Title
Approving the District 1 Transportation Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, the District 1 Transportation Plan was drafted by the Community Council in order to update and supplement previous neighborhood planning, and more adequately address transportation issues; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, District 1 Community Council convened a Transportation Task Force, sent transportation surveys to every household, and conducted personal outreach to better seek input from underrepresented populations; and
WHEREAS, District 1 Community Council has held or participated in, and advertised, at least fifteen community meetings around current transportation planning issues and this planning process;
WHEREAS, the plan's policies span many policy topics, from transit planning and service, freight rail, trails and bikeways, pedestrian issues, vehicular access, and commercial traffic, with a study area covering the entirety of District 1; and
WHEREAS, the District 1 Community Council submitted the draft plan to the City's Director of Planning, requesting review and adoption by the City as an addendum to the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2012, the Planning Commission released the plan for public review, and set a public hearing date for June 15, 2012; and
WHEREAS, notice of the hearing was provided through the Early Notification System, and pursuant to MN Stat. ยง462.355, notice of the hearing was published in the Saint Paul Legal Ledger on June 4, 2012; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was conducted by the Planning Commission on June 15, 2012, at which all persons present were allowed to testify; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission referred the plan to the Transportation Committee for consideration, review of the public hearing testimony, and recommendation; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee on July 16, 2012, reviewed the testimony and document, and forwarded its recommendation of approval to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the plan on August 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, policies in the District 1 Transportation Plan are consistent and compatible with the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan, adopted small area plans, and the Highwood Development Policies and Regulations for Implementation; and
WHEREAS, the District 1 Transportation Plan has been reviewed by affected City departments for consistency with City policies and the Comprehensive Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby adopts the District 1 Transportation Plan, subject to review and approval by the Metropolitan Council.