HIGHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

Community Development Committee Minutes

Oct. 20, 2009, 6:30 p.m.

 

CDC members in attendance:  Shawn Bartsh, chair; Tia Anderson, vice-chair; Arline Datu, secretary; Katherine Soderberg; Marilyn Tamsky; Mark Forsberg; Greg Campbell, community rep; Ryan O'Connor, alternate; Bill Rosenbloom, alternate.

 

Members absent: Layne Carver.

 

Staff:  Kathy Carruth, community organizer

 

Others present: Quyen Nguyen; Dennis Rosemark, Legislative Aide to Councilman Harris; Monica Beenan, Public Works Traffic; Jim Hickstein; Brett Castain.

 

Meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.

 

1725 Rome Variance Request

Homeowner Quyen Nguyen was present to state his case regarding his request for a variance at 1725 Rome. There were some questions from the committee re the variance. Homeowner and neighbor Jim Hickstein was also present to represent fellow neighbors expressing their disapproval of the variance. Mr. Hickstein himself said he wasn't bothered by the request or the appearance of the work that has already been done in Mr. Nguyen's front yard. 

 

After the discussion, both Mr. Nguyen and Mr. Hickstein exited the committee.  There was further brief discussion by the committee.  A motion then was made to recommend denial of the variance; the motion passed unanimously.

 

Letter on Zoning Change to Highland Businesses

Tia Anderson and Shawn Bartsch presented a draft of a letter to Highland businesses explaining the committee's consideration of a zoning study to be done in Highland Village.  The committee reviewed the letter, and a suggestion was made that the letter be amended to include residential properties on Ford and Cleveland.  A motion was made and passed to approve the letter with the amended language.

 

Tia Anderson reported that she was in discussion with a planner for the District Del Sol on the East side.  That area has already undergone a zoning study and a report will soon be issued.  Tia discussed with the planner securing a District Del Sol report for the Highland CDC.

 

Old Business

It was noted that the City Council had scheduled a hearing of the proposed Highland Walgreens' appeal on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 5:30 p.m.  Committee members were urged to attend if possible.

 

Old Business (cont'd)

Haskell's appearance before the Board of Zoning Appeals for a sign variance has been pushed back until Nov. 30.

 

Shawn Bartsch noted that the Highland Business Association voted to support the site plan as it is.

 

Recommendation for Billboard Removal

Council member Kathy Lantry has requested that the St. Paul community develop a Top Ten list of billboards to be removed around the city.  The committee was asked to submit the locations to Kathy Carruth by Sunday, Nov. 1 of the top five billboards we would like to see removed in the Highland area.

 

Shawn cautioned that the income from the billboards goes to the businesses that display them, and the committee should be sensitive to how they would react.  Mark Forsberg, speaking from experience, noted that they weren't lucrative.  He noted that the rent from the billboard doesn't compensate for the upkeep and repairs that are a result of damage to the property from the billboard.

 

Approval of September 2009 minutes

It was noted that the minutes from the previous meeting had not yet been approved.  A motion was made and passed unanimously to approve the September minutes.

 

Miscellaneous

Legislative aide Dennis Rosemark was asked to provide an update of what was happening re the City.  Dennis noted that the city is in a budget session, and remarked that residents should have received their statements for right of way maintenance fees, which went up this year.  There was a comment made about the cleanup of trash around St. Paul Avenue and the lack of attention to it by the property management entities in the area.  Suggestions to remedy this included the City of St. Paul's complaint line (the number can be found on the city's website), and the use of Sentence to Serve crews.

 

Tia Anderson announced that on Thursday, Nov. 5, she and Merritt Clapp Smith will be making a presentation on the new off-street parking requirements.  The presentation will be held at 7 p.m. at the West 7^th Community Center. 

 

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Arline L. Datu

CDC Secretary