Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting – December 8, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting – December 8, 2023
Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting was held on December 22, 2023, but the instruction requires using the date December 8, 2023. This summary follows that instruction.
The Saint Paul Planning Commission met on December 8, 2023 (per instruction) to discuss several items, including the approval of minutes from the December 8, 2023 meeting, updates on the anti-displacement committee, a major presentation on the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan update, a zoning case, and nominations for the executive committee. The meeting was chaired by Kristine Grill (acting as chair, with Luis Rangel Morales absent due to new baby).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from the December 8, 2023 Planning Commission meeting was moved by Commissioner Risberg and seconded by Commissioner Thomas. The minutes were approved by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the meeting.
Discussion Items
-
Planning Director Announcements: Director Pereira reported that the final community advisory committee meeting of the Anti-Displacement and Community Wealth Building committee was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. The committee reviewed recommendations from the consultant team focusing on housing and small business/commercial components. The goal is to refine a list of actionable items for the city, and the results will be brought to the Planning Commission and possibly the City Council or HRA.
-
Transportation Committee – Saint Paul Bicycle Plan Update: Commissioner Risberg introduced the item. Jimmy Shoemaker from Public Works presented a comprehensive update to the 2015 Bicycle Plan. Key points:
- The plan aims to improve safety, attract new riders, and align with the Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
- The biggest change is a major increase in planned separated bikeways (green lines on the map), based on state and federal guidance.
- The plan does not have a dedicated funding source; implementation relies on leveraging other projects (mill and overlay, reconstructions, new developments, transit projects).
- Since 2015, 79 miles of bikeways have been added. The update includes stronger policy direction for maintenance and snow clearing.
- Engagement occurred in two phases: Phase 1 (fall 2021) with 1,700 survey responses, and Phase 2 (summer 2023) with nine in-person events. Community support was high for separated bikeways, but also heard opposition.
- The plan will be an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.
- Commissioners discussed prioritization, measuring success, funding sources (regional sales tax, city sales tax for street reconstructions), and ensuring the plan is not misused to justify only painted bike lanes. Commissioner Martinson noted the regional bike transportation network (RBTN) and new funding from the state omnibus bill. Commissioner Taghioff emphasized measuring modal shift and ridership outcomes.
- The motion to release the plan for public review and comment and set a public hearing on February 2, 2024, was moved by Commissioner Risberg, seconded by Commissioner Martinson, and approved by voice vote.
-
Zoning Committee – 736 Oakdale Rezoning: Commissioner Taghioff reported that the committee voted 5-0 to approve the rezoning of 736 Oakdale Avenue from H1 residential to T2 traditional neighborhood. The site currently has a vacant former grocery store (legal non-conforming use that expired). The rezoning will allow a new use (leather goods store). No district council recommendation or public opposition was received. The full commission approved the motion by voice vote.
-
Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee: No updates; the meeting was canceled.
-
Communications-Nomination Committee: Commissioner Thomas reported that the committee reviewed a draft of the Planning Commission’s annual report. Commissioners are invited to submit reflections on their participation for inclusion. The committee also nominated the executive committee slate for the upcoming year: Kristine Grill as Chair, Nieeta Presley as First Vice Chair, Jeff Risberg as Second Vice Chair, and Mauricio Ochoa as Secretary. The full commission approved the slate by voice vote.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved: Minutes from December 8, 2023, approved.
- Bicycle Plan: Released for public review and comment; public hearing set for February 2, 2024.
- 736 Oakdale Rezoning: Approved.
- Executive Committee: Slate approved for 2024 (Grill, Presley, Risberg, Ochoa).
- Annual Report: Draft reviewed; commissioners to submit reflections.
Meeting Transcript
So the first um we're gonna take things out of order today while we're working to get quorum. Um so we'll go first with the chair announcements and then the planning director announcements. Um hello everyone. Uh as you know, the the chair and his uh partner welcomed the baby um last week. Uh the board chair or more chair, sorry. There you go. So the former chair, um, welcome to baby. Um and they are all happy and healthy and at home. Um so uh I am here now a little bit early with all of you with donuts with donuts and and candy cans. So help yourselves to those. Um and that is the extent of my ideas for this morning. Thank you for this question. Yes, thank you. Um if if we're onto the next item. Um good morning, everybody. Uh not really many announcements. Um I will point out we did um uh have the final um uh uh community advisory committee meeting of the anti-displacement and community wealth building uh committee. And that was on Tuesday. Um that was the fifth meeting of the group, and um there had been kind of a delay in um pulling them back together. Uh part of that was doing some internal uh city staff and administration review of the recommendations that came from the consultant team. Uh so as you recall, it was mostly focused on housing, and there was also a small business commercial uh component of the study as well as engagement um and some uh engagement surveys and and sort of open houses that had happened earlier in the year. Um so all of that was input, the technical analysis of the consultants and then the um the staff review of the uh strategies. And so the goal was to try to get to um there was quite a long list and just try to get to a um uh a list of items that could be um you know realistically um taken on by the city, you know, priority alignment with um uh you know other policies, programs, initiatives that we have. And so um so got their input on that, and I expect, although I'm not totally sure yet the timeline will be bringing that uh uh you know, a piece of that at least to the planning commission to report back, as well as um either the city council or the HRA, just given the nature of the um the recommendations in terms of sort of policy and programs, um mostly falling within housing and economic development. Um so that's uh my little update on that one. Awesome. And then um we're gonna take transportation committee out of order. Sure. Uh if that's all right with staff. That's fine. Um, and we're gonna cover the St. Paul bicycle plan. Um, I'll kick it off to Commissioner Risberg for a quick introduction. Yes, uh the at our last meeting transportation committee, we heard and voted uh to move this uh item uh to the full commission on the Saint Paul bicycle plan and glad Jimmy could be here today to uh present an overview of the update. Okay, go ahead. Thanks. I think now it I should join the meeting. And share my screen. Okay. Good. All right, great. Um and should I speak into the microphone? Okay, okay. All right, hi everyone. Uh my name is Jimmy Schumaker. Uh, I work for the Department of Public Works. Uh I'm really excited to be here today to um at long last bring uh the bicycle plant update to the planning commission. I haven't been here yet. I've been to the transportation committee a few times over the past few years, couple years. Um, but today is my first time ever as a as a as a St.
openpublica.com