Okay.

I should probably have this.

I figured you'd want to do something committee.

Well, I can just a moment.

So they're both.

Okay.

So yeah, we used to blah blah blah.

I'm gonna call to order the July.

No, not that one.

Uh the August 22nd uh meeting of the St.

Paul Planning Commission.

Um our first order of business is approval of the minutes from July 25th, 2025.

Um do I have a motion on the minutes?

Motion by Commissioner Homus.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Commissioner Hackney.

Is there any discussion on the motion?

Seeing no discussion, we'll move forward with a vote.

All those in favor?

Okay.

All those opposed.

Any abstentions?

All right, uh the minutes passed.

Um next up is the chair's announcements.

Um I was out of the office backpacking and then I was pretty sick.

So there were a couple of folks that I was emailing back and forth with and on a delay.

So just want to say uh thank you to folks for your patience uh while I got uh letter and and thank you for that.

Um next up is the planning director.

Thank you, Chair.

Um just wanted to give a little status update on the cyber attack.

Um we have been uh working on recovering from the cyber attack since July 25th.

Um we still are not really at a great point.

We don't have access to our drives, we don't have internet phones.

Um so we are not at 100%.

Um so just wanted to let you know that uh if our communication is not as quick as normal, might be because emails aren't going through.

Um and so we also a lot of our phones aren't working, so if you've called us, um we might not be answering.

Um I think that the end is near.

Um we've gone through a citywide laptop inacculation, so to speak, um, with some software.

So hopefully in the next few weeks we'll be back up and running.

So just wanted to give you the update and apologize for any uh any you know blackouts that we may have had.

You were trying to contact us and we didn't get back to you.

So you're more than covering to work by responding at eight and night.

Uh yeah, and thank you to the director and thank you for the step.

Um I can't imagine uh what this is like, so we're we're so so sorry.

Um next up is zoning committee.

Um commissioner Taggia is out um sick, but there are the staff um who were at zoning committee who can give us um a little bit of background because I was also absent.

Okay.

Um this uh zoning application uh uh 25-053-864 is a conditional use permit for cups and cheers and uh it's for a bar with more than 5,000 square feet of floor area at 1624-1626 White Bear Avenue North.

Um so uh this conditional use permit is required for bars over 5,000 square feet in in the four traditional neighborhood and B2 community business districts, so that's why they are uh required to get this uh permit.

Um cups and cheers is extending uh its hours to stay open until 2 a.m.

on certain days.

Um and because they serve um um alcohol, um this um extension of their hours, recategorize them from a restaurant to a bar.

And so although the establishment is not physically changing, um the recategorization is what requires um the CEP.

Uh the district council um did recommend uh approval of the CEP and the zoning committee uh unanimously uh voted to recommend approval of the conditional use permit for a bar with more than 5,000 square feet floor area at 1624-1626 white bear opening.

Okay, uh thank you, Chris.

Oh, and the um sorry, I never do these reports.

Um so the motion is to move to adopt the planning commission resolution approving the conditions.

Thank you.

Um and so we've got that motion coming out of committee.

Is there any discussion or questions on the motion?

All right.

Uh I will add that the district did two didn't end up endorsing it, giving a letter of support.

Yeah.

I'd like to um the motion.

Okay, and since it's coming out of zoning, it comes with a motion.

It's weird on like CNC.

So uh we've already got it, but it's in it's endorsed.

Um is there any other discussion on this particular motion?

All right, uh all those in favor?

Aye.

All those opposed.

All right, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Um next up, Nova Classical Academy.

Yeah, Chair, this zoning application 25054 through 06 is in application to amend the Victoria Park master plan, change the parcel designation from fixed residential to institutional, and uh request variances to reduce the FAR from 0.5 to 0.39, reduce the minimum opening percentage for doors to windows, increase the front yard setback from a maximum of 10 feet to a maximum at 139 feet, increase parking lot runage width from 60 feet to 97 feet along Murser Way into 180 feet along KF.

Okay parking in the front yard, and omit parking area, interior landscaping.

And this is to facilitate the expansion of Nova Classical Academy with a new building that includes a storm shelter, um is additional equipment all and a curriculum space for the school.

The district council submitted a letter of opposite in regarding the master plan amendment and zoning committee voted unanimous unanimously to recommend approval.

So the motion is to recommend approval or motion is to move the planning commission resolution to recommend approval of the master plan amendment to the city council and a separate resolution to approve the variances.

Okay, so we've got so we've got one motion in our packet approval of the master plan amendment and variances with the conditions.

So it was moved as one vote, one package.

Okay.

Um I am assuming there might be some questions on this one.

Um so we are assuming you operate as if you've got a motion in a second, we're moving on to discussion and questions.

Um I see Commissioner Riley and Commissioner Martinson.

And I assume there'll be some others.

Go ahead.

Uh thank you, Chair.

I just have it's really a comment.

Um I am not generally in support of master plan amendments that especially that remove residential uses from our bucket of things that we can use land for right now.

Um so I'm actually gonna abstain from voting because I don't approve of this particular master plan amendment, but I think that the rationale for the variance is et cetera um is sort of exactly why we have variance procedures.

So in the scenario where it's a negative to me use change, um, I don't want to cause a problem, but I also don't want to support it.

So I'm gonna be in.

Okay.

Uh thank you, Commissioner Riley.

Uh Commissioner Martinson.

Yeah, uh I'm I'm a little, I mean, I read through the the response from the district council and and and this is uh we we've we've had other issues that we've dealt with recently in the past where this commission has also um stepped over, I'll say stepped over the the local neighborhood plan amendment to the comp plan, and that's this feels like another of those examples.

I'll say stepped over the the local neighborhood plan amendment to the comp plan and that's this feels like another of those examples.

And so I'm I just would like to know since I wasn't at zoning committee I'd like to know if there was discussion about that issue.

Obviously it was a unanimous vote but I get I guess I'd just like to hear kind of how the how the zoning committee deliberated about this a bit more if I may uh commissioner were you I was there I don't think we discussing though you didn't discuss that particular item sure yeah uh commissioner hacking uh have they submitted their response by that point because it looks like on this packet the time of writing package but they have not submitted the response we we had received the the district public comment um it was not in the original packet but it was available for zoning committee.

Apologies you are in my blind spot we'll get your mirror thanks we might move me next time um other questions I guess I I do have another question.

So this is a this is a former brownfield site and uh I know there's been extensive remediation done but I have in in the back of my head somewhere I have some recall uh so different levels that perhaps even the more and speak to this different levels of remediation are required for uh for places to be used for housing residential versus for like other uses is that am I remembering this correctly or am I completely off my rocker about this and and if if I'm not off my rocker then I'm wondering so I know there's housing that's been built to the north and the east of there but I don't know if that was part of the original Coke Brown field or not and I know when the field when the football the athletic field got put in there I recall there being some discussion in the newspapers about whether or not this was an acceptable use on the brown field expo possibly exposing children to toxins and if we were to build housing on that plot I guess is is that plot do we know what that plot of land has been sorry I'm rambling but I'm getting to a point do we know whether the that piece of land that parcel has been adequately remediated to sustain housing sorry observation yeah um it was a part of the Brownfield site it did undergo remediation that was kind of part of the the variances requested because there's CAF remediation so they can't excavate beyond a certain yeah okay so that's part of their consideration as far as what would even go on the site and then once it was decided this would be the use on the site um that inputs the architect architectural work.

Commissioner Riley uh thank you chair my recollection which is getting older much like me is uh that the site itself has been remaining to residential standards and that's why the master planning feeds significant residential um but that's just you know my amendment and so I think it's figured right that uh that um that uh you know that's where the cap comes from um which means I suppose you couldn't have underground printing how confidential so those are concepts constraints on the site um but if we're trying to move away from the little mile babbled and again that's sort of where my tension comes right like if residential was proposed going to be only residential is this master plan amendment which is contrary to the district nine letter um uh a really use um however I think that they user uh is a thoughtful neighborhood partner and that's why I'm staining from yeah uh I didn't participate uh at zoning committee um but like reading through the staff packet looking at the materials it meets the findings um I realize like we can have ongoing conversations about lots of different elements but for me it meets the findings um and I guess I will limit my back out to that because that wasn't at zoning committee you can just whack me to thank you madam chair um I was at the zoning committee meeting like Commissioner Sayat I don't remember the tenor of our conversation at zoning committee I am sympathetic

But for me, it meets the findings.

And I guess I will limit my back out to that because that wasn't at zoning committee.

Mr.

Staff.

You can just whack me.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was at the zoning committee meeting, like Commissioner Sayat.

I don't remember the tenor of our conversation at zoning committee.

I am sympathetic to Commissioner Riley's point about the need for land for residential development in this particular case, looking at the constraints of this particular site in the context of the neighborhood with the needs of Nova Academy in this area for the storm shelter.

I don't believe that the site has is particularly viable for the residential development that was envisioned in the master plan.

And I absolutely support residential development in this particular case.

Thanks, Commissioner Shannon.

Commissioner Syan.

So we are zoning when we are finding.

And I you know, I myself I read it and I voted.

And uh the finding with the stuff is is I'm not competent that is is um that um I know we some of them might be concerned that you know that it's all that we you know we're not being building the must have, but I'm coming on this stuff that uh binding and that's the reason that I voted on that and uh the binding to that stuff.

Thank you.

Um any other questions, comments, discussion.

I mean, it sounds like a lot of these variances are because it's a goofy plot, and I find difficult to see that a developer will be able to put residential on there without also needing variances.

So it seems to me that we've got a giant open plot.

Not that giant, but big enough to be a hole in the neighborhood, and you got someone who wants to develop it who already has shown they're a good neighbor.

Not convinced that a residential developer would want this piece of land that's work.

Yeah.

NOBA Academy purchased this parcel in 2016, is that right?

416.

Okay.

Thank you.

Sorry, I'm so I'm afraid I'm gonna call you Stefan and I without your last name in front of me.

I'm gonna pronounce it wrong.

So that's why I just keep nodding in your general direction.

Um a lot of names today.

Okay.

Um, so is there other questions or discussion?

It feels like we're kind of wrapping up.

Um we can move forward with a vote.

Um and then see where we are.

Um so the motion is already coming out of committee.

Um goes for approval for the package.

Um, so we'll take the vote now.

Um all those in favor?

All right.

All those opposed.

Any abstentions?

Commissioner Riley abstains.

And Commissioner Holmes stains.

All right.

Uh so the item passes.

All right.

Um, and will there be a zoning committee meeting coming up?

There will be a zoning committee meeting next Thursday at 3:30 upstairs.

All right.

That concludes zoning committee.

On to CNPC.

Who the chair of is also uh out today.

So um comprehensive neighbor coming committee has the Hamlin Midway neighborhood plan.

Um, there was not a presentation along there was no presentation along with this, it's just moving forward with the vote.

Um, because because Commissioner Holtz is out, is there anyone from the committee that wants to lay a little groundwork or staff just anything to set us up?

We've seen this previously outside of the packet.

You want to do it?

Are you want me to do it?

If you want to believe early.

Okay, so I was I was I was there.

I guess I'm I'm one of one of the people withstanding since that's what we're doing.

So so we did not ask the staff for presentation on this, but we we've seen it previously at Comp neighborhood, and it's come here for a public hearing.

Public hearing, there were no uh there were no questions or input from the public.

There was a presentation from staff of panel midway, and uh there were no questions for staff from panel midway.

Hard as we may have tried to create some because they were very enthusiastic about presenting what they had, and uh and so we felt it was appropriate to bring it back for approval here to the whole commission.

Okay, thank you.

And looking at the packet, the recommendation was the recommendation that the planning commission recommend approval of the Hanwin Midway 2030 neighborhood plan to the city council, and we don't have a date or anything attached to that at this point.

Okay, so the recommendation is to the city council.

Um would one or both of you be interested in making that particular motion?

So since we came with unanimous from the committee, do we CNPC still does?

You have different rules than something.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

So you're gonna make a motion.

So you're recommending that the planning commission recommend approval of the Hamlin Midway 2030 neighborhood plan to the city council.

To the city, yes.

Wonderful.

So I have a second.

So we have a motion by Commissioner Homes, a second by Commissioner Martin.

Martinson.

Is there any discussion?

Is there any discussion on that particular motion?

Okay.

Um seeing no discretion, we'll move forward with the vote.

All those in favor?

I aye.

All those opposed.

Any abstentions?

Okay.

So the motion passes.

Um the Hammond Midway 2030 neighborhood plan.

Um next up is transportation committee.

Here's so far.

Um the transportation committee met this last Monday, and we heard a really excellent presentation from Chris Powers from MINAT about the Robert Street reconstruction and the Roger Street Reconstruction is uh a long-term huge project.

Uh approximately 49 million dollars in cost, but it's doing some great improvements to Robert Street.

Um and Robert Street from Kellogg Boulevard to Annapolis Street over on the west side.

Um it will enable to the construction of the G line, BRT stops, it's gonna replace sanitary sewer and water mains, replace lit water services.

Um it'll be a separated bikeway, which was identified in the city bike lane on both sides of the street.

It'll improve a number of safety hazards.

Um there'll be a roundabout, they'll do put in a state and city streams.

So it's um a lot of changes.

Um see remember when it's expected for patient.

You remember Christian Holmes?

Um the next few years, I'll just say so.

Anyway, we were asked um to make a um formal recommendation to the city council on this.

Um this particular kind of project requires that the city council grant municipal consent to MINAT for a discount project.

So we had a resolution, it was approved, and we'll move forward and go forward to city council court review and approval there.

Um so transportation committee, much like our other committees has its own rules.

And uh it goes directly from transportation to the city.

Um and our next meeting, uh, I believe would normally be scheduled on Labor Day the first.

Uh so we are scheduled that meeting and going to the 15th of September.

Um agenda uh for that meeting.

Wonderful.

Um, Chris Martinson has a question and then no.

One we're done with transportation, there's other business from comp neighborhoods.

Oh, okay.

Um that concludes transportation.

Um just related to transportation committee.

And I have not been able to be a good attendant, and that ability will fall apart um in September because my new job, all the city council meetings are on planning.

I have to be in every single one.

So you and your committee are going to need to find me a new committee.

Okay.

Since it's related to transportation, I wanted to make a so we'll make a note that transportation.

Thank you.

So we will relocate you.

That sounds good.

Okay.

We can discuss that with Commissioner, Commissioner Holtz and Commissioner Presley.

Okay.

So that concludes transportation with the note about Commissioner Riley.

We're going to quick swing back to CNPC for a note from Commissioner Martinson.

Thank you, Chair.

So just uh I wanted to note that we spent most of the of the meeting discussing.

We had a presentation from staff uh Bill Dermady on the ongoing uh congregate living zoning study that the city council asked of uh uh PED uh in response to a series of uh various requests that were coming before the BCA uh that we that we felt were not appropriate for that level of this of uh recommendation making kickback to city council city council asked for zoning study which Bill Thurmady has been pursuing uh aggressively and he he presented uh suggested modifications to the committee and we had extensive discussion such that we didn't even let Spencer get to the to the T district zoning stuff and we did not feel like we had reached enough of a conclusion to make a recommendation by the end of the meeting time.

So we are going to hold our next meeting next uh Wednesday on the 27th to continue and hopefully conclude that discussion to have something to recommend back to this to the school commission.

Okay, thanks, Commissioner Martinson.

So we're adding an additional Company neighborhood updated.

And we hope that was okay because we've had somebody that we canceled earlier this summer.

So and there was enough people there that agreed to be there that we thought we could do it.

Okay.

Uh I do appreciate the appreci uh additional update.

Um, and I'm sure everybody else here does too.

So that was really helpful.

Um okay, so we've wrapped up Compa neighborhood.

We did transportation, um, communications and nominations have not met.

No, we have not met transport.

All right, wonderful.

We have no task force in liaison reports.

There is no old business.

I'm just gonna make a quick note under new business.

Um, I should have made this in my comments at the beginning.

I will be out for the second half of September.

So we will have um some of the folks in this row um helping support uh while I go get married in the boundary waters.

So um so I will be very out of town.

Uh so uh I will send out an email um later on with more of the details, but just as a heads up for everybody.

So that'll be roughly like the 17th through the 30th.

All right.

Uh that was my new business.

Yeah.

So is there a particular entry point that we should need?

Boundary waters and cheer you on Rice.

That's true.

I will be getting married at the gunflint lodge.

So I guess that will be boundary waters adjacent, but I can see Canada from the D.

Uh we're not we're not gonna do a trip in, but I've already I've walked across the boundary waters.

I did I've done side to side.

So I I feel like I've really gotten it.

Yeah, I've gotten adjust.

Um yes, I will I will be out.

Um all right, and thank you for just letting me shove that in under new business.

Um and with that, we are adjourned.