1922 Zoning Gode designated much of the surrounding neighboshoods as "A" oi `B" Residential zoning districts that allowed only one and two family houses, which fiitther encouzaged the denser gxowth patterns along Gxand Avenue within the district. The late 1920s saw the last majoz residential developments ocairriag within the Suminit Hill area west of Le�ngton and on a few scattered bluff sites. The depLession of the 1930s had a major impact on the Snmmit Hill azea, with manp families finding they could no longex affoLd to live in theis expensive homes. Thexe are examples of some people simply abandoning theic houses. Many single-family homes wexe converted into duplexes ot rooming houses during that period Following World War II, inner-city neighborhoods narionwide e�erienced a decline as middle- and uppet-income faurilies moved to the suburbs. The Sunamit Hill district, howevex, has been an exception, re*naining 22 ,yc n � �� :� Besides enjoying residenrial stability, Suimnit Hill also supports an unusually healthy inner- city shopping stseet, Gxand Avenue, which has emexged as the pxemiei neighboxhood shopping stseet in Saint Paul, a model of local shops and national and xegional chain stores. In June of 1989, the Gxand Avenue Task Force appxoved A Plan for Eart GrandAvenue, a xepoxt that was sent to the City of Saint Paul Planning Coininission. Tlus plan psovided a compxehensive fxamewoxk fox guiding long-xange decisions in the area, Ovex the yeaxs, it has been the focal point fox developing a greatex degtee of consensus among commexcial pxopexty owners, commexcial tenants, and residents regazding the fixture d�ecrion of Gxand Avenue. Recent Past Ovex the past thtee decades, the Suuusut Hill Association has gameted an impxessive list of accomplishsnents. Some of these achievexnents xeflect joint efforts by the City and neighboxhood xesidenrial and business intexests. Many of the efforts have been the District Council's alone. Reconstrucrion of the Linwood Recxeation Centex is probably the Association's most visible achievement. Othex accomplishments include installation of double lantern style fi�ctuxes along Gxand Avenue, pxoviding an attxacrive, well-lit, pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. The xenewed landscaping of Triangle Pazk at Dale and Goodxich with shrubbery, small trees, benches, and a grassy axea, and the native prairie xestoration pxoject at Linwood Paxk have enhanced green space in the neighbothood. Oves the past dozen oz so yeaxs, the neighboxhood xesidential and commeicial interesu have collaborated to tetuxn "Grand Old Da�' to a more community fxiendly event. Held in eaxly June, this daylong steeet fesrivai featuxes a morning parade, music, sidewalk sales, food and othei activities that bring a lot of attention to the neighboxhood and Gxand Avenue. The 23 zelatively stable. The cutcent boundaries of the Su�nit Hill Association/District 16 Planning Council as recognized by the City of St Paul axe shown on the map beiow. � `� �, _� .. "Snminit Hill House Tout," piogxessive suppexs, and "The Gxand Meandex" axe othex major events that showcase the neighborhood and pxovide opportuniries for neighboxs to meet. Demographic Trends The following demogxaphic txends and statistics pxovide a snap shot picture of $uuvirit Hill. The primary soutce foz this section is the Wildet Reseatch Centet Sumvaary of SLUnmit Hill Neighborhood (Saiat Paul District 16). The data C�om this report is from the 1490 and 2000 censuses. Accoxding to the 2000 U.S. Census, Sutnmit Hill e�cperienced a 7 pexcent decline in popularion, from 7,248 persons in 1990 down to 6,741 in 2000, compazed to a 5.5 percenY gtowth in Saint Paul as a whole duxing the same period. In 1980 the population of District 16 was 7,328, which was an 18.1 peicent decline from 1970. The gteatest de�ease from 1990 to 2000 was in preschool cl�ildren and elderly adults. - Summit Hill Population m a 0 d a w 0 `m a E � z �� :�� 6000 4000 2000 Age Ptofile Preschoolets age 0-4 decreased 20 pexcent to 297 from 1990 to 2000. School-age childten age 5-17 decxeased 2 peicentto 890. Woi2dng-age adults age 18-64 deczeased 4 pexcentto 5,048, Eldetlp adults age 65+ decreased 23 petcent to 506. Age Profile of Summit Hill Residents in 2000 (�) 506 297 890 (65+ � 5048 (1 &64) � Reschooi Children (0.4) 4% ■ SchoolAge Children (S1� 13% ❑ Worldng Age AduRs (1&64) ❑ Senior Adults (65+) 8°/a I.�'� ■ 1970 � 1��IA990 � 2000 �.. -` `° Racial and Economic Diversitv These has been a slight increase in xacial divezsity from 1990 to 2000, but the neighbozhood xemains predominately white. The wl�ite population decreased from 95 pexcent to 93 petcent. 'Ihe Asian population increased fxom 1 pexcent to 2 percent. The Afiican- American population remained at 2 pexcent and the Amexican Indian popularion temained at less than 1 percent of the neighborhood population. Two (2) pezcent of the xesidents aze multi-xacial. Of the Sutmnit Hill students that attend public schools, 22 pexcent axe childten of colox. English is not the primaiy language spoken at home fox 6 pezcent of public school attendees. About one in five of the Snnunit Hill children attending public schools come fxom low- income families and 17 pexcent qualify foi free ox xeduced-price school lunch, compased to 65 pexcent in St. Paul as a whole. Racial Diversity of Summit Hill Residents 2000 � White (93%) ■ Asian-American (2%) ❑ African-American (2%) ❑ American Indian (>i%) ■ Nhitti-racial (2°!0) Racial Diversity in Saint Paul 2000 39,927 5,991 199,862 o White (67°/a) � A4rican-Amzrican (13%) O American Indian (2°/a) ❑ Asian-Arrerican (13%) ■ Multi-Racial (s%> Households and Housin� The aveiage pexsons-per-household in Swn�sut Hill has decxeased fxom 198 persons pex household in 1990 to 195 in 2000. This is similar to a city and nauonal tsend of smaller household sizes. Eighteen (18) percent of households have children. This is about the same as 1990 when 19 pexcent of households had chil�en. Seventy-eight (78) pexcent of the 25 � � � ' R � � _ - i childcen live in married-couple fawilies; 15 pescent live in single-paxent fauvlies; and 6 pexcent live in othex atrangements. Land Use and Zoning The Suminit Hill Neighborhood is comprised of inainly single-family xesidences with a� of duplex and multi-family housing dispetsed thxoughout. A business and commercial spine nws east-west along bot6 sides of Gtand Avenue with a srtong pxesence of multi-familp housing and, to a lesset degtee, xenmant single-family homes incoiporated within the commexciat fabric. Schools, chucches, and othex institutional lancl uses aze found within the neighborhood, with the highest occuxtence atong the norrh side of Summit Avenue. Open space and pazkland is limited except for Linwood Pask, a lazge neighboxhood pazk that lies between St. Clair and the bluff line that cseates the southexnmost edge of the Suuinait Hill Neighborhood. A railroad corridar lies at the toe of the bluf£ The map on the following page shows how land is used in the neighbothood. Land-use categories are btoader than zoning c.�assifications, but are closelq xelated. A pazcePs land use often appeats identical to its zoniRg. In some instances, howevet, cwxent land use is diffeLent than zoning. The map (dated Januaty 7, 2003) is based on land use tecotds from the City of St. Paul. The map on page 26 shows current zoning designations for land in Sntnnvt Hill. Zoning indicates the legally allowable uses fox land. The map (dated Januaxy 2, 2003) is based on zoning recoxds £tom the Citp of St. Paul. � � � � i �" � �. � � a �: � � °� ' ` gg ;. � 9 �A '�_ •_' . �'Z u C � � u }� C N TY N �, W CL3 �•� a� � a 4� _ �+ � 3 U 7s �tL .� i!t y �f.�� •£�� a � � � � �� s� � � E� o m.=ii.u.� a 3 a�U� Y � � 3 a .. ec��t-r- � � fL f� � a : t,y � r : .�F tV g- y r N 1V �� r 1V F r� �' � � � � � � Q � � � � � � -3 r . r � 7 i t ��( 3 �` . i�__ f��___�,9 O 3S%^'fiEd3tiN'# ' �, � G �t��' ; ' "�' t'ti� ``^_ #�. i �; . � ��• � �� . i� j��. 7�- : c�' x` <„" ,4'�� i � � -3 _ � � i � "` ' i �� t � +� r , �,� � �; � r�� ' �` �; � =-� � ' �� ' `� , E �.� �F �� [;,� h=- w- iF� ;-. - ; - � � : � � .� �- �,� � � � � 1 r � � �� ( '`� i �� '� �-� `j [ � � -1 Y,.� fi`� _ w�F- ._..,��., � � � � � � � £ � > > I 4-" F �' C ('� �� t ��LI[.� `.�� .. � a --^-� ` �� r- � F"°� �'. _ 1 f_ 1 �L,..`"'� t y ��.a 'F' = . L � �° � � �� . '� � 4 t � t="£3 �1� . f�^i �� F( R Et k._ L � �.. .i.. �. -� � �� __ , �� !� �� = 3 +� f`�� "� � "`�-w �� ` � :�� 7r } e � � <� � i _ � i� •�� _--�±}� � , j! � � � � � , �--.��= ,�-' — A �,__. � ? � c�� t�q � i =•.�; =� �zat°_'� �- ;"'� ��'�� 0 8 � � D ti � 3 � � � c L � �� y 5 Azs� t�� od � C� yK _-�S a m a6 � ° � C $ m�� E ��z�� 2� F Z 4 J � � z. � � {�} z z � � � C C c � O �� L U �G' � c � s � � oS' `w� o� � � �. , �."° � � � � � � � � � �3 � �� t� � �a �z (� } } y - g QC }- *i W�'a (} W OOK•'JiY :, ir ` Y�� 1�.; E.�%;. p � ��_� �� Chapter 3: Principles Planning and Development These eight planning and development ptinciples xepxesent the core community ideals dxawn ftom communitp input and the Steering Committee discussions. These pxinciples are the philosophical guideposts that shape all aspects of the Suuvnit Hill/Distdct 16 Plan Update. Also, they are the criteria that all unplementation strategies should be measured against when evaluating success. Principles: 1. All individuals and intexest gtoups couununicate openly as stakeholdexs and stewuds in chatting Summit Hill/District 16's evolution as a sustainable aeigkborhood. 2. Community spirit continues to be nutt�ixed and expanded thxough activities fox all ages. 3. Neighboxhood ambiance is defined and enriched by a well-maintained gteen uxban ]andscape that indudes lively and safe public spaces, arts and cultuxe, pedest�ian connections, heatthy natutal axnenities and open spaces, and well-designed new and old buildings that ieflect the chazactet, mass and scale of neaxby buildings. 4. Communitp identity and image is e�cpzessed thtough high quality design that respects the historic and cultutal values of the neighboxhood. 5. All redevelopment is in keeping with the historic chazactet and scale and includes amenities, such as landscaping and lighting, that aze patt of a mutually beneficial, collaboxative pxoject 6. Suwinit Hill/District 16 supports living choices fox cesidents of all ages, incomes and lifestples. 7. Sut�nit Hill/Distdct 16 tespects and enriches the mutuallp beneficial telationship between residential livability and commexcial vitality. 8. Suuunit HiII/District 16's movement pattems emphasize a safe walking, bilffng, and dxiving envitonment and encoutage convenient teansit. � � �° _ , � Chapter 4: Plan Elements This chapter ptovides the true substance of the plan document. It is divided into five sections: Grand Avenue Mixed lise Comdot; Housing and Residential Life; Community Life, Public Spaces and Recrearion; Pedestrian Safety, Traffic, and Pazking; and Crime Prevention and Safety. Each of these sections ptovides a brief description of the cursent situation, a vision statement outlining future goals, and sttategies to move the Suuunit Hill neighborhood towazd these goals. Grand Avenue Mixed Use Corridor DESCRIPTION A heterogeneous miY of residenrial, commexcial, and institurional uses, Gxand Avenue has flourished as a"Main Street." One- and tcvo-story commercial masonry buildings of eclectic style axe built right up to the sidewalk and utilize display windows to feature products, offering a very wide tange of goods and services. Single-family homes, some used fox commexcial putposes add to the unique charm of the avenue. Apartments, set back fxom the sidewalk, line the avenue, usually at mid-block locations. The business and commexcial azea of the SuiTUnit Hill neighborhood spans appzo�mately 25 blocks along Gxand Avenue. Tfvs area is comprised of a blend of specialty shops, ethnic and family-owned iesta�ants, and smallex-scale chain xetail and xestauxants. The chaxactex 29 :j�� . ._ .-, y of this azea is defned by a variety of building types used for commexcial activities. Some xesidential homes have been converted to xetail and office space. Small shopping malls, some arith outdoor seating, seive as xetail and xestautant "anchoxs." Infonnal seating outside of coffee shops, ice cxeam shops, and zestauxants exists at tandom intervals along the avenue. Colarfixl signage is also found outside of some of the zetail shops. Historic stteet lighting and the use of brick and wsought iron aze consistent with the use of these same elements in the tesidential azeas. Shade teees aze planted along Gxand Avenue in a typical boutevazd xhythin of about 20 eo 30 feet on center in raised curb beds. Although Iiving, many trees appeaz to be having difficulty developing into healthy maturity. Sevexal businesses have supplemented [he boutevazd plantings by displaying mid-sized plantexs along theix stozefronts. Multi-family housing, often dating from the tum of the centuxy, also adds to the chazactes of Grand Avenue. Many of these apartmeat buildings are two- and three-story units built of brick and detailed cvith ceramic uilaps and wrought ixon. 'I'he gxeatest concentsation of the lazger aparunent compleses is found on the east end of the avenue. Wl�ile the avenue can be tenned "fiilly-developed," there aze many who see selecuve redevelopment opportunities. These situarions have ptoven to be the "battle gtound" fot neighboxhood debates about the pzopet balance between development and xetention of those qualities that make Sumsut Hill speciaL Ovet the past decade, the focus of these debates has been on commetcial redevelopment and infill. Pressure to find locations for new commescial entezprises will add fuel to the debate over the appropriate type and scale of change. In Lecent years, Smith and Hawken, Restotation Hazdwaze, Pottexy Barn, Blockbustez Video, J.Ctew, and Stasbucks Coffee have opened new stoses on Gtand, a teend initiated sevexal years eatliei by Pies I Imports and Walgreen's. T'his txend is defended by developeTS, and some Iocally-owned store opecators, who say that these chain stores ptovide divexsity, bxing purchasing powez that is shazed with the locally-owned stozes, and e�cpand the "xnasketing" of Gxand Avenue in a positive mannet that enhances its Iong-texm sustainability. Howevex, many neighboxs and some businesses contend that narional chain stoxes fail to patticipate in neighborhaod events ot iaidatives, increase traffic bp amacting regional customexs, and, ovex time, bid up rents. They are deeply concemed with the incteasing presence of national chain stores oa Crrand Avenue and worry that locatly owned stores will continue to lose their foothold as rents incxease and chains mulriplp. 'They prefex locally-owned businesses that aze more likely to invest in the neighborhood's future and be actively involved in civic and cultuxal otganizations and events. 30 � ^ ° - - � Suxnnut Hill's Grand Avenue is but one example of a national phenomenon of chain stotes discovering the mafket appeal/p�chasing powex of successful neighboxhood commezcial districts, thereby putting a"squeeze" on locally-owned stoxes. Thoughtfiilly segulating this tsend 'ss unportant to the historical and cultural integriry of Grand Avenue. The Institute foi Local Self-Reliance, a national non-pzofit seseazch and education oxganizarion, has argued that tcends axe not destiny, and that communities can, and should, take action to strengthen locaIIy-owned businesses and build strong, self-xeliant communides. In a papet entided Grand Fivenue: How to Mazntain Small, Locally Owne� Neagbborhoocl-Serving Aetain $u,rinetrer, zeseazch associate Stacy Mitchell states that the "continued pzo&fe=arion of chains along Gtand Avenue thxeatens the long-term economic and social health o£ the neighboxhood." She lists the following unpacts of chain stoxes on Grand Avenue: ■ Exosion of Gxand Aaenue's Uruque Appeal • I.oss of Businesses that Serve Neighboxhood Needs • Declinuig Range of Job Oppoxtuniries • Weakening of Community Fabric • Increased Car Traffic ■ Growing Instabilzty Tn terms of the cumularive effect of these impacts, she states that "a gxowing body of research is finding that, fox entrepxeneuts, selocating firms,. skilled woskers, and people who want to invest in homes and raise famiLies, the most attxactive commixnities ate those that haae maintuned theit sense of place and protected rheix unique charactex and one-of-a-kind businesses." 31 � '�' _ � _ _ . ... Mitchell's papex offexs a number of plaunin.g stsategies for curbing chain stoxe ptoliferation, such as settiug an upper squate footage limit on size of new xetaii stoses, requiring impact _ assessments, and enco�aging diversitp bp restricting fast-food xestaur_ants and xeraii stotes. Concuteenflp, local developers continue to seek oppottuuities fox new businesses'to locate on Grand Avenue, eirhet in an esisting building ox in new in5ll struchues. In nearly all of these cases, local developers want narional or tegional chain stores that aze able to bring instant name xecagnition and a multi-peaz iental lease a�angement The gzowing demand far emptp nester housing map provide a catalyst for the existing neighbothood interests and the development communitq to moxe effectively address this dileuvna. Sevesal Gxand Avenue pioperties coutd be candidates for infill deveiopment that incorporates both cotnmexcial and xesidential uses in one builcling with a design and scale that xespects historical patterns. These developments could provide opportaniries fot new businesses, therebp enabling some existing older buildings to continue to ptovide space at lowex per-square-foot costs. The uppex lev el housing in the newlp-developed buildings would catex to existing xesidents and new households seeking to locate in Summit Hill without the responsibilities of single-familp home ownexslup. Existing residents of Summit Hill who move into new ownership or rental apaxtxnents would free up their existing homes for new famili.es who des�e the high qualitp,larger historic houses in the neighborhood. The scale xequired to aclueve the commetcial/housing mix in these new developments would lead to development econoxnics that could support underground pazl�ng, thereby reducing much of the development's potenrial negative impact. However, there would 32 ��-; '= remaux several issues, including building design and chazacter, scale and massing, and increased ttaffic from incxeasec3 density. As the land values and development psessures on Grand Avenue incxease, land owners seek retailers that provide strong profits. High customex volutne is benefiaal, as well as psoducts thaT sell well above cost. These tsends favox xetailess that amact regional customexs, and eating and dnmking establishments. While having Gxand Avenue as a regional destination is beneficial to most stoxes on the avenue at some level, the incteased ptessure from tcaffic and pasking that these customexs bring begins to degrade the usability and attractiveness of the avenue, Many in rhe community believe that the fine line between the benefit of segional draw and the detdment has already been cxossed, and that khe traffic, pazking, and inczeasing behaviox pxoblems associated with busy late night b�s is compioiivsing Gxand Avenue's long-term sustainability as a successful cornmunity retail corsidos. As negative consequences of increasing intensity and use grow, the community will begin to see the degzadation of commexcial and tesidential pxoperty values. The continued high quality of life in Suintnit Hill is dependent on the successfixl xesoluaon of this reinvestment dilemma and the impxovement af the neighbozhood development xeview pxocess. The foundation fox cseating a mutually beneficial dynamic between the neighboxhood and the development community begins with xecognizing that ivhile some change is inevitable, that change can be shaped to positively influence the future of Sumusit Hill. The key to rnoving foxwaxd in a posirive mannex is an updated district plan that axttculates a fxamewoxk fot planning, development pxinciples, and action steategies fox residents, businesses, developezs, and Ciry officials. VTSTON STATEMENT The Sununit Hill neighboxhood maintauis and xeinfarces Gxand Avenue as an eciectic rnix of housiag, shops, restazuants, and services fox xesidents and visitoxs. Gxand Avenue shall continue to be a xnix of new buildings that xespect the historic chaxactes of the avenue and neighboxhood, and old buildings that xelate closely to the sidewalk and encoucage pedestrian acrivity at the street level. Beaurificadon effoxts on Gxand Avenue continue with attention to trees, plantets, bench gaxdens, histotical lighting, and attxactive design of buildings that blend with the scale and historical chasactex of the avenue. Businesses pxovide paxking that is affoxdable, inconspicuous, atrsactive, and undesgxound when appxopriate. A balance of zesidenrial and business uses on Gxand Avenue is maintained, inclnding a tniY of small-scale xetail stores and sexvices, both locallp and nationally owned. STRATEGIES Gl Corridor Continuirv. Maintain Gtand Avenue as a continuous neighborhood xetail and xesidential corsidor and contain commexcial uses and accessory pasking within e�isting boundaries. G2 Streetscape Enhancement Plan. Develop a Gxand Avenue Stteetscape Enhancement Plan to make Gxand Avenue moxe pedestrian-, shoppex-, and bicycle- 33 �� ..�.< friendip, to enhance its aesrhetic qualities, and to invigorate its public zealm, including Grand Avenue between Oakland Steeet and I-35E. G2a Devel�ji a�ilttn in conjunctian avith buriner.rer, land oumerr, and develaperr that includet variorrs im�ravemenis sucb aa .ra fer�ede.rtnan c%cringt,l6e inrtallatlon of bencbes, plantings, �ublie art, cult�rral actzvitie�, and actine fhubLic rpacer. G2b Encourage �z.+zdzntr to v�alk to Grctnd Avenxe by conducting a local "[Y/alk to Grand" campaign, .relling affordable shopping bag dollae.r"ta resident.r, etc. G3 Design Guidelines. Adopt TN2 design standazds fox East Gtand Avenue in an ovezlay disfrict These design staudaxds reinfarce human-scale building chazacteristics, pzomote qualitp in aschitectural materials, teinforce a pedestsian-focused steeetscape, ptomote undergLOUnd paxking for mi.eed use developments, and visually-scxeened surface pazking foL smallet, single-use developments, and psomote signage that is consistent with building acchitecture and business function, and complements the eciectic nahixe of the avenue. G4 Commexcial and HousingMix Retain B2-C (comm�cial uses in residential suuctutes) and xesidential zoning on Gcand Avenue, Discouxage rezoning of residential uses on Gxand Avenue to moxe intensive uses. GS Nei�hborhood Focus fot Commescial Uses B-2 and B-2C zoning allows uses most appxopriate to commercial acrivitp on Gxand Avenue. Addirional B-3 uses axe not apptopriate foz Grand Avenue. A zoning studp should 6e initiated bp the City to tezone B-3 pucels that aze currendy used fot B-2 ox less intensive uses. G6 Commercial Spillovet. Rezonings and vasiances aze opposed by SHA in those areas whete parking and uaffic ptobtems create undue hazdship fox neighboring businesses, residents, and visitoxs. Conrsol commercial spiliov� effects onto Lincoln and S�anunit Avenues. The appzoval of site plans and licenses shouid be contingent on the mirigation of parking and tcaffic pioblems to a level acceptabie to the majoriry of-immediately affected businesses and zesidents. G7 Locall�-owned Businesses. SHA tecommends implementing mechanisms for suppozring and retau�ing small, locallp-owned businesses. This includes exploring adoprion of standards to limit the numbex of formula business establishments on East Gsand Avenue. Where sixateg,ies aze best implemented tF�ough changes to City zegulations ox pxocedutes, meet with City staff (Plauning and Economic Development, and Licensing, Inspections and Enoirontnental Protection) to pursue code xevisions. G7a Bevzew planning strategies put fortb by the Inrtitute of I,ocad Self-Aeliance: {1} an ujiper square footage IimiZ on the .ri�e of ne:v ntail.rton.r,� (2) community zrrepact arrertments b�rz aj�j��rvving neJV retail.rtoret (above a certain ri�e),• (3) diverrity af retail and servicer, (4) dzicouraging Phe pml'aferation of natzonal retailerr and restaurants. 34 6/ � � �' � � <. � • G7b Suj�j�o>t GABA in organi�ing jiubkc educatian and marketing .rtrategier thaZ focu,r on supporting locally-owned businesses. ■ G7c Consider local incentive j�mgrams, sutb as cou�on r in `Tbe Summil'; #o encourage local .�ending. G8 Development Opportunities. Create a comsnittee including representatives from the Summit Hitl Associafion and GABA to idenfify these opportuniYies and outline the types of businesses or mix of uses that might best be accommodated at those locations, and describe the appropriate scale and design. G9 Sians. Rigocously enforce the Gxand Avenue Sign Guidelines. SHA should assist LIEP in keeping an up-to-date inventoiy of existing non-confonning signs. G10 5cale and HeiQht Limits. Adopt limitations of the height and scale of new buildings on East Grand Avenue in an ovexiay district as follows: 1. Lunit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 squaxe feet ar less. 2. T unit new building total size, above gzound, to 75,000 square feet ox less, including parking. 3. Limit building height to three (3) stoiies ar ro thitry feet (30') fox coxnmexcial pxojects and ta thixty-suc feet {36') for miced commetcial and xesidential projects, whichevex is lowex. No additional height will be allowed, even with setbacks. 4. Work with the City to adopt the desiced limitatians in an ovezlay district for East Gxand Avenue. G11 Formula Business Resuictions. Exploxe the adoption of standaxds to limit the number of forxnula business establishments on East Gxand Avenue. ■ G17a [Y/ork zvith re,adentr, burinerrer, and legal counrel to develop crode language ta addrers fihe community's concern r about the proliferatian of formula retaid storer and n rtauvants on Eaat Grandl�venue. ■ G91 b bY/ork �viZh tbe City to adopt the derired limetateons in an overlay district fo7• Eart Grandl4venue. 35 � 'x ° � �. � Housing and Residential Life DESCRIPTION E�cpressing the fiill spectnuu from lavish to ptacticai, Suuuuit Hill homes repsesent many styles of tum-of-the-century atchitectute and detailing, inciuding Victorian, Fedexal and Geoxgian, Colonial Kevival, English Countrp/Tudox, Sl�ingle, and smallex houses of the Bungalow and Craftsman sryles. Manp two and three-story brick apaLttnents were built in the 1920s and 1930s, and continue offering modexate-rate rental accommodation to this day. Boulevazds lined with mature trees and sidewalks on both sides of the street exist thsoughout Sumuut Hill, cteating a pedestrian-frien@ly neighborhood. The neighborhood is laid out in a grid pattern with alleps on most blocks. Gtanite cu=bs, historic lighting, stone and brick walls and columns, and wrought iton fencing aze used to varqing degrees cvithin pazds and along most of the sueets in the neighboihood. A few of the streets, especially in the Crocus Hill axea, ate naxcow, curving, and setain theit cobblestone paving. These featuxes aze historically, axchirectucally and aestheticallp significant to the zesidential chazactez of the neighboxhood. A strong economy in the 1990s, coupled with low interest rates, dtove a zeal estate boom for the uzuque historic housing in Suinmit Hill. Long-time zesidents simultaneouslp celebrate the rising home values and lament the fast-rising ptoperty taxes. ftecent trends in the local xeal estate mazket have also czeated a sutge in aparanent-to-condominium conversions. These is a cleaz trend towazd deczeasing affosdability in Suxsuuit Hill. Howeves, as home values have inczeased theze has been a surge in housing rehabilitation and additions. The housing stock today is in better condiflon than a decade ago. These aze currendy 3,412 occupied housing units--both ownes-occupied and tental—which is 96 less than in 1990. Of these occupied housing units, 1,$20 aze xental, a deczease of 224 units since 1990 and 1,592 axe ownex-occupied, an increase of 128 units since 1990. 'The vacancy sate of all housing units incseased to 2.7 percent in 200o, ftom 22 pexcent in 1990. 3b � :' � . Housing Units in Summit Hili .`� 4000 � 3500 � 3000 �� 2500 = 2000 0 1500 m 1000 � 500 3 Q Z Year 1970 1980 1990 2000 PercentRental 60% 60% 58% 53% VISION STATEMENT The Suimnit Hill neighboxhood is notable fox the uniqaely historic character of its housing stock, defined by the assembly of compatibie buildings in context with theie sursoundings and the xich tree-lined tuban envixontnent. The pxeseivarion of that chazactet is of pazamount impoitance to those who live and visit hexe. To continue to unpxove the ambience and the livability of the neighboxhood, there must be bettex enfozcement of cuxLent zoning and building guidelines, development and implementaUon of design and beautification guidelines, and educarion of xesidents on these issues. Thxough the sensitive tenovarion of eacisting housing units and thxough the development of new well-designed infill and mixed-use developments, the goaI is to maintain and expand housing options for cunent and futuxe Lesidents. 37 1990 2000 � :. °� �_ . . STRATEGIES H1 Propertv Maintenance and Beautification SHA will develop and implement a district-wide progtam to educate and encoutage zesidents to bettes maintain their ptoperties, as well as their alleps, with regazd to tzash ieceptacles, planting and weed semoval. 1. A.rrirt block leaders fn o�gani�ing alley clean-up event.c and prnmote alleygardening and maintenance ofgarages, fence.r, Walls, trarh ncefitacle.r, and other rtructures Z. Continrre to mork with the City af St. Paul on tbe annual clean-uji day.r. 3. Conducs an education jirograrn regarding.rtandards af arpkeep and enforcemant. 4. Publi.sTi p�vperdy beautifiuxtion fiip.r in each i.rrue of `Tbe Summit" neaurletter and in the SHA talumn in `Avenue.r". 5. Enlf.ct `Nlaster Gardener.c"and facully and studentr from tbe Univerrity ofMinnerota Hor�iculture pragram to ren,e ar rerourcer for neighborr and ta conduct periodic seminarr on beaut�cation. 6. O�gani�e a home/propsrly beaut�cataon mork.rbofi. 7. Ure and refer to ruaeseful examples from otber neighborhood.r. 8. 13ecogni�e nice lanr�rcaj�ing unth neigbbarhoodgarden tours, asvards, and/or feature.r in `Tbe Summit". � � � � H2 Historic Pteseivation. In collabozation with the Saint Paul Heritage Presezvation Commission, consider a historic site survey of pxoperdes south of Gsand Avenue and e�lore the feasibility of expanding the Hill Historic Dis�ct, designating a nem clistrict ox nominating addidonal individual sites. 1. Kecogni�e nice landreajizng tveth neigbbm>5aodgarden tours, award3, and/or feat�aret in `Tbe SummiP'. H3 Design GuideIines. SHA will cooxdinate a volunteei gioup to deveiop and implement-design voluntaxp guidelines fox new housing and Tixe xenovarion of e�sting housing in ateas not included in the historic district. The guidelines should encoutage high quality design that emphasizes being complementaiy and contextual zathez than strict historic xep&catian. Provide design guidelines and historic preservarion goals to pexsons xeceiving demolition pernuts and ensure that xeplacement housing meets all pextinent zoning tequisements, xecognizing that pxe-escisting non-conforming conditions axe pxotected by State law. 1. Consider xon-regulatory tools, such a.r aguidebook, uideo, and/ar workshopc to educate horneorvnerr/develapers abaTet bousang de,czgn that complement.r the neighborhood context. Tl�is task rhould be coordinated with the development of the neigbborhaod urban design frumework. H4 O�en Spaces Advocate far xetention of neighborhood gxeen spaces, such as paxks and vegetated biuff areas. SHA will e�plore incentives for pxoperty ownexs to pxeserve as private open space the undeveloped partions of pxoperries. HS Housing Den T sirv. Ensiare that the unpact of anp increased density confoicns to zoning and building requixements, and that the City considexs the development's advexse impact on e�sting municipal services including, but not limited ta, traffic and pazking. 1. H7a [Y/ork closely �ant6 City stnff an the revaew of development aj�plicationr. H6 Single-Eamily and Multi-famil� Residences Maintain the e�sting residentially zoned axea and xetain the mi�c of housing types (single-family, duplex, townhouses, and apartments in the Sntmnit Hill neighbothood in eusting and new housing developments. Request the City to conduct a zoning study to xezone apaztrnents and condos to the e�sting use H7 Mixed-use Buildinu�s fCommercial Plus Residentiai� Ensute that new and renovated mi4ed-use builclings on Grand Avenue respect the historic natute and charactex of the neighborhood, as mell as ptoviding dedicated off-stseet ox underground parking fox xesidents and tenants. 1. Educate ozvnerr of mixed-ure buildings about &uilding arrd site de.izgn tbat complements tbe neigbborhood cvntext. 39 �� _- ,� Z. T�ark witb iba Cily ofSt. Paul to enforce ordinances regardangparking in alleyr artd inappro�riate ar excessive parking on individual prapertier. 3. I�eviem�iarkang ordinance requirernents that nlate to boureng. 4. I�equire that ald nen. houring or nnovaCiona of exi.rting houring j}ravide at least the minirrlum amount of off-.rtreetparking mandated by the Zoning Code. 5. Encouruge propery ownerr to p�nperly maintaingarages ttnd to u.ce tbem for j�arking. H9 Housin�Options Maintain rental housing oprions to continue some measute of affoxdabilitp in the neighborhood. 1. Exj�lore mechanism.c far di.rcouraging converrion of multi-unit rentad &xildzngs to avmer-occu�ized unilr H10 Code and Ordinance Enfarcement SHA will woxk with the Gitp of St. Pau1 to monitor and enfotce the apptoptiate zoning, building code, and maintenance oxdinances fox housing stock and rhe psoperties thep occupp, �. The Summit Hzll Zoning and Zlnzd Use Com�nitzes shauld mntinue ta zvork clarely �a.ith Ciiy �aning staff on Conditianal Ure Permitr, variaraces, and rite�lan reviem ta ensure consirtency and essforcemenL. .� H8 Housing-telated Paxiflng Encoutage xesidents to fully utilize er,isting residential parkiug opporhmities in the neighbothood and to cseate new off-street pazking and gazages when possible. � __ ' . n i i 1 ax ancennves ana �ncouta�nng lnvestment in Housin (1) Lobby tlae City of St. Paul and the State of Nlimiesota to teintroduce the "These Oid Houses" psogtam to encousage capital unpeovements Yo older houses, with an updated va2uation ceiling that keeps pace with maxket conditions. (2) I.obby Ramsey County to remove maintenance projects fxom the valuation fonnulas for pzoperty taxes to encousage bettex maintenance of Summit Hill housing stock. (3) Lobby the City of St. Paui to institute a tax abatement pxogxam to encourage the pvschase and upgrading of old and blighted psoperties, inciuding condominiuxns and apartment buildings. 1. O�gani�e a bou,reng commitdee to execute the above strategies. H12 Maintenance of Rental Pxopex Pxomote inaintenance of tental properties and ongoing communication with landlards and tenants in the community. 1. Encourage Summit Hill landlords to j�articij�rate in St. Paul flscociation of Kerponszble Landlordc (SPAkL). 2. E�and communicataon beiween 571�4 and landlordr and tenants, utili�ing Tbe Summit, the District 16 website, and an email la;rt serue. 41 � � �. �, .. _, Cornmunity Life, Public Spaces, and Recreation DESCRIPTION T`he three primary oxganizations that pxovide the focal points for community participation and xepresentation befoxe Citp govezumental agencies and processes aze the Suumiit Hill Associarion/Disuict 16 Planuing Council, the Gxand Avenue &usiness Associarion {GABA) and the Linwood Recxearion Center. A portion of Siun:nit Hill lies within the Snmmit Avenue Histozic District. The Summit Avenue Residential Preservarion Association (SARFA), as well as the SLmurut Hill Association, xepxesents these interests. The largest contiguous open space in Distxict 16 cent�s on Linwood Park, located on St. Clair Avenue and Deubenez Street. As part of a neatty contiuuous bluff line that defines the southem edge of the Sum:nit Hill neighboxhood, this space ptovides the laLgest and longest views f�om the neighborhood. The view encompasses the I-35 Corridoz, a zailsoad corndot, and an adjacent neighborhood. The asea provides the neighboxhood's most vegetative divetsitp and habitat potential. The veg,etated bluff liue and zailxoad corridor on the southem edge turn into an old stxeambed which defines the western edge of the disrrict along pxesent dap Ayd Mill Road. Many in the communitp believe this space should pxovide off road bicycle and pedesttiau paths. Sevezal othei pocket gteen spaces exist in the district, including Triangle Paxk, Kenwood Pazk, and a handful of emptp lots held bp private landowness. 42 � `�_ d A range of xecreational and social opportunities e�rist in the disttict. The Linwood Recieation Center provides youth sports leagues, child and adult fimess and hobby classes, meeting spaces for ozganizations and gxoups, and outdoar skating, playgsound, plap fields and tennis courts. Pleasant Arena, a Ramsey Counry indoos skating rink, offexs wintex skating pximarily to ice hockey and figuxe skating clubs. Two private clubs in the distnct offer their membeis dining, sw-i+*++*�;ng, tennis and other recxeational activities. Churches and schools provide addirional social netwoxks, as do smaller associations and gxoups in the community involved in varied types of volunteering and xecxeation. VISION STATEMENT The Suminit Hill neighboxhood reaches out, publicizes, and communicates to all neighbors the social and culh�al events in the community. We maintain a compxehensive and acrive block leader pxogxam that pxomotes crixne prevention, community functions, and xecycling to all residents in the neighboshood. We build stxongeL community/institutional paxmexships and betteT utilize existing public and private faciliries in the disteict fox community events and acrivities. We maintain and enhance use of e�cisting public spaces and paxks. We promote maintenance and beautificarion of our pazks, public and private spaces, and the Gxand Avenue shopping comdox. STRATEGIES CLI Linwood Recxeation Centex. Support Linwood Recxearion Centex pxograms for all ages, including spoxts, community educarion, azts, and gxoup activiries. Continue to .cupport Lin�.00d Aecreatian Center mi.rnon and programs, and tbe Linmood Boorter Club. CL2 Tree Pxo�am. Develop a District boulevaxd uee pxeseivation and xeplacement plan that seeks to maintain and pxeseroe oux valued latge trees and pxovide planting guidelines for new trees in both uxban and residential streetscapes. The vegetated bluff azeas that buffex District 16 $om I-35 and Ayd Mill Road shouid be pxeseroed, except for pxavie bluff xestroxarions. Have tbe Environment Com�nittee develop the boulevard tree j�nreruation and j�romf�t replacementplan. 2. Initiate j�roceduns to have the heavily vegetated bluff arear of Dirtrict 16, cu ident�ed in Appendix 3, as a Tree Pnrervation Dirtrict. CL3 Gatewap and Image Plan. Develop a Suinmit Hill/Distcict 16 idenrification plan through the use of uxban design techniques inciuding use of bannexs/gzaphics and/ox historically sensirive signage placed on the streetscape that identifies that one is in the Summit Hill neighboThood. 43 ,,, _ 1. Have the irrrplementation committee e�lore mechanirmr to have a Dirtrict 167dentity Enhancement Plan prej�cmed in conjunction urith the Grand Avenue Stnetrca�e Enhancement Plan tbrough the ure of conrultants and/nrgraduate rtudent.c CL4 Greening the Public Realm. Beautifp the public xealm thzoughout the neighborhood to pxomote increased use and bettet stewatdship. 3. Seek out op�ortunities ta incorporate bench garden.r in existing j�ark.r and in netv or redeveloped retai! or reridential rj�acer on GrandAvenue. 4. Enhance maintenance ofpublic and private blu�f arear by u�orking �aritb rerfdents and the City park .ctaff to mmave litter, .rtabik'�e rlopes, rej�air retaining wald , and remove bucklborn. 5. Supj�ort and encourage community art in the�ublic nalm, ,ruch ar muralr, ,rculpture, and tne tnrnk caruing. CLS Linwood Patk. Enhance inaintenance of I,inwood Patk and develop a landscape design plan fot uppei Linwood Park. 9. Work a�ith Linmoad Becreation Center and rtaff at St. Paul Dej�ar6ment of Park r and Aecreation to develop a maintenance j�rogram and landrea�e design �lan. CL6 Ayd Mill Road. Support the installation of off-road pedestrian and bicycle paths adjacent to any iedesign of Ayd Mill Road. 9. i�ork nrith rtaff at St. Paul Dejiartment of Public IY�ork.c to imj�lement tbere featurer. CL7 B1ock Leaders. Recruit and inaintain acrive block leadexs foz every block in the district. 1. Continue to identijy, support, and train block leaders. CL8 Volunteerism. Encoutage volunteerism between insritutions and xesidents in the neighborhood. 1. Create and bep coordinate vodunteer ojijiortunitzes ruch ur tutoring at neighborbood schoodr, arsi rting the Block Nurre Prograrrz, bartering for reruices for.renior.r, and curi cting with prograrrrs and landreajie maintenance at Linivood Park. 2. Arrict GABA and area burinerses to organi�e emj�loyeer ta do voluntary mork in the neighborhood, at inrtitutianr, urith reniorr, etc. 3. Create a`�'ammunityA.rset Bank,"a data ba.re that identifzes talentr or nsourcer in the neighborhood CL9 Outceach. Reach out to all tesidents, including tenants, about community events. 0 � � � ^ (9 Utili�e tbe Cammunicationr Comrizittee to develop methods to better di.rtribute community informatian. 2 Cnate community ,�i'osk_r lacated along GrandAvenue and at Iinmood Becreation Center, :vorkang vyitb GABA and local car�enter.r to irr�slement. 3. Encourage block leaders to create voluntary neigbbor lirtr of each block to di rtribxte to block nridentr. 4. Com�lete a voluntary e-mail netzvork of da.rtrict rendentr. CL10 Communitv Fvents. (1) Continue the "Progressive Suppe�" event two times per yeax. (2) Continue the "Sutiuiut Hill House Toux." (3) Continue to suppost the Gxand Avenue Business Associadon on "Gtand Old Da�' and "The Gxand Meander." Enrure that the Communicationr and Development Committeer continuer to rupport these eventr. CL11 Usin,� Communitv Assets. Identify ways that majox institutional assets in the Suuuiut Hill axea could bettex seroe the neighboxhood, such as the Pleasant Avenue skating asena, the William Mitchell Law Libxary, as well as events (concerts, plays, or speakexs) at area schools and chuxches. 1. Have the Communication c Committee contact tbere in.rtitution.r to develop methods for stmnger involvement; get the inrtitutaont themrelver to sug,e.rt adeas,• include information about local atsetr on kiork.r. CL12 Cultural Oggortuiuties. Support local cultural opportunities and the axts. 1. Ure the Community Asretr Bank to identij�y arti.rtr that live in the neighborhood and ark them hosv tbe neighborbood could better rupj�ort arts and cultural opj�ortunities. 2. Have the Summit HzllArtociation rpon,ror an artjcultural fair, maybe in conjunction zvith the Haure Tour, or as part of GABA'.c Grand Meander event. 3. Include artr and tzeltural ctmenitie.r as part of tbe GrandAvenue Street.rcape Enhancement Program. 45 � �` ° �, , .�� d Pedestrian Safety, Traffic and Parking DESCRIPTION Traffic Vehicles tend to dominate the movement pattems in the Snmmit Hill neighborhood. Txaffic speed on neighborhood sneets and local collectozs is eroding neighborhood livabititp, reducing pedestrian safety, and incxeasing noise. Txaffic and pedestrian czashes in the azea aze incseasing and pedestrians have difficulty cxossing streets at both matked and umnazked czossmallis. Vehicles parked too close to intersecdons aze obsteucting visibility and xestdcting safe access into and out of alleys and driveways. These ptoblems need to be corrected by restoring a healthy balance between vehicles and the historic, pedestrian- centeied chazactet of the Suuunit Hiil neighboxhood. Pa� Paxking availability in the residential azeas of Siumnit Hill varies fxom quite convenient to hard to find as ptoxiuiity to Gzaad Avenue, apartcnent buildings, or institutions like William Mitchell College of Law incxeases. Frusteated zesidents neat Gtand Avenue bave insrituted Permit Pazking aseas, which provide a bxeak from spillovez pazking, but also add some inconvenience for iesidents and theiz guests. Pazking testricted azeas vaey in effectiveness depending on enfoxcement. Both on-street and off-stxeet sutface pazking exist to seroe Gxand Avenue businesses and other instirixtioaal uses. However, a seties of studies conducted between 1991 and 1996 have indicated a significant shortfall in off-stteet pazking on Grand Avenue between Dale Street and Lexington Patkway. A mixed xetail and pazl�ng facility at Gzand Avenue and Victotia was built in 2000 to resemble a tcvo-stoiy building with commetcial stoxefsonts. The xamp is razely fully utilized, despite difficulty finding pazking in that asea Cazs exiting u�auy of the surface parlang lots onto Grand Avenue find the visibility of on-comiu� txaffic hindered bp vehicies pazked neaz entrances. �� - - �. ti., �; Pedeshian Movement Patterns The Sumuut Hill neighboshood psovides an intezconnected system of sidewalks with few muked stteet cxossings. Some steeets, such as Lexington Parkway, while ptoviding sidewalks on both sides fox pedestrian movement as well as boulevazd plantings, do not accotnmodate pazking on both sides, thexeby decxeasing the potential teaffic caltiung effect of pazked vehicles. Tzaffic-cahning tseahnenu, such as stop signs at every other block on local stceets within the neighboshood, encourage rtaffic to move moxe slowly. Pedestdan safety is most challenged when cxossing Lexington Pazkwap and St C1ait, Gxand, and Sutnmit Avenues. Pedestrian right-of-way laws have had only a modest effect facilitating pedestrian csossings. A pedestaan traffic death at Grand Avenue and Gtotto Street in October 2003 illusttates the seriousness of the problem. Bic�le Movement Patterns Of all transportation modes, bicycles seem to be ptesented with the most obstacles except along Suminit Avenue where the cyclists axe provided a maxked lane. The Gxand Avenue coxridor is not welcoming to the cyclist Its limited stxeet width, the presence of many vehicles, and on-street paxking spots are pxoblemaric fot bicycle uavel. Veiy few bicycle racks e�st along Gxand Avenue. Thexe is the potential to develop a bicycle path along the Ayd Mill Road comdot, with the primary obstacle being the ability to provide bicycle £riendly access to and fxom the adjacent cxoss stxeets. VISION STATEMENT The Suinu�it Hill neighboxhood was cxeated at a time when people walked fsom place to place or used the stseetcaz as their pximasy means of txansportation. Tn oxder to maintain the charactex of this neighboxhood we must ensuce that it continues to be pedesritian friendly and suppoxts transit use. Recognizing the value of a healthy balance betcveen the xesidenrial and commexcial chaxactei of the Summit Hill atea, we must develop a traffic and paxking plan that pxovides safe access to public and private spaces while limiting the impact of auto and truck tsaffic. Our vision is to preseroe the historic sesidential and unique commexcial chaxacter of the Sutiunit Hill neighboxhood by pxoviding a healthy balance of uanspoxtation oprions. The ultimate goal is to lessen the impact of vehicles and xeturn the neighboxhood to moie pedestrian friendly times. Finding strategies to addtess pexsistent traffic and parking problems in the neighboxhood is a pxiority. These efforts will include significandy xeducing commexcial spilloves to xesidential streets, gxeady enhancing pedestrian sa£ety thsough tzaffic calming and enfoxcement, and significant xeducrion of the paxking deficit. The objectives of tsaffic calming are to encourage safety and enforcement, create livable neighborhoods and safez streets, and combat disruption, pollution and unlawfixl teaffic activities. 47 �U��,.,,� STRATEGIES P1 Comprehensive Traffic and Pazking Studp. Initiate, in coopexation with the City, a thozough, compiehensive teaffic and pazking study of the neighborhood to detennine an appxopriate transportation and parking management sttategp. Public wotks will pasticipate in this process as staff Lesousces and time pei�mits. 1. Ertablish a Pedestrian Safety/Traffic/Parking irr�kmentation committee to execute the following strategies tbrough three bmad implementatian tcuk: 9) tvarking with the Depanment ofPublic LPlorks and tbe Police, 2) volunteer and educationalprograma, and 3) the Grand Avenue Stnet.rcape Enbancemeni Plan rcope of vrork. P2 S�ecific Safety Meastxres. Improve pedestrian safety and impzove the quality of the pedesttian and biryclist experience. Make selected cros�xvalk c an arteriadr (Grand, Summit, I.exingtan, St. Clair, Victoria) more �i.rible through a combination of bolder color,.ctrij�ing, textun, and rignage. 2. SHA recommends invertigatingthe elimination of rig$t turns on red at certain interrections along Summit and Grand Avenuer. 3. Empbari�e parking nnrickoru near intersectaonr uring rlgn.t andyeldow paint to clearly indicate no j�arking. Public avork.r zvidl install.rigns on a case by care barir. � � �Y � _ - 4. Inrtall rigns, �ilantingr, and other rignalr at neighborhoodgatemayt that announce "Welcome to the Hirtoric Summit Hill Neigbborhood, "`:Slo�v Dovm and Stop for Pedertrianr in Crasm�alk_ ,"`20 ir Plenty, " and `SIAw for Cbildren. " 5. SHA v�ill wark uritb tbe City, busine,rrer, and develoj�err sa iratall more bicycle racks, benche , and buf rhelters. 6. Encourage the City Palice to vigorourdy enforce lav�r concerning crornvalkr, ,rpeed limits, and rertricted parking near interrection r. Con rider creative alternative.c to enhance pede ctrian safety at bury and often dangerou r interrectzonr. 8. Increase jiedestrian and driver education by uring The Summit nerurletter and neighborhaod rignage . P3 Traffio-Cahiune. Utilize traffic cahnuig techniques that mclude educarion, enforcement, and engineexing iesources. Ttaffic cahnuig includes stxeet design and tegulatory feahues that cause motorists to drive moxe slowly and with a gteatex degree of attentiveness. 1. Encaurage the City to rigorourly exforce ,rj�eed limitr. Increare driver azvarenerr of .rpeed lirrrzzits by placing .rpeed monitoring di.cj�lay devices on neighborhood rtreetr. 3. Exj�lore and imple�nent zvith community and City rupport specific traffic-calming mearures such as, cpeed bumpr, traf�'ic circler, bump out.c, center median r and additional rtop .rigns. Make traffic calming a part of all rtreet recon ctruction. 4. SHA tvill reek to reduce speed limitr on rendential rtnetr to 25 miles�er hour. 5. Betain I-35E at tbe edge of Surrtmit Hill as a 45mile per hourparkway and ancourage the Minne rota Department of Tranrj�ortation to maintain itr attractive landreaping in the medianr and along the roadsvay. P4 Txaffic Management. Manage tsaffic flow and stseei capacity to discouxage increased volumes and speeds, ptovide safe and convenient access to pxoperties, and protect pedestrians. Provide better enforcement of traffzc and parking laws. Encourage to�a�ing of violators. I�e,rtrict parking zvithin 30 feet of interrections, and zvithin 5 feet of alleyr and drlve:vayr, to ensure visibility. 2. Arsess the feasibility of additional tra�c controlr, ,cuch ar traffzc lights and stop .rign.r. .. � �- n � . ..� 3. Parking and vehicle aae cr to and fro�rz future development on Grand Avenue rball be senritive to tra�c flow, parking needf, and j�edertrian ,rcrfety . 4. Maintain Summit, Grand, and St. CdairAvenuer, Dale and Victoria Streets, and Lea,zngton Parkway a,c 2-lane rtreetr, not to be vridened to accommodate increared tra�c. PS Tiansit. Pxomote transit use, recapture ridership, and serve the transit-dependent by matching transit sezvice with travel need. 1. Maintain and enhance tranrit rerulce on Grand and St. Clairl4venuer. 2. SHA encourage,c maintainence of exirting tranrit rhelterr, installution of new aner when j�orrible, and tbe elimination or reduction af advertising rigns on bur bencher and thelterr. SHA doer not wand private adverti,ring rhelterr.. 3. Install mute maj� r and rehedttler at mon tran.rit rtops. 4. Errcourage the GrandAvenue Businer.rl�r.rociation and ot$er busine.crer to adojit a merchant- su�ported token ryrtem to encourage tranrit ute. 5. E�lore additianal tran.cit optianr to cost-�ectively increare tran.ritfrequency and ridership and to minimi�e car u.re and tr�'zc, .ruch a.r a t�nlley for GrandAvenue or by interlining the Grand Avenue tranrit route ivith a Minneapolis �nnute so that it meet.c demand for sennce to tbe Univerrity of Minneaota, Univerrity of St. Tbomas; and doivntown Minnealiolis. 6. Advocate for a reduced fare on Grand Avenue. P6 Off-sueet Pazking. Adequate off-sueet parkiag shall be provided for all residenrial and commexcial uses, in a mannez that tespects the historic chazactex of the neighboxhood. 1. Screen parking lots u.ring aj�j»vvpriate treatmentr ruch ar a,rtrang landscaped edge along the atnet and allzy. 2. IYlork zuitb the Aolice Depart�rrent to develap a plan to dramatzcally increare enfarce�nent of all exi.rting parking ordinances Aevie7v pan�i'ng variance history and City parking j�olicier to determine if a revised ngulatory apj�roacb is requind 3. SHA encourageS and .cupports undergmund j�arking tvbere apjimpriate. . 4. SHA recommendr that rooftoji jiarkz'ng ir adequately screened by�araj�etr, nrch tbay they prevent viribility to nearby reridencer from the rooftoj� parking area. 5. Bertrict commercial parking ht.r fiom areas that are ured primariLy far n.ridential pur�o,cer. 50 �� r � ia �. es � u. " 6. Zrrt�lement more uniform j�arking �oner on GrandAvenue to facilitate more rigorour enforcement. 7. Continue the option of Perntit Parking �anec for tbo.re reridents zvho nquert them. 8. Facilitate negotiation.r for tbe .chand u.re af under-utili�ed cammercial�arking lotr o Grand Avenue. Encourage burinetres to utili�e the third jloor of Grand Place and the Hoxre of Hope lotfor e�rtployee jiarkang. P7 Shaxed P�kin�. Facilitate shaxed packing agxeements. Allow and encourage shaxed pazking in insriturional lots. The Suininit Hill Association, the Gxand Avenue Business Associarion, and the City shall work cvith pxopettp ownexs to xeach paxking agxeements fox shazed use of commexcial pasking as allowed undex Statute 62103 of the Zoning Code, and shaxed use of insdtutional lots as allowed undex Statute 60.413(15) of the code. Shared packing oprions should be explored as pazt of any application far paxking variance. P8 Building Removal fos Parkine. Discoutage builduig zemoval solely fox pazking. 1. Kemoval of buildingr solely to provide additional parkt'ng i r dircouraged. P9 Pazking Su� �tilv. Retain and expand e�sting commercial and residential parking. 1. SHA opj�oses removal of e.xi rting parking without rub.ctitute j�arking being pmvided at a level greater than or equal to cunent �oning requirements. 51 `� : _: �r 2. SHA opporer jiarking variance and zvant.r all nem reridential and commmzal builda'ngs to providel5arking at a kvel equal to orgreater tban tbe cr�rrent �aning nquirementr at the time of perrnit upplication. 3. Eliminate the `Rule of Five "parking regulation on Ecut GrandAvenue. 4. Seek out opportunities forparking in underutili�ed r�aces. P10 Employee Pazkinu�. Find altematives for employee patking whete customer demand is highest Di.rcourage employees of Grand Avenue budne.rses fiom uring on-.rtreet parking rpacer, inclu�ding tbose on Iaruoln and Su�nrrzitl�venuer and tbe nortb-couth rtnetr 6etween I incoln and SummitAvenue.r. 2. Employer.r rhould encourage employee.r to u re in rtitutional or j�ay lots tvhen agreements can be reached, or to ute tranrit to comrnute to work. 3. Encourage burinecces to .rubsidi�e tranrit ure by emj�loyeec rather than rubridi�ing parking. P11 Customex Patkin . Imptove awazeness of paxking options fot Gtand Avenue cvstomets and visitors. 1. Inrtallparking mapr aloreg GrandAvenue t6at indicate�ermitted and nrtricted j�arking locationr in the ana. 2. Encourage burinerres to provide voucherr to nsrtomers uring�aid�arking ramps. 52 �, r � � � .r �� ., -_ .; ...i Crime Prevention and Safety DESCRIPTION Suuvnit Hill features less violent cxiine and property crixne than St. Paul as a whole. The violent crime rate incteased from 1996 to 2000, while the pxoperty crime tate decreased. Violent crime incxeased from 318 to 593 per 100,000 people, compased to 851 per 10Q000 in St. Paul as a whole. Property crime is down from 6,220 to 6,112 per 100,000 people, compazed to 6,439 in St Paul as a whole. Crime Rate in Summit HIII d � 8000 0 6000 0 0 ° 4000 � °� 2000 N N � O . ` U Year VISION STATEMENT Suuuzut Hill will continue to be a safe neighboxhood cvith good quality police and fire pTOtection. Personal safety will be xeinforced tl�ough Sumtnit Hill's physical and sociai netwoxks operating within the neighborhood, induding the gathering place/community coxridar of Gxand Avenue. Good design in Swnmit Hill's buiidings and landscape elements defines Sununit Hill's chacactex and supports the sense of stewardship among residents and visitoxs. A high level of maintenance of spaces and builclings cxeates a pexception and feeling of safety and belonging. Pexsonal safety is improved thxough stxategies for visibility (sightlines and lightin�, xeadability (a sense of orientation), and mobility (the abihty to change one's course of movement to avoid an undesirable or unsafe situarion). 53 1996 2000 STRATEGIES CR1 Crime Watch ProQram. Promote, use, and eapand the Neigkborkood Crime Watch Progxam to organize and mobilize the neighboshood to pLO-actively approach pessonal safety and pxoperty protection. 9. Continue to rxf�port the variety af comf�atible land uae r and denritier that characteri�e tbe "eyer on the rtreet"rafety of Su�nmit Hill. 2. Evaluate .rtreet and ally lighting to determine if improvement3 are needed �zgardzng ligbting levelr and dirtribution. 3. Purrue gnaterpolice j�atrols of Ii'nwood Park and itr slopes, particu/arly after dark, ta dircourage repeatedproblemr tvith car break-ins, graffzti, vandalirn, and more reriour crimes. 4. Cantinue to .rufij�ort tbe Neighborhood Block tUatch program. 5. Cantinue ta maintain clore ivorking relationrbipr u�ith the jiolice and fire dej�artmentr. 6. Educate reridents on zvayr to inzprove home, apartment, and vehicle security. 7. Advocate for the pnrence of mounted polzce, bicycle, and foatpatml.r. 8. Educate residentr and burinerre.r regarding the ben�tt ofgaod f�roperly mazntenance in tbe reduction of vandalirm and otber crimes againrt property. 9. Communicate more broadly the Spring Clean-zr� and Neighborbaad Garage Sale to encourage proj�erly/garage clean-zr[� and �educe crime j�otential. 10. Educate about the ben�tt ofgarage utili�akon to mduce car bnak-in apportunitiet. 11. Encaurage autdoorlighLZng far bath re.ridencer and burinerrer, e.g., ure af.rolar/motion ren,rorr, working urith neighbor.r on a front porch li8ht pmgram, etc. 54 � u�`" � Chapter 5: Implementation The follo�ving Implementation Task Matcix lists all of the Strategies and Tasks fot each of the Suunnit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan Elements: • Grand Avenue Mixed Use Coxridos • Housing and Residential Life • Community Life, Public Spaces, and Recxeation • Pedestrian Safety, Traffic, and Pazking � Crime Prevention and Safety Subsequent to Plan adoption by the PluZning Coimnission and City Council, the Sumtnit Hill Association/Disteict 16 Planning Council will meet to deteiYnine lead xesponsibility, suppoxt, and a timetable for cazrying out the required acrions. (insert Implementatrotr Tirnetable and Responsibilitres chart here) 55 y y , �.� ,I , r v� �. .._ . .n Appendi.ces I, Planning Context ■ Implementation Status of fl�e 1989 District 16 Plan ■ St. Paul's Comprehensive Plan ■ Relevant Citywide Iniriarives II. Planning Process and Public Involvement ' Summary of Community Participation Methods • Grand Avenue Business Associarion Focus Gxoup • Sutninary of Vision Boasds, Petson-on-the-street Interviews, Neighborhood Survey, and Resvlts of November 23, 2003 Community Issues and Opportunities Workshop • Results of the January 25, 2003 Community Visioning Workshop 56 Append.ix I Planning Context Implementarion Status of the 1989 District 16 Plan � - � -. W _ �, The Suinuut Hill Associauon adopted the current District 16 Plan on Mazch 16, 19$9. This Plan was then forwaxded to the City and adopted by the Saint Paul Plarming Commission on Apri128, 1989. Ovet the past decade, neazly all of the recommendations and projects have been caxried out/completed. Significant successes include the following: � Constxuction of a full seivice community center at Linwood Paxk (iep]acing the concxete block structure that housed the recxeation pxogxams). • The maintenance of education alternarives (such as the creation of the Linwood A+ Arts School). • Developing effective neighborhood communications. ` Obtaining business and institutional coopexation in sharing eacisting parking facilities along Grand Avenue. • Maintaining and upgrading Linwood Pask. ■ Initiation of a compxehensive uaffic study of the neighboxhood from 1991-1996. Saint Paul's Comprehensive Plan The key xelevant chaptexs of the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan �e: Land Use, Housing, Pazks and Recxeation, and Txansportation. The main messages fxom those chaptexs axe: • Enhance neighboxhoods as �ban villages. • 1�teet new housing matkets, especially empty nesters. • Use paxks and open space to shape city chazactex and build community. • Support tcansportation choices. ■ Promote transit, incxeased density, a mis of incomes through both iental and ownei- occupied housing, and p�chasing powei along neighboxhood coxxidoxs. In moxe specific terms, the following Comprehensive Plan chaptexs ditect and shape the Sununit Hill/Disirict 16 Plan Update as follows: Land Use The City, neighboxhood organizarions, developets and xealtors should use the �ban village principles listed below for assessing neighborhoods and promoting the advantages of city living: • Compact and pedesttian-fsiendly. 57 � � °. � � � �. � .� • Continue and expand efforts to enhance the city's ttadirional neighboshood design. � Continue a couunitment to the pxeservation of histoxically and azchitecturally significant buildings and neighboxhoods. • Imptove :nuiagement and maintenance of xental property. • Give priority to projects that cominit to the long-tean affoidability of housing units. • Pxomote good'design solutions fos housing that meets newez mazket needs and complements existing Saint Paul neighbozhoods, designs that use the.smallex development sites creatively and that pxovide fot housing in miYed-use neighboxhood centexs. • In the construction of ownexsl�ip and zental housing, enco�age a dive�sity of building and unit types to meet the diversitq of the muket. ParticuIaz attention should be paid to assessing and meeting the needs of a gxowing nutnbet of oldet pexsons who aze looking foi altemative housing in theix own neighboLhoods. Parks and Recteation Saint Paul's population is beco more racially and cultuxally divexse. Thete is also an incxeased xate of change in xecreation tcends. Thexefoxe, the delivexy of services must be flexible to allow timely response to unforeseen needs, teends, and opportunities. The City must ensuxe that pazk and xecseation facilities remain safe, attcactive, and accessible through effecdve design, maintenance, and staffrng. Because even stable and cohesive neighboxhoods aze being thteatened by social and economic changes, the City xecognizes that recreatton centees, and pazks in genexal, can play a vital tole in neighboxhood stabilization and community building. And finally, there must be balanced paxk development, i.e., piotecting open space and natutal xesources and accommodating recreation demands. The following thxee majox strategies will guide futute development, opeiarions, and maintenance of the Saint Paul pazks and recreation system: Sha�e Citv Chatactet: Pazks, pazkways, and natuxal and historic featutes lend form, chazacter, and identitp, which enhance the city and its neighborhoods. Building Comxnunitv. Pazks and secxeation facilities ptovide opportunities to bring people togethes, fostei community involvement, and build a comxnunity support system. Innovative Focusin� of Resources. E�cplore ways to stretch existing resouxces, identify new xesouxces, and build partneiships. Trans�ortation Txansportarion system should woik for tbe community, in that it should be integtal, not icttrusive, and it should protect and enhance neighborhoods and support economic development. The transportarion system should also tvo� for individuals, so that different modes of travel comfortablq co-exist and individual modes of choice aze well accoxnmodated. More specifically, the following objectives cvill be ptusued: 59 �,` P� .� . .� • Mixture of land uses. • Bsoad xange of housing types. • Support mass teansit. • Commexcial, civic, and institutional activities embedded (in mi�ced-use buildirtgs). • Range of park faciliries. • Safe and secuxe. ' Axchitecture and landscaping physically define the steeets and public spaces. Neighbozhoods should considet the social and economic factors unplied in the norion of "village" as well as physical design factors. In tsaditional neighboxhoods, the Citp will suppoxt compatible xnised use within single buildings and in sepaxate buildings in close proxiinity. At neighboihood commeicial centexs, the City, in collabararion with individual neighboxhood and business districts, will give mote attention to the pedestrian xealm and will ixnplement design guidelines foi pedestrian distxicts. To promote the wotkability of mixed land uses, the City cvill use zoning, licensing, and envixonmental xegulations to pxevent and mitigate land use conflicts along boundaries between residential areas and commexcial ox industsial azeas, and will encouLage buffering and landscaping and intermediate land uses to mitigate potential incomparibiliries. In pedestrian-oriented neighbothood commexcial centexs, the City will support the provision of just enough commexcial paxking in small paxking lots fitted into available space. The City will limit the numbex of ciub cuts on commexcial blocks. Paxking lots should be located at the side or reai of buildings, and primary business entsances should be oriented to the sidewalk. Many parts of the city haoe historic chatactex and infill construction and ienovation generally should xespect the traditional chatactet of the iixunediate neighboxhood, even where it is not legally xequised. The City will continue to woxk with community and business oxganizations and othex units of government on planning and redevelopment pxojects along corridots where sevexal opportunities axe intexconnected. As oppoxtuniries arise along neighborhood bus corxidors, townhouses, apaztments, and condominiums should be built in oxdex to help to support both the public txansportation system and neighboxhood commexcial centexs, at a density of at least ten housing units pex acre, which is the minim� needed to support local bus service. Housin2 Maintaining — and where necessary, xepairing — what is here now may be the most important thing the City and its pasmexs can do to encouxage new investment in e�cisting housing and the producrion of new units. Thexefoxe: F�: �?, � -- � r„ ,�. ,� . v • NeighboThood Protection Improve rhe behavior and tnitigate tke unp�easant consequences of local tcaffic in neighboxhoods, as well as keep t�ough-rtaffic off of local neighborhood sueets. Make neighborhood tcaffic conuol a pxiority, with an understandable and accessible process for achieviag it. • Neighborhood Enhancement Considex txansportation infrasttuctuxe as part of neighborhood physical fabric and as a way to cxeate commuuity and give deliberate attention to neighborhood character and the need for community connections when designing txansportation impxovements, such as transit stops, pedesuian ways, bikeways, pazking lots and faci]ities, bridges, signs, and lighting. • $conomic Develo�ment Pzeserve and strengthen accessibility to the regional transportation system and tatget the scale and tppe of commexcial and indusUial development to locations with appropxiate access and visibility, and whexe thete is adequate canying capacity in the stteet system. Make system improvements in support of business development and job cteadon. • Tsansit Improvement Work with tegional tsansit agencies to tecapture ridership and serve the transit-dependent by matching teaasit service with travei need. • Bicycles, Pedestrians, and Accessib�. Develop a convenient, safe, and atteacrive system of bicycle xoutes and facilities. Strengthen the quality of the pedestrian experience ia aeighborhoods and business aceas. Ensure that pedestdan ways, tcansit, and automobile pazking aze designed to serne ratheT than frustrate the transportarion needs of peisons with physical impairnaents to mobility and accessibility. • Sensible. Safe AutomobIle Use Continue to emphasize automobile safety and reasonable access and mobility while worlang to bettex rationalize auto use by encouraging higher vehicle occupancy. Relevant Citywide Initiatives Transit In 1998, the Metxopolitan Council and Meteo Transit embazked on a pxogtam to imptove the effecriveness and efficiencp of tsansit setvice throughout the Tcvin Cities region. The Secto= 5 Concept Plan xestructixxes tcansit sesvice in south Mimzeapolis, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, and in an azea of St Paul south of I-94 and west of downtown, including the Sutnnut F3ill neighborhood. T'he key objecrives include optimizing effectiveness and efficiency to improve pxoductivity, providing fastex and mote ftequent service to majoL destinarions along majot comdozs, reallocating trausit xesoutces to bettex fit local development and teansit mazkets, and ixnptoving connections betcveen xoutes and neighborhoods. Curtendy, Sutnulit Hill is seroed by Route 63 along Gtand Avenue and Route 70 along St. Clait Avenue. Both toutes nxn east-west and pzovide "local service." The neatest north- south toute is Route 84 (Snelling Avenue local sexvice) and Route 194 (Snelling/I94 F�press/Liinited Stop). Route 63 would zemain essenrially unchanged in the Sector 5 Concept Plan. Route 70 would have service xeshuctused to serve St. Claix Avenue from West 7�' street to Cleveland, which .1, �� , n , � �. - then extends south to West 7�' and Davem along Cleveland and Sheridan. L'united a�eekday peak period service to/ftom downtown will continue. A possible new xoute (under the category "Future Service and Facility Considexations"), Route 83, would psovide weekday and Satucday senrice from 7�' Street and Albion to Univexsity Avenue via Lexington Avenue, with a 30-minute frequency from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. This infoxmation was dericed fsom Sectos 5 Concept Plan: South-Centsal Metco, Decembex 2002, by Meuo Transit. Housing Four Yeats — 5,000 Units /Saint Paul's Housing Production Plan Ovex the next fout yeazs, the City of Saint Paul is cointnitted to building an additiona15,000 housing units. This Housing Producrion Plan will allow the City to meet sevexal citywide goals: • Maintain its population gxowth (add between 10,000 to 12,000 people) • Incxease its tax base • Create 8,000 construction jobs ■ Add additional housing along tsansit coxridoxs • Suppoxt increased economic development • Maintain and sevitalize the city's housing stock ` Enhance the city's quality of life • Maintain Saint Paul as an affozdable city These housing units axe planned far every axea of the city. They will consist o£ a broad spectrum of housing choices: • Single-family and multi-family • Home ownership and xental • Seniox and suppoxrive • Middle-income, maxket rate, and low-income • Riverfxont, Downtown, and Neighborhood pxojects Thxough the implementation of this Housing Pxoduction Plan, the City will xefocus its City/HRA, Tax Increment Financing, and STAR progtam funds foL housing, cxeate a Mixed Housing Income Fund, maintain its "all incomes housing" policy and its "20% policy of affoxdable housing," pxeseroe e�sting and public supported affoxdable housing units, maintain the City's commitment to xesidential xehabilitation and maintenance of e�sting housing stock, and streng2hen the City's housing development pastnership with public, private, and nonpxofit partnexs. In total, the 5,000 Housing Pxoduction Plan will xeguixe a public/private inveshnent totaling $1 billion dollars. The City is conunitting �p150 i7iillion of its CityJHRA/Tax Incxement Financing. It hopes to taise anothex $30 inillion feom its housing paxtnets, $20 iuillion from its STAR pxogxam, and $20 million from a new low intexest xevolving fund. In addition, the City will use about $150 million worth of housing revenue bond proceeds and I,ow Income Tax Cxedit pxoceeds. These funds are intended to genesate anothex $650 nvllion of private sectos leverage in the forsn of mortgages and othex financing insuuinents. 61 4x T � _, � .� . .. The maia message from the City with regard to its citywide 5,000 Housing Production Plan is that the City has xnade a substantial coinmiunent to addressing the housing shoxtages it faces and has enlisted the support and cooperation of the full range of financial paztners in pucsuit of its goals. To seach these goals, the City expects, and needs, every neighboxhood of Saint Paul to step fonvazd with initiatives of its own to help xeach these goals, and to be sesponsive and supportive to uutialives of othexs, public or private, who des�e to provide housing thcough xehabilitation os sedevelopment. Saint Paul on the Mississi�i Development Framework The Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework, adopted in 1997, is not just a rivexfront plan, nox is it just a downtown plan. "I'lus policy guide-plan is about a tedefinition of Saint Paul's xelationship with the xiveT, a zeconnection of the city and the riv�, and recognirion that steength of the Capitai City depends on the links between its healthy neighborhoods and vibtant uxban core. The vision fox Saint Paul articulated in the Fxamewoxk is a system of interconnected uxban viUages nestled in the lush green of a refoxested river valley. The Land Use Plan of Saint Paul's Comptehensive Plan states that the Citq supports the Ten Princij�ler for City Devekpment in the Pramewark, which emphasize the uxban design quality of buildings at the stceet leveL Those Ten Principler axe: 1. $voke a sense of place. 2. Restare and establish the uniqixe uzban ecology. 3. Invest in the public realm. 4. Btoaden the mie of uses. S. Improve connectivity. 6. Ensute that buildings support bxoader city-building goals. 7. Build on existing strengths. 8. Pxesexve and enhance heritage xesoutces. 9. Provide a balanced netwoxk for movement 10. Foster public safetp. � �: Appendix II Planning Process and Public Involvement Summary of Community Participation Methods Tn the couTSe of the Suminit Hill/District 16 neighboshood plan update process, sevezal participarion methods were used to solicit and engage a bxoad and diverse cxoss-section of community input. A Plan Update Steering Comrnittee of twelve members was oxo ni�ed to xepxesent the bTOad intexests and constituencies that comprise the Sutmiut Hill/Disttict 16 neighboxhood community. This couunittee consisted of business owners, property ownexs, homeowners, and tenants. It met xegularly with the planning consultants to discuss, inform, and guide the community paxticipation and planning piocess and to act as a liaison with the gxeatei community regarding the plan's progxess. A Neighborhood Surveywas pxepaxed to obtain community opuuon on a range of neighboxhood issues and concerns—p�ticularly on what people liked and disliked about the Sutmnit Hill/District 16 neighborhood and what they wanted to see unproved ov� the next ten years. This survey was mailed out to 4000 households and distributed to approxunately tcvo huncked neighboxhood businesses. More than two hundred xesponses wexe xeceived. A Con�munity Video -"Person-on-the-Stxeet" Tnterviews weie undettaken to glean community opinion &om a bxoad cxoss-secrion of neighboxhood usexs: visitozs, residents, business pauons, employees, and pxoperty ownexs. The objective was to go whexe people gathex naturally in the neighborhood and ask them informally about their thoughts on the neighbozhood. T1us community video consisted of ovex fifty xandom and informal intexviews undertaken by the consultants at various neighboxhood gathexing places atong Grand Avenue and at community events at the Linwood Recxearion Center. Interviewees wexe asked: what they liked about the neighboxhood, what they disliked, and what impxovements they wanted to see ovex the next ten yeats. Cornn�unity Yision Boatds - Three ]axge vision boards that consisted of a neighboxhood map, a suggestion box and pens wexe cxeated and installed at thsee neighborhood-gathexing locarions on Gzand Avenue and at the Linwood Recxeation Center. These boazds provided an opportunity fox all neighbarhood membexs and visitors to write theix comments about neighborhood issues and concernand place these comments on the map ox in the suggestion box. These boazds were installed fox almost a month. 63 �> C. v b ■ Photo Gallery—For the Issues and Opporteinities workskop oa November 23, 2002, a dozen ox mote people took photos of neighborhood scenes and situations they wanted to protect, wanted to improve, and what thep believed wexe the defuung features of Sutnuut Hill. These photos were displayed at the woskshop. • Grand Avenue Business Associatron (GABA) Focus Group — On Novembet 12 the consultant team led a focus �oup of 23 peisons xepxesenting 18 businesses and GABA staff that addxessed customer mazket azea issues, perceptions of Gtand Avenue comdox/Smmnit Hill neighboxhood, bxoader matket trends, and what changes oz improvements would help them prosper. Three cornrnunity wrde meetings weze held (Novembex 23, 2002 and January 25, 2003) in the neighbozhood to invite and engage all intexested neighboxhood membexs--tenant, homeownexs, business ownets and employees--to pacticipate in two bxoad tasks: 1) prioritizing neighbothood issues and opport�zriities and 2) cteating focus azea visions and implementation stxategies. Appxo�mately90-100 people attended the fisst meeting and appxoximately 50-60 people attended the second workshop. A 6na1 public meeting was held on February 28, 2004 to present the dtaft 2004 Sutmnit Hill/District 16 Neighborhood Plan. .'. ;�� . � � �;_ �_.� The following provides a suinmary of the xesults of the Gxand Avenue Business Association Focus Gsoup, the Vision Boazds, Person-on-the-Street Interoiews, the Neighborhood Suzvey, the November 23 Community Issues and Opportunities Wozkshop. Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) Focus Gioup (Novembei 12, 2002) 1. Which business do you own/manage? What is your name? Whexe is it located? Business Txaditions Red Balloon Ducie's on Gxand Rest. GABA Exec. Disector Suinmit Hill Assoc. Exetez Realty Wliite Way Cleanexs Txeadle Yard Goods William Mitchell College Macalester-Gxoveland Actopol Inn Resta�ixant Ramsey Junioi High School Wet Paint Woullet Bakery Strategic Financial Gxoup Chexokee State Bank Lagos Hill Name Roxanne Sullivan Mike Schumann Mella M artin Michele Cxomex-Porie John Wolf John Hezshey Metry Becksnan Amy Engman Merritt Clapp-Smith Jim Stolpestad Dan Pazket Roberta Swanson JoBeth Marshall Amanda Schultz John Stemper Dexek Tonn Nes Apostolu Bruce Maeda Beth Bergman Dan Woullet Nancp Bxeyestor Ciaig Manz I�Ieal Lagos Addcess 857 Gtand Ave. 1039 Gxand Ave 1204 Grand Ave 891 Gtand Ave 695 Gzand Ave 2115 Slnnixut Ave 867 Gxand Ave 1064 Gxand Ave 149 S. Grotto 332 Minn. St. 678 Gsand Ave. 1338 Gxand Ave. 900 Summit 867 Gxand Ave 875 Suirunit 320 S. Griggs St 748 Gtand Ave 1700 Sursunit Ave 1684 Giand Ave 1080 Gxand Ave 745 Grand Ave 985 Gxand Ave Victoria West Mall 2. What is yout mazket azea? Customer base? How is it changing? ■ People who live os had lived in axea ■ Ambience of avenue; the attxactions/occasions • Non-mall shoppexs � Women 25-60, uppes income ■ 2-3 mile xadius of dsy cleaning business • Charch has people coming fxom all over • C�and Avenue is main attxaction fox St. Paul Convention and Visitoxs B�eau ■ Financial planning services axe a big c�aw; people fxom all ovei, people that spend money elsewhexe on Gxand Avenue also 65 � , e_ �� • Chil�en's book store-people fxom everywhese; local business is exoding- neighbothood doesn't support like it used to • Sesvice Retail-some people walk and some people come from the suburbs. • Thexe has been a division of client base because of some new businesses that are not desitable • Potteiy Baxn has helped ous business � If thexe ase mote national tetailets on Gxand, moxe people will come to shops instead of going to ma]ls � T'he aesthetics is the most impottant thing about Gzand. T'he mazket will detennuie the best uses. ■ People can't believe how many chains aze on the avenue and some people won't go to them. � We have to take an opportunity to diffesentiate from the chains and tlunk about what makes a store special. • People come from Eden Ptairie/Fozest Lake and othex suburbs 3. How does Gxand Avenue fit into the latgez Sutnxnit Hill Community? How does it xelate to Selbp Avenue? Downtown? • Thexe is some tension between business and residential uses. The xesidential uses benefrt with the proxiwity to Grand Avenue. • Some xesidents don't like Gxand Old Day. • Development on Gxand is encouxaging people to look at businesses on Selby because it is cheaper. • _ Housing is too e�ensive • AII neighborhoods axe intex-connected • A lot of out of town people ask where Grand Avenue is. They want to find it. • Ciients want to know whexe thexe is entertaimnent downtown. Grand is moxe shopping iatheL than entertainment. 4. How does Grand Avenue work throughout the differeat times of day...evenings...weekends....the various seasons? • Thexe aze a lot of differences • Tried to customize houts, but holidays aze busier, some businesses ate open at night some azen't ' Pazldng is always an issue • Interios Aesign Stare- Evenings and weekends have declined with the economy slowing • Secuuty is better with moxe stotes open � Ttaffic creates some problems but it makes excitement too � Hazd to atttact client when hours are always changing ■ Some mall shops axe closing at diff�ent times it would be beneficial for Gxand to have unifottn business fiouxs � Some businesses azen't interested in networking • Thexe is a struggle to find p arkina spaces duting the holiday season C'f� �" � " ° ,� _ � � Business is inczeasing from 4-8 PM on weekdaps but it is taking away on weekend activity. • It is easiex to shop during the day ■ Satuttday aftemoons ue "cxazy" good • Victoria Ciossing defines Gtand Acenue especially in teuns of ho�s 5. Strengths, weaknesses, and bazriers/thceats for the Summit Hill Neighborhood including Grand Avenue. Streugths • Azchitectural look, feel, and chaxxn of the avenue • Unique mix of business/community makes azea very vital • Good mie of small and laxge businesses-local and chain businesses • Divexse clientele • High economic status, affluent homeownets of surtounding neighborhood • Diverse independent variety of businesses avai]able on Gxand Avenue ■ Small town sexvice • Divetse businesses � Support neighboxhoods and charities � Inteiesting and beautiful neighbothood • Residents support business • Coopexation among businesses f xesidential/wozkshop • Ambiance • High pxopexty values • Main Street Atmosphete • Ownex-opexated small businesses with pexsonal services � Relationship to neighboshoods ■ B-2C, Zoning • Gxeat xeputation • Strong masket niche • Certain xetailexs aze a"destination" which helps all • Random divexsity • National xetailers • Strong neighborhood economics and aesthetics Weaknesses � The lack of any kind of plan when dealing with paxking • Parking is not uniform at all ■ Thexe needs to be parlffng unifornuty on side stceets � Petception that the neighboxhood housing and shopping is veiy expensive • We are losing genexauons that had loyalty, so we need to maxket diffexendy • Too many people drive • Txaffic speed; traffic congestion; lack of patking ■ Curxent zoning rules: the City "fictionalizes" parking adequacy • Conflicts between specific gxoups ■ Lack of connection with other constandy changing populations 67 `�;a ... K _' '�, � ClltT1E • Losing its divexsitp • NIMBY (Not-in-mp-back-yatd) attitudes (both businesses and homeownexs} ■ Periodic isolation kom what othex neighborhoods and/or business disbicts axe up to ' Ramp at Victoria Crossing is undexused � People don't want to pap fot parking � Pazking time lixnits aze inconsistent ' "Noise" from subutban malis • National/State economic cqcle • Anti-business-zeally NIMBY attiNdes of xesidents Ttueats/Barriers � Death of the trees; should have a tree presenTarion pxogtam � Development that isn't compatible, isn't in tune with the look and feel of Criand Avenue ' Thexe ase aesthetic thxeats to the avenue • Biggest threat is leaming to deal with our own success • Poor signage • "Cospoxatization" of Grand Avenue � Anri-business sentiment of Suiunut Hill Associadon • The elite feeling of the neighboxhood ■ Better destination mazketing $om other azeas within the city ■ Land becoming too expensive far local merchants ■ Pexception that parking is a pxoblem ■ Need vibrant stable businesses � Tumover of smallex businesses • Misguided public involvement 6. Opportctnities for the neighbothood • More xetail appealing to men • City should bup old Clark Station site and ttun it into a pazking lot � Put a trolley on the avenue • As xent goes up on Giand — some smallet businesses have to move to Selbp Aveaue • Dale Steeet needs to be changed from zesidential to commexcial to connect to Giand Avenue � Need to tie more to Selby Acenue commercial disuict and to downtown both in temis of ttansportation and mentally, as well � Focus on all of Gxand Avenue as an integxated comdox � Rising zents aze forcing moves to Selby and W. 7�` Avenue • Gtand Old Days is a dtaw; individuality of this azea is important • Continue to atteact business and tesidents to azea ■ Provide uniqueaess to attract more people • Maintain the beautifi�l look of the neighbozhood C�:j r - _ : m � � ._. ■ Better tie-ins arith institutional clients for both students and non-students ■ Utilize Clask Station lot ■ Public Ttansportarion ■ Zoning segulations to keep chains off of the avenue and conteol footprint of buildings ■ Bxoader e�cposure • Pazking unpzovements • Uniforin stose houss ■ Reassure safety concerns M Incsease tourist pazticipation Summary of Vision Boards, Person-on-the-Street Interviews, Neighborhood Survey, and the Results of the Novembex 23 Community Issues and Opportunities Workshop I. Qualities the communiry likes about the neighborhood • Pedestrian friendly, a walk able neighboxhood • Small town-like—in terms of sexvice, scale— human, cozy, compact--xhythm, stxeetscape— matuxe trees, sidewalks • Beautiful, aestherically appealing, well-designed and maintained • Historic values and aschitecrixxal charactex • Strong sense of community—social activi$es/community -oriented • NiiY of xesidenrial and commexcial uses; proxniuty to Gxand Avenue � Diversity/eclecticism of shopping and sesvices, small businesses and some upscale chains ■ Divezsity of housing ■ Good accessibility and location II. Qualities the comrnuniry doesn't like about the neighboxhood. ` Traffic speed and congestion • Concem about pedestrian safety • Bluff axeas ate pooxly managed • Declining condition multi-family xentals • Gxowing chain stores, losing some 1oca1 businesses, losing eclectic divexsity • Lack of commercial pazking • Petty crimes, bxeak-ins • Rowdiness of baz pauons • Petceptions of community as an expensive axea • Conflicts between some gxoups, NIMBY attitudes among both business and homeownex gxoups •• � ._ � . � III. Issues the community feels needs to be addressed. Community Image and Identity • Ptomote and enhance ovexall azchitectuxal/design aesthetics • Maintain historic, cultucal, small town-like (family feeling--don't feel out of place- -fanuliar) and aesthetically appealing chazactex; "�ictoaan casuaP' • Maintain ec2ecric divetsity, small cozy shopping, and business azea • Need to pxomote people wall�ng, not cazs, addtess speed of traffic • Raise neighboxhood's level of aesthetics: Alley beautification ptoject; buckthorn moxatorium campaign; prohibit billboards. Develop axchitect�al Leview/design and sign guidelines • Requixe chain stozes to comply with atchitectuLal/historic design context and city noise codes • Encoutage bxoadeT neighboxhood connections to gteat azea–Giand Avenue should tie moxe to Selby and downtown, both mentally and tcansportation ways—periodic isolation fxom othes business-districts. Sumu7it Hill should be moie connected with adjacent neighbothoods � Tree presernadon: tdm trees at various ptaces in neighborhood, i.e. along Gtand avenue and keep healthp ones ■ Clean up woods along and rebuild lowex Gtand Avenue Housing and Residential life • Cleax, consistent and enforced zoning laws, consistent with city's vision. ■ Maintain and enhance existing single/multi-familp housing. • Pxovide fox a bxoadex tange of housing choices while maintaining the integrity of fhe neighborfiood: empty nestex, seniot town homes, affordable multi-family and home-ownes housing, mixed-income pxojects, co-ops • New housing should pzovide zealistic paxking solution prefezably undezgxound ' Increase res. design standatds and beaudfication. Develop design guidelines fox xehab and new ptojects • Use existing streets fox more pazking: shazed, and pafl�ng on both sides • Address challenge/conflicts of mised commercial/residential use projects Community Life and Public Spaces ■ Enl�ance and develop moxe park, open green space i.e, old Clark Sratioa site ■ E�and public services: develop a small libtary, expand use of Linwood Recreasion center, i.e. a pool ■ Support and enhance the neighborhood's sttong pedestrian focus • Coordinate/oz° ni�e moze public events in public pLOpetty • Increase leisure/telaxation activities • Expand block pxogram-encouxage mare parties, more active pasticipation and suppoxt, packet teaining • Promote and expand commuaity cohesion–make it znore inclusive. Support and expand community clubs, pLOVide more community sponsoxed events, pxomote familp feeling, get the rentexs at pLOgtessive dinner parties, community kiosk at Gxand and Victoria, use local institutions mote 70 � ._. � . • Sununit Avenue should be recognized as a pazk space; don't have much open space • Provide fox more outdoar open spaces, benches and pedestrian connections atound the neighboshood • Tncxease cultuiiai oppominiries Shopping and Setvices • Maintain the mix of small businesses and chain stores, intsoduce zoning xegulation changes to xesirict additional chains • Maintain a ba]ance of xesidential and business uses � Manage the gxowth and development along Gxand Avenue � City should buy old Claxk starion site and tum it into a pasking lot/oz open space • Provide for addirional cultuxal amenities: a community theatex • Addxess aesthetic threats to the avenue, incompatible development, poor signage, and txees need to be ptesexved � Keep Giand Avenue unique, eclecric, and beautifixl. Stxong sense of aesthetics • l�eed spoxting goods, men's zetail stoxes � Tdentify walking paths and xoutes ■ Address some S1IA anri-business feeling • Increase some tourist opportmiities � Add handicapped access xamps to Gxand Avenue • Pxovide foz moxe historical signage Tra�c, Parking, Ttansit and Pedestrians • Pxovide bettex enfoxcement of parking/traffic laws-towing and booting • Addtess district-wide teaffic speed, flow • Increase pedestrian safety • Pzovide fos addirional commexcial pazking, moxe employee paxking • E�lore and incxease shazed paxking oppoxriuuftes • Provide for better maintenance, cxoss-walks/ciossings, striping/matking ■ Enco�age/xequite undexgLOUnd parking with new developments � Pxovide caxeful planning of high intensity uses/laxge business —do not put in already congested area • Exploze txansit options, bettex support to minimi�e auto txaffic/patking, e.g., trolley (electric?) up and down Gxand Avenue • Pasking xamp at Grand and Victoxia is undexused • Pxovide a bus toute along Lexington � Bliminate pazking vatiances, tule o£ five • Need bike racks and benches Crime and Safety • Pxovide bettex parking enfoxcement along avenues, Linwood Park • Increase police ptesence /xepoxt all crimes • Impxove pedestrian safety, moxe speed limits signs especially along Lexington Avenue • Incxease pazticipation of Block Watch 71 i'�"; .o tl _ , • Impxove lighting in tesidential and commexcial azeas Results of the January 25 Comrnuniry Visioning Workshop The participants at the Januaty 25 Community Visioning Woxkshop met in small groups to xeview the priox public input. They collaborated in the prepazation of dtaft vision statements foz sevetal topic axeas, as well as in the development of initial strategies designed to achieve those visions. The Eollowing outlines their accomplishsnents, whicfi formed the basis of fuxthet tefinement and addition by the Steexing Coinuzittee. Communiry Identity and Image Vision Statement Suuunit Hill maintains its historical uniqueness, and unproves the compatibility of new and existing development thxough use of community design standazds and participation in development appxoval pxocesses. Strategies 1. Pxomote and enhance the intrinsic historicaI qualities of the neighboxhood, including physical, social, and cultural aspects. 2. Recognize that scale and comparibility is incoipoxated and ieinfoTCed bp steong design guidelines to help shape the futute changes. 3. Encoucage communitp participation to piovide dizection and guidahce to reAect oux identity and community chaxactei. Housing and Residential Life Vision Statement Summit HiIl maintains and enhances the existing level of housing, both single fanvly and multi-faxnily while pieserving open spaces in the teaditionally tesidential azeas. Strategies 1. 17evelop high quality new housing in new or existing multi-use suuctuzes with undezground pazking on Gxand Avenue. 2. Develop design guidelines foi zehabilitation and new pxojects. 3. Wark with the City to enfoxce zoning laws. Community Life, Public Space, and Recteation Vision Statement F�a �; �. ` Suuunit Hill maintains and bettex utilizes existing public green spaces and activities, community spaces — public, private, and institutional. Thsough the Suimnit Hill Association/District 16 Plannuig Council, we reach out, publicize, and communicate to all ouz social/cultural ecents in the neighbozhood. We xetain and encourage qualitp landscaping and create more pocket-sized spaces with benches on Gxand Avenue and inside buildings. We build community/institutional partnetships. Strategies 1. Czeate a community pazk/plaza fox gathering, to funcrion as a neighboxhood front posch. Sutmnit Hill Association should fund it 2. Develop a bench gazden (spaces to sit and selax) concept fox Gxand Avenue. Implement with GASA. 3. Promote better stewaxdsl�ip of the bluff axeas along Linwood Pazk. Maintain and showcase this amenity and envitonmental tesource. 4. Maintain e�sting open space assets and pazks. 5. Nusture coznmunity and maintain its social and physical sense. 6. Genexate social intesaction. (How does this happen?) 7. Txaffic congesdon might impede relaxed community spot. 8. Create pockets on the gzound for relaxing. 9. Create an indoor social space for 6+ months (wintex). Shopping and Services Vision Statement The Suiiuuit Hill shopping e�exience is characterized by physically small-scale businesses that aze unique. Grand Avenue pxesents an eclectic mix of shops, xesta�ants, and sexvices fox xesidents and visitoxs. Businesses provide affordable, inconspicuous paxking and contribute to an atteactive streetscape that xeflects history and has access to good local and regional transpoxtation. Stsategies 1. Assess the feasibility of additional tsaffic contxols on Grand Avenue such as lights, stop signs and speed butnps. 2. Prevent fast food and high traffic congestion and paxking pxoblems. (Thexe wexe additional stsategies, but the sheet they wete xecorded on was lost.) Traffic, Parldng, Transit, and Pedestrians Vision Statement Pxeeminence of pedestrians ovex moving cazs chazacterizes movement pattems in the Siunmit Hill neighboxhood. We make moxe efficient use of the stseets and parking spaces 73 ,� - -- � we have. The outcome is safe access to public gathexing spaces via reducrion of auto and truck vnpacts. Porsible Altemative Vision Statement: Kecogni�zng the value of a healtby balance betzveen the commmzad and re ridential character of the Summit Hill atea, develop a rafe trhfJ�ic ancl parking plan that provide.r accesr to �iublicgatbering s/iaces zvhile limiting the impact of auto and truck traffic in the ana. Strategies 1. Revamp teaffic pattexns on ce� tain steeets to incxease paxking spaces and cuculation. 2. Do tl�ings that won't cost much money. 3. Encouxage pazking and wallcuig fox shoppets. 4. Inctease mass transit options, e.g. 25-cent-zones foi Grand Avenue (Dale to C�etin), Grand Avenue trolley bus (now or latex). 5. Pazking with people moving (?) 6. Establish mid-block crossings on Gxand Avenue. 7. Reduce speed limits on all arterials and streets. Crime and Safety Vision Statement Suinmit Hill/District 16 strives to inaintain a pedestriau-friendly, safe neighborhood in both the residential and business components. This is accomplished and acttvely monitoxed through police sexvices, community unity, and public space lighting. Suategies 1. Encourage traffic speed monitoring by police, inclucling both streets and alleys. 2. Expand the mounted police and foot patrols. 3. Comxnunicate and evaluate safety issues with the police, 4. Support the Neigkborhood Block Watch resurgence. 5. Communicate (more broadly) the Spring Cleanup{Gasage Sale events to encouxage gazage/property and buckthom deanup to reduce crime potential. 6. Encourage gacage utilization to reduce car break-in opportanities. 7. Encoutage community pLOgtams to incxease awazeness of neighbots, e.g., block paxmets. 8. Make businesses and residents mote accountable for the safety asks related to debris; xequite propex waste receptacles, pazking lot/Lamp cleanup and mauitenance. 9. Develop a Pnblic Space Watch pxogram. 10. Encourage outdoor lighting for both residences (front and reaz yard) and businesses, e.g., use of solaz/motion sensoxs, wozking with neighboxs xe ftont poxch light pxograxn. 11. Incxease public lighting; evaluate gaps in the spstem. Draft Pla Principles 74 � � �., The following eight dxa$ planning principles weze drafted and appxoved by the Steenng Conunittee. These planning principles wexe seviewed by the conununity at ]azge at the January 25 Visioning Workshop. Ptinciples: 1. All individuals and interest groups communicate openly as stakeholdess in chasting Sutmnit Hill/District 16's evolurion as a sustainable neighboihood. 2. Community spirit continues to be mirtuced and e�panded thxough active and passive activities fox all ages. 3. Neighborhood ambiance is defined and enriched by �een urban landscape that includes lively and safe public spaces, arts and culture, pedestrian connections, healthy natuxal amenities and open spaces, and well-designed new and old buildings. 4. Cominunity identity and unage is expressed through high quality design that xespects the historic and cultuxal values of the neighborhood. 5. All significant xedevelopment includes neighborhood amenities as paxt of a mutually beneficial, collaborative design pxocess. 6. Suininit Hill/District 16 pzomotes living choices fox residents of all ages, incomes and lifestyles. 7. Suuunit Hill/District 16 sespects and enriches the mutually beneficial xelationship between xesidential livability and commercial vitality. S. Suminit Hill/Disirict 16's movement pattexns emphasize a safe walliing environxnent and convenient transit, while accommodating automobiles. Citizen Comments on Dxaft Principles Re #1(communication): Interaction and positive relations between communides. Re #3 (community spixit): Maintenance of gteen space (is very unportant); take care of these spaces. Re #4 (identity and unage): How do we define "high quality design?" Re #4 (identity and itnage): Housing/neighboihood to maintain original identity. Re #5 (iedevelopment): How do we define "significant" redevelopment? 75 ��°'�. � Re #6 (living choices): boes not want to encotuage lowes income gxoups. Re #6 {living choices): Ptovide room foi change, to accommodate bxoader diversity. Re #7 (livability and vitality): Use zes ects� mare emphasis on envixonmental issues. Re #8 (movement pattems): Incorporate evexyone's intexests, not just youx own. Soften unpacts of automobile traffic, not just accommodate automobiles. Reduce auto itnpacts and parking congestion and teaffic congesdon. Incxease mass transit options and oprions for pedestdan safety and teaffic calxning. Re #8 (movement pattems): Add bicycles; human scale; increase visibility and knowledge. Re #8 (movement pattems): Is traffic/pazl�ng congestion emphasized enough? Re #8 (movement patterns): Is public traasit emphasized by community? 76 Appendi�� III A map showing vegetated bluff azeas that buffer District 16 &om I-35 and Ayd Mill Road to be designated as a Tiee Pxeseroarion Disirict in conformance with City Code, Chaptes 60.781, will be developed with the assistance of city staff. 77 Appendix III East Grand Avenue Study .Area Map �, Q � � � _ � �. a m v 0 c�a G � ��'� �� _ �. � ,- . _ � � � �� Q �< � < _ � � m � � � � �. a � � o � � .� m 9 � o o � � � � � � m � � s � m � o $ `o � U C!S �i- � �� } I L�S� L._i � ��-/�� Summit I-�ill Association District 16 Pianning Gouncil 860 SaiM ClairAvenue Saint Paui, Minnesota 55105 Telephone 651-222-1222 Fax 651-222-1558 Jan 31 2006 www.summithitlassociation.org �TY � e-maii: summithiilC�visi.com " " Councilmember Kathy Lantry 1,b1Ny� AHl�r`; � Room 320C, City Hall � � ��8�i��,�I�NqO'J St. Paul, MN 55102 � � � 900Z I �; L�:� � � DearCouncilmemberLantry: a � na � J3a On Wednesday, February 15th; 2006, you will be con§idering fhe proposed Disfrict 16 Neighborhood Plan in.your pubfic hearing. This plau repxesents.a comprehensive community' . vision, which took ovei-three years and more than a thousand hours of work to create. The District � I6 Plan $teering Committee,_comprised of inembers of the Suuuvit-Hill Association and the Grand = Avenue Business-Association, hired consultaats Dan-Cornejo and Kathleen ONeill; to assisf in ', developing the plan. Through an extensiae publio involvement process, including pu6lic meetings, _. _ focus,groups, surveys, interviews; and mbre meetings; the ci�nsultants.and the Steering Committee '�� ut t�ethez a l�n �that r resents and brin s to ether the varied valuas �aud interests of o�u �� P �S P' ` eP. g, g , �,� � commuiri�p. Hazd work, oanversation, �e�ucation axcd compromise resulted ig a plan_with�broad �: �� _� community su,p�iort_ We nbw look foi�ward to �seeii�g the pl�an ,adopted and tieginniug its � �� - � �, iiripTeine�tatioit. � � " = . � � � �" We wazit to tlianlc staff in tlie departments of Flanning and Economic Developinent, Paiks and Recreation, I.IEP;,and Pubiic Works fot their time in answering queseioris; attend'uig, meetings and , _ � � . - _ = praviding fhoughtfiil,a�id thQFOUgh c�iiininetcfs. 'Iluoiigh �this�exchange, �ve developeii a=plan tliat rs � aimost enrirely to the §atisfaction of all parties: �-Iowever, one main point of difference remains. ' T'he I'lan.requests the aiioption of a straiglitforward overlayilistrici for,East Grancl Avenue; ivliich is, - oppbsed -by PEB-staff ancl ihe Plauning Co�nission. In patticular, the objectioiis centered on a- �� laqk of staff resources �to adminTsteran overlay districYon East Grand Ave�e; aad asense ihat th� ; �. � � � �cu_nent zoiriug and developinen# pattern �s sufficient. � . � � - _ - The majority of people:u► our commpnity do not support.the currenY zoning on EasY Grand, feeling . that it comp'comises Etie cI�aracter; integrity, and li"vability of'Grand Avenue. Therafore; the � propased�oveslay�ras des"igned to�atlow-robm fni_growth, within reasoriable standatils tlaatfit�the ". �,. , � � soale and st�l"e of Fast Grarid Avenue. �?e delibeiateTy composed ovet�ay elementis thaf,are fe,w,� � � ._� .� clear, and easy.to admiriister.. �We` appi�ciate�the_limits of sfafftim�and t�elieve thattlie overlay .'� -._ � _ - district eieinents will not be"Ume intensi�re. If staff is�too stiorfhanded to adriiinister this type of� "� _ overlay, tlienthe City shoulii seriously exa�niiie increasing sCaff level"s to a point that staf� is able to _,- do tk� goodplanuing� thaf supp�rts St. Faiil as a oity o€ hig�i quality.and, distincf ueightSorhoods_ _� � Qn the following-pages. is infoimation describirig the East C`mui@ Avenue overIay elements and whg � �-- �they are requested.. Following� that are two tables; one coiupa�g current zoning �vith TI�T2 zoning �� - �� and with�the�roposed overiay zoning ta�ble comparing a sample ofexisting°b�ilding sizes on East Grand Avenue,. : " _ � � - W� Iook fo�ward to the public heanng on FebFUary I5; 2006; and ask that you vqte.to approve the ., psqposec£,District 16:Neighliortiaod Ptan-in its. entirery includin� tlie overlap distiict The,fulZ ter•Y '- of-tlie Distiict`�1� Neighliorhood'PTan and ExeouEi�e 5im�ary aze aWailable;cm our website at -- ': ��v�ti�y �;•p.nitfiillassociation.org] oz by c6ntacf.ing JeffRoy in our affiee.at (65 i) 222-t222_ If you . � ha�ve any c}uestions or'comments> Piease contaet us." We are haPPY to howevet yve cats.= Siaceeel ,_ .' - - � � � o rrfenf o � � - . _ ivle�tt C�� C��D16 PIan�Steerfa Comrmltee. - � � , � - �PP . �__ � �� _ g - _ �- Cc: 1�ayo� Gfiris,�o7eman � : _ < - � I.arry �«lerhotm � _ - � � _ � o[� -/(�� Prouosed Overlav for East Grand Avenue in District 16 Neighborhood Plan 1. Limit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 square feet or less. 2. Limit new bnilding total size, above ground, to 75,000 square feet or less, inclnding parldng. (Underground pazking would not be included in total.) Reasonine: Recent new building additions to Grand Avenue elicit a common complaint, "The building is too big. It dcesn't fit in." Even when the building is well designed, it sticks out The historical development pattern and scale of Grand Avenue, with a mix of small and mediutn scale buildings, is a large part of what makes Crrand Avenue unique, attractive and interesting to residents, businesses and visitors. The buildings do not overwhelm the street or each other. The changing rhythm of facades, heights, and setbacks offers an interesting, dynamic streetscape. Placing a maximum building size on new buildings prevents the continued development of out-of-scale projects that compromise the historic character and human-scale feeling of Grand Avenue and overwhelm the residences across the alleys on Lincoin and 3ummit Avenues. 3. Limit building height to thirty feet (30') for commercial projects and to thirty six (36') for mised commercial and residential projects, or 3 stories, whichever is lower. No additional height for setbacks. Reasonin�: The current miY of zoning on Grand Avenue allows building heights that exceed most of the existing buildings. Wtrile 1 story buildings may not be an efficient use of land, the variation of heights between 1, 2 and 3 stories is part of the variety that gives Grand Avenue its character. Older apartment buildings taller than 3 stories are setback from Grand Avenue, thereby reducing their overpowering feel on the auenue. Unfortunately, many of these buildings loom large over their neighbors across the alley, a situation strenuously opposed by current residents on Lincoln and Summit Avenues. Repeatedly, many people feel that the new buildings over 30 feet seem too tall, casting large shadows across Crrand and neighboring properties, and creating a jarring change of scale from surrounding smatler buildings. 4. Adopt TN2 design guidelines for East Grand Avenue, without changing the anderlying zoning designation. Reasonin¢: TN2 inciudes some exciting and well thought out design standards. Instead of introducing its own set of design staudards, the District 16 Neighborhood Plan suggesks that the T'N2 design standards are adopted and applied to East Grand Avenue. This improves design outcomes on Crrand Avenue, using a design model that City staff are familiar with and lrnow how to implement. However, the plan opposes rezoning to TN2, since it has the same scale and heights as the current zoning. In addition, TN zo nina is intended to increase flexibility in project review. This fle�bility, while appropriate in certain situations, is not a good fit in a contentious development setting, such as that created in Summit Hill, where retail and housing uses are back to back. Fle�bility increases the opporlunity for arUitrary decision making on what is appropriate and what is not, and will likely result in protracted disagreements between the developer, the couuuunity, and the City about what is appropriate. 5. Eliminate the "Rule of Five" on East Grand Avenue. Reasonin¢: The 1,000+ space pazking deficit on East Grand Avenue aiready puts a lot of pressure on businesses, residents and visitors competing for space. Many businesses site the parking shortfall as their greatest impediment to success. It is also increasingly common to hear people say that they rarely go to Grand Avenue anymore because parking and traffic is a hassle_ Until this situation improves, either with the creaYion of additional pazking or the reduction in autom�bile use, :t is too big a strain to add to the parking shortfall with "Rule of 5" allowances that increase pazking use without providing the parking. The "Rule of 5" allows business intensification wluch comes at the expense of existing businesses and residents competing for limited park'na resources. 6. Consider formnla business cap or other mechanisms to maintain a strong presence of independent bnsinesses on East Grand Avenue. Reasonine: The District 16 planning process found that many residents and business people in the community were concerned that more and more formula businesses were moving onto Grand Avenue and that the number of small, unique businesses was declining. These unique businesses are the heart and soul of Grand Avenue, having fueled its identity and popularity as a one-0f-a-kind shopping street. Therefore, we request the City to help identify and adopt mechanisms to retain Grand Avenue as a neighborhood oriented mi�ced residentiat and retail corridor with small, unique businesses that reflect the historic design and pedestrian nature of the avenue. This will help maintain the avenue's competitive advantage as a one-of-a- kind neighborhood retail street attracting visitors and residents. 7. Prolubit fast food restanrants (alternative langaage -"High Volume Restanrants") on East Grand Avenue, inclnding im m�1H-tenant 6nildings. Dl� /�� Subject C�rrent Zoning TN Proposed Overlay in District 16 Plan Fast food "drive thru OK in multi-use bldgs OK in multi-use No fast food sales" > 60' &om resid. Maximum Height 30' + setback bonus 30' + setback bonus 30 or 36 ft* no setback bonus Max Bldg Footprint none none 25,000 sq ft Max Bldg Size none none 75,000 sq ft Parking type Surface, decks, Surface, decks, Underground encouraged (not underground all ok underground all ok required) Rule of 5 for Parking If reuse requires 5.5 or Rule of 5 use ok. Eliminate Rule of 5 parking fewer new spaces, waive excepfion. additional parking need. Design Standards Various TN design standards Adopt T'N design standards Mix of independent and Any mix allowed. Any mix allowed. Consider formula business formula businesses. cap or other mechanism to maintain strong independent business presence. Hei ht and Foo rint Ezam les from Grand Avenue Building Location Height Footprint Historic Grand Ave. Apt NW corner at I,e�cington 39 ft The I,exington Restaurant SE comer at Le�ngton 30 ft Cafe Latte / Bonfire Bldg SE corner at Victoria 19 ft 21,000 sq ft(same as NW corner) Victoria Plaza / Grand Place SW corner at Victoria 32 ft 34,000 sq ft Muska Lighting / Edina Rlt South btw St. Albans and 30 ft 20,500 sq ft Grotto 745 Grand Ave. condos NW comer at Grotto 58 ft Ozcford Hill SW corner at Oxford 48 ft 23,000 sq ft(?) Restoration / Smith & NE corner at Avon 1 story 18,000 sq ft Hawken Milton Ma11 NW corner at Milton 1 story 24,000 sq ft(28,000 if squared out) d( '�� Thomas R Waite 434 Fairview Ave. So. St Paul, MN 55105-1706 Phone 651 699-8908 February 9th, 2006 Fax 651 699-8908 St. Paul City Council Court House 4" & Wabasha St. Paul, MN 55102 Dear Council Members: The subject of keeping pazldng meters on longer, or charging more for parldng is a matter you are now considering. I want to make some comments to you before you finish this. I don't like going downtown because of three things: Parking meters, panhandlers and roving gangs. But to have to pay more for parking and put up with all this stuff, no thanks.. It seems like the CiTy is hying to discourage people from coming downtown, Gangs of young people roam the skyway. They eye you in a threatening way or almost completely block the hallway and you have to find your way around them while avoiding eye contact. Panhandters actually call to you ta, "C'mere, buddy", and they head toward you. I've walked extra fast several times to get away from them. I don't see pazldng meters at Rosedale or any other shopping ma11s, there's plenty of parking and rarely a gang or a panhandler. I like going to Rosedale. Meters are akay if you're going downtown to see an attorney or accountant from time to time, certainly not to shap. As far as any shopping is concarned, forget it where you have one hour meters. ThaY s not enough time to waik to a restaurant, eat a sandwich and walk back to your car. If you forget, or dally a little bit, you get hit with a ticket. While your car is parked the police mazk the tires to be sure you don't stay over an hour even if you manage to have your sandwich, and check your car for equipment violations. You can't go to a clothing store and look a bit, you can't eat lunch and see your accountant at the same time unless you drive around and find another parking slot for another one hour. Parking ramps are in town, but you can drive around with all the one-ways and traffic lights for 20 minutes to find a ramp that's open, then hy to find your way to a specific store or building, and pay $5.00 or more to park, plus you have the dim parking lot, narrow passages to drive through and a wait to get out. ; D� /L�lo Yodre going to just make downtown more unfriendly and uninviting than it is now. IY should be a pleasant ea�perience to go downtown, not an unwanted project. I hope you will leaue the meters as they are now. Anything that make going downtown more troublesome should be avoided. Sincerely, Tom Waite Macalester-Groveland long time resident 6l� �1�� n. w. cLaPr 757 OscEOr.n AvE. , #1 ST. PnIIL MN 55105 651 222-8137 GUSCLAPP@QWFST.NET February 12, 2006 REC�� FEB 1 � Zv36 �' , , � ' a7yY l-AN R� St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman City Council members Deborah Montgomery, Dave Thune, Pat Harris, Jay Benanev, Lee Helgen, Dan Bostrom, Kathy Lantry. Re: District 16 Neighborhood Plan 1 write to encourage you to support the District 16 Plan as presented by the district. I will not recite for you the enormous amount of work and professional thought and neighborhood participation and support that have gone into the plan. You must know all that by now. To cut right to the chase, the central concem of city staff and the mayor seems to be with adopting a building height limit of three stories. Staff has two problems with this. First, it would have to be done via an overlay district, because it is a different height limit than applicable on other retail commercial streets. i know that planning has been starved for bodies by the iwo previous mayoral regimes. But that is not justification for resisting an overlay district, because iYs administration is so simple. I would be giad to do it for the city myself, for free. It is just a matter of checking each application to see that it fits a very Tew dimensionai requirements. 8ince Disirict i 6 reviews every appiication, it couid provide that service to the ci�ty. Really, iYs nothing. As to the height limit per se, what staff said at the Pianning Commission hearing was that it was "inappropriate". Staff did not say how they reached that conclusion. The reason that the three story limit is appropriate, is that it will maintain the character of the avenue. Four story buildings violate that character. The development on the south side of Grand west of Oxford demonstrates the issue pertectly. it looks like an Eagan construct. Commercial real estate owners on the avenue can get more money if buyers can build higher, but it is not that they can't get pleniy of money aiready at three stories. The neighborhood judgment of appropriate height should trump that of staff. I think it is important that this new administration demonstrate that it is a new act in town. It certainly campaigned that way. To resist the key elements of this plan, is to continue the 0� �� bad old ways, when Norm Coleman and Randy Kelly and Susan Kimberley gave the cold shoulder to the neighborhoods. I particularly want to say to Mayor Chris Coleman that if he thwarts the neighborhood on this one, he is blatantiy reneging on his campaign commitments. Thank you for your attention. ��T l( �� A. W. Clapp � - b(� j�lv Ned Rukavina 1�04 Vicld Lane St. Paul, MN 55118 February 10, 2006 Council Member Kathy Lantry 15 W Kellogg Blvd Suite 320C, City Hall St. Paul, MN 55102 Deaz Council Member Lantry: ��i�'�D FE� 1 � �� J'Y C V ' ., i.m � p �J�`. «4t�� E�A , _� ` I am writing to you regazding the proposed City of St. Paul Resolution (Council File #OS-875) asking the City Council to adopt a srixdy of the District 16 Area Plan. The proposed District 16 plan refers to the stretch of mixed use corridor on the East stretch of Grand Avenue. I am a Grand Avenue customer/resident of St. Paul and am also involved in retailing and development-woxk. I am concerned abouf language in the resolution that would ,, discourage national retailers and restaurants. T am afraid the ambiguous nature of this provision is ripe for unintended sociai and economic consequences. I respect that many community leaders want to maintain the hannonious mix of residential and commercial uses. I also understand Grand Avenue has enjoyed tremendous economic success because of this unique mix of retail and residential properties. While this has caused an increase in rents and property taxes that have been challenging for some "mom-and-pop" start-ups to acquire the financial backing needed in this area, success on Grand Avenue has also benefited the small business owner. Larger business, through advertising, marketing and brand reputation, are able to generate customer volume that smaller businesses often do not have the resources to generate. But businesses do not exist in a vacuum, and smailer businesses certainly enjoy the increasing customer voiume tnat inese larger bus:nesses bring in. Penalizing local pronerty owners and limiting consumer choice will have the effect of making Grand Avenue a significantly less vital area. There is ample support in our community for a mixture of local, regional and national retailers and restaurants on Grand Avenue. With careful planning Grand Avenue can continue to flourish with a mix of unique these merchants. Disallowing "formula" businesses of all kinds takes away options the community would accept and distort mazket forces. The Grand Avenue area serves a densely populated community. 22,967 people reside within a one-mile radius of the Grand Avenue vicinity. Within a three-mile radius, that number jumps to 152,625: Grand Avenue serves residents ofvarying economic means and,offers.the convenience of avoiding travel to the suburbs.for pureha§es and services. Surely the city of St. Paul recognizes the importance of Grand Avenue to all of its residents and the.necessity of keeping this diverse business district heaithy and vital. In a significant way, I think the spirit Ote /l�� of the District 16 Plan amounts to a"taking" under eminent domain law because of these ambiguous new restricrions on local property owners. In light of the current moratorium on development for the Crrand Avenue azea, immediate action is cleazly not required. I would ucge you to consider alternatives to the District 16 Plan that would encourage local merchants while maintaining tenant fle�bility and consumer choice. The business community is committed to achieving a solution that would reflect the integrity of Grand Avenue such as: • Directing development to underserved azeas in the adjouung neighborhoods including Selby Ave. and University/Midway. • Working with the neighborhoods to acYueve the appropriate mix of retaiUrestaurants • Adhering to design standazds and square footage pazameters • Supporting locally owned and operated businesses inciuding national retailers with local ownership Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, �� Ned Rukavina D l� -/ l� Cv Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identiTy and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. O(� l��v RECEIVED FEB 13 2�� COUNC!! MEPJIBFR ?'.AT}iY i3.P�tTRY" Tuesday, February 14, 2006 Dear City Council President Lantry, Please find enclosed a copy of the MetroIBA Grand Avenue Task Force petition in support of the District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council. We encourage you to support this original plan. If adopted, the plan allows continued room for change and growth in the community on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Sincerely, Susan Diekrag On behalf of etroIBA Grand Ave e Task Force 6 t� -ll�l� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which Ciry staff oppose, but we support. � a�-ic� � Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and reqnest its full adoption by the St. Paul City CounciI. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: Business(B) Resident(R) V'uitor(V) // � � - '1ii�hea_�7=2itie.c_ 1��_� ��-�''-`•-_ �(ii ) <�,�<<L� ��.e., ��-��"'. � ��- � } i / � ' �// / / J ( _ _ /� / ✓� 1 L—�J/'i vLf;»/r�,� ��„E /'�CU� � �KiG� l..J 5 L/ /�:'� ��j/� /� � �a�... .�c� r• �ti ; c.. ��"/� !� ,✓ .�A1 "� �� 7' � �� i �_, �r � )"V_"�i. 4: �. l '� \ (�` " �� !.�*'�-� � 2 ,"'�. � k'":l �� ., i' . , �- �� , / �' ti t�'_�,• � 1l% l(��' 1;`'i��I � ��, % l� � {�. �4'�c(.4 �"��a_�- -C r�1��1'.r l�:!.E1.j.�'�'��_ � : � , },.. -/!'t � � e , � 1 �, i: ,'�'�. � � (- � ' , .� � � i� £' � s ��' � �' , ;.� �" � : �� 'dl tis - - '� �i�-� C� �: � �<��_ �_ , -, � '� � �•° � e �� s� �,�E�' �f,.<�t ; r' ,' �1. '�1.1 '_ -� �,4��;, ��',� �.�,,�AL., „��,��-). � �pt� h �.'�.�'�:� r�`�� 2_1?�� }—. "cz: �4iy . t. : � � n `.�y�v__ �.._�i�}�-.� ic>�C, Lul .\ �1v�. 2/:3 ,F_� CY:t � �,.J,l��J IG e �i�. c° � __-� _ �Gy� L.L_� ��. ��,t' I3 � -� t 11 z{ . ` �1��'� �S U � ii G^� ��i.�r"�% � C C- / I--rr� < < l �, � �"�l � � ��c��h r�1 L �_d� ��c-�.��1�z'i- �� tr �� ! D(� --/le� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. � Ol�-/�!� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as pmposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. bl� �/l�/ Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the Dislsict 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, aliows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. D(��((�lr Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. D�P -/ �� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. UC� -fl�� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: / z ie �� i /� Lr� �, 121 �L��pQ C �oN - , ,� }.� ..J l �,v !'�._y�� y\ �.�"C' s�, �1: T � �-i.`�ti �, ��-�i� (3 r � �\ � i. � 1 '� -%� ,c - _ �; . {� '. � ° � ! %`. i (T!� I+I�CN! LG � �, diLJ : av 6///Y� C � �� (/�v.�l� . ,, 1 ; �' "_` "°�_ T�!ua�. 7x ��v;�z. ( ,'_ _ cµ-- j " ; , i.t� ,�� se �vL�� ,Y wG (i � J��(:c,:.�'�t--,y� y.t � Go, N C�r,�T�� F.E �('1( L1nCi,�„� G' �C% �� LC:,�t r (' � �j 4 � �,C':-+�ct.)t. (Z ,� �.� � � � a S 1 ,�,y"J! �_ L � 5 / Par-}{.o�,d �-u ="7� 3s�L-,�i/1e � ��'� 1 �- �=��:i�1� 1� ,7;�i� �.� � � I �c-_ � � � ; !2, �� `ij -. l � � � il: r �____� / �/.-.-�-J-' -�� Gi.�:�''—=� / � l Business(B) Resident(R) � V'uitor([� � �. , � � J v �23� � S. �� ,1' I 1 z::/ r'L. ltV e ,P �z �c � � L-:,.-..�-.-L i� 1 � �� % �„ f z `� , ,�. � � j y � V � r/� i � G�i �� Y ='T 3� �/ it t ; �� Z� r� � �__, � 'n- b='�'.�u tc'ct '1 �y l�- s�1t ��1�,:,,,_ 1;z� y� � :�o � FF� �'� �� Y 2 ts�s �2rv�,��,. �°�� v� -i�� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the Dish 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the communiry and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed pian, wk�ich City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: Business(B) Resident(R) V'rsitor([') Pau� �l. Ama�� il�o G.RAU� Fw� z q .$ _ - ,-�,, � � � v� D(�-/l�� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. D(� -/le�v Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Cauncil We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hiil Association and request its full adoption by the St Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. bl� -/� � Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name �� ..� .� � ✓< '� L� �� . Signature , �c.:, � .- � � r � � ,� u. < , Address C !L3 �'luo�r�c�� `�G� 3 600D2ich Au �./� L /,�p �� -�`r-nc/�'Yic, �� U �.;. (;- �U� L1� ,� i E'�y ��'U�'�� /J�3 G��.,-,� I'�`'e ! � � � : k etly .fv� �`t � 7 5 _ �i,�� .�� z3� G-�,�, Z; �--� �S� O.T�P�.f�• l� P�2 O �I 0(�Ct� �� - �/. � � l /�c�; ;, `��3aa��..-. � � n.,��6�i , �z.. �C �. - ; , � .` t i!��c�s-Sf / , i�D� \�« �. 55 � Date Indicate: Business(B) Resident(R) V'uitor([� 'I �� P� �—� � � � �' "�� _ '/z � 'i�� r a� �� ,� 1- 'l, t2__ � D(a-/Lafo � ; .� Proposed District 16 Neiahborhood Ptan Key etements opposed by City staff and Planning Commission Below is the exact wording of key elements in the proposed plan that aze not supported by the Pianning Commission and the City staff. (To review City staff objections and suggested changes as adopted by the Planning Commission, please visit our website at wtivlvsummithi(lassociation.ora.) Design Standards.Adopt TN2 design standards for East Grand Avenue in an overlay district. These design standards reinforce human-scale building chazacteris[ics, promote quality in architectural materials, reinforce a pedestrian-focused streetscape, promote underground parkin� for mixed use developments, and visually-screened surface parking for smaller, single-use developments, and promote signage that is consistent with building architecture and business function, and complements the eclectic nature of the avenue. Commercial SpiSiover. The approvai of site ptans and licenses should be conringent on the mitigation of parking and tr�c problems to a level acceptable to the majority of immediately-affected businesses and residents. (Note: This wording would not be codified, such as 50% of property owners within a certain distance voting on it, instead it is a statement of general intent--that concerns about serious spillover problems be taken seriously by the City in decision-making.) Locally-Owned Businesses.SHA recommends implementing mechanisms for supporting and retaining smatl, locally-owned businesses. This includes exploring the adoption of standards to limit the number of formula business establishments on East Grand Avenue. Where strategies are best implemented through changes to City regulations or procedures, meet with City staff (Planning and Economic Development, and Licensing, Inspections, and Environmental Protection) to pursue code revisions. Scale and Height Limits.Adopt limitations of the height and scale on new buildings on East Grand Avenue in an overlay district as follows: 1. Limit new buildings to a footprint of 25,000 square feet or less. 2. Limit new buiSding total size, above ground, to 75,000 square feet or less, including parking. 3. Limit building height to three (3) stories or to thirty feet (30') for commercial projects and to thirty-six feet (36') for mixed commercia] and residential projects, whichever is lower. No additional height will be allowed, even with setbacks. 4. W ork with the City to adopt the desired limitations in an overfay district for East Grand Avenue. Parking Supply. Eliminate the "Rule of Five" parking regulation on East Grand Avenue If you have questions or wish to learn more abou[ the review and approval process for the District 1 b Plan, or want to be added to our email listserve for notice of upcoming public meetings and comment periods, please contact our office at 222-1222. % � Dl� -/Lvlo Che table belo�v compares the proposed height and scale limits to current Grand Avenue buitdings. D(� -//.� lv Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the e�sting scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: Business(B) Resident(R) V'uitor(V) - Cllt/r'�l .�._ , C , .7// �cr�'�C i3;c. ,./ G� Ca�kwe 5f. 'll '� e-k�T `tr� c�._.a �.Kr� ��- z-,� � �.0 � ^Sv�1 �. Y' � •—�3�I�-I�-IQ�''�UtJwfirnn � � 7 r ��L7Yv. 4L°i �/n� E ��gl c3a».�S A✓� j� ��%2 y^�� K �= u� '�� l C�� z�� .-� z,%r� V v�-ic�� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Sumnut Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historicai fla�or of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the pmposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Please Adopt District 1 f Neighborhood Plan, as proposed �y the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by tl�e Summit H�2 Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopte,�, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensaring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the e�sting scale, identiry and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: BusinessB) Resident(R) V'uitor(V) �✓ ' fi nt• ii �-..-�1..� i G� "' Gw�;�� `� � `��uz. � ��1y � .�u� �.�� . � i� mA i! I�v�c� � t�`�G �' W-�,,;.,�, �z. `� r 1� ,� � / 'r� - ea✓; •u 1 77G �' z / ec V �QV I ��Q �fCrpc.� "d'� _ ° �7 �E lsv,, n � �Szvz /,� a. � T.: ,'"' �" �� f '�fl� � G ° � :_ � .� ,�•z �,�..., � � ��.....f-sFS �/�. � oc�—�� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Sunimit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by fhhe St. Paul City Councii. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the e�sting scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in ttze proposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Df� -/(�l Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical fla�or of the community. Atta.ched sheet outlines key wording in the pmposed pian, which City staff oppose, but we support. _ �`�,��" � �� Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, ` � _ ,, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Pian as proposed by the Summit Hill Association and request its full adoprion by the St Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the e�sting scale, identity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the pmposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: Business 1 qr C� �►aa1� ��3 V�� rM t � g f..6 :u ��w l� �1 � , ,v � ' � C � 2� � � d �.aar��eeGar �e� a.us.�Q�/ �97 � /�'�o �a�h � seH � - C7 2 y 7 Le,C%� Y' �' . z � � > �tiS �� e��'v O( s• l3 �(� -/l�G Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit Ii'ill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paui City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the e�sting scale, idenrity and historical flavor of the community. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the pmposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Name Signature Address Date Indicate: BusinessBl Resident(R) V'uitor([� � y. � u.wQ,Q�. f3�, r� +�2 �R � w• b�� 69 � o tS A 2 b {} uK I � c.(s� P�rc�c�s (,�� 2v �sceo a�- � q a �oJ�.) Please Adopt District 16 Neighborhood Plan, as proposed by the District 16 Planning Council We, the undersigned, support the District 16 Neighborhood Plan as proposed by the Summit H'ill Association and request its full adoption by the St. Paul City Council. This plan, if adopted, allows continued room for change and growth in the community and on East Grand Avenue, while ensuring that the growth is of a type and size that reinforces the existing scale, identity and historical flavor of the comtnunity. Attached sheet outlines key wording in the pmposed plan, which City staff oppose, but we support. Nwme Signature Address Date Indicate: BusinessB) � Residest(� � ` _ d( Vuitor(V) ;f L�-�` .�..� i ��,-,�-�,Y.��