Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting – October 14, 2022

The Saint Paul Planning Commission met on October 14, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall Conference Center Room 40. The meeting began with chair announcements, planning director updates, and a presentation on the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) zoning amendments. The commission approved two zoning committee items, discussed the comprehensive planning committee's recommendation on the MRCCA and floodplain overlay amendments, and set a public hearing for November 18, 2022. The meeting concluded with a commission photo.

Chair’s Announcements

• Chair Rangel Morales had no agenda items or news for the morning. He noted that the recording equipment was not working, so he would use a cell phone to record comments.

Planning Director’s Announcements

• Luis Pereira, Planning Director, reminded that the call for new planning commission members is open through November 2, 2022, seeking candidates from wards 2, 4, and 6.
• Provided an update on the Anti-Displacement and Community Wealth Building Project: Two community advisory committee meetings have been held. A virtual community engagement session was lightly attended; plans for two in-person open houses (likely in the Rondo area and on the east side) are in development. The consultant’s landscape analysis (market scan, cost-burden data by race, homeownership rates, gentrification assessment) is undergoing final edits and will be released publicly soon.
• Reminded that there is only one planning commission meeting in November (November 18th), which will be important.

Zoning Committee Items

Item #22-092-875 – 678 S Robert CUP

• Conditional use permit to reuse a church as a rental space for cultural events (birthday, graduation, retirement parties, weddings, funerals, weekly services). No opposition was heard in committee. The zoning committee voted unanimously to approve. The full commission approved the motion unanimously.

Item #22-093-711 & #22-093-588 – 180 Milton/909 Selby & 912 Selby Rezoning and CUP

• Rezoning from B3 general business and VP vehicular parking to T2 traditional neighborhood at 900 Selby Avenue. The conditional use permit for conversion of ground floor commercial to over 50% residential was laid over in the zoning committee to October 20, 2022, but the rezoning was approved. The committee recommended approval, and the full commission approved the rezoning unanimously.

Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee – River Corridor & Floodplain Overlay Zoning Amendments

• Alan Torstenson and Josh Williams presented an overview of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) and floodplain overlay zoning amendments. The presentation covered:
  • Background on the MRCCA, including its history and the 2009 state legislative directive for DNR rulemaking.
  • The DNR’s model ordinance and the six new sub-districts (ROS, RN, RTC, SR, UM, UC).
  • River and bluff setback requirements and height standards, including tiered height limits based on distance from the river and bluff. Key points:
    • Setbacks and heights are largely mandated by state rules, but the city can adopt more restrictive standards. The draft ordinance includes tiered heights (e.g., 35 ft at the river increasing to 48 ft in RTC, 65 ft in UM, with conditional use permits for greater heights in some districts).
    • Downtown bluff development exception: At the city’s request, the rules now allow commercial/residential development on the downtown bluff (previously prohibited) with specific height limits (e.g., 200 ft west of Robert Street, 125 ft east of Robert).
    • Existing height limits in downtown (60, 75, 90 ft) are carried forward, with an optional 15 ft additional height via conditional use permit for small-scale amenities.
  • Other significant changes: requirements for shielding exterior lighting, bird-safe glass, protection of primary conservation areas (at least 50% in ROS, 20% in RN, 10% in RTC/UM/UC), and new permits for land alteration near sensitive areas.
• Commissioners asked about compatibility with Minneapolis, the Ramsey County River’s Edge project, and how height limits were developed. Staff noted that the draft ordinance is consistent with Minneapolis in many respects but tailored to St. Paul’s unique river valley geography.
• Motion: Commissioner Holtz moved to initiate a zoning study, release the draft amendments for public review, and set a public hearing for November 18, 2022. Seconded by Commissioner Hood. The motion passed unanimously.

Transportation Committee

• Commissioner Risberg noted the next meeting is Monday, October 17, 2022, at 4:30 p.m., to hear information items on the Como Regional Park Trail Master Plan and the Grand Round nodes.

Communications-Nominations Committee & Task Force Liaison Reports

• Luis Pereira reported that committee meetings are proposed for early November and just before the November 18 commission meeting, to review planning commission applications and the annual report outline.
• Commissioners Mitchell and Moore provided an update on the Anti-Displacement and Community Wealth Building Project advisory committee, noting that the landscape analysis data is very interesting but community engagement has been lighter than hoped. Pereira indicated that a more robust community engagement schedule is being developed.

Old Business / New Business / Adjournment

• No old or new business was raised. The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 a.m., followed by a commission photo.

Note: The instruction provided with the source material stated the meeting date as October 7, 2022, but the agenda and transcript clearly show the meeting occurred on October 14, 2022. This summary uses the date from the primary source (agenda/transcript).