Minutes 2/10/2006 RECEIVED
Saint Paul Planning Commission FEB 2 7 2006
City Hall Conference Center CITY CLERK
15 Kellogg Boulevard West
Minutes February 10, 2006
A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, February 10, 2006,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall.
Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen, Faricy, Zimmer Lonetti, Lu, McCall,Morton,
Present: and; and Messrs. Aligada,Alton, Anfang, Bellus, Coletta, Dandrea, Goodlow,
Gordon, Johnson, Kong, Kramer, Mejia and Scott.
Commissioners Mmes. * Porter, and *Trevino, and Messrs.
Absent:
*Excused
Also Present: Larry Soderholm, Planning Administrator; Peter Warner, City Attorney, Allen
Lovejoy,Allan Torstenson, Patricia James, Shawntera Hardy, Christina Danico, Tom
Beach from LIEP, Casey MacCallum (intern), and Kate Fleming, Department of
Planning and Economic Development staff.
L Approval of minutes of January 27,2006.
MOTION: Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen moved approval of the minutes of January 27, 2006.
Commissioner Coletta seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
II. Chair's Announcements
Chair Alton recognized George Johnson for his accomplishments as Chair for the last two years.
These included: riverfront planning; promoting the Grand Excursion; adoption of the 2004 Zoning
Code; creating the Long-range Planning Committee; leadership on energy issues, including local
review of the High Bridge Plant replacement; and his years of work on the Phalen Corridor,
Phalen Boulevard, and Phalen Village. Commissioners and staff thanked Commissioner Johnson
for his hard work as Chair of the Planning Commission and, on their behalf, Chair Alton presented
him a plaque.
III. Planning Administrator's Announcements
Larry Soderholm announced the City Council's agenda for next week, including the Phalen
Atlantic Plan and the Summit Hill Plan. This week Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell gave
the State of Region Address and emphasized that transportation is the greatest concern of metro
residents. He was proud that LRT, in its first full year of operation, exceeded ridership
projections by 58 percent.
1
IV. Zoning Committee
OLD BUSINESS
# 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)
# 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)
Commissioner Morton stated more letters and information have been received and much of the
new information was handed out at this morning's meeting.
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved that the case be laid over to Friday, February 24,
2006,Planning Commission meeting and that the public hearing be opened for additional
written testimony until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2006.
Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen seconded the motion.
Larry Soderholm stated because there was so much written testimony received after the public
hearing was closed, some of it new information,we will keep a file at the Zoning office, 14
Floor-CHA, and anyone from the public can review the written documents that have been
submitted and be able to respond in writing by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2006.
Commissioner Bellus asked for verification that there will be only written testimony accepted and
there will not be a public hearing held at the next Planning Commission meeting.
Chair Alton responded that was correct.
Commissioner Zimmer Lonetti stated that there has been enough time to study the information
and she was prepared to make a decision.
Assistant City Attorney Peter Warner, gave his recommendation on the motion, explained the
process of the 60 day rule, and stated there would not be a problem with laying over two weeks.
Larry Soderholm stated the deadline of the first 60 days is February 27,2006, and the next
Planning Commission meeting is on February 24, 2006. The deadline could be extended from 60
to 120 days. If there is an appeal to the City Council and the commission does not act today but
at the next Planning Commission meeting,there is a ten day period for the appeal to be filed and
that would leave fifty days for the City Council to hold a public hearing and make their decision.
He clarified that a public hearing notice will be sent to the people who were notified of the first
public hearing that there is an opportunity for additional written testimony only.
Commissioner Zimmer Lonetti stated she will be out of town if the motion passed and requested a
conference call.
2
ROLL CALL VOTE: The motion carried on a roll call vote of 12-7(Dandrea,Anfang,
Zimmer Lonetti,Kramer,Mejia,Johnson,and Scott).
NEW BUSINESS
#05-223-331 Brackey Parking Lot—2— Site Plan Review for used car sales lot. 80
Arlington Avenue E., SW corner at Jackson. (Jeff Hawkins, 651/266-9083)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the site plan. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
#06-000-836 Branson Builders—Change of Nonconforming Use Permit from
Office/Residential to Office/Beauty Salon/Residential. 850 Hamline Avenue N.,NE corner
at Hewitt. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
the change of nonconforming use permit with conditions. The motion carried unanimously on
a voice vote.
#06-005-579 Lisa Pearl—Conditional Use Permit to allow transitional housing facility with
12 residents. 1255 Edgerton Street, between Orange and Hawthorne.
(Patricia James, 651/266-6639)
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.
Commissioner Morton announced the Zoning Committee Agenda for the February 16, 2006
meeting.
V. Comprehensive Planning Committee
Chair Donnelly-Cohen said the committee is meeting regularly to do a scoping report for the
Comprehensive Plan of 2008. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 14, 2006,to
review key issues for each one of the Comp Plan chapters—land use, transportation,housing,
parks and rec, and water management.
VI. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee
Amendment to Summary of North End-South Como District Plan(Wheelock bluff/Rice Street
Plan).
- Release for public review and set a public hearing on Friday, March 10, 2006.
(Yang Zhang, 651/266-6659)
MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved, on behalf of the committee, that the Wheelock Bluff
Amendment to the North End-South Como District Plan be released for public review and that
a public hearing be set for March, 10, 2006. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
3
VII. Long-range Planning Committee
No report
VIII. Task Force Reports
Mississippi River Critical Area Task force—Inquiry about a joint public meeting to hear
comments on the task force's draft of Critical Area regulations.
Commissioner Anfang explained that the task force will soon finish its draft recommendations
and is planning its public review process. Since their finished recommendations will come to the
Planning Commission, they would like to invite the Planning Commission to co-sponsor one or
two citywide public meetings to hear input in response to their report. Commissioner Anfang
supported the idea as a way for the Planning Commission to learn more about regulatory issues in
the River Corridor. Larry Soderholm also supported the idea and suggested that the details of the
Planning Commission's participation could be discussed by the Steering Committee.
After brief discussion, Chair Alton said there appeared to be a consensus to co-sponsor such a
meeting and he referred the matter to the Steering Committee.
Commissioner Zimmer Lonetti gave an update on the Lexington Park Design Advisory Group.
The Episcopal Homes proposal received federal funding, so it is now a pretty firm part of the
redevelopment. Discussions are taking place with White Castle.
IX. Old Business
None
X New Business
XIII. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Recorded and prepared by
Kate Fleming, Planning Commission Secretary
Planning and Economic Development Department,
City of Saint Paul
Respectfully submitted, Approved yci y/of�;
Dat )
OVA J
_4 1
Larry S'holm arilyn Porte
Plannin:Administrator Secretary of the Planning Commission
PED\Fleming\February 10,2006
4