Minutes 12/15/2006 ti
Saint Paul Planning Commission
City Hall Conference Center
15 Kellogg Boulevard West
Minutes December 15, 2006
A meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Saint Paul was held Friday, December 15, 2006,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center of City Hall.
Commissioners Mmes. Donnelly-Cohen,Faricy,Lu,Morton, Smitten,
Present: and; Messrs.Alton,Bellus,Commers,Dandrea, Goodlow, Gordon,Johnson, Kramer,
Mejia and Nelson.
Commissioners Mmes. *McCall, * Porter, and *Trevino, and Messrs. *Cudahy,Kong
Absent:
*Excused
Also Present: Larry Soderholm,Planning Administrator; Patricia James,Penny Simison, and Kate
Fleming,Department of Planning and Economic Development staff.
I. Approval of minutes December 1, 2006.
MOTION: Commissioner Faricy moved approval of the minutes of December 1, 2006.
Commissioner Lu seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
II. Chair's Announcements
Chair Alton reminded members of the Planning Commission of the Holiday Lunch on December
29, 2006. The meeting time that day will be changed to 10:30 a.m. and afterward we'll go to
Yarusso's for lunch.
Chair Alton stated the annual meeting will be on January 26, 2007.
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Chair Alton welcomed the newest Planning Commissioner,Dennis Rosemark. He was appointed
by Mayor Coleman to replace Reggie Aligada, and the City Council confirmed him this week.
The City Clerk will be at the next meeting to swear Mr. Rosemark in. Commissioners introduced
themselves and Mr.Rosemark said a few words about his background.
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.
Commissioner Gordon asked if the City Council had laid over the Parkland Dedication
Ordinance.
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Larry Soderholm responded that this week the ordinance was on the Council agenda for the
public hearing and third reading. There were questions and suggestions about amendments. It
was laid over until January.
Commissioner Gordon asked if amendments would mean that the ordinance will come back to the
Planning Commission for further review. Mr. Soderholm answered that the Planning
Commission would be briefed but the ordinance probably would not come back.
Commissioner Gordon asked about the downtown LRT alignment and if the issue of the single
line down Cedar vs. the loop under study by the Ramsey County Board will come to the Planning
Commission for a recommendation. Mr. Soderholm said at this point the discussion seems to be
between the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority and the Metropolitan Council.
Commissioner Smitten explained the Downtown/Capitol Central Corridor Task Force is
discussing the alignment in downtown but has not looked closely at the loop alternative yet. The
task force has been working on the number of stations, station locations, and the three alignment
alternatives that were laid out in the environmental impact statement,which are at the Athletic
Club block and going under Kellogg Mall to the back of the Union Depot. The EIS did not
include a loop alternative. The task force plans to look at the loop alternative after the
consultant's report to the County Board is finished,including cost and ridership.
Commissioners Bellus and Gordon felt that the Planning Commission should have a role in
evaluating the downtown alignment alternatives and saying what alternative would serve the city
best. They asked the staff to pursue this further, and Commissioner Gordon expressed concern
that more intensive work should be done soon on the station areas for the loop alternative so that
it could be evaluated fairly in comparison to the alternatives in the EIS.
IV. Zoning Committee
OLD BUSINESS
#06-225-113 Capital Partners-Conditional Use Permit for drive-through sales and service as
part of a new retail center,and variances of floor area ratio,parking placement,and setbacks.
1810 W. 7`s St., intersection at Montreal. (Patricia James, 651/266-6639)
Commissioner Morton reported that this case has been withdrawn.
NEW BUSINESS
#06-273-087 Sandra Belisle—Reestablishment of nonconforming use as dog and cat grooming
service. 360 Clifton Street, SE corner at Jefferson.
(Sarah Zorn, 651/266 6570)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved the Zoning Committee's recommendation to approve
re-establishment of the legal nonconforming use with conditions. The motion carried
unanimously on a voice vote.
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241 Earl Street,NW corner at Burns—Notification to Planning Commission of noncompliance
with conditions of nonconforming use permit, and consideration of possible public hearing for
revocation or modification of the permit.
(Allan Torstenson, 651/266-6579)
MOTION: Commissioner Morton moved on behalf of the committee that a public hearing
date be set for January 4, 2007 for the purpose of reviewing and acting on the allegations of
noncompliance with conditions of the approved nonconforming use permit at 241 Earl Street.
The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Morton announced the Zoning Committee agenda for the December 21, 2006
meeting.
V. Comprehensive Planning Committee
Land Use Comprehensive Plan Task Force -Adopt resolution.
(Penny Simison, 651/266-6554)
Chair Donnelly-Cohen stated that the resolution establishing the Land Use Comprehensive Task
Force will be presented at the December 29 meeting of the Planning Commission.
VI. Neighborhood and Current Planning Committee
No report
VII. Communications Committee
Larry Soderholm announced the Communications Committee will meet and discuss the Planning
Commission's 2006 Annual Report before the next Planning Commission meeting on December
29, 2006, 10:00-10:30 a.m.
VIII. Task Force Reports
Commissioner Smitten stated the next meeting of the Downtown/Capitol Central Corridor Task
Force will be on Tuesday,December 26, 2006,4:30-6:30 p.m., CHA 13`h Floor, and the
discussion will be on the area around Fourth and Cedar as well as the Union Depot
Redevelopment.
Commissioner Kramer reported for the Arcade Street Plan Task Force,reminding commissioners
of the public hearing set for January 12, 2007,and mentioning proposed plans at the intersection
of Arcade and Maryland.
Larry Soderholm stated that nominations for the Ford Plant Redevelopment Task Force are being
accepted until December 18, 2006.
IX. Old Business
None
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X New Business
None
XIII. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.
Recorded and prepared by
Kate Fleming,Planning Commission Secretary
Planning and Economic Development Department,
City of Saint Paul
Respectfully submitted, Approved l 2" 9 f
(Date)
1/62)
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Larry •erholm AICP Marilyn Porter
Planning Administrator Secretary of the Planning Commission
PED\Fleming\December 15,2006
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