Highland District Council

The minutes of the December 7, 2006 meeting were approved.

Pat Murray raised questions regarding possible changes to St. Paul Avenue. It was noted by several council members that this subject was on the agenda for the next Transportation Committee meeting, scheduled for January 23.

Saint Paul Park and Recreation Director Bob Bierscheid discussed the proposed park dedication ordinance being considered by the City of St. Paul, which will involve land set asides or cash payments in lieu of land set asides that will apply to all development that creates new density. The proposal, which is being prepared by the City’s Planning and Economic Development Department, is in the draft stage. It will involve required dedication of up to 9% of the acreage of the development, a cash payment in lieu thereof, or a combination of land and cash, all as determined by the City Council. These rates are lower than in most suburban cities, almost all of which have some form of park dedication ordinance. The requirements will not affect the City’s ability to negotiate larger amounts as part of a development agreement to which the City is a party.

The current plan differs from a prior proposal discussed by the Council in January and later tabled by the City Council, which would have involved only replatted residential developments. The new proposal will be more broadly based than the prior version, affecting commercial as well as residential redevelopment and not just developments involving replatting. It also will impose a more modest burden where it applies then did the prior proposal. For example, the average cost per new residential unit affected by the prior proposal was estimated at $1,700, while the new proposal, although it will affect more units, will have an estimated average cost per unit of $339.

To meet constitutional requirements, the benefits of the arrangement must have a nexus to the property development for which the dedication is being required. The City is implementing this into the proposal by requiring that any monies raised through the dedication be used in either the planning district in which the development occurs or a neighboring planning district. Cash raised by the ordinance must be used for development or redevelopment of park space, and cannot be used to fund operations of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Mr. Bierscheid agreed to provide a copy of the ordinance to the Council when drafting is completed. After the drafting is complete, the Parks and Recreation Department likely would hold a hearing and make a recommendation. The ordinance would also be reviewed by the Planning Commission, and the City Council likely would hold another public hearing as the scope of the ordinance is quite different from the earlier version discussed at a public hearing.

Community Organizer Gayle Summers informed the Council that the City will honor new members of the Neighborhood Honor Roll at the celebration of Saint Paul’s Community Councils on January 18, 2007, at the Binz Refectory at the University of St. Thomas. The Council nominated Sue Knapton, Bob Kreitz, and the Friendship Club.

5. Community Development Committee

Angie Kline reported that the Community Development Committee met in December to discuss several variance requests related to Stuart Nolan’s proposed memory care facility. The Committee recommended approval of the variances that were discussed, but the City has since indicated that additional incremental variances would be needed because of the project’s location in an area covered by the Shepard Davern Small Area Plan The Committee likely will need an additional meeting to discuss these incremental requests.

The Transportation Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for January 23, at which representatives from the City’s Public Works Department would be present to discuss alternatives for the Cleveland Avenue/St. Paul Avenue intersection.

Committee Chair Jenny Winkelman indicated that the Committee would be reviewing CIB projects from prior cycles. Community Organizer Gail Summers will be sending around a list of prior proposals that have been submitted.

Shawn Bartsh reported that the Highland Business Association’s annual dinner is scheduled for O’Gara’s Bar & Grill on January 25. The dinner and silent auction will be jointly sponsored by the HBA, the Snelling Hamline Business Association, and the St. Paul Sunrise Rotary Club.

President Peter Armstrong reminded board members that the next meeting of the Council will be held on February 1.

Peter reminded the Board that the City Parks and Recreation Department had scheduled several meetings regarding Recreation Services Section Restructuring. As noted In Community Organizer Gayle Summers’ recent e-mail, one of these, on Monday, January 29, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., would be held at the Hillcrest Recreation Center.

Peter also reminded the Board that Cecile Bedor, Director of Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development, had invited one staff person and one board member from District Council to a meeting concerning affordable and sustainable or green housing. The meeting, on Monday, January 22, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the City Hall basement, is sponsored by Minnesota Green Communities, a collaborative effort between the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, the Family Housing Fund and others. Any Board member interested in attending should contact Gayle Summers.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,