Minutes 12/1/2006 Saint Paul Planning Commission
City Hall Conference Center
15 Kellogg Boulevard West
Minutes December 1, 2006
A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday,December 1, 2006,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall.
Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen,Faricy, Lu,McCall,Morton,Porter, Smitten
Present: and;Messrs.Alton,Bellus, Cudahy, Johnson,Kong,Kramer,Mejia and Nelson.
Commissioners Ms. *Trevino, and Messrs. *Commers, *Dandrea, *Goodlow, *Gordon
Absent:
*Excused
Also Present: Larry Soderholm,Planning Administrator;Allen Lovejoy, Allan Torstenson,Bob
Geurs,PED Project Manager,Patricia James,Penny Simison and,Kate Fleming,
Depaituuent of Planning and Economic Development staff.
I. Approval of minutes November 17,2006.
MOTION: Commissioner Johnson moved approval of the minutes of November 17,2006.
Commissioner Donnelly-Cohen seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a
voice vote.
II. Chair's Announcements
Chair Alton mentioned the newest APA Magazine has an article on Riverfront Development in
Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
III. Planning Administrator's Announcements
Larry Soderholm reported on planning-related business on the City Council's agenda for next
week. There was no Council meeting this week because it was a fifth Wednesday.
IV. Zoning Committee
NO OLD BUSINESS
NO NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Morton announced the Zoning Committee Agenda for the December 7,2006
meeting.
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V. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee
Joint Redevelopment Plan:University/Robert and Jackson Street Project(Regions
Hospital Campus-Adopt resolution. (Bob Geurs,PED, 651/266-6653)
Bob Geurs gave a brief report on the Regions Expansion Project and the need for the attached
Redevelopment Plan.
Craig Klugherz,CFO of Regions Hospital gave the background on Regions Hospital and why
they need to expand. Mr.Klugherz presented the Regions Hospital Expansion Project and
showed architectural drawings for the new hospital facilities and for the parking ramp on
University Avenue. He also submitted a list of the parcels in the Redevelopment Project area.
Mr. Klugherz asked for support from the Planning Commission for this project.
In response to a question Tim McNeil,Ellerbe Becket Architects,explained the sustainable
design elements of the parking ramp on University Avenue. It will have "green walls" (lattice
with vines), stormwater retention ponds for run-off,and open air,nonmechanical ventilation.
Tom Geskermann,Administrator of Regions Hospital,explained how the new hospital is
designed to reduce energy consumption, for example with motion-activated lighting in some
areas.
MOTION: On behalf of the committee Commissioner McCall moved approval of the
resolution for the Joint Redevelopment Plan. The motion carried on a 15-0 vote with 2
abstentions(Bellus,Porter).
Como Avenue in St.Anthony Plan—Adopt resolution initiating small area plan.
(Allan Torstenson, 651/266-6579)
Allan Torstenson stated that District 12 Saint Anthony Park Community Council has requested
initiation of a Small Area Plan and 40-Acre Zoning Study for Como Avenue in St.Anthony Park.
He gave an overview of the purpose of this planning effort identified in the letter from District 12.
The draft resolution would initiate the study and also establish a neighborhood task force to
develop recommendations for the Como in St.Anthony Plan and Zoning Study. Chair Alton
chose Commissioner Nelson to be Co-Chair of the Task Force and Commissioner Commers to be
a member representing the Planning Commission.
MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved that the Planning Commission approve the
resolution and the letter for Chair Alton's signature that were in the packet for today's
meeting. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Arcade Street Small Area Plan—Release draft for public review and set a public hearing
date for January 12,2007. (Penny Simison, 651/266-6554)
Penny Simison gave a brief report on the Arcade Street Small Area Plan. She also explained the
reasons for expanding boundaries of the residential portion of the study area..
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MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved the Neighborhood and Current Planning
Committee's recommendation to release the Arcade Street Small Area Plan for public review
and set a public hearing for January 12, 2007. The motion carried unanimously on a voice
vote.
Arcade Street Small Area Plan Study Area—Revise the boundaries on the residential
portion of the study area to include additional properties.
(Penny Simison, 651/266-6554)
MOTION: Commissioner McCall moved the Neighborhood and Current Planning
Committee's recommendation to revise the boundaries of the residential portion of the study
area to include additional properties. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
VI. Comprehensive Planning Committee
Transportation Update—Briefing on LRT and East Metro Highway Issues.
(Allen Lovejoy, 651/266-6226)
Allen Lovejoy started with descriptions of the various street planning studies that the City is
currently working on. These include redesigns for Selby Avenue, Londin Lane,and Snelling-
University. There are also road network expansions for the northwest area of the city and an
eastward extension of the Pierce Butler Route. Public Works is also helping with the Safe Routes
to School Program.
Mr. Lovejoy continued with an update on the Central Corridor LRT project. He anticipates FTA
sign-off on the EIS in a matter of weeks and preliminary engineering to begin around the second
quarter of 2007. An array of committees and task forces are being established.
He said that funding is always an issue for transportation projects. The situation will have some
additional stability due to the passage of the MVST referendum. The Crosstown Project, which
has a lot of political support,will be expensive and will cause deferral of other metro highway
projects. For the Central Corridor, the City needs to focus on securing the funding to upgrade the
entire University Avenue right-of-way,not just running LRT tracks down the middle. He showed
pictures of Toronto's trolley system and discussed the similarities and differences between
Toronto and here.
Next he explained that the City is legally required to adopt Airport Overlay Zoning both for MSP
and for Holman Field. Part of the Ford Plant is affected, although the height limits are not very
restrictive.
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Finally,Mr.Lovejoy said that he will be working on the Transportation Comprehensive Plan
chapter. He anticipates the main issues will be growth in capacity through transit improvements;
linking development and transportation investments; growth of non-motorized modes; completion
of links within the roadway system;reconstruction to ensure public safety; and the land use
restrictions under flight paths.
VII. Communications Committee
No report
VIII. Task Force Reports
Commissioners Smitten and Porter each gave a brief report on the University and
Downtown/Capitol Central Corridor Task Forces Joint meeting. It was a working session with
the consultants and some of the things talked about were the public realm,potential urban village
locations, and building massing along the corridor. The next Capitol/Downtown Central Corridor
Task Force meeting will be on Tuesday,4:30-6:30 p.m.,December 5,2006, CHA, 1361 Floor.
The next University Avenue Central Corridor Task Force meeting will be on Thursday,
December 14,2006, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Central Corridor Resource Center, 1080 University
Avenue.
Larry Soderholm on behalf of Commissioner Bellus reported that the Housing Comp Plan Task
Force held its first community input meeting on October 29il'.
Larry Soderholm announced that the Planning Commission is currently accepting nominations or
applications for the Ford Plant Task Force. The deadline is December 18,2006.
Commissioner McCall reported that the Planning Commission's Holiday Party will take place on
December 29t1. The regular Commission meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. and the party will
follow the meeting. More details to come.
IX. Old Business
None
X. New Business
None
XI. 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 / ��0
/(Date)
"iv/ Z9
Larry S de holm AICP Marilyn Porter U i
Plannint = dministrator Secretary of the Planning ommission
PED\FIeming\December 1,2006
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