Title
Referring to the Planning Commission for study and report, the possibility of establishing an overlay district defined by the boundaries of Grand Avenue, the Macalester College campus, Saint Clair Avenue, and Fairview Avenue.
Body
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Saint Paul finds that the city’s official controls, including zoning and building code regulations, may benefit from a study to determine whether specific residential neighborhoods with certain identifiable attributes embodying unique patterns of architecture or physical design may be better protected from development changes, that would otherwise be allowed under present official controls, through the creation of new overlay zones having official controls for new construction, demolitions, or major alterations or additions to existing buildings, structures, or lands, which would augment the official controls for underlying zoning classifications; and
WHEREAS, the Council also finds that the following area of the City, defined by the boundaries of Grand Avenue, the Macalester College campus, Saint Claire Avenue, and Fairview Avenue, is particularly suited to study whether an overlay district might preserve and protect this unique area from development which would be inconsistent with the unique pattern of urban design and architecture found in this area; and
WHEREAS, the Council desires that the planning commission undertake a study of this area to determine whether an overlay district with new building design and dimensional standards would protect the area while encouraging investment in the areas’ existing residential housing stock and to report the results of that study and any recommendations based upon it to the Council for its consideration; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.357, Subd. 4, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby refers to the planning commission for study and report, the possibility of establishing an overlay district in that area of the City defined by the boundaries of Grand Avenue, the Macalester College campus, Saint Clair Avenue, and Fairview Avenue, together with any building design and dimensional standards which would protect the said area from development which would be inconsistent with the areas’ unique pattern of urban design and architecture and encourage investment in the areas’ existing residential housing stock and report the results of this study and any recommendations based upon it to the Council for its consideration, as soon as practicable.