MINUTES

District 16 Planning Council/

Summit Hill Association

Board of Directors

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Linwood Community Recreation Center

Members Present: Barrera, Breymeier, Clapp-Smith, Fervoy, Flahaven, Lein, Skally, Smith, Sutherland, Wichman, Winsor

Members Absent: Dobson, Haas, Hedberg, Kost, Krogstad, Lucke, Ramberg, Rathman, Odman, Wefel

Others Present: Jeff Roy, Jane McClure

Meeting was called to order by President Eduardo Barrera at 7:05 p.m. SHA stores the full proceedings of this meeting on magnetic ape for a minimum of one year from this date.

Additions to the Agenda: Item regarding “Recent Crime Incidents” added under President’s Report – approved.

Approval of the April Minutes: not available

President’s Report

Grand Old Day Bonfire Festival Garden: Barrera and Roy met with GABA representatives: Amanda Schultz, Georgia Amdahl and Jamie Lucke and explained the process that the SHA Board went through when deciding not to support the Bonfire festival garden. Later GABA found out that they did not need SHA’s approval for the festival garden. SHA and GABA will work on improving its relationship and discuss future Grand Old Day events. SHA Board briefly discussed the role of SHA with GROD. We will try to clarify for the future by scheduling a meeting with GABA soon after the event.

City Budget Presentation: Mayor’s advance staff called wanting to make a presentation on the City Budget at the June 8^th Board meeting. SHA Staff will ask for a brief digital copy of the city budget and presentation before the meeting.

Recent Crime Incidents in the Neighborhood: A resident contacted Councilmember Dave Thune requesting action in response to rising crime in the district. Councilmember Thune wanted to call a large community meeting in the district regarding this issue. Eduardo and staff suggested that a small planning meeting be called in order to carefully respond to this issue by talking with the police—and then have a more general community meeting to address crime prevention. The meeting would discuss the incidents, graffiti, lack of maintenance of stairs up from St. Clair and strategies for action. This is also an opportunity to interest residents in building new block clubs.

Executive Director’s Report

Grand Avenue Parking Task Force update: Petition effort by residents was successful for expanding Zone 9 Permit Parking Area on Goodrich between Victoria and Milton. Signs will be posted early June.

The May 2nd meeting of the Task Force was shortened by consensus to a one-hour meeting and so not much was accomplished. The Task Force agreed to meet again on May 18^th and in preparation for that date, each member would review the new draft, provide comments/alternative options to each point and send them back to SHA Staff who will combine and send out for Task Force member to review before the 18^th. There appears to be no further news on the feasibility of the Vic 2 ramp proposal.

Old Business

D16 Plan: It was brought to our attention at the recent Planning Commission Neighborhood Committee mtg on Wed., 4/26 that our Grand Ave overlay makes no reference to heights for exclusively residential buildings. Staff said that this means that the existing zoning for residential uses on Grand Ave would remain in effect.

§ RT1, RT2, and RM1 zonings - Height up to 40 feet or three (3) stories,

with a 25 ft front setback.

§ RM2 zoning - Height up to 50 feet or five (5) stories, with a 25 ft

front setback.

Merritt thinks the issues was overlooked due to assumptions about there being no undeveloped residentially zoned property, and because there hasn't been an all residential project built since the 1970s. However, redevelopment and requests for rezonings are possible. The draft zoning overlay will be reviewed and voted on at June 2^nd Planning Commission Hearing. It will be a public hearing for testimony.

Alan Torstenson (PED) presentation: Reviewed draft zoning text. Was the intent to cover all buildings, including all residential buildings? What about institutional buildings? How can we cover all buildings with different language? What was the intention? Could it be based on setbacks so it doesn’t loom over the houses across the alley? Alan offers language to clarify.

Motion by Flahaven, seconded by Wichman: “30 feet maximum height for commercial buildings. 36 feet maximum height for mixed use and residential only buildings.” 5 ayes. 6 nays. Motion defeated.

The board voted to lay over a decision regarding height limitations on residential-only buildings which will give board members a chance to learn more before taking a vote at the next board meeting on June 8^th. Motion made and seconded to vote at June 8^th BOD meeting on Alan Torstenson’s revised wording of overlay ordinance. Approved.

Board Retreat survey: tabled

SHA Parade Unit in GROD event: Resident participation promoted through the SHA website and newsletter sign-up. Registration through May 30^th.

Sam Morgan Prairie Burn Update:The St. Paul Parks and Recreation Dept. called off the burn, at the last minute, due to a burning ban imposed by the DNR. The Parks Dept. is interested in doing the burn next spring. They would provide the crews and coordinate. We will put the cost into our 2007 budget. The burn will help native species by adding nutrients to the soil and by killing non-native species that do not survive after fire. Since we were successful securing a grant from the Capitol City Watershed District to cover 50% of the estimated cost of $875, we are told that we will most likely be able to secure it again in 2007.

New Business

Grand Ave. kiosk proposal: Meeting was held to lay out steps: gather ideas, bring them together, prioritize, bring back to groups to gain support. SHA & GABA would apply for grant later. Please send your ideas of a perfect kiosk to Breymeier before June 8^th meeting.

Grand Avenue Business Association Report

At the meeting between SHA and GABA regarding the festival garden, both organizations agreed that it would be positive to begin meeting following the 2006 Grand Old Day, to begin talking about the ways SHA and GABA can work together in preparing for the 2007 festival.
Wristband sales at Grand Old Day: Wristbands are sold for $5.00 each to those over 21 years of age, and a wristband is required to enter any of the festival gardens. GABA works with local non-profit organizations to allow the opportunity to raise money through wristband sales. The non-profit organizations volunteer to staff a wristband booth for the day, and the organization receives 50 cents from every wristband sold at their booth.
GABA has 2 new board members – Michael Frattalone from Ace Frattalone’s Hardware and Ben Johnson from D’amico and Sons.
GABA is excited to offer a new event this year on Saturday, July 29^th! GABA has teamed up with the Humane Society for Companion Animals to offer Paws On Grand. Participating businesses will donate a portion of their sales for the day to the Humane Society for Companion Animals..

Treasurer’s Report

Monthly financials: Due to creative partnering with local businesses, 2006 House Tour expenses could be cut in half—good news!

990 and Annual Charitable Report: Breymeier and staff have reviewed documents. Motion made and seconded to accept and approve the 2005 - 990 and Annual Charitable Report. Approved unanimously.

Committee Reports

Communications Committee: no report

Development Committee: 2006 House Tour update. Tammy needs staffing of SHA booth on Grand Old Day, June 4^th.

Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee: Will apply for MnDOT grant due July 6, 2006 for traffic signs and crosswalk paint for 3 schools. Charlie will check on lights on east side of Lexington—they’re in bad shape—see if they can be included in the grant money.

Zoning and Land Use Committee: The Lund’s supermarket proposal is on indefinite hold at this time. Plans are to continue Smith and Hawkins and Restoration Hardware in their current locations and for Exeter Realty to lease the space at the vacant Sydney’s and Italian Pie Shop.

Questions regarding the number of persons at a sober house on Lincoln will be resolved by an inspection by the Fire Department regarding safe numbers for occupancy. The Courts have ruled that ordinary occupancy ordinances cannot be enforced as these persons are classified as disabled.

EQ Life plans to discontinue the current Caribou Coffee and take over the area themselves has no further implications for expansion (still 12 seats). EQ Life has applied for a sidewalk café and an upgrade on their license for a restaurant to serve soup. Jeff will call Christine Rozek to see if SHA should act on either item.

Residents at 656 Summit Avenue have objected to the addition of four more garages at 660 Summit which would consume the back yard. There was a 14 car garage built at 666 Summit, which SHA approved as part of a major renovation of that property. The HPC is examining this request and asking for more details from the developer. Thus far nothing has been filed with the city.

Because of the consistent repeated violation of the no parking signs on Oxford next to the CVS by delivery trucks, neighbors and businesses have been concerned for potential accidents. Cars exiting the alley or the lower level Grand/Oxford parking cannot see traffic and those wishing to turn onto Oxford also cannot see oncoming traffic. Calls made to Public Works and LIEP whose staff have agreed this is a hazard. Attempts to have violators ticketed have not been successful for the most part despite numerous complaints because the violators have left before the police arrive. At a meeting requested by the developers, and attended by the City, SHA, Business reps and the neighbors an additional loading zone was created in front as well as the preplanned rear delivery area. The city will now contact the manager of CVS to ask for a written request from CVS to its vendors to deliver only in the designated areas and not on Oxford and to not accept deliveries from trucks parked in the “no parking – tow away zone”. SHA is requested to send a similar letter to CVS expressing concern, referencing the previous agreements, and asking for them to write vendors.

Motion made and seconded to have SHA send the letter to CVS. Motion passed unanimously.

Announcements: Show up for Annual Cleanup on Saturday, May 13^th!

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Linda Winsor, Acting Secretary