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Approving the application submitted by Tom Dillon of Madison Equities for an exception to the general hours of operation for pedestrian skyway bridges #33, #43, and #46, which serve the Degree of Honor Building, during construction and asbestos abatement.
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WHEREAS, Tom Dillon of Madison Equities applied for an exception to the general hours of operation for pedestrian skyways #33, #43 and #46 which serve the Degree of Honor Building during construction and asbestos abatement; and
WHEREAS, the Degree of Honor Building is connected to the Press House Apartments Building formerly referred to as the Pioneer Press Building, the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront and the Capital City Ramp by pedestrian skyways #33, #43 and #46; and
WHEREAS, the Degree of Honor Building is located at 325 Cedar Street, the Pioneer Press House Apartments Building is located at 345 Cedar Street, the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront is located at 11 E Kellogg Boulevard, and the Capital City Ramp is located at 50 E.4th Street; and
WHEREAS, the applicant requests that the hours of operation for pedestrian skyway bridges #33, #43 and #46 which connect the Press House Apartments Building, the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront, and the Capital City Ramp be reduced to zero from the date that this resolution takes effect through March 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the application details rationale for the closure including economic hardship, safety of the general public, safety of the workers on site, difficult logistics for construction and abatement, and mandated safety practices by MN Department of Health and OSHA; and
WHEREAS, the Skyway Governance Advisory Committee considered this application and on April 17, 2019 and is recommending the request to extend the skyway hours exception be approved through August 31, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Building Official has reviewed the request to extend the skyway hours exception at 325 Cedar St and believes it is necessary to complete the environmental cleanup in the building and the redevelopment of the pedestrian skyway system easement space; and
WHEREAS, the Building Official believes that a deadline to reopen the skyway level to the public of December 01, 2019 is sufficient to complete those portions of the project; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections is recommending that the general operating hours for skyway bridges #33, #43 and #46 be reduced to zero until December 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 140.11(b) of the Saint Paul Legislative Code gives the Council the power to grant such exceptions; and
WHEREAS, the Council held a public hearing on the application for the exception on June 5, 2019 and;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council hereby finds that there is sufficient basis to support the request of Degree of Honor Building for a reduction in general operating hours for skyway bridges #33, #43 and #46 to zero from the date that this resolution takes effect through December 1, 2019 for the above-stated reasons and approves the request for an exception; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council may reconsider the exception to the general hours of operation if the circumstances that gave rise to the exception change.
A copy of this resolution, as adopted, shall be sent by first class mail to the applicant.