Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

All right, I'm going to call to order the September 11th meeting of the St. Paul Planning Commission. All right, we'll start with roll call.

Commissioner Grill.

Present.

Commissioner Holst. Here. Commissioner Johnson-Becker. Commissioner Martinson.

Here.

Commissioner Presley. Here. Commissioner Riley.

Here.

Commissioner Starling.

Present.

Commissioner Taglia. Commissioner Thomas. Six present.

All right, thank you. Next up is approval of the August 28th, 2026 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Do I have a motion on the minutes?

So moved.

Motion by Commissioner Martinson. Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Commissioner Holtz. Is there any discussion on the minutes? All right, seeing no discussion, we'll move forward with a vote. All those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed? And I'll abstain.

I abstain, I wasn't here.

All right, Commissioner Presley. And Commissioner Riley. Wait, but let me count real quick here. One, two, three, four, five, six. Okay, we have, all right, the minutes pass. All right, next up is the public hearings. I'm gonna read a script before we begin the public hearing. Today, the St. Paul Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on the Rondo Neighborhood Plan. Notice of the public hearing was published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, and was sent to the early notification system list of recipients and other interested parties. The following rules of procedure will be used in conducting the hearing. Speakers should state their name and address for the record before beginning their testimony. Speakers are requested to limit their remarks to three minutes. Please relate your comments to the Rondo Neighborhood Plan. Each speaker may speak only once, and speakers are requested to address all questions to the chair. That's me. Planning Commission members may address questions to the speakers and the staff. At the conclusion of the public hearing, I will ask three times if there are any persons present who wish to be heard. There being no further testimony, there will be a motion that the hearing be closed and taken under advisement by the Planning Commission. I'm also just going to state for the record that Commissioner Thomas is now here. And now that we've read the rules and procedures, we are going to move to the Rondo Neighborhood Plan public hearing. I don't believe Tony Johnson has anything prepared, so we'll move directly into the public hearing. So if you're here to speak on this item, you can line up by the microphones to speak on the item.

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. My name is Marvin Anderson, and I am a former member of the St. Paul Planning Commission, appointed by George Latimer back in the prehistoric days. But I'm here today as the chairman of the Reconnect Rondo. Reconnect Rondo was formed to give life to a concept that first took hold in 2009. This concept was based on the idea that within the community of Rondo, there is an opportunity to develop an extraordinary community-driven effort to build a vibrant, cultural, historic housing and cultural destination with the land bridge over I-94. Our mission is to spark a profound revitalization of Rondo, aligning it alongside St. Paul City efforts to restore, revitalize, and usher in a renewed recognition for the city of St. Paul as an influential center in commerce, the arts, education, and government. We are here today at a pivotal moment for our city, and we salute and support all of the citywide initiatives, the extensive community work that we have accomplished so far, our major studies, our deep conversations with thousands of residents at neighborhood festivals and events, and the goals that we have adopted reflects the best of our city, and it stands as a testament to the shared vision we hold with you about the future of the city of St. Paul. We believe that our project reflects the values, the goals, and the interests of the city of St. Paul and all of its residents. We stand ready to provide all the information you will need to help you decide that this project deserves the support of the St. Paul Planning Commission. There are others here today that will speak of our endeavor. Initially, our Executive Director, Mr. Keith Baker, is here to answer any technical specifications or questions that you may have. Thank you for your leadership, and thank you for your continuing partnership in this effort to revitalize the Rondo community of St. Paul. Thank you.

Thank you. Any questions for the speaker? All right. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Margaret Lovejoy. For all my life, I've lived in the Rondo community. Matter of fact, I was born at 694 Rondo, and I still live there. My parents' house was taken by Urban Development, and I was fortunate enough to buy the lot back and build another house. I believe in the community. I grew up with the freeway being built in front of my mom and dad's house. I think now of how much was lost with the freeway coming through, but how much will be gained by connecting the neighborhood again. The first time I heard about This bridge going across, as Roger said, it was in 2009, and I was sold. I want the neighborhood to be connected again. I want to walk across the street to visit the people on the other side. I want my children to know the history and to be able to walk across. I want my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren to know the history of Rondo, the strength of Rondo, and that Rondo is all over our nation. And we here in the Rondo community are spreading the word that there is power and strength in bringing the community back together. Thank you.

Any questions for the speaker? All right. Is there anyone else to speak on this item? Is there anyone else to speak on this item? Is there anyone else to speak on this item? All right. Seeing no one, I'll be looking for a motion to close the hearing and for the item to be taken under advisement by the Planning Commission.

So moved.

Motion by Commissioner Riley. Is there a second? Seconded by Commissioner Thomas. Is there discussion on the motion?

Can you leave the public hearing open until 4.30 on Monday?

Yes. Commissioner Riley, do you want to amend your motion?

Yes, I'll amend the motion to hold the public hearing open until, what time did Tony say? 4.30 p.m. on Monday.

All right. So the motion has been amended and Commissioner Thomas is amenable to that. All right, so we have an amended motion from Commissioner Riley, seconded by Thomas. Is there discussion on that motion? All right, seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. All those in favor?

Aye.

All those?

I'm gonna not vote on this issue. I'm gonna abstain because I'm consulting with the Reconnect Rondo.

All right, thank you, Commissioner Riley, or sorry, Commissioner Presley. Commissioner Presley abstains. All right, so we did a voice vote. Commissioner Presley abstained. The item passes. all right then we are moving back uh moving to old business and in old business we have 2315 highland parkway and 706 mississippi river site plan appeal and we have Tia Anderson here to speak on this item.

Good morning, Chair Grill, Commissioners. Tia Anderson, I am a project manager in economic development, but prior to this role, I was in the Department of Safety Inspections coordinating site plan review and coordinated the review of this site plan file for a multi-family residential building at the corner of Highland Parkway and Mississippi River Boulevard. Last Planning Commission meeting we held a public hearing on this matter and ultimately the decision was to lay the appeal of the site plan over to this meeting. There was a request by commissioners for some additional information trying to clarify really THE INTERACTION OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PARTICULARLY THE MISSISSIPPI RURAL CRITICAL CORRIDOR AREA MERCA CHAPTER AND OUR MERCA OVERLAY DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE. AND SO YOU RECEIVED WITH YOUR MEETING PACKET A slightly updated staff report as well as a copy at the end of that staff report of the Minnesota rules that were outlining the process for jurisdictions, for local jurisdictions to adopt plans and ordinances consistent with the updated MRCA rules by the state. And so in that, I'll just kind of briefly, I didn't prepare another presentation, but I'll just kind of briefly point you to those changes in the staff report. So on page two, under sort of the history section, the background information of the staff report, I added in a reference to the rules that are in your attachment. And specifically, how it outlines the process and the responsibilities and the timeframe for local governments to adopt and amend their plans and ordinances, and specifically indicates that essentially plans and ordinances that are in effect with a local government jurisdiction remain in effect until such time the jurisdiction has the opportunity to update and amend and have accepted updated MRCA ordinances. So in essence, bolstering our own zoning ordinance, which also indicates that at the time of an application, the zoning application is reviewed under the current ordinance. And so, That was part of the original staff report that I presented to you that when this application was received for a site plan, it was reviewed as part of the RC4 river corridor overlay district as opposed to the overlay district that is now within our ordinance. And then the other update, trying to provide a little clarity, hopefully, in the first finding, which is around a site plan's consistency with the comprehensive plan, provided some additional information there. Just a reminder that Comprehensive plans are a tool, it's a vision for growth and change of a city. It provides us with a framework for how to make change. But it's the zoning code, it's our ordinance that is our legal requirement that we review and make decisions under. And so staff continued to find that the site plan that had been approved by the zoning administrator is consistent with the site plan findings and would again remind the recommendation is to deny the appeal of the site plan and uphold the site plan approval.

Thank you. Do we have questions for staff?

Commissioner Riley. I just have two clarifying questions, Ms. Anderson. One, having read the staff report and your summary, what I understand is that, A, the building as proposed meets all of the requirements of the zoning code. There are no variances included.

Chair Grell, Commissioner Riley, that is correct. When this site plan was reviewed and approved administratively, it was found that it was consistent and in compliance with our zoning ordinance.

And there's nothing in conflict with the comprehensive plan that forms the floor for that decision?

Chair Grell, Commissioner Riley, that is correct. We found consistency with the comprehensive plan.

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Riley. Other questions? All right, seeing no other questions, we can move into discussion or looking for a motion.

I'll move the staff recommendation.

All right, so Commissioner Riley moves the staff recommendation to deny the appeal of the zoning administrator decision to approve a site plan for multifamily residential development at 2315 Highland Parkway and 706 Mississippi River Boulevard South. Is there a second for the motion? Second. So motion made by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner Starling. Is there discussion on the motion? Commissioner Martinson.

Thank you, chair girl, just to, uh, just to close loop on the conversation that we had at the last meeting. So the, the concern that was raised by commissioner tag off was he had perceived that there was included in our comprehensive plan, a model ordinance that was handed to us by the DNR. and that it was not modifiable in a way that was in comportment with this decision. That is not the case when I think the staff materials that they brought forward helped to clarify this. They made clear that the implementation chapter of the comprehensive plan makes clear that there is a direct call for a reconciliation of the MRCA changes. in the comp plan which are present in the ordinance, which is the controlling document here. The controlling document that was in place at time, which we are bound by the state rules to follow, clearly made this possible. So I will be voting in support of the staff recommendation.

Is there any other discussion on this item, on the motion? All right, seeing none, we're gonna move forward with the vote. Just before we do the vote, I will be abstaining as I was absent from the last meeting, though I did review the materials and all the items associated with this item. But we can move forward with the vote. All those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed? And then I am an abstention. So this item passes and the appeal is denied. All right, next up on the agenda is new business, of which there is none. Then we have site plan review, and there are several items on site plan review. So on September 1st, there was 45 10th Street West, the former St. Joseph Hospital project. The site plan review committee meeting for Tuesday, September 8th, was canceled. And the site plan review meeting for Tuesday, September 15th has two items, 290 Airport Road, site improvements, other retaining wall, and 2037 Selby Avenue, new construction, four unit multiple family dwelling. And that is it for site plan review. Next up is announcements. I have none as the chair. Bill, do you have any as the acting director?

Yes, thank you, Chair Grell. Planning Commissioners, the comp plan update is kicking off, the 2050 comprehensive plan, and we're having our first public event next week, Thursday, at Rice Park, 4 to 6 p.m. So that's the first of many. That's not the only one. No reason for any of you to be there, but if it is convenient for you to be there, absolutely. Come on by and listen to what people have to say. We're starting with big-picture questions, and this will be a multi-year process, so we are not going to have a draft of the plan. It is way too early for that. That will be next year, but very excited to be kicking off this process next week, Thursday, at Rice Park.

Thanks, Bill. Loved the comp plan last time around. So sad I'm going to miss out on it with you guys starting in 2027. That is partially in jest. It was a really enjoyable educational experience. Commissioner Holtz?

What is the total timeline from kickoff to before the Planning Commission generally on this?

I'm going to write it down, Bill. Without committing you to it.

Mr. Gerby would be better suited to speak to the timeline on this. I'll ask him to.

Chair general timeline, so it's a roughly two-year process. We're kicking off next week Probably about six months or so of just kind of gathering information getting our outreach plan set Doing kind of the background research figuring out all the kind of new requirements that Met Council has And then about a year of drafting and about six months of review. So 2017 will be kind of drafting or 2017. I just went back 10 years. If it was that simple, I wish. 2027 will be kind of the drafting years. So I think I'm planning to come back before you. I'm just going to check in with Yasmin next week and find a good week for me to come in probably in October and just give you an overall update and kind of have some questions and gather your initial thoughts and hopes and dreams for the comp plan. So more to come probably next month for this body. Thank you.

Commissioner Riley?

Yeah, I'll just note for planning commissioners who might be interested and haven't participated in this process before, there's a couple things coming up that we as planning commissioners are eligible to attend. So the state planning conference is in Mankato this year. Registration closes on October 5th. You can all attend if you so choose. I assume it would be on your own dime, but that would be an opportunity to potentially learn about this process. And then the Metropolitan Council planning staff is having a day-long conference about this process. It's designed for officials and staff, and so as sort of planning commissioners, you would be able to attend that, and we can provide that. I think the staff here could provide that information to all of us. That's either late in October or early November. I can't remember which, and that's directly associated with the comp plan process, and so it might help folks if you haven't been through it before.

Thanks, Commissioner Riley. I appreciate that. All right, with that, we've done announcements, and we'll move forward to adjournment. Thank you all.