Minutes 7/28/2006 gUGl 0VF®
City Hall Conference Center Cj11, s2pp6
15 Kellogg Boulevard West c�F
Minutes July 28, 2006
A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, July 28, 2006,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall.
Commissioners Mmes.Faricy,Lu,Morton,Porter, Smitten
Present: and; and Messrs. Aligada,Alton,Bellus, Gordon, Johnson,Kramer and Nelson.
Commissioners Mmes. *Donnelly-Cohen *McCall, and *Trevino, and Messrs. *Commers, *Cudahy,
*Dandrea, *Goodlow, *Kong and *Mejia.
Absent:
*Excused
Also Present: Larry Soderholm,Planning Administrator; Anne Hunt,Mayors Office,Allan
Torstenson,Patricia James,Lucy Thompson, Sarah Zorn(intern), and Kate Fleming,
Department of Planning and Economic Development staff
I. Approval of minutes July 14,2006.
MOTION: Commissioner Johnson moved approval of the minutes of July 14, 2006.
Commissioner Morton seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
II. Chair's Announcements
No announcements
III. Planning Administrator's Announcements
Larry Soderholm reported on planning-related business at the City Council for last week, the
agenda for next week had not been received. He reported on the City Council Resolution
regarding Watershed District Rules.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING: Parkland Dedication Ordinance
Item from the Comprehensive Planning Committee
(Allan Torstenson, 651/266-6579)
Allan Torstenson gave the staff report and explained the main provisions of the draft ordinance.
Commissioner Gordon asked if a developer would need to get approval of the City Council to
use the cash in lieu option. Torstenson answered that it is at the discretion of the City Council.
1
Chair Alton asked for clarification about when this ordinance would apply. Torstenson
answered that it applies when a plat is required: when a subdivision of property creates 5 or
more lots, when a subdivision is of previously unplatted land, or when a subdivision requires
improvements of streets or other municipal services.
Mr. Bob Bierscheid,Director of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, discussed the need for a
parkland dedication ordinance. Parks and open space are important to the physical,mental, and
social health of the community as well as individuals,and help to maintains property value within
the community. Saint Paul population is growing again so there is need for additional park space.
It's good to get the open space as part of development because it's more expensive later.
Mr. Phil Carlson, Senior Planner with Dahgren, Shardlow, and Uban, stated that Saint Paul
and Minneapolis developed excellent park systems while they were first developing, and do not
have park dedication ordinances. More recently, most Twin Cities suburbs have park
dedication ordinances to help them acquire and develop parkland. Now, with more intense
redevelopment in the central cities, there is interest in having park dedication requirements to
help provide parks and open space to serve new development there, too. He said the parkland
dedication formula is drafted to be fair and reasonable, with the requirement rising with the size
and density of the project and the value of land, and with a 12% cap on the area of land to be
dedicated and a $3000/unit cap on the cash in lieu amount.
Chair Alton read the rules of procedure for the public hearing and announced that notice of the
public hearing was published in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press on July 21, 2006, and mailed to the
citywide Early Notification system list.
The following people spoke:
1. Ms. Patricia Lammers, Greater Frogtown CDC, 689 N. Dale, Saint Paul, MN 55103. They are
an eleven year old non profit affordable housing developer working in the Frogtown area.
While they understand the importance of parks, they would have difficulty with the Parkland
Dedication Ordinance. All of their projects are designed around transit, are in areas that are
already built up, and involve expensive land acquisition. It is difficult enough to acquire land
to put their projects on, and having to acquire additional land for park space would make most
of their projects impossible. All of their projects require City subsidy, so having to provide
cash for acquisition and/or development of parkland would also make some of the projects
impossible, or they would need to get additional City subsidy. She is asked that there be an
exemption to the ordinance for affordable housing developments so they can continue to provide
affordable housing in neighborhoods where people need it.
2. Ms. Peggy Lynch, Executive Director of Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and
Ramsey County, 1621 Beechwood Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116. Ms. Lynch stated the
Friends support the Parkland Dedication Ordinance and feel it is necessary to keep Saint Paul a
wonderful place to live, work and play.
3. Ms. Karen Reed,481 S.Wabasha, Saint Paul,Mn 55102. Ms Reed is with the
Neighborhood Development Alliance on the West Side,a non profit community development
corporation. Their affordable housing projects already require heavy public subsidy. While
they understand the need for parks, this would be another fee that would have to be paid with
more public subsidy.
2
4. Ms. Carrie Wasley, Parks Commission Chair, 1150 Cushing Circle, Saint Paul, MN 55108.
The Parks Commission had several hearings on the Parkland Dedication Ordinance, and several
changes were made in response to testimony. The commission watched this document evolve
and at the final hearing before the Parks Commission there was a unanimous vote in support.
5. Chuck Repke, Executive Director of North East Neighborhoods Development Corporation,
1212 Prosperity Avenue, Saint Paul, Mn 55106. Mr. Repke spoke against the proposed
ordinance. He said that the 12% of a plat for parks is the block in the middle of a 9 square
block development, about the minimum necessary for a usable park for active recreation. Parks
doesn't want to own and maintain smaller parcels. But he can't think of 5 residential
development projects in St. Paul in the last 20 years that are that large. So this ordinance will
provide more cash for parks, not more parkland. Saint Paul has a substantially lower
population now than it had in the 1950s, and generally doesn't need more parkland. Rather, we
have a parks budget issue, and that is what this ordinance is designed to address. In the
suburbs parkland dedication requirements are used to get parkland where it is available as part
of larger plats and that's the intent of the state enabling legislation, but that's generally not how
this ordinance would be used in St. Paul. Since townhouses are the kind of small infill housing
redevelopment projects in St. Paul that require platting, he described the parkland dedication
ordinance as a townhouse tax.
6. John Grzybek, Climb the Wind Institute, 1330 Saint Paul Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116. Mr.
Grzybek was a member of the task force for the Parkland Dedication Ordinance. He stated he
was very impressed by the work of the Parks and Recreation Department, the consultant, and
the give and take that went into drafting this ordinance. The formulas for land and/or cash
dedication in the ordinance are designed to be fair to those affected. The need for parks has
been forgotten in some recent housing developments. He said he is sensitive to affordable
housing needs, and this brings the needs of those families for parks to the forefront.
7. Mr. Matt Auron, Saint Paul Area of Commerce,401 N. Robert Street, Saint Paul,MN 55101.
Mr. Auron said they are opposed to this ordinance for five reasons: 1)the case has not been
adequately made that Saint Paul,which has more parkland than similar cities,needs additional
parkland, and there is a problem in maintaining even our existing parks in times of budget
challenges; 2)the City's TN3 zoning already contains a requirement for parkland dedications for
larger developments; 3) the proposed ordinance will increase the cost of smaller infill projects,
particularly affordable and low income housing; 4) parks are only one piece of a larger puzzle of
good housing development, and the ordinance would put Saint Paul in a completive disadvantage;
and 5)the ordinance adds another layer of review and uncertainty into the development process.
The Chamber is concerned with the overall message of the parkland dedication ordinance will
send to the development community that is Saint Paul is too expensive and too complex to do
business in, and he suggested finding a more positive way to provide for and encourage park
development rather than mandating park dedication or an additional fee.
8. Loren Brueggmann, Vice President of Development for Sherman Associates, Inc. Mr.
Brueggmann said he understands park dedication fees and the need for parks, but he is
concerned about the effect of this proposed ordinance on housing affordability. He explained
the costs and difficulty of developing affordable housing using examples they have worked on in
St. Paul. Other cities typically waive park dedication fees for affordable housing, and that
3
helps. He asked that there be an exemption for low income, affordable housing added to the
draft ordinance.
Chair Alton announced this hearing will be continued through the Planning Commission
meeting on August 11,2006,for any additional oral or written testimony.
V. Zoning Committee
NEW BUSINESS
#06-101-526 Neighborhood Development Alliance—Conditional Use Permit for 2 unit
cluster development. 235 Belvidere St E between Harvard and Oakdale.
(Merritt Clapp-Smith, 651/266-6547)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the conditional use permit with conditions. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
#06-103-980 Macalester College—Conditional Use Permit for expansion of college
boundary to include 1653 Lincoln Avenue. 1653 Lincoln Avenue between Macalester&
Cambridge. (Merritt Clapp-Smith, 651/266-6547)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the conditional use permit with a condition. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Resolution initiating zoning study regarding expiration of Conditional Use Permits
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the resolution to initiate a zoning study regarding expiration of conditional use permits. The
motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Morton stated the Zoning Committee meeting on August 3, 2006,has been
cancelled.
VI. Comprehensive Planning Committee
Chair Morton on behalf of Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen announced the schedule for future
meetings, August 8,August 15, and on August 25, 2006,the different categories in the
Comprehensive Plan will be identified and there will be a resolution.
VH. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee
Commissioner Nelson, on behalf of Commissioner McCall, announced the Fitzgerald Park
Precinct Plan Summary was reviewed and the issues from the public hearing were discussed.
Additional language has been added to the text of the plan to address a legal issue raised at the
hearing. The Neighborhood and Current Planning Commission recommends adoption by the City
Council of the Fitzgerald Park Precinct Plan Summary, as amended.
4
VIII. Fitzgerald Park Precinct Plan Summary—Adoption of Resolution.
(Lucy Thompson, 651/266-6578)
MOTION: Commissioner Nelson on behalf of Commissioner McCall moved the
Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee recommendation of approval of the
Fitzgerald Park Precinct Plan Summary as amended. The motion carried unanimously on a
voice vote.
IX. Communications Committee
No report
X. Task Force Reports
Commissioner Aligada gave the Central Corridor Task Force report and announced there will be
meetings with the focus groups on August 1st through the 3rd and August 22, 2006.
Commissioner Smitten gave the Downtown Capitol Central Corridor LRT Task Force report and
announced their meetings will be the first and third Tuesdays of the every month.
Commissioner Gordon gave the STAR Board report. Interviews of applicants were done on
Wednesday, July 26, 2006. The ranking session will be on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 and by
the close of the meeting the Board will complete its recommendations for funding.
Commissioner Kramer gave the report on the Joint Committee of CIB,Planning Commission and
STAR Board. They held their final meeting on July 26, 2006. With staff assistance, they will
compile their work into a final report for consideration by the three bodies and for submittal to
the City Council.
Larry Soderholm gave the report on the final Mississippi River Critical Area Task Force meeting.
Allan Torstenson and he will finish the final report and get it printed. It will be a presented to the
City Council at their meeting on August 9, 2006, and Council President Lantry will have the
River Corridor overlay zoning proposals referred to the Planning Commission.
XI. Old Business
None
XII New Business
None
XIII. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
5
Recorded and prepared by
Kate Fleming,Planning Commission Secretary
Planning and Economic Development Department,
City of Saint Paul
Respectfully submitted, Approved ti
(D te)
Larry .•: olm Marilyn Po er
Planning Administrator Secretary of the Planning Co ission
PED\FIeming\July 28,2006
6