Title
Amending the 2040 Comprehensive Plan to allow for larger block sizes in industrial development and redevelopment. (Public hearing closed on May 25.)
Body
WHEREAS, the Land Use Chapter of the 2040 Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan (hereinafter, “2040 Plan”) identifies the former Hillcrest Golf Course site (hereinafter, “Hillcrest”) as an “opportunity site” which, under the 2040 Plan, are sites guided for redevelopment with “higher-density mixed-use development” or “employment centers with increased full-time living wage job intensity;” and
WHEREAS, the City, for the purpose of guiding redevelopment at Hillcrest, commenced a master planning process to identify future land uses and site layouts within Hillcrest; and
WHEREAS, the master planning process indicated that an amendment to the 2040 Plan to allow an increase in block sizing within light industrial areas was desirable in order to provide flexibility to successfully develop Hillcrest by attracting a range of users, including site users which provide high-quality jobs with low entry barriers; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2022, the Saint Paul Planning Commission (hereinafter, “Commission”) duly conducted a public hearing on a draft Hillcrest Master Plan (hereinafter, “HMP”) and associated actions including amending the 2040 Plan; and
WHEREAS, following the March 4, 2022, public hearing, the Commission reviewed the comments from the said hearing and after consideration the Commission, under its Resolution 22-21 dated April 15, 2022, recommended to the City Council and Mayor, approval of the draft HMP and associated actions including amending the 2040 Plan to allow increased block sizing in light industrial areas; and
WHEREAS, the planning division of the department of planning and economic development also recommends approval of the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stats §§ 462.355 and 473.864, municipalities may amend a comprehensive plan through the procedures stated ther...
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