St. Paul Planning Commission Meeting - January 15, 2026
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St. Paul Planning Commission Meeting - January 15, 2026
Note: The meeting transcript refers to this as the "February 6th meeting," and the previous minutes were from January 9, 2026. The date provided in the instructions (January 15, 2026) is used here but appears to conflict with the source material.
The St. Paul Planning Commission convened on the above date. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, recognition of outgoing commissioners, committee reports on zoning amendments for congregate living and a green roof incentive correction, and transportation updates. All votes were unanimous.
Approval of Minutes
- The minutes from the January 9, 2026 Planning Commission meeting were approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Styling, second by Commissioner Presley).
Chairs Announcements & Resolutions
- The Chair noted this was the last meeting in the basement location and offered donuts.
- Two honorary resolutions were read and adopted unanimously:
- Commissioner Hood was recognized for his service, including his role as a local comedian who brought comic relief, his work on the zoning committee, and his strong advocacy for missing middle housing.
- Commissioner Sayed was recognized for three terms of service, his thoughtful and community-focused perspective, and bringing the viewpoint of a small business owner. (Commissioner Sayed was not present.)
Zoning Committee Report
Commissioner Tag presented three items, all approved unanimously:
- Rezoning (File 000242-2025): One parcel from H1 residential to I1 light industrial – motion to approve passed.
- Conditional Use Permit and Variance (PICUP 00262-2025 and FEDBAR 00263-2025) for 1645 Energy Prompt Drive: To increase parking for an office park and allow a setback over a city-owned lot line (easement secured) – unanimous approval.
- Rezoning (1321 Pain): From B1 to RM2 to allow reuse of an existing building for residential units – unanimous approval.
Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee Report
Commissioner Presley chaired this session. Staff presented the congregate living zoning study and the green roof incentive correction.
Congregate Living Zoning Study
- Key policy questions addressed:
- Sober house capacity: Recommended cap of 10 adult residents. Exceptions up to 16 with a conditional use permit; reasonable accommodation language changed from "shall be granted" to a case-by-case evaluation aligned with federal law (similar to Minneapolis). No effective limit through variance.
- Sober house separation: No change from 330 feet.
- Supportive housing separation: No change from 1,320 feet (quarter mile) citywide and 600 feet downtown. Management was cited as the key factor; separation distance may be revisited in a few years to avoid flooding corridors like University and West 7th.
- Definitions: Sober houses must be "financially self-supporting"; supportive housing includes those with outside funding or services.
- Mapping: 10 supportive housing requests in 2025 were concentrated along University and West 7th. Older sober houses showed clusters in similar areas.
- Questions from commissioners addressed on-site managers (included in the six-person cap for sober houses), treatment of wet houses (not defined, would be a zoning administrator call), and transition for existing operators.
- Motion: To approve the resolution recommending approval of the zoning code amendments related to congregate living. Passed unanimously.
Green Roof Incentive Correction
- A clerical error in the zoning code (Section 66.931 F) stated "5 percent" instead of the master plan's "10 percent" bonus for green roofs.
- Motion: To approve the release of the corrected amendment for public hearing, with a hearing date of March 20, 2026. Passed unanimously.
Transportation Committee Report
Commissioner reported on the committees recent meeting:
- Bronze Line/Boulevard Project: Presentation from staff; groundbreaking expected 2030-2031.
- Earl Street Project: Committee recommended a preference for a shared bike/pedestrian facility.
- Next transportation committee meeting: March 2, 2026.
Directors Announcements
- Update on implementing Ordinance 2579 (planning commission changes).
- The next commission meeting (February 20, 2026) will be held in council chambers, not Room 40.
- That meeting will include the annual meeting, election of officers, and training on quasi-judicial decisions.
- An updated meeting calendar was provided; a poll on potential meeting dates/times will be sent.
- Staff resources have been diverted due to federal issues, potentially slowing some items.
Key Outcomes
- All motions passed unanimously (no opposed votes or abstentions recorded).
- Zoning code amendments for congregate living were recommended for approval.
- The green roof incentive error was corrected and a public hearing scheduled.
- Next regular meeting: February 20, 2026 in council chambers.
Meeting Transcript
All right, the February 6th meeting of the St. Paul Planning Commission will now come to order. The first order of business is approval of the minutes from the January 9th, 2026 Planning Commission meeting. Do I have a motion on the minutes? Move by Commissioner Styling. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Presley. Is there any discussion on the minute? All right. Seeing none, we'll move forward with the vote. All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed. Any abstentions? Commissioner Ortegains, uh, the minutes pass. Next up is chair's announcements. Um this is our last meeting here together in the basement. Um, so there are donuts in the back. Um, and then we have two resolutions. Um honorary resolutions for uh two commissioners who have rolled off now. Um Commissioner Sayed and Commissioner Hood. Uh Commissioner Hood is here, so I will read uh resolution now. I think we should have come on up. Stand wherever you'd like. Uh so whereas resolution and appreciation of Commissioner Hood. Whereas the City of St. Paul Planning Commission is charged with advising the mayor, city council, and city departments on matters relating to land use, zoning, comprehensive planning, and the orderly growth and development of the city. And whereas Commissioner Hood has faithfully served as a member of the St. Paul Planning Commission, dedicating his time, insight, and creativity to the review of planning, zoning, and development matters. And whereas, as a local comedian, Commissioner Hood brought comic relief, the commission, helping to foster congeniality, and whereas Commissioner Hood served on the zoning committee, where he provided thoughtful analysis and practical recommendations on zoning matters affecting neighborhoods across the city. And whereas Commissioner Hood was a strong voice for the missing middle housing, helping to elevate the importance of diverse housing types that support affordability, neighborhood stability, and growth in St. Paul. And now therefore be it resolved that the St. Paul Planning Commission hereby expresses its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Commissioner Hood for his dedicated service and meaningful contributions to the planning commission and the city of St. Paul. Uh do I have a motion on the resolution? Motion by Commissioner Starling. Is there any discussion on the motion? All right, seeing none, uh all those in favor? Aye. All those opposed. Any abstain? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. And then Commissioner Sayed, uh, couldn't be here today, but I want to make sure we recognize him as well. Um, I also want to know at zoning committee, we had our own little uh little discussion. Um, so I I hope that he feels celebrated.
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