Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting - May 9, 2025
Saint Paul Planning Commission Meeting - May 9, 2025
The Saint Paul Planning Commission met on May 9, 2025, to approve minutes, discuss the Traditional Neighborhood District (T) Zoning Study, and receive informational presentations on zoning fundamentals and staff report redesign.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission approved the minutes from the May 2, 2025, meeting by unanimous vote (motion by Commissioner Ritzburg, second by Commissioner Hackney).
Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee
- Traditional Neighborhood District Zoning Study: Staff presented a zoning study to update the T districts (last updated in 2011) to implement the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Key changes include clarifying district purposes, increasing height flexibility at nodes/corridors, expanding neighborhood-scale uses in T1, adding an affordable housing density bonus (10% of units at 60% AMI for 0.5 FAR bonus, up to 20% units for 1.0 FAR), streamlining design standards into objective criteria, and modernizing code language. The study does not involve rezoning or map changes. Commissioners expressed appreciation for the work and asked about the affordable housing definition (based on AMI) and deed restrictions. Commissioner Martinson noted the need for larger family-sized units and asked about incentives for three-bedroom units, but staff clarified those incentives are for H districts, not T. The committee recommended, and the full commission voted to release the study for an eight-week public review period and set a public hearing for July 11, 2025 (motion by Commissioner Holtz, second by Commissioner Houmas; passed unanimously).
New Business
- Zoning 101 Informational Presentation: Staff (Bill Dermody and Paul) presented an overview of zoning basics: zoning districts, the roles of various bodies (City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, DSI), application types (rezoning, conditional use permits, non-conforming use permits, site plans, variances, subdivisions), quasi-judicial vs. legislative decisions, the 60-day rule (Minn. Stat. §15.99), and spot zoning. A significant portion of the discussion focused on quasi-judicial conduct rules: commissioners were advised not to discuss open matters outside meetings, avoid social media comments on cases, refer media inquiries to staff, and recuse themselves when appropriate. Commissioner James requested guidance on handling district council roles. Director Robinson offered to connect commissioners with the city attorney for specific questions.
- Zoning Staff Report Redesign: Chris Hong presented a redesigned staff report format aimed at improving readability, accessibility (screen-reader friendly), and clarity for the public. The new format includes a summary snapshot, parcel information with maps, application request, zoning analysis with standards/analysis, and a recommended motion with option options. The first reports using the new format will appear at the May 22 zoning committee meeting. Commissioners provided feedback, including requests to include committee action history, ensure comprehensive plan references are clickable, and list applicable small area plans. Director Robinson noted the previous format had not changed in about 50 years and that the rollout would be iterative.
Key Outcomes
- The minutes of May2, 2025, were approved.
- The Traditional Neighborhood District Zoning Study was released for public review; a public hearing is scheduled for July11, 2025.
- No formal votes were taken on the informational presentations, but staff will proceed with the staff report redesign and consider commissioner feedback on quasi-judicial guidance.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, the May 16th meeting of the St. Paul Planning Commission will now come to order. Um, the first item uh is approval of the minutes for the May 2nd 2025 planning commission meeting. Do I have a motion for the minutes? So motion by Commissioner Ritzburg. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Hackney. Is there any discussion on the minutes? Seeing no discussion, we'll move forward with a vote. All those in favor? All right. All that's posed. Any abstentions? All right, the minutes packed. Next up is the chair's announcements. Um I have no announcements this week. Just you know, nice to see you all. Um, and next up is the planning director's map. Good morning, everybody. Uh, I just want to give you an update on the room. Uh the speakers in the ceiling have been disconnected. So hopefully that mysterious noise will not occur again. Um also have been working with uh the city to get us some sort of mobile PA system. Uh and today we're trying out a little different orientation for presentations. So um working working on our accommodations might be a little bit of a slow go, but uh I think we're making some progress. Okay, thank you. Um the next up is the zoning committee. Um the zoning committee meeting was canceled last week. Um, and there are items on the meeting on the agenda for next Thursday. So we will happy be holding that meeting. Um tag yeah, isn't here. Um I think that can be the extent of the update for this week. Uh next up is comprehensive and neighborhood planning committee. Um Commissioner Holtz. Good morning, everyone. The comprehensive neighborhood planning committee met uh last Wednesday on the 14th. Uh we heard about the Hamlin Midway neighborhood plan. Uh, more coming to the uh planning commission on that in the near future. And then um, if you recall, uh we had the minor text amendments zoning study uh that passed committee unanimously. So again, that will be coming to uh the planning commission uh in the future. And then today we have a presentation by Spencer on the traditional neighborhood district zoning study where we will ultimately uh release for public comment. All right, thank you very much for post chair Spencer Miller Johnson from a planner on the long range team and um you know me. Um today I've got a little presentation on the traditional neighborhood district zoning study. This is the zoning study that we've been working on for a while, and we're really excited to bring to you all this morning. And they have a recommendation for you all to release it for public review at this point. I'll just go through some of the kind of key components, remind you of what we're and then uh go through some of them text methods. So um you probably know this, but the St. Paul zoning code is pretty use-based in terms of how it's organized. That means that it categorizes development based on residential, business, industrial, and then also traditional neighborhood.
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