Minutes 7/14/2006 Saint Paul Planning Commission RECEI vED
City Hall Conference Center
15 Kellogg Boulevard West JUL 31 2006
CITY
C
Minutes July 14,2006 'ERK
A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, July 14, 2006,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall.
Commissioners Mmes.Donnelly-Cohen,Faricy,Lu, McCall,Morton, Smitten,
Present: and; and Messrs. Aligada,Alton, Commers, Cudahy,Dandrea, Goodlow, Gordon,
Johnson,Kramer, Mejia and Nelson. .
Commissioners Mmes. * Porter, and *Trevino, and Messrs. Bellus,Kong.
Absent:
*Excused
Also Present: Larry Soderholm,Planning Administrator; Peter Warner, City Attorney,Anne Hunt,
Mayors Office,Patricia James,Lucy Thompson, Shawntera Hardy,Luis Pereira,
Christina Danico, Tom Beach from LIEP, Sarah Zorn(intern), and Kate Fleming,
Department of Planning and Economic Development staff.
I. Approval of minutes June 30,2006.
MOTION: Commissioner Fancy moved approval of the minutes of July 30, 2006.
Commissioner Commers seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice
vote.
II. Chair's Announcements
Chair Alton announced the ground breaking for the Jeremiah Program' Saint Paul
location on July 25, 2006.
III. Planning Administrator's Announcements
Larry Soderholm reported on planning-related business at the City Council for last week and their
agenda for next week.
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IV. Zoning Committee
NEW BUSINESS
# 06-099-337 Holman Field Floodwall—Site Plan for flood control system consisting of
levees,floodwalls,and compensatory excavation. 644 Bayfield Street,East of Fillmore
street. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the site plan.
Patricia James gave a report on the changes that were made in this application compared to the
previous application that was denied by City Council.
Discussion followed the report.
Commissioner Lu questioned the need and cost/benefit of the project and noted that there was no
requirement to complete the regional trail along the west edge of the airport.
AMENDMENTS TO MOTION: Commissioner Smitten moved to amend the resolution for
site plan approval to require a performance bond for the vegetation and decorative
improvements to the permanent flood wall: Commissioner Gordon seconded
Tom Beach explained how a performance bond works and the types of situations where LIEP
requires one. He also reported, based on his conversations with MAC staff, on what the cost
range might be for the vegetation and decorative improvements.
AMENDMENTS TO AMENDMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved to amend the motion
to amend by specifying that the amount of the performance bond be set at one million dollars.
Commissioner Cudahy seconded the motion, and it carried on a voice vote.
At the request of Commissioner Morton, Chair Alton called for a roll call vote on Commissioner
Smitten's motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE: The motion to approve the amendment to the site plan resolution
carried on a roll call vote of 11-6(Alton,Dandrea,Donnelly-Cohen,McCall. Mejia,Morton).
Commissioner Cudahy voiced his opposition to the project,which imposes on the surrounding
neighborhoods.
Commissioner Nelson stated his opposition because it was wrong to try to control nature and also
because the floodwall is located on the river side of Bayfield,not the landward side.
Commissioner Gordon voiced support of the project. He stated that the proposal has been greatly
improved, even though it is not perfect. He stated he agreed that it would be preferable to move
the floodwall to the other side of Bayfield, but he understood the reasoning for its proposed
location.
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MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the site plan with amendments. The motion carried on a voice vote of 13-4(Cudahy,Lu,
McCall,Nelson).
# 06-101-606 Holman Field Floodwall Major Variance—Variances of River Corridor
standards to permit rehabilitation slopes steeper than 18%, development on existing slopes
greater than 12%, and development within 50 ft. of the Ordinary High Water(OHW) level
for a system of floodwalls, earthen levees, and compensatory excavation. 644 Bayfield
Street,East of Fillmore Street. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the variances. The motion carried on a voice vote of 13-4(Cudahy,Lu,McCall,Nelson).
Sign Ordinance Amendments regarding skyway and light pole banners—A set of
amendments to the sign ordinance dealing with banners and promotions signs on
skyways downtown and banners on light poles citywide. (Patricia James, 651/266-663)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the set of amendments to the sign ordinance. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Morton announced the Zoning Committee agenda for July 20, 2006
V. Guest Presentation: Minority Business Development and Retention: An update on PED
activities by Readus Fletcher,Director of Economic Opportunity.
Readus Fletcher and Shawntera Hardy presented an overview of the City's programs and its
achievements. Mr.Fletcher passed out brochures on several of the programs he works on. These
include: the Vendor Outreach Program;Minority Business Development and Retention;
employment-generating activities by the City of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul URA for Minority
Owned Business Enterprises (MBE's),Women Owned Business Enterprises(WBE's); and Small
Business Enterprises(SBE's); and Resources for MBE's WBE's and SBE's. Ms. Hardy used
material from the City's website to illustrate the presentation, showing what small business
assistance and capacity building services are available at www.stpaul.gov/business/mdbr.
Discussion followed the presentation.
VI. Comprehensive Planning Committee
Watershed District Rules
Approve letters from the Planning Commission to the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed
District and the Capitol Region Watershed District giving comments on their proposed rules.
(Larry Soderholm, 651/266-6575)
MOTION: Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen moved on behalf of the committee to approve the
two letters from the Planning Commission to the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed
District and the Capitol Region Watershed District giving the Planning Commission's
comments on proposed rules. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
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Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen gave an update on progress toward setting up task forces for each
of the five chapters of the Comprehensive Plan of 2008. Larry Soderholm said that the staff is
meeting on the City Council's request regarding a Human Development chapter for the
Comprehensive Plan, and the committee will be discussing it in August.
VII. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee
No report. The next committee meeting is July 19, 2006 at 8:30 a.m.where the committee will
discuss the public hearing comments on the Fitzgerald Park Precinct Plan.
VIII. Long-range Planning Committee
No report
IX. Communications Committee
No report
X. Task Force Reports
Commissioner Gordon gave an update on the STAR Board. The board did a bus tour of all the
application sites. Interviews of the applicants will take place on July 26th and the board will do its
rankings on August 2,2006. These are public meetings.
Commissioner Aligada gave a brief update on the Central Corridor Development Strategy Task
Force. The next meeting is July 25, 2006.
Larry Soderholm state the Mississippi River Critical Area Task Force had its final meeting and he
will prepare the final report. The task force wants it to go to the City Council on August 9,2006.
Then it will be referred to the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Smitten stated the Downtown/Capitol LRT Task Force members have been
selected and the first meeting is July 25, 2006.
XI. Old Business
None
XII. New Business
None
XIII. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 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 7 2,5
ate)
Atk
Larry Sir olm Maril n Porter
Plannin dministrator Secretary of the Planning mmission
PED\Fleming\July 14,2006
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