Amending Chapter 66 of the Legislative Code pertaining to the Ford Districts
(Leg. Code §§ 66.900 Ford Districts and 66.931 Ford District Dimensional
Standards by zoning district). (Public hearing closed October 6, 2021.)
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Luis Pereira, Planning and Economic Development, said he is here with Tia Anderson,
and they wanted to bring the Council up to speed and remind them what the study is
about. They have some current regulations in the master plan and the zoning code.
They have what’s called lot coverage by open space. It is a standard. It is not a
common standard. In the zoning code, they typically have a lot coverage for buildings.
For Ford, they have one for the open space, too. The origins for this come from when
they were putting the master plan together with the community there was potential for
large buildings. The standard was created to address that concern by promoting some
areas that were undeveloped, spaces between buildings. In the master plan, open
space for private lots is defined by areas covered by landscape materials. In August,
there was a Planning Commission recommendation to the City Council. The outcomes
of the study, the proposed amendments: 1) remove a redundant standard given that
other dimensional standard regulate in a similar way, e.g. setbacks, building lot
coverage, landscape requirements, stormwater management 2) more directly and
effectively incentivize green roofs. There are some options for green roofs. There are
some green roofs in the master plan, but it has not been effective in achieving them.
Tia Anderson, City Planner in Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI),
summarized the recommendation from the Comprehensive Neighborhood Planning
Committee and Planning Commission: 1) Clarify lot coverage standards: add the
definition for “lot coverage”, which is the part or percent of the lot occupied by the
above grade portion of buildings from the Saint Paul Zoning Code to Chapter 6 of the
Master Plan entitled “building and lot terminology; remove “lot coverage by open space”
minimum from Chapter 6 of the Master Plan; remove the Master Plan definitions for
“open space coverage” and “green roof areas as open space” from Chapter 4 of the
Master Plan. Add a more direct incentive for green roofs. On private development
sites that have a green roof, all of them need to face a public right of way. They can
receive a bonus.
Councilmember Prince said Pereira had mentioned that the references in the master
plan were unique to the Ford master plan. They are getting rid of that? Anderson
responded that is correct. It is not in the zoning code and it is not part of any other
zoning district.
Prince said this was put in the Ford master plan for a reason. Clearly, there was an
extensive process in the Ford master plan and it is being taken out now. Will this
change the look and feel of this master plan because they are making this change?
How will this play out in terms of how it will look? Anderson suggested they finish the
presentation, they have slides later on that may answer some questions, and photos at
the end that will provide visuals.
Prince asked what CNPC stands for. Pereira responded Comprehensive
Neighborhood Planning Committee.
Anderson said the other recommendation is to amend and clarify the definition of
Functional Green Roof: an area atop a roof on a building open to the sky and air with
soil and living plan materials for the purpose of retaining rainwater and absorbing heat
from sunlight. The depth of planted materials shall be at least 2 inches. Those are
the changes being proposed.
Anderson continued: What is the study not about? Parks and civic open spaces.
Open spaces was used in multiple ways in the master plan. This study in no way
impacts publicly-owned parks and privately owned publicly-accessible open space