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Minutes 1/27/2006 Saint Paul Planning Commission RECE/VET City Hall Conference Center FEe 2 15 Kellogg Boulevard West 2000 CITY Minutes January 27,2006 �LE�K A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, January 27, 2006, at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall. Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen, Faricy, Zimmer Lonetti, Lu,McCall,Morton, Porter, Present: and Trevino; and Messrs. Aligada, Alton,Anfang, Coletta, Gordon, Johnson,Kong, Kramer, Mejia and. Commissioners Mmes. and Messrs. Bellus, Dandrea, Goodlow, * Scott. Absent: *Excused Also Present: Larry Soderholm, Planning Administrator; Tom Sanchez, Patricia James, Penny Simison,Lucy Thompson, Donna Drummond, Jessica Rosenfeld, Shawntera Hardy, Tom Beach from LIEP, Kate Fleming, Department of Planning and Economic Development staff. I. Approval of minutes of January 13,2006. MOTION: Commissioner Lu moved approval of the minutes of January 13, 2006. Commissioner Trevino seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. II. Chair's Announcements Chair Johnson announced he decided not to run again for Chair because he probably will be unable to devote as much time to Planning Commission work in 2006 as he has during the last two years. He also reported that the Metropolitan Council has awarded a brownfield remediation grant of $600,000 to the Port Authority for the Globe Asphalt Plant on E. Seventh Street, which is an important site for the Phalen Corridor. III. Planning Administrator's Announcements Larry Soderholm reported on City Council business for last week and their agenda for next week. 1 IV. Communications Committee Annual Report 2006 Commissioner Trevino asked Commissioners to review the final draft of the annual report,which was distributed this morning. Larry Soderholm said he expected to send the report to the print shop next week so that it will be distributed to the public in February. V. Annual Meeting Planning Administrator's report on achievements during 2005 and goals for 2006 (Larry Soderholm, 651/266-6573) Mr. Soderholm reported on the achievements for 2005: the Phalen Corridor Boulevard has been built, and the Phalen Corridor Initiative Strategies are being implemented, it has taken 15 years of community planning. The Housing 5,000 Program, had financial closings on 5,370 housing units, most of them have been built or soon will be. Reviewing the zoning statistics,he noted that only seven Planning Commission decisions were appealed to the City Council, and the Council upheld the Commission on six of them. The Commission was overturned only on the height of the condo building in the River Corridor district on Otis near Marshall. Larry Soderholm outlined what he believes will be the opportunities and issues for the Planning Commission in 2006: the Central Corridor;possibly an Economic Development Strategy; the Long-range Planning Committee report;work toward the Comprehensive Plan for 2008; several district plans;River Corridor regulations; and improvements in our GIS capacity. Report of Nominating Committee and Election of Officers Commissioner Faricy reported on behalf of the Nominating Committee. The other committee members were Commissioners Aligada and Kramer. She nominated Brian Alton for Chair. Chair Johnson asked for any further nominations. None were made. MOTION: Commissioner Faircy moved to close nominations and approve a unanimous ballot for Brian Alton. Commissioner Mejia seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. Commissioner Faircy nominated Kathi Donnelly-Cohen was for First Vice-chair. Chair Johnson asked for any further nominations. None were made. MOTION: Commissioner Faircy moved to close nominations and approve a unanimous ballot for Kathi Donnelly-Cohen. Commissioner Trevino seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. 2 Commissioner Faircy nominated Reynaldo Aligada for Second Vice-chair. Chair Johnson asked for any further nominations. None were made MOTION: Commissioner Faircy moved to close nominations and approve a unanimous ballot for Reggie Aligada. Commissioner McCall seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. Commissioner Faircy nominated Marilyn Porter for Secretary. Chair Johnson asked for any further nominations. None were made. MOTION: Commissioner Faircy moved to close nominations and approve a unanimous ballot for Marilyn Porter. Commissioner Trevino seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. Chair Johnson congratulated the new officers for 2006 and asked Commissioner Alton to assume the chair. Chair Alton thanked Commissioner Johnson for his two years of service as Chair of the Planning Commission and his continuing service in 2006 as an active Commissioner and committee member. VI. Zoning Committee OLD BUSINESS # 05-194-750 V F Associates(Goodrich)—Conditional Use Permit and Variances to allow a 4 unit residential cluster development. 192-194 Goodrich Avenue, between Smith and Leech. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639) MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to deny the conditional use permit.. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. NEW BUSINESS # 05-223-966 Metro Metals Corporation—Determination of Similar Use that motor vehicle recycling using a small indoor shredder is similar to other 12 Industrial uses. 2576 Doswell Avenue, SW corner at Highway 280. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639) MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve the determination of similar use with conditions. The motion carried on a vote of 15-1. (Trevino) 3 # 06-000-725 Metropolitan Airports Commission—Site Plan Review to widen a portion of the river channel and construct a levee. 644 Bayfield Street, adjacent to Saint Paul downtown airport on the right descending bank of the Mississippi River. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639) MOTION: Commissioner Morton reported that the Zoning Committee laid this case over to the February 2, 2006 meeting. # 06-000-752 Metropolitan Airports Commission—Variances of River corridor standards to widen a portion of the river channel. 644 Bayfield Street, adjacent to Saint Paul downtown airport on the right descending bank of the Mississippi River. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639) MOTION: Commissioner Morton reported that the Zoning Committee laid this case over to the February 2, 2006 meeting. VII. Comprehensive Planning Committee University Avenue Business Outreach Survey Final Report—Informational Presentation (Donna Drummond, 651/266-6556) Donna Drummond described the Business Outreach Survey highlighted some of the results: - 61% of businesses lease their space and 39% own their properties. - 63% of businesses reported that their customers come from more than three miles away. - 40%of businesses have plans to expand in the next three years. - The top three concerns cited by owners about their business' current location were parking, litter and graffiti,vandalism and robbery. - Regarding LRT on University Avenue, business owners' attitudes are generally favorable, but the want to know more about it as planning progresses. Their greatest concerns are about access for customers during construction and how much on-street parking will be lost after construction. VIII. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee Summary of Loeb Lake Small Area and Forty-Acre Study (Yang Zhang, 651/266-6659) No staff report MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved on behalf of the committee that the Summary of Loeb Lake Small Area and Forty Acre Study be released for public review and that a public hearing be set for March, 10, 2006. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. Recommendations on the Phalen/Atlantic plan amendment to the Phalen Corridor/Development Strategy Summary and zoning study following Consideration of public hearing comments. (Penny Simison, 651/266-6554) 4 Penny Simison gave the staff report. If the proposed IR Light Industrial Restricted District is adopted and becomes effective for the Phalen/Atlantic area,the Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee supports granting a nonconforming use permit for the Ramsey County yard waste site. Also the Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee supports amending the Zoning Code by adding Sec.62.106 (q)to state: "Existing municipal yard waste sites that are legally nonconforming in IR Light Industrial Restricted Districts may expand as a conditional use under the provisions of Sec. 610501-61.504 and Sec.65.331 even though new yard waste sites are not permitted in IR zoning districts." MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved on behalf of the committee the recommended adoptive resolution for the Phalen/Atlantic Amendment to the Phalen Corridor Development Strategy Summary. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved on behalf of the committee recommended adopting the resolution for the IR Light Industrial Restricted District as an amendment to the Zoning code. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved on behalf of the committee recommended adopting the resolution for the IR Light Industrial Restricted District to properties of Phalen/Atlantic area of Phalen Corridor. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. The Commission agreed to send a letter to Ramsey County Commissioners explaining the plan Amendment and Zoning recommendations for the yard waste site and implications of the City action, as the Commission understands it. Mr. Monte Hillman,Vice President of Redevelopment for the Saint Paul Port Authority gave a brief report on the Globe site, and the grants that have been received. IX. Long-range Planning Committee Commissioner Aligada gave a brief update on the committee's last meeting. X. Old Business. Update on Xcel High Bridge Plant Replacement Tom Beach, LIEP staff, explained that Xcel is ready to begin work on pilings and footings for the new plant, but they haven't done a complete site plan for the whole site. Normally the City requires site plan approval before issuing building permits for new construction. But power plants are subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission, not by the City. The PUC asked Xcel to follow City site plan standards. At this point LIEP would like to know if the Planning Commission has any objections to the issuance of permits for pilings and footings before a complete site plan is done. He said the public meetings have produced no objections about the location of the new power plant on the site. Comments have been about the existing native planting, the architectural character of the new plant's exterior, and the potential reuses for the land where the old plant is. 5 Mr. Ron Brevig,High Bridge Plant Director, gave a presentation on the status of High Bridge Plant replacement project. They have completed all of the permits they needed in their Phase I, including MEQB air and water permits. Phase II permits will be completed by April 2006, and Phase III permits will be applied for in 2007. Mr. Brevig showed how the architecture of the new plant has progressed and addressed questions about site preparation,transmission lines,the gas pipeline, plant construction, and the potential for recreational fields on open space after the old plan is decommissioned. Mr. Soderholm asked Mr.Beach if LIEP would like a Planning Commission motion about the pilings and footings. Mr. Beach said LIEP would like that. MOTION: Commissioner Johnson moved that, in light of the oversight by the Public Utilities Commission and the lack of any public concerns expressed about the location of the new plant on the property, the Planning Commission has no objections to the issuance of permits for pilings and footings before a complete site plan is approved. Commissioner Anfang seconded the motion and it carried unanimously on a voice vote. XI. New Business None XII. Task Force Reports Commissioner Zimmer Lonetti reported that the Lexington Park Design Advisory Group met and discussed the proposed Episcopal Homes site,which now has received HUD funding, and the White Castle site, where the group would like to see more density. The next meeting will held on February 23, 2006. Commission Gordon reported that the STAR Board is starting the small grant cycle. Commissioner Anfang said that the Critical Area Task Force is working on bluff regulations. Commissioner Lu reported that the Watershed Districts TAC is now meeting every two weeks and they discussed the one-inch infiltration standard at the first meeting and will discuss linear projects at the next meeting. TAC members are particularly asking for cost-benefit information about the proposed rules. XIII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 10:32 a.m. 6 Recorded and prepared by Kate Fleming, Planning Commission Secretary Planning and Economic Development Department, City of Saint Paul 1/6 (p Respectfully submitted, Approved (Date) Larry S rholm `-Vlaril n Porter PlanniiVAdministrator Secretary of the Plan? ,-g Commission i/ PED\Fleming\January 27,2006 7