Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting - March 3, 2023: 1-4 Unit Housing Study Phase 2 Amendments Released for Public Hearing
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Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting - March 3, 2023: 1-4 Unit Housing Study Phase 2 Amendments Released for Public Hearing\n\nThe Saint Paul Planning Commission met on March 3, 2023, from 8:30 AM to approximately 11:00 AM. The primary agenda item was the consideration of the 1-4 Unit Housing Study Phase 2 Amendments, which would significantly overhaul the city's residential zoning to allow more housing types (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, ADUs, cluster developments) in most neighborhoods. The Commission voted to release the draft amendments for public comment and set a public hearing for April 14, 2023.\n\n### Consent Calendar\n- Approval of Minutes (February 3, 2023): Moved by Commissioner Grove, seconded by Commissioner Syed. Approved unanimously by voice vote.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- No public comments were heard during this meeting. (The item was set for future public hearing.)\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Chair’s Announcements: Chair Rangel Morales announced a meeting with three new commissioners for committee assignments and a call for volunteers for the River View Corridor Task Force (a planned light rail line).\n- Planning Director’s Announcements: Director Pereira had no announcements.\n- Zoning Committee Report (Commissioner Riley): The committee did not meet due to weather. Upcoming agenda for March 9 includes a rezoning at 1416 Grand Ave (OS to T2), a conditional use permit (CUP) for an auto service station at 1045 Arcade, a CUP for auto body repair at 931-933 Atlantic St, and a CUP for a large restaurant (over 15,000 sq ft) at 315 University Ave W.\n- Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee (CNPC) Report (Commissioner Holst): The committee discussed the Highland Bridge site zoning changes for St. Thomas ballfields (formerly CP rail yard). The main item was the 1-4 Unit Housing Study Phase 2 Amendments.\n - Presentation by Emma Brown (Planning Staff): Detailed presentation covering:\n - Background: Initiated April 2021; Phase 1 (effective March 2022) allowed smaller homes and flexible ADUs; Phase 2 focuses on allowing duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cluster developments.\n - Objectives: Increase housing choice, housing type equity, permit 1-4 unit types by right, encourage infill, empower homeowners/small developers, encourage family-size housing via density bonuses, simplify zoning.\n - Data: 72% of residential land currently only permits single-family detached homes; only 11% of housing units are in 2-4 unit buildings; the city faces a housing shortage with low rental vacancy (just above 5%) and rising rents (3-bedroom rents up 10% in past year). Twin Cities has 13th highest housing underproduction among 309 metro areas. Homeownership rate declining; Black-White homeownership disparity highest among top 20 metros.\n - Proposed Zoning Districts: Consolidate existing RL, R1-R4, RT1, RT2 into H1 (up to 3 units interior, 4 corner), H2 (up to 4 units), and H3 (up to 6 units, near transit nodes and corridors within 1/8 mile). Also updates to RL district for two units.\n - Density Bonuses: In H1/H2, allow 1-2 additional units if affordable at 80% AMI for 15 years or if units have 3+ bedrooms. Also 5% additional lot coverage.\n - Other updates: Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) standards (up to 2 per lot, size up to 800 sq ft or 75% of principal unit), cluster development standards (max 4 units per building, common open space, pedestrian connections), subdivision regulations (new lot types: flag lots, reverse flag lots, back lots), and various zoning code updates for consistency.\n - Next Steps: Release for public comment, two webinars in March/April, public hearing April 14, then CNPC recommendation, planning commission final recommendation, city council hearing and adoption anticipated mid-summer.\n - Commissioner Discussion: Extensive comments on:\n - Mapping and visualization: Request for overlay of existing zoning on proposed maps; staff noted a web mapping tool in development.\n - Rationale for 1/8 mile vs. 1/4 mile radius for H3: Staff explained incremental approach; quarter mile would have taken up too much area.\n - Equity concerns: Commissioner Presley noted that H3 zones appeared less in higher-income areas like Grand Avenue, questioning potential inequitable impact. Commissioners acknowledged that existing zoning patterns create disparities; the proposal aims for citywide approach but noted that committee added questions for public input on whether to expand H3.\n - Homeownership vs. rental: Commissioner Ochoa asked about homeownership opportunities; staff noted the changes may support more homeownership through lot splits and small-scale development.\n - Feasibility and defensibility: Commissioner Kantner stressed the need for clear rationale to defend against litigation.\n - Community education: Need for resources to help homeowners engage in infill development (e.g., ADUs, lot splits).\n - Parking and design: Commissioner Martinson noted lack of garages in examples; staff said building code requirements apply.\n - Motion: Commissioner Holst moved to release the amendments for public comment and set a public hearing for April 14, 2023. Seconded by Commissioner Riley. After discussion, the motion passed by voice vote.\n- Transportation Committee Report (Commissioner Risberg): Upcoming meetings: March 6 on Wabash Avenue Trails Spur, Phalen Trailhead, and Transportation Safety Action Plan; March 20 on Summit Regional Trail Plan (meeting moved to Rondo Library due to anticipated interest). Staff clarified that Summit trail plan will go to Parks and Recreation Commission for public hearing, consistent with past practice.\n- Communications-Nominations Committee Report (Commissioner Kantner): Committee met before the meeting to discuss outreach for the housing study. Plan: two recorded webinars (lunch and evening), attendance at district council meetings, outreach to specific interest groups. Staff will send meeting schedule; commissioners welcome to attend.\n- Task Force/Liaison Reports: None.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- Approved minutes from February 3, 2023, unanimously.\n- Released 1-4 Unit Housing Study Phase 2 Amendments for public comment and set a public hearing for April 14, 2023. The motion included flexibility for staff to refine the accompanying community questions (Appendix D) based on feedback.\n- Upcoming meetings and deadlines:\n - Zoning Committee: March 9 (4 items).\n - Transportation Committee: March 6 (short meeting on trails and safety plan), March 20 (Summit Regional Trail Plan at Rondo Library).\n - Public hearing on housing study: April 14, 2023.\n - Anticipated city council action: mid-summer 2023.\n- Continued engagement: Commissioners encouraged to participate in outreach webinars and district council meetings regarding the housing study.
Meeting Transcript
That on the agenda which is the approval of the minutes from February 3rd, 2073. Is there a motion? I'll move by Commissioner Grove. There are seconds. Second. Second by Commissioner Said. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any of both lights signed for that motion and it does carry to approve the minutes for February 3rd, 2023. I don't have uh any new announcements other than I'm gonna ask to speak with the three new commissioners after the meeting today to talk about uh committee assignments and then also a general call uh for we need a new uh chair or uh the river uh river view corridor task board uh which is essentially a new light rail that is being planned out uh last seven. If there's anybody that would be interested in sharing that, please uh let Luis or myself know. Um otherwise I will continue asking Commissioners and see if I can I can uh volunteer. So uh next item I'll move on to Luis. Thanks, Chair. Good morning, everybody. I actually don't have any announcements today. Um I could probably think of something to say, but um we've we've been very busy. So um yeah, I will uh take it back to you appreciate it. So then we'll move on to the zoning committee, Commissioner Riley. Thanks. Sorry. One of those weird work emergencies that you never expect. Um so the zoning committee did not meet um in the last uh week or two weeks ago, I guess. I don't know, time is funny. Uh most we last week, right? Yes, uh, due to the weather. So the agenda for um next Thursday, March 9th, um, is has new business for uh rezoning at 1416 grand. Red zone from OS service to T2 traditional neighborhood, which is at 1416 grand between Elbert and Pascal. Um, and then there is a conditional use permit at 1045 or arcade to allow an auto service stationable modification of conditions. Um, and that's on arcade between cook and lawson. Um then uh uh CUP, another conditional use permit this time for auto body and auto repair. Um at uh 931 and 933 Atlantic Street. Um that's at the uh loose Atlantic and the South and Salem Bullet sort of that weird little industrial area there. Um and finally another use permit um on university for a restaurant over 15,000 square feet with reception rental hall at 315 University Avenue West at the northeast the northeast corner with Barrington Street. Um, and then there was uh no site plan review meeting this Tuesday. Um they had an internal staff meeting, and I believe we'll say thing is true for next Tuesday. Um that I think completes my report. Question for Commissioner Riley. Move on to the next item, which is the town plan from neighborhood planning committee. Commissioner Holt. Good morning. Uh we met last Wednesday. Um last Wednesday's meeting was uh primarily about the uh zoning changes to the uh Highland Bridge site for uh proposed uh stadiums and parking for St. Thomas's ball fields. Um that is what I guess I've erroneously been referring to as the CP Spur, but I think it would be more accurately described as the CP rail yard um in that area. So we got a presentation on that. Um we will probably uh we will be bringing that to the uh planning commission and setting up uh a date for public hearing uh at our next planning commission meeting. Um today um also Merkel will be coming back soon. I don't know, I don't we set a date on that or not. I don't believe we have or is that the one in 12 days?
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