Minutes 5/19/2006 t
Saint Paul Planning Commission
City Hall Conference Center
15 Kellogg Boulevard West
Minutes May 19, 2006
A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, May 19, 2006,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall.
Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen,Faricy, McCall, Morton, Porter, Smitten
Present: and; and Messrs.,Alton, Commers, Cudahy, Goodlow, Johnson,Kramer, Mejia,
Nelson.
Commissioners Mmes. * Lu, and *Trevino, and Messrs. *Aligada, Bellus, *Dandrea, *Gordon,
Absent: *Kong
*Excused
Also Present: Larry Soderholm, Planning Administrator;Allen Lovejoy,Allan Torstenson, Patricia
James,Donna Drummond and Kate Fleming,Department of Planning and Economic
Development staff.
I. Minutes May 5,2006. The minutes were not finished in time for this meeting.
II. Chair's Announcements
None
III. Planning Administrator's Announcements
Larry Soderholm and Allen Torstenson mailed invitiations to all of the property owners in the
River Corridor Critical Area for a public meeting on the proposed Critical Area zoning
amendments. The meeting is jointly sponsored by the Critical Area Task Force and the Planning
Commission. It will be on Tuesday,May 30, 2006, 6:30—9:00 P.M. at the Wigington Pavilion,
Harriet Island Park.
Larry Soderholm reported on planning-related City Council actions.
IV. Zoning Committee
NEW BUSINESS
# 06-071-334 Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare—Rezoning from RM2(Medium-Density
Multiple-Family Residential)to B5 (Central Business-Service), 183 University Avenue East and
adjacent parcel,NE corner at Jackson. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639)
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MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation that the
rezoning be approved The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
#06-071-299 Como Raymond Properties,LLC—Rezoning from B2 (Community Business)to
TN2(Traditional Neighborhood),2102 Como Avenue, SW corner at Raymond. (Patricia James,
651/266-6639)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation that the
rezoning be approved The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
#06-071-328 Como Raymond Properties,LLC—Conditional Use Permit for auto convenience
market and variances of: (1)required parking for auto convenience market and 1650 sq. ft. fast
food restaurant, (2)distance of access drive from residential property, and(3)requirement for
masonry wall or decorative metal fence along public street/sidewalk. (Patricia James, 651/266-
6639)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the conditional use permit and variances subject to additional conditions.
AMENDMENTS TO MOTION: Commissioner Nelson moved to amend the resolution
limiting the hours of operation to between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The motion was seconded
by Commissioner Johnson. The motion failed
MOTION: The original motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Morton announced the Zoning Committee agenda for May 25,2006
V. Comprehensive Planning Committee
Central Corridor Draft EIS.
Chair Donnelly-Cohen asked Allen Lovejoy to summarize the committee's recommendations on
the Draft EIS.
Mr. Lovejoy gave a summary of the recommendations,which the Planning Commission will send
to the Mayor and the City Council for inclusion in the City's recommendations to the Ramsey
County Regional Rail Authority. The City of Saint Paul supports LRT as the preferred mode and
the currently depicted LRT alignment.
The City supports a Preliminary Engineering process that fully engages the community.
Factors/issues that should be studied in Preliminary Engineering are: (1)Station location options
particularly at Western,Victoria,Athletic Club block,Union Depot, Snelling, and Capitol East;
(2) Station design, including 300 foot platforms, corridor-wide approach and individual station
designs; (3)Sidewalk area design, including bus tops,sidewalk width, landscaping, street
furniture,accommodations for bicycles,and decorative lighting; (4)Pedestrian and bicycle access
from the neighborhoods to the station areas;(5)cross-section design,potential pedestrian
barriers between the LRT tracks and pedestrians; (6) Safety for pedestrians, bicycles, and
motorists with a focus on design, education and ongoing maintenance; (7)Parking, including
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station area-specific analyses of potential loss of on street parking,park and ride faculties, and
informal park and hide activities; (8)Improvements to the other transit service in the corridor; (9)
Block group-by-block group strategies for construction phasing and mitigation of business
impacts; (10)Project scope, including reconstruction of sidewalks along University Avenue and
the aesthetics of the overhead electrification system; (11) Assessment of the degree to which
LRT is promoting increases in property values; and(12)Planning for changes in traffic volumes
and operations at major intersections and stations.
In addition to preliminary engineering, the City is committed to a parallel and participatory
Development Strategy process whereby the city may take best advantage of the anticipated transit
investments. Further, the City commits to complete such work in a timely manner so that it may
inform investigations and decisions of Preliminary Engineering.
MOTION: Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen moved on behalf of the Comprehensive Planning
Committee to recommend adopting the Planning Commission recommendation on the draft
EIS for the Central Corridor. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
VI. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee
No report
VII. Long-range Planning Committee
No report
VIII. Communications Committee
No report
VIII. Task Force Reports
No report
IX. Old Business
None
X New Business
Commissioner Johnson invited members to attend the demolition of the East Side Globe Asphalt
Plant on June 15, 2006;the Port Authority will sponsor a barbeque party.
XIII. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
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Recorded and prepared by
Kate Fleming,Planning Commission Secretary
Planning and Economic Development Department,
City of Saint Paul
Respectfully submitted, Approved o V J(,
Date
Larry S d holm ril Porter
Planni dministrator Secretary of the Planning CI mission
PED\Fleming\May 19,2006
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