HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/11/10 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - Study SessionAGENDA
NOVEMBER 10, 2014
(Mayor Jacobs & City Manager Harmening Out)
6:30 p.m. CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION – Community Room
Discussion Items
1. 6:30 p.m. Future Study Session Agenda Planning – November 17 & 24, 2014
2. 6:35 p.m. Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard
3. 7:20 p.m. Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report and 2014 Work Plan
4. 7:40 p.m. East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment
5. 8:10 p.m. Paid Parenting Leave
8:40 p.m. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal)
8:45 p.m. Adjourn
Written Reports
6. Bee Safe Community
7. Update on Solid Waste Program Initiatives
8. Southwest LRT Update
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.
To make arrangements, please call the Administration Department at
952/924-2525 (TDD 952/924-2518) at least 96 hours in advance of meeting.
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Discussion Item: 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Future Study Session Agenda Planning – November 17 and November 24, 2014
RECOMMENDED ACTION: The City Council and the City Manager to set the agenda for
the Special Study Session scheduled for November 17, 2014 and the regularly scheduled Study
Session on November 24, 2014.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Does the Council agree with the agendas as proposed?
SUMMARY: At each study session approximately five minutes are set aside to discuss the next
study session agenda. For this purpose, attached please find the proposed discussion items for
the Special Study Session scheduled for November 17, 2014 and the regularly scheduled Study
Session on November 24, 2014.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable.
VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Future Study Session Agenda Planning - November 17 & 24, 2014
Prepared by: Debbie Fischer, Office Assistant
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 1) Page 2
Title: Future Study Session Agenda Planning – November 17 and November 24, 2014
Special Study Session, November 17, 2014 – 6:45 p.m.
(Mayor Jacobs Out)
Tentative Discussion Items
1. Conversation w/ County Commissioner Marion Greene – Administrative Services (40
minutes)
Commissioner Greene will be in attendance to discuss matters of mutual interest. Based on
past City Council discussion, topics to be discussed from the City’s standpoint relate largely
to SWLRT.
Study Session, November 24, 2014 – 6:30 p.m.
Tentative Discussion Items
1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning – Administrative Services (5 minutes)
2. Southwest LRT Update – Community Development (60 minutes)
Continued discussion of SW LRT Locally Requested Capital Investment items and process.
3. Update on 40th & France – Community Development (30 minutes)
Continued discussion regarding the land on the west side of France Avenue South at 40th
Street West that the City of Minneapolis intends to sell.
4. West End Preliminary Plat/PUD & Redevelopment Contract – Community Development (30
minutes)
Discuss the need for a proposed assignment and assumption agreement and a second
amendment to the amended and restated redevelopment contract which the EDA and City
Council will be asked to approve in December. Staff will update Council regarding the
zoning applications received, any significant changes to the development, and the
coordination with City of Golden Valley.
5. 2015 City Council Workshop – Administrative Services (15 minutes)
Discuss the proposed agenda for the City Council Workshop scheduled for January 15-16,
2015.
6. 2014 City Manager Evaluation – Administrative Services (15 minutes)
Staff requests direction in order to begin the performance evaluation process for the City
Manager.
Communications/Meeting Check-In – Administrative Services (5 minutes)
Time for communications between staff and Council will be set aside on every study session
agenda for the purposes of information sharing.
End of Meeting: 9:10 p.m.
Reports
7. Friends of the Arts Update
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Discussion Item: 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Nothing formal at this time. The City Council is asked to
provide feedback to staff and the consultant on the draft Design Guidelines.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Do the draft guidelines reflect the Council’s expectations for
future land use in the study area?
SUMMARY: Planning staff has been working with a consultant and a City Council appointed
Task Force on the attached set of Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard.
The study area lies between Quentin Ave. S. and France Ave. S. and is depicted on Page 7.
The process has included several Task Force meetings and two neighborhood-wide meetings.
Approximately 25 people attended the second neighborhood meeting on September 16. The
discussion and comments related to building height, parking, traffic, pedestrians, access and
deliveries. In general, those in attendance seemed comfortable with, and supportive of, the
proposed Design Guidelines.
The Guidelines address six key areas: Boulevard experience; Public realm; Neighborhood
interface; Site design; Building design; and Traffic, access and parking. The Task Force
developed the Guidelines to address a pattern for new buildings and reuse of existing sites.
Michael Schroeder of LHB will present the Design Guidelines and allow time for Planning
Commission and City Council to ask questions. Task Force members have also been invited to
attend the meeting and participate in the discussion.
NEXT STEPS: The Task Force will meet one additional time to finalize recommendations to
the City Council. Staff will present the final report to Planning Commission and then to City
Council for action.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: The cost for the consultant engaged in the
study is to be paid by the Development Fund.
VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a connected and engaged
community.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Draft Design Guidelines
Prepared by: Sean Walther, Senior Planner
Julie Grove, Planning and Economic Development Assistant
Reviewed by: Michele Schnitker, Housing Supervisor
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
November 5, 2014
for the South Side of
Excelsior Boulevard
Design Guidelines
LHB Inc. SRF Consulting Group
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 2
2 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Client
St. Louis Park
City Staff
Tom Harmening, City manager
Kevin Locke, Community Development Director
Meg McMonigal, Planning and Zoning Supervisor
Sean Walther, Senior planner
Julie Grove, Planning/Economic Development Assistant
Consultant Team
LHB Inc.
SRF Consulting Group Inc.
Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard
Task Force Members
Robb Bader
Caitlin Goff
Bob Cunningham
Maureen Fitzgerald
Alison Moehnke
June Petrie
Larry North
Michael Edlavitch
Sam Bryson
Graham Merry
Matt Stangl
Aimee Olson
Thia Bryan
Ben Stewart
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 3
Table of Contents3
Table of Contents
Introduction
Context
Context and Conditions
Corridor Zones
Commercial and Residential Zoning
Process and Schedule
Planning Process
Goals, Themes and Directions
Design Guidelines Overview
Boulevard Experience
Public Realm
Neighborhood Interface
Site Design
Building Design
Traffic, Access and Parking
Boulevard Experience
Guidelines
4-5
6
6-7
8-9
10-11
12
12-13
14
16
16
16
16
17
17
17
18
18-19
Public Realm
Guidelines
Neighborhood Interface
Guidelines
Site Design
Guidelines
Building Design
Guidelines
Traffic, Access and Parking
Guidelines
Considerations for Code Revisions
Demonstration
4500-4600 Block
4900 Block
20
20-21
22
22-23
24
24-27
28
28-31
32
32-35
36
38
38
39
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 4
Introduction
4 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Introduction
Creating a set of guidelines to shape the future of the
south side of Excelsior Boulevard is a forward-looking
action intended to enhance the ways the study area fits
an important community corridor. The process is not
reactive; during the planning process there were no
imminent proposals for change. But just as important,
the interests of neighbors are served as they contemplate
a longer term view of primarily commercially-zoned
parcels that immediately abut a residential area.
The guidelines address a series of parcels that exist in a
narrow band along the south side of Excelsior Boulevard
between Quentin Avenue and France Avenue. Guidance
is offered to shape:
• the public realm, ensuring the qualities of an
extensive streetscape that defines Excelsior Boulevard
are recognized as new investment occurs;
• site design, directing key components of the
configuration of a site to maintain focus on goals
related to a walkable public realm;
• building design, affirming the ways in which the most
dominant element of a parcel establishes consistency
in quality, orientation, and experience;
• neighborhood interface, establishing clear directions
for the ways in which development within the study
area is defined relative to residential neighbors to the
south; and
• traffic, access, and parking, suggesting patterns of
movement for vehicles that are efficient and safe and
encouraging integration of elements that support the
use of the site with its overall design character.
These guidelines are intended as a tool to creatively
shape development. They aim at intentions first, and
then support the stated intentions with a series of
design directions. Proponents of new development or
investment might find ways to satisfy the intentions of
Figure1.2 Existing image of Excelsior Boulevard at Natchez Ave/Grand Way.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 5
5 Introductionthe guidelines in ways that do not perfectly align with
their more specific guidance. In this way, the guidelines
are not prescriptive, but provide a way of offering
guidance to developers and property owners, neighbors,
and the city—all parties who have an interest in creating
enduring patterns of development in the study areas
oriented to goals established or reinforced during the
planning process.
The guidelines do not replace the city’s zoning regulations.
For someone seeking to create something they feel is a
better fit to a difficult parcel—or even one where there
are few development constraints—the guidelines aid in
defining directions that align with broader goals for the
corridor. They provide a way of establishing consistency
in investment beyond zoning.
The guidelines are not a mandate, and developers may
choose to invest following patterns that align exactly
with a parcel’s zoning. But the process used to create
the guidelines suggest a more inviting long-term view
of parcels within the study area, should the intentions
of these guidelines be addressed as change happens on
sites. They demonstrate a preference arrived at through
a dialog with interested stakeholders—property owners
and neighbors, and they suggest a way of extending that
dialog with those who choose to make change along the
south side of Excelsior Boulevard.
Figure1.3 Possible future building design along Excelsior Boulevard.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 6
6 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Context and Conditions
Miracle Mile Zone near Park Nicollet Blvd.Excelsior and Grand Zone, at Natchez Ave Small scale development, set close to the street Ellipse Zone, NE of Huntington Ave
Figure1.4 Images of Excelsior Boulevard
Context and Conditions
Context
The study area exists largely as a narrow band of
properties along Excelsior Boulevard’s south side
between Quentin Avenue and France Avenue. In many
cases, the parcels are less than 150 feet deep and not
more than 54 feet wide, and in some cases, the parcels
are oddly shaped, making redevelopment difficult.
Development character varies among the parcels,
sometimes with buildings advancing near the sidewalk
along Excelsior Boulevard and at other times buildings
receding to the rear of a site with parking being
prominent and near the street.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 7
Context and Conditions7
Study Boundary
Figure1.5 Study area
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 8
Context and Conditions
8 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Figure1.7 Corridor context zones
Corridor Context
To understand the study area, one needs to consider
the entirety of the Excelsior Boulevard corridor. An early
dialog with the Task Force emphasized the study area
as one piece of the corridor’s fabric, with patterns that
stand apart from other stretches of the corridor. Broadly,
development along the corridor might be characterized
in four zones (see Figures 1.7 and 1.8).
The varying characters of development along Excelsior
Boulevard extend through decades of its evolution.
Perpetuating that character seems an appropriate
guide and a way of maintaining the sense of a varied
experience along Excelsior Boulevard, and recognizes the
way people in St. Louis Park have viewed the corridor for
just about as long. In framing guidelines, the underlying
character might be viewed as one of the baselines
influencing future character of development. In this way,
the scale and pattern of development in the study area
might evolve, but not in ways that might appear foreign
to Excelsior Boulevard.
Regulatory Context
Properties in the study area fall into three zoning
classifications. While the details of specific zoning
should rely on the city’s zoning ordinance, the general
requirements for each of the three zoning classifications
can be summarized in Figure 1.11.
For commercial properties in St. Louis Park, the city uses
a method of determining parking requirements based
on use. This is especially important on parcels within
the study area, where sites are small but the buildings
might accommodate a range of uses, each driving a
different demand for parking. This “registration of land
use” method assures that parking supporting an activity
on a parcel is determined by the use, not the zoning
classification. In doing this, a restaurant with a high
parking demand could not occur on a site where the
necessary parking could not be accommodated.
Zone General Location General Character
Park Nicollet North side of corridor, TH 100 to Quentin
Ave
Large scale development,
set back from sidewalk
South side of corridor, Woodale Ave to
Quentin Ave
Large scale development,
set back from sidewalk
Large scale development,
set back from sidewalk
Small scale development, set near
sidewalk or set back from sidewalk
Moderate and small scale
development, set near sidewalk
Moderate scale development, set near
sidewalk or set back from sidewalk
North side of corridor, Quentin Ave to
Monterey Drive
South side of corridor, Quentin Ave to
France Ave
North side of corridor, Kipling Ave to
Hungtington Ave
North side of corridor, Hungtington Ave to
France Ave
Miracle Mile
Excelsior and Grand
Study Area
Ellipse
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 9
9 Corridor CharacterFigure1.8 Excelsior Boulevard corridor context zones
Development
Park Nicollet Zone
Excelsior and
Grand Zone
Ellipse Zone
Large scale, set
back from sidewalk
Large and small
scale, set close to
the street
Moderate and
small scale, set
close to the street
Moderate and small
scale, set close to
the street (north
side)
Small scale, set
close to the
street (south
side)
Miracle Mile
Zone Character
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 10
Context and Conditions
10 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Figure1.11 Zoning table
Current Zoning, Generally C-1 C-2 R-3Neighborhood Commercial General Commercial Two-family Residence
Purpose and Effect The purpose of this C-1 neighborhood
commercial district is to provide for low-
intensity, service-oriented commercial uses
for surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Limits will be placed on the type, size, and
intensity of commercial uses in this district
to ensure and protect compatibility with
adjacent residential areas.
3 stories or 35 ft
1.2
5 ft
15 ft abutting street, 0 ft or
match adjacent residential
20 ft
10 ft abutting alley
0 ft if under 35 ft and not adjacent
residential; 15 ft if adjacent
residential 1/2 building height
if height is 35 ft or greater
15 ft abutting street, 0 ft or
match residential if adjacent (plus
additional if taller than 35 ft)
15 ft abutting street, 7 ft and 5 ft
(single family) 9ft and 6ft (duplex)
na na 11 units per acre
5 ft 25 ft
25 ft
2.0 0.25
3 stories or 35 ft6 stories or 75 ft (certain conditions
allow for greater height)
The purposes of the C-2 general
commercial district are to:
(1) Allow the concentration of general
commercial development for convenience
of the public and mutually beneficial
relationship to each other in those areas
located away from residential areas
designated by the comprehensive plan;
(2) Provide space for community facilities
and institutions that appropriately may
be located in commercial areas;
(3) Provide adequate space to meet
the needs of modem commercial
development, including off-street
parking and truck loading areas;
(4) Minimize traffic congestion; and
(5) Carefully regulate the intensity of
commercial development as it refers to
both internal site factors and external
impacts.
The purpose of the R-3 two-family
residence district is to provide
appropriately located areas for one-family
and two-family dwelling units on parcels of
reasonable size; ensure adequate light, air,
privacy and open space for each dwelling
unit; provide institutional and community
services such as parks, schools, religious
facilities, and community centers
supportive of a residential area while
safeguarding its residential character;
protect residential properties from noise,
illumination, unsightliness, odors, dust,
dirt, smoke, vibration, heat, glare, high
traffic volumes and other objectionable
influences.
Height
Floor Area Ratio
Density
Yard, front
Yard, side
Yard, rear
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 11
11Current ZoningFigure1.12 Current residential and commercial zoning
Commercial
Corridor Focal
Intersections
Excelsior Blvd.
Streetscape
Neighborhood
Residential
Interface with
Neighborhood
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 12
Process and Schedule
12 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Planning Process
The process of defining guidelines for the South Side of
Excelsior Boulevard focused on two primary methods of
receiving input from the community: two neighborhood
meetings, the first of which occurred at the outset of the
planning process; and Task Force meetings that occurred
throughout the planning process.
Neighborhood Meetings
The first of two neighborhood meetings occurred at
the beginning of the planning process. At the meeting,
attendees worked in small groups to respond to a series
of questions and then shared the highlights of their work
with the larger assembled group. Input was varied, as
summarized on the following pages, but key concerns
and ideas focused on creating walkable and safe
experiences. At the meeting, the following goals floated
to the surface as being important to the development of
the south side of Excelsior Boulevard:
• Protecting neighborhood interests
• Drawing other cities to replicate our non-conforming
vision
• Creating human-scaled buildings that invite walkability
• Establishing a unified fence between commercial and
residential properties
• Recognizing that over a 20-year time horizon, anything
is possible
In one of the exercises, meeting participants were asked
to assess their sense of the potential for change for parcels
within the study area. While the groups recognized many
of the parameters involved in making change happen,
most suggested that nearly all the parcels in the study
area would eventually change. The notion of eventual
change became important in meetings with the Task
Force and in framing guidelines for parcels in the study
area.
A second neighborhood meeting occurred later in the
planning process and included a review of the process
and the directions that evolved through interactions
with the Task Force. General reaction to the proposed
guidelines was positive, with questions being addressed
to details of the guidelines and methods of eliminating
billboards (which was not addressed during this process,
but is addressed by other sections of the city ordinances).
Figure1.13 Images from the first neighborhood meeting, March 19 2014.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 13
13Process and ScheduleNeighborhood
Meeting 1
City Council
Chambers
March 19 April 22 May 6 May 27 June 3 June 24 September 16 TBD TBD TBD
Municipal
Service Center
Citizens Bank
Building
Citizens Bank
Building
Citizens Bank
Building
Citizens Bank
Building
Location TBD Location TBD Location TBD Location TBD
• Project
introduction
directed to
need, process,
outcomes
• Issues definition
• Questions
• Solicitation for
participation on
task force
• Project
introduction
focused on task
force role
• Neighborhood
Meeting One
review
• Study area
assessment
• Vision
discussion
• Detailed
examination of
issues
• Study area
needs,
priorities,
qualities
• Possibilities for
change
• Guideline
topics
definition
• Guidelines
investigations
(part 1)
• Guidelines
investigations
(part 2)
• Cross check of
investigations
• Recommended
guidelines
review
• Guidelines
application to
sites
• Presentation of
findings to date
• Solicitation of
feedback
• Review of
guidelines for
concurrence
• Recommendations
for adjustments
• Review of
input from
Neighborhood
Meeting
Two and
City Council/
Planning
Commission
work session
Neighborhood
Meeting 2
Task Force
Meeting 1
Task Force
Meeting 2
Task Force
Meeting 3A
Task Force
Meeting 3B
Task Force
Meeting 4
Task Force
Meeting 5
City Council/
Planning
Commission
work session
Approval
Meetings
Engagement and Meeting Schedule
During Neighborhood Meeting Two, participants raised
questions or offered comments related to:
• Allowed building heights: the guidelines reinforce
the underlying zoning, but allow some flexibility in
height if it can be demonstrated that a better design
can be achieved. For instance, a first floor height
greater than 12 or 14 feet may be desirable, but may
be limited for projects targeting three stories. The city
may determine, in this case, that a better design can be
achieved by allowing additional height (on the order
of a few feet, most likely). Additional height may also
be desired to better screen mechanical equipment
located on rooftops. It should be noted, however, that
the limited site area of most parcels would not likely
allow buildings approaching the maximum zoning
height.
• Billboards: billboards were not addressed by the
guidelines, but are controlled by other parts of the
city’s zoning ordinance.
• Parking: the underlying issue is one of quantity and
management. The city uses a registration of land
use methodology to control parking tied to the
activity within a building. To date, that method has
demonstrated good success in managing parking on
sites.
• Traffic : new development or investment might
increase traffic, but the incremental change would
have to be compared to a fully functional and occupied
(and zoning-compliant) use within the study area. It is
unlikely that significant additional square footage of
development could be achieved without major parcel
assembly, and even then the likely change in traffic
generation would be limited.
• Development: given the design guidelines,
participants were interested to know if developers
could do anything they want. In fact, a proposal for
development must adhere to existing zoning or
pursue a path to development using a planned unit
development approach, in which case the city and
the developer would use these guidelines to direct
development appropriately.
• Pedestrian crossings: the design guidelines do not
change the character or function of the roadway or any
crossings of Excelsior Boulevard. The goal, however, is
to increase the pedestrian orientation of development
along the south side of the boulevard, so further study
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 14
Goals, Themes and Directions
14 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
may be required to ensure that increased pedestrian
movements are safely accommodated considering the
volumes of traffic on Excelsior Boulevard.
• Trash and deliveries: the guidelines suggest ways
of accommodating the more utilitarian functions of
development in ways that are integrated with the
design of the site and building. The nature of these
functions might be coordinated by property owners to
avoid conflicts with the use on the site—a strategy that
would be prudent for the best use of the site. Turning
movements were tested in demonstrations to ensure
large vehicles could be reasonably accommodated.
• Development focus: participants wondered if
development in the study area would be directed to
a local population or have a more regional orientation.
In fact, both are likely necessary for the success of the
corridor, but the process did not address factors of
market orientation.
• Local character: the orientation of the guidelines
toward Excelsior Boulevard character and local
business, where possible, was appreciated. There
needs to be incentives to stay for those businesses
already located on the boulevard or to invest here for
new businesses.
• Cross easements: the goal of a nearly continuous
parking area behind buildings is facilitated by the
use of cross easements for access. The nature of an
incremental evolution is recognized, so the ultimate
configuration of access and movement (and parking)
can only be achieved with time. In the model that
places parking behind buildings, easements for utilities
may also be necessary.
Task Force Meetings
Meetings of a Task Force composed of volunteer
stakeholders were organized as dialogs between
members, staff, and consultants. In each of the two-hour
meetings, the focus was on a guided discussion among
the various interests of represented by the Task Force.
Meeting Four (which focused on a discussion of draft
guidelines and actually occurred during two meetings)
resulted in an essential consensus on the character
of development in the study area, its orientation to
both Excelsior Boulevard and the neighborhood, and
accommodating necessary site functions. It’s probably
unfair to characterize consensus as unanimous
agreement because some members of the Task
Force were not present during the second session of
Meeting Four, but members present determined that
an incremental evolution of this part of the Excelsior
Boulevard corridor following the draft guidelines—with
amendments as they noted during their review—would
be appropriate.
Significant Directions
Several significant directions came out of these meetings:
• Placing buildings near the sidewalk at Excelsior
Boulevard, reinforcing the pedestrian realm and
better defining the sense of street edge
• Establishing a zone for parking generally behind
buildings with the potential for cross easements
to create continuous parking accessed from cross
streets and, in some locations, directly from Excelsior
Boulevard with parking located alongside buildings
• Creating separation from the neighborhood to limit
intrusion of light, noise, pollution, and people through
a continuous physical and landscaped barrier focused
on a ten foot wide zone at the south side of the
Excelsior Boulevard parcels
Development Pattern
Establishing guidelines for the south side of Excelsior
Boulevard is a process that involves more than offering
directions for individual parcels. In this process, several
key patterns were recognized for the study area—
patterns that apply broadly to all parcels:
• Patterns of land use are directed to underlying
zoning, with most of the corridor being commercial
in its orientation and the blocks between Inglewood
Avenue and Glenhurst Avenue being multi-family
residential;
• Reinforcement of the streetscape of Excelsior
Boulevard, particularly in ways that support an active
and more pedestrian public realm;
• Creation of highlights through enhanced site or
building development at key Excelsior Boulevard
thresholds at Quentin Avenue, Monterey Avenue, and
France Avenue;
• A definitive and continuous interface between the
parcels that comprise the study area and the single
family neighborhood to its south.
The guidelines for the south side of Excelsior Boulevard
build upon these basic patterns as a means of creating a
more integrated and holistic experience.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 15
Goals, Themes and Directions15
Heterogeneous....
A place of visible human activity...
Punctuated by unique highlights...
Integrated with the neighborhood...
Varied in form and pattern...
Connected at the public realm...
Walk-able, bike-able, and park-able...
Both “stay-at” and “go-to”...
Attractive, in all of its forms...
varied, mixed, diverse—in both
character and activity...like the
Boulevard has been and is today
where walking and biking gain equal
footing with cars on the Boulevard,
especially as connections are reinforced
with the neighborhood
through buildings or publicly-
implemented features, these highlights
mark the South Side and reinforce its
place as a part of the Boulevard
perhaps in some places more tightly
than in others, but wherever the
interface happens, it becomes a place
of value, not neglect
with some buildings pulled forward
to the Boulevard and others pushed
back—even on adjacent parcels, but
always presenting an active face on the
Boulevard and enduring
allowing the character of the
streetscape to be a significant part
of the experience, with private realm
spaces knitted to the streetscape to
support the Boulevard and its human
activity
where development doesn’t give up on
cars, but patterns aren’t dominated by
the infrastructure needed to support
them and the resulting experience is
comfortable and safe
having places focused on serving the
neighborhood and places that attract
others into the corridor, and between
introduced and indigenous activities/
uses
bringing people and business that
lend life, vitality, and activity to the
corridor, but also having the built and
natural forms result in patterns that are
endearing and enduring
Draft Guideline Creation: Themes
Figure1.14 Images created by participants at the first neighborhood meeting.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 16
Design Guidelines Overview
1. BOULEVARD EXPERIENCE
2. PUBLIC REALM
3. NEIGHBORHOOD INTERFACE
16 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Therefore, the intention is for a Boulevard experience
that is mixed in activity, with appropriately scaled
and aggregated residential and commercial uses; and
that results in buildings and sites that are stylistically
harmonious, but not uniform.
Therefore, the public realm shall result in an
engaging site and building frontage—particularly
at commercial building faces or the spaces between
the sidewalk and the building face—to bring life
and energy to the street and sidewalk.
Therefore, the neighborhood interface shall be a
place of value—whether it’s a zone of integration
or separation, with both the new development and
the neighborhood benefiting from the immediate
relationship.
The south side of Excelsior Boulevard is not homogeneous
in its activity or experience, with a mix of commercial and
residential land uses and a variety of architectural styles
reflecting of both use and era of development. It’s a pattern
that has typified the Boulevard for decades, and one that
should be perpetuated as its South Side evolves.
The streetscape of Excelsior Boulevard establishes a
consistent image for the length of the corridor, particularly
considering the median. The public realm of the Boulevard
should be reinforced with uses and built forms that reinforce
the notion of visible human activity, creating a greater sense
of comfort and safety and reinforcing the notion of a walk-
able and bike-able place.
The immediate relationship between the Excelsior Boulevard
fronting properties and the neighborhood to the south
should be valued as a pattern, whether the two are integrated
of separated. The placement of buildings and the constructed
features have the potential of intruding upon neighbors, but
handled well, new development might enhance the livability
of the neighborhood.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 17
Design Guidelines Overview4. SITE DESIGN
5. BUILDING DESIGN
6. TRAFFIC, ACCESS and PARKING
17
Sites surrounding buildings vary in space, form and character
along the Boulevard, with some focused on accommodating
support functions and others offering some level of amenity,
mostly related to landscaping. In an evolution of the South
Side, the metamorphosis might more directly address how
people and human activity are accommodated as a part of
the site design.
Therefore, sites shall be developed with a strong
orientation to human scale and experience, even
in those components of the site directed to activity
supporting functions.
Buildings are the most prominent element of the corridor.
On the South Side, parcel size limits the ways buildings
can be placed, but the ways in which they are designed
can perpetuate the long-term patterns of a varied corridor.
Equally important, buildings should relate to the human
activities of the Boulevard—in scale, orientation, and detail.
Therefore, buildings shall be designed in ways that
are “read” as part of a human-scaled experience
of Excelsior Boulevard and that perpetuate their
presence on the Boulevard, accommodating a
range of uses over their lifetimes, allowing the
buildings to become ingrained in the patterns of the
Boulevard.
Therefore, the patterns of vehicle movement shall be
addressed in ways that support their presence but
limit their impact on human activity and adjacent
different uses, and that result in space on sites that
are designed for people, not merely for function.
While there may be a desire to better accommodate walking
and biking, cars will remain a fixture of the Boulevard. Their
presence and movement bridges between public and private
realms as much as any other corridor elements, so how they
leave the street and are accommodated on sites needs to be
a core piece of the design of the South Side.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 18
Design Guidelines
18 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Guidelines
The south side of Excelsior Boulevard is not homogeneous
in its activity or experience, with a mix of commercial
and residential land uses and a variety of architectural
styles reflecting of both use and era of development. It’s
a pattern that has typified the Boulevard for decades,
and one that should be perpetuated as its South Side
evolves.
Therefore, the intention is for a Boulevard
experience that is mixed in activity, with
appropriately scaled and aggregated
residential and commercial uses; and that
results in buildings and sites that are stylistically
harmonious, but not uniform.
1. BOULEVARD EXPERIENCE
Development patterns shall perpetuate the mix of uses by adhering
to current zoning and land use guidance to create a corridor that is
primarily commercial in orientation, with residential uses separating
commercial activities into nodes focused near France Avenue and
between Quentin Avenue and Inglewood Avenue. These guidelines
are intended to promote vitality in the businesses that line Excelsior
Boulevard, in buildings that form a distinct transition between the
boulevard and the neighborhood.
These guidelines shall be used to encourage consistent investment
in properties, either by reinvestment or through redevelopment, that
assures property owners, business owners and neighbors of the long-
term character of development, but not in ways that limit creativity or
force directions that cannot be economically supported.
To reinforce the experience of Excelsior Boulevard, development
shall encourage street level human activity, whether the activity is
commercial or residential in orientation. For commercial parcels,
in particular, development shall provide inviting spaces that bring
human activity near the sidewalk at Excelsior Boulevard.
While the corridor is a major vehicle corridor, the public realm and
development shall accommodate those movements that do not rely
on personal vehicles.
Figure1.15 Typical block layout showing areas affected by boulevard
experience design guidelines.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 19
Boulevard Experience19Boulevard Experience1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 1.4, 1.5
Several locations along Excelsior Boulevard define “gateways” to the
corridor and merit special attention in site and building design. In
particular, special site or building features (including, but not limited
to, public art, articulation of building elements to emphasize publicly-
oriented building elements, special landscape features or treatments,
and signage, if approved by the city) are encouraged at Excelsior
Boulevard’s intersections with Quentin Avenue, Monterey Avenue,
and France Avenue.
The City of St. Louis Park has a keen orientation to sustainability,
even to the degree that it is becoming a keystone quality of the
community. The city’s orientation to sustainability shall be reflected
in development on Excelsior Boulevard’s south side in ways that are
measurable and demonstrate significant improvements in energy and
water use and stormwater management intersections with Quentin
Avenue, Monterey Avenue, and France Avenue.
Figure1.16 Images showing elements of the boulevard experience.
1.5
1.6
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 20
Design Guidelines
20 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
The streetscape of Excelsior Boulevard establishes
a consistent image for the length of the corridor,
particularly considering the median. The public realm of
the Boulevard should be reinforced with uses and built
forms that reinforce the notion of visible human activity,
creating a greater sense of comfort and safety and
reinforcing the notion of a walk-able and bike-able place.
Therefore, the public realm shall result in
an engaging site and building frontage—
particularly at commercial building faces or the
spaces between the sidewalk and the building
face—to bring life and energy to the street and
sidewalk.
The character of streetscape elements from Excelsior Boulevard shall
be extended into publicly accessible private spaces along the corridor
(at either Excelsior Boulevard or crossing streets) to establish the sense
of a continuous public realm and a safe, inviting, walking-focused
public realm outside of the roadway.
At the point of transition to the neighborhood, there shall be a clear
demarcation of the neighborhood “entry” created within the public
realm and focused on areas of the right-of-way outside of the curbs.
Where transit facilities exist along the corridor, the design of sites shall
be organized to support transit with safe, convenient, and protected
amenities for transit users. To the extent possible, features supporting
transit shall be incorporated into the design of a site and/or building.
Sidewalks along Excelsior Boulevard shall be established at not less
than 10 feet wide, with at least six feet clear of obstructions along the
length of any property.
The presence of on-street parking shall be incorporated into the
patterns of the public realm and the overall site design by providing
safe and accessible passage for those parked in on-street spaces. In
accordance with city policies, on-street spaces along the frontage of
a property may be counted as a part of the parking supply for that
parcel.
Guidelines
Figure1.17 Typical block layout showing areas affected by public realm
guidelines.
2. PUBLIC REALM
2.1 2.4
2.5
2.2
2.3
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 21
21Public Realm2.3
2.1
2.4 2.5
Figure1.18 Images showing elements of the public realm.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 22
The immediate relationship between the Excelsior
Boulevard fronting properties and the neighborhood
to the south should be valued as a pattern, whether
the two are integrated of separated. The placement
of buildings and the constructed features have the
potential of intruding upon neighbors, but handled well,
new development might enhance the livability of the
neighborhood.
Therefore, the neighborhood interface shall
be a place of value—whether it’s a zone of
integration or separation, with both the new
development and the neighborhood benefiting
from the immediate relationship.
Design Guidelines
With the goal of efficiency in use of the site while protecting adjacent
properties, sites shall be organized and buildings placed to minimize
the intrusion of light, noise, activity, and other negative impacts of
commercial development into neighboring residential properties.
To establish continuity along the interface with and separation from
the residential properties to the south, a boundary zone shall be
created of not less than 10 feet in width and continuous along
the entirety of the Excelsior Boulevard parcel using materials and
treatments that are enduring and create value for properties on both
sides of the boundary. Should the separation result in yard space on
the residential side, that space shall be maintained perpetually by the
Excelsior Boulevard use.
Because the preferred location for parking supporting a building’s
use is behind the building and nearest the residential neighborhood,
the design of the separation must address the impacts of vehicles
using the parking areas and practices to manage the parking area
when the building is not active.
To further define the boundary between commercial and residential
properties, separation shall prevent easy access to it by pedestrians.
Service functions for buildings may occur in the zone nearest the
residential neighborhoods. To limit the impacts of these activities,
regular services shall be directed to times that limit impacts on
neighbors.
22 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Guidelines
Figure1.19 Typical block layout showing area affected by neighborhood
interface design guidelines.
3. NEIGHBORHOOD INTERFACE
3.2
3.1 3.3
3.4
3.5
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 23
3.2, 3.4 3.1, 3.2, 3.4
3.1, 3.2, 3.4
3.2, 3.4
23Neighborhood InterfaceFigure1.20 Images showing possible neighborhood interface treatments.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 24
Design Guidelines
24 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Sites surrounding buildings vary in space, form and
character along the Boulevard, with some focused on
accommodating support functions and others offering
some level of amenity, mostly related to landscaping.
In an evolution of the South Side, the metamorphosis
might more directly address how people and human
activity are accommodated as a part of the site design.
Therefore, sites shall be developed with a strong
orientation to human scale and experience,
even in those components of the site directed to
activity supporting functions.
As a whole, sites shall be designed to support the notion of an
Excelsior Boulevard corridor oriented to human-scaled experiences,
to maximizing “green” space on sites and the feeling of a “green”
corridor, screening of functional site elements so that human activities
and spaces for visible human activity on sites are prominent, and to
placing buildings where they best reinforce activity and an orientation
to Excelsior Boulevard.
To facilitate coherent and efficient patterns on sites, ease of function,
consistency in addressing Excelsior Boulevard and the neighbors to
the south, and facilitate opportunities for sharing functional areas,
parking areas shall be located continuously along the rear portion of
each site or shall provide for connections between parcels along this
portion of each site. Parcels at ends of blocks must provide access at
that location. Parked cars shall be screened from views from adjacent
residential sites through the use of plantings or permanent screening.
Sites may be accessed from Excelsior Boulevard directly, provided the
access point considers a point of access shared with the adjacent parcel.
In the event the patterns of site development use an access point on
Excelsior Boulevard, the site plan shall still provide a connection to
parking located behind buildings on at least one side of the site.
To establish continuity along the public realm and to screen parking
from public view, parking areas along Excelsior Boulevard and
any crossing streets shall be screened by architectural features or
plantings. Architectural features, if used, shall be designed to reflect
the patterns and materials of the primary building on the parcel;
plantings, if used, shall be composed of combinations of evergreen
and deciduous shrubs and perennials that allow for interest in all
seasons. Plantings shall include over-story trees to provide shade
over the public sidewalk and a sense of continuity in a plane generally
aligning with the street-facing façade of the building.
Guidelines
Figure1.21 Typical block layout showing areas affected by site design
guidelines.
4. SITE DESIGN
4.4
4.34.1
4.2
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 25
25Site Design4.1 4.1 4.1 4.4
Development density for parcels shall be guided by existing city
controls, although limited site areas for unaggregated parcels will
naturally limit development based on a lack of available space for
parking, and unless methods of accommodating parking other than
surface parking are used, city controls will limit density on even
aggregated parcels.
Drive-up windows or drive-through facilities are discouraged due to
limited site area for stacking based on the smaller parcel sizes, unless
it can be clearly demonstrated that those facilities do not impede
the creation of or intrude upon pedestrian zones or create negative
impacts on nearby residential parcels.
Service areas (including trash and recycling enclosures,
loading areas, and other building support functions) that
are within the building or screened with materials that
extend from the building are preferred. Access to any
service area must occur from within the parcel and shall
be located in ways that limit the maneuvering necessary
for access by any service vehicle. Service areas separated
from buildings shall be screened by permanent materials
that substantively match the materials, patterns, and
details used in the building, with landscaping that is an
extension of the landscape patterns of the site. The service
area shall be located so that no direct views into a service
area occurs from a public street or from a walkway serving
the primary building entry.
4.5 4.7
4.6
Figure1.22 Images showing possible site design treatments.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 26
Design Guidelines
26 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Walkways between a public sidewalk and the primary building
entry shall highlight the path to the primary building entry through
architectural features, landscaping, and lighting. Walkways that are
covered or partially covered by architectural features are encouraged,
provided those features are designed consistent with the materials
and patterns of the building.
A walkway that crosses a vehicular path or parking area shall extend
the sidewalk materials through the vehicular path or parking area.
Lighting used on sites shall be consistent in color and designed to
prevent trespass of illumination onto adjacent sites. To the extent
practicable, lighting shall be integrated with the design of buildings.
Lighting sources shall not be visible.
4.11 Any landscape improvements proposed as a part of a plan
for development shall become the requirement for planted
improvements. Any plantings that die must be replaced, unless is can
be demonstrated that the growth of other plants fulfill the purpose of
the originally planned and planted materials.
4.4, 4.9 4.9 4.1, 4.8
Figure1.23 Images showing possible site design treatments.
4.10
4.9
4.8
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 27
27Site Design4.7
Figure1.24 Service entrance screening example.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 28
Design Guidelines
28 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Buildings are the most prominent element of the
corridor. On the South Side, parcel size limits the ways
buildings can be placed, but the ways in which they
are designed can perpetuate the long-term patterns of
a varied corridor. Equally important, buildings should
relate to the human activities of the Boulevard—in scale,
orientation, and detail.
Therefore, buildings shall be designed in ways that
are “read” as part of a human-scaled experience
of Excelsior Boulevard and that perpetuate their
presence on the Boulevard, accommodating a
range of uses over their lifetimes, allowing the
buildings to become ingrained in the patterns of
the Boulevard.
The mass of a building on a site shall occur on a parcel in ways that
reinforce the public realm as a mixed mode, varied, and human-
scaled corridor while protecting residential neighbors, with the
primary mass of the building pulled “forward” on a parcel.
Current zoning ordinances limit building heights, but flexibility
in overall height may be permitted if the design demonstrates the
benefits to the experience of the corridor or if the building or site
includes features benefiting the community.
The design of buildings shall address all sides of the structure in
terms of designed character, materials, fenestration, and details, with
ornament and signage that is integral to the overall building design.
Buildings shall be placed to reinforce the pedestrian orientation of
Excelsior Boulevard with most of their street-facing façade occurring
at or near the front property line.
Building materials and details shall be holistic in design (not add-
ons or used solely for the purpose of ornament) and not materials
that are representations of other materials (such as manufactured
stone or false brick). Materials shall be durable and constructed
with a sense of human craft. Termination of materials or changes in
materials across a façade shall occur in ways that are integral to the
material used; in particular, a change in materials at exterior corners is
discouraged. Details of construction and materials shall be scaled to
human experiences, particularly at street level facades along Excelsior
Boulevard.
Building taller than two stories shall have the upper floors set back
from street frontages at least 10 feet as a means of maintaining a
more human-scaled experience along Excelsior Boulevard.
5.6
5.1
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.2
Guidelines Figure1.25 Typical block layout showing areas affected by building design
guidelines.
5. BUILDING DESIGN
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 29
29Building Design5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, 5.8, 5.11, 5.12 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11, 5.12
5.7
5.8
Walls oriented to streets shall be articulated with doors and windows
to encourage interaction between the public sidewalk and the interior
of commercial street level uses. No section of wall longer than 24
feet shall be void of windows or doors. A door oriented to Excelsior
Boulevard shall remain accessible during typical business hours.
Windows at street level shall be transparent and be sufficient in extent
to highlight a sense of human activity in the building at each level of
the building.
Figure1.26 Images showing possible building types and configurations.
5.9 For residential buildings, features that highlight human activity—
or the sense of human activity, such as terraces, balconies, or other
outdoor private or common spaces, shall be a part of the design of
residential buildings.
Vehicle entry doors shall not be oriented to Excelsior Boulevard.5.10
The design of the building shall highlight the building entry
through architectural elements, lighting, landscape elements, or
other features that call attention to the entry, and the building
entry shall always be oriented to and clearly visible from Excelsior
Boulevard. Other building entries may be highlighted, but shall
not take precedence over an entry oriented to Excelsior Boulevard.
A parcel with frontage on two streets may utilize a corner entry
that gives equal prominence to Excelsior Boulevard and the
intersecting street. At entries, the door itself shall be designed to
be the focal of the entry experience.
5.11
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 30
Design Guidelines
30 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
Lighting used as a part of the building shall be consistent with the
color of lighting used on sites. Lighting on buildings shall be designed
to illuminate features of the building or site spaces, but not to
indiscriminately spread illumination across building facades or sites.
Signage shall be designed to be integral to the building, shall not
obscure architectural features or elements, and shall be limited to
street level facades. Signs that project over sidewalks are encouraged.
While these guidelines encourage a balance between the vehicle-
dominated environment of the roadway and the pedestrian nature
of Excelsior Boulevard’s sidewalk areas, signage is encouraged to be
scaled to the experience of the pedestrian.
5.13
5.12
5.7, 5.8, 5.12 5.7, 5.8, 5.12 5.7, 5.8, 5.11, 5.12 5.13
Figure1.27 Images showing possible building types and configurations.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 31
31Building DesignFigure1.28 Possible building configuration.
5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.11, 5.12
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 32
While there may be a desire to better accommodate
walking and biking, cars will remain a fixture of the
Boulevard. Their presence and movement bridges
between public and private realms as much as any other
corridor elements, so how they leave the street and are
accommodated on sites needs to be a core piece of the
design of the South Side.
Adequate parking and convenient access is necessary to
support redevelopment or reinvestment in parcels, but
the focus on development on sites should be directed
to buildings and site spaces, not parking. Because of the
incremental nature of development and redevelopment
activities on the south side of Excelsior Boulevard,
guidance for three scenarios for parking are described:
• Redevelopment of an individual parcel
• Concurrent redevelopment of adjacent parcels
under separate ownership
• Assembly of several adjacent parcels into a larger
redevelopment site
Therefore, the patterns of vehicle movement shall
be addressed in ways that support their presence
but limit their impact on human activity and
adjacent different uses, and that result in space
on sites that are designed for people, not merely
for function.
Design Guidelines
32 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
6.1 In general, parking shall be organized to provide adequate on-site
parking to minimize the need for on-street parking and impacts on
adjacent neighborhoods. Shared parking is encouraged between
parcels on the south side of Excelsior Boulevard between Quentin
Avenue and France Avenue. Consistent with the north side, on-
street parking bays on the south side of Excelsior Boulevard may be
permitted. Additional analysis and approval by Hennepin County will
be required to determine their location, need, and justification.
6.2 Parking supply in excess of city minimum standards shall be
discouraged, however parking that addresses the potential range of
activities in a building must be considered.
Guidelines
Figure1.29 Typical block layout showing areas affected by traffic, access
and parking design guidelines.
6. TRAFFIC, ACCESS and PARKING
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 33
33Traffic, Access and Parking6.3, 6.66.1, 6.6 6.3
6.3 Surface parking areas shall be located behind buildings to the
extent practicable to encourage continuity of building frontages
along Excelsior Boulevard. If not possible, the parking area should
be located on the side of the building. Driveways and drive aisles
shall be minimized in width and provide good visibility of pedestrians
from vehicles using the driveway.
6.4 For end parcels located adjacent to a street crossing Excelsior
Boulevard, access to the parking areas should be located on the
crossing street in order to perpetuate and enhance pedestrian
activity along the Excelsior Boulevard sidewalk.
Access to and from Excelsior Boulevard should be eliminated or
consolidated wherever possible. At a minimum, Hennepin County
will allow limited access for each parcel and may limit access to no
net increase along the corridor. For access from Excelsior Boulevard,
existing median breaks for left turn movements will be allowed
at their current locations. Additional median breaks on Excelsior
Boulevard will not be allowed.
Large surface parking lots are discouraged. Where necessary to
support development, they should be broken up with landscape
areas to provide visual relief and locations for trees to significantly
shade hard surfaces, incorporate green infrastructure to the extent
practicable to assist in stormwater management, and introduce other
features that humanize the parking experience on sites.
6.6
6.5
Figure1.30 Images showing possible traffic, access and parking configurations.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 34
Design Guidelines
34 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
6.9 For the redevelopment of two adjacent parcels under separate
ownership where the redevelopment is concurrent, the following
guidelines apply:
• 6.9.1 For end parcels located adjacent to a secondary street,
access to the parking areas should be located on the secondary
street, not along Excelsior Boulevard. An internal drive aisle behind
the buildings should connect the two parcels by establishing cross
easements, allowing two-way traffic and access to surface parking.
• 6.9.2 For mid-block parcels, shared use of an internal drive aisle
to surface parking areas located behind (preferred) or alongside the
buildings should be considered by establishing cross easements
among property owners.
6.7
Figure1.31 Images showing possible traffic, access and parking configurations.
6.8 For the redevelopment of an individual parcel, the following
guidelines apply:
• 6.8.1 For end parcels located adjacent to a secondary street, access
to the parking areas should be located on the secondary street,
not along Excelsior Boulevard.
• 6.8.2 For mid-block parcels, shared use of an internal drive aisle to
surface parking areas behind (preferred) or alongside the buildings
should be considered by establishing cross easements among
property owners, if possible.
• 6.8.3 For mid-block parcels, the internal drive aisle to surface
parking areas located behind (preferred) or alongside the buildings
should be designed using a minimum side yard setback. This
would allow the opportunity for an adjacent parcel (redeveloping
at a later date) to share the internal drive aisle by establishing cross
6.7 Parking for bicycles and non-traditional vehicles should be
provided on sites in visible and accessible locations, with amenities
that encourage their use.
easements among property owners.
6.1, 6.3
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 35
35Traffic, Access and Parking6.10 For the redevelopment of assembled parcels, the following
guidelines apply:
• 6.10.1 If feasible, structured parking should be located within the
building massing, below grade or in portions of the building not
facing onto public streets.
• 6.10.2 For end parcels located adjacent to a secondary street,
access to the parking structures or surface parking should be
located on the secondary street, not along Excelsior Boulevard. An
internal drive aisle behind the buildings should traverse multiple
parcels by establishing cross easements, allowing two-way traffic
and access to surface parking.
• 6.10.3 For mid-block parcels, shared use of an internal drive aisle
to surface parking areas behind the buildings should be considered
by establishing cross easements among property owners.
6.11 The allowed development densities essentially limit any increase in
traffic resulting from redevelopment of parcels on the south side of
Excelsior Boulevard. As parcels redevelop, impacts on traffic may
require study depending on the proposed land use type, size, and
density assumptions.
6.1, 6.3, 6.8.1, 6.9.1, 6.10.2 6.10.1
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 36
Considerations for Code Revisions
36 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
As a part of the definition of guidelines, the width of
drive aisles in other communities was researched. It is
apparent from the investigation that 22 feet for drive
aisles is workable, and that given the predominately
limited parcel depth, even three feet (the difference
between the city’s current standard for drive aisle width
and the width proposed in these guidelines) may have
a considerable and positive impact on development of
the sites and aligning with the goals for the corridor.
The guidelines advocate for flexibility in overall building
height if a better building design could be achieved.
Whether additional height is necessary for first floor
height, additional parapet height to screen rooftop
mechanical units, or some other feature of the building
that affects height, the city’s current effort to consider
form-based codes might offer better guidance for
overall building height than can be achieved in these
guidelines or through the city’s current building height
standards.
Considerations for code revisions
The design guidelines are not a mandate for change,
but certain elements may merit further consideration
for modifications to zoning. While zoning ordinance
changes are a different process, those elements that
might be studied are included in the following table.
Elements Considerations
Drive aisle width
Building height
Figure1.32 Table of code revisions to be considered.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 37
37Considerations for Code RevisionsIn demonstrations performed as a verification of the
guidelines, a parking standard aligned with current
zoning was used as a key parameter. A ratio of 4.0 spaces
per 1,000 square feet is a fairly common standard for
commercial uses (not including restaurant-type uses), in
the future the ratio might seem too high, particularly for a
corridor that might be evolving to better serve uses who
are pedestrians or bicyclists. Two features of the city’s
current zoning might become important in a change:
the ability for a site’s parking supply to include adjacent
street parking and the city’s practice of registering land
use to define necessary parking.
Current zoning establishes a greater setback at sideyards
adjacent to street, but the guidelines encourage
advancing buildings on sites to create greater interaction
with public sidewalks. Maintaining the current
requirement might be at odds with other goals for the
corridor as discussed in these guidelines, and to the
extent that other considerations for building placement
near intersections (sight distance triangle requirements,
for instance), the sideyard setback for street frontages
might be modified to reduce the setback.
One of the keystone elements of the guidelines is
establishing a rear yard that allows for separation
consistently along the boundary with single family uses.
Increasing the required rear yard to ten feet allows for
that separation, and when coupled with the reduction in
drive aisle width, the necessary additional dimension to
achieve the guideline rearyard distance is two feet.
Elements Considerations
Parking quantity
Sideyard setback
Required rear yard
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 38
Demonstrations
46174637 4615 4611 4601 4509 4501
38 St. Louis Park Design Guidelines
5483 sq. ft.4054 sq. ft.
2709 sq. ft.
6231 sq. ft.
5377 sq. ft.
4.05 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
4.03 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
4.69 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
0.250.29 0.28 0.33
3446 sq. ft.
3446 sq. ft.
2320 sq. ft.
4.16 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
2860 sq. ft.2705 sq. ft.
2705 sq. ft.2860 sq. ft.
0.31
4.20 spaces/
1000 sq .ft.
2705 sq. ft.
0.23
4.25 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
3812 sq. ft.
11800 sq. ft.11800 sq. ft.9325 sq. ft.12075 sq. ft.24747 sq. ft.19793 sq. ft.12171 sq. ft.
4054 sq. ft.5483 sq. ft.6231 sq. ft.
15 on site
3 on street
20 on site
3 on street
10 on site
2 on street
21 on site
3 on street
40 on site
7 on street
28 on site
5 on street
16 on site
3 on street
3812 sq. ft.
———
0.32
4.72 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
4617 Excelsior
Blvd.
4637 Excelsior
Blvd.
4615 Excelsior
Blvd.
4611 Excelsior
Blvd.
4601 Excelsior
Blvd.
4509 Excelsior
Blvd.
4501 Excelsior
Blvd.
Proposed building footprint
Site area
4500-4600 Block
Parking provided
Proposed building area
Second floor area
FAR
Parking ratio
Figure1.33 Potential layout for the 4500-4600 block.
Demonstrations
As a means of validating the design guidelines,
demonstrations of development capacity were prepared
for several parcels, including some with relatively small
footprints. The demonstrations are not intended to be a
site plan or an actual design, and they are not intended
to serve as an economic model; no projections of value
or cost of development were considered. They function
primarily as a means of testing the potential of various
sites to accommodate development and parking in a
proper balance when the guidelines are applied.
The demonstrations used setbacks as described in the
guidelines, including the separation zone between
the parcel and the adjacent residential use, and the
configuration of parking areas behind buildings as
key elements of the “test.” Parking at a ratio of at least
4.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet was also a primary
parameter.
The demonstrations suggest that new development
following the guidelines is possible on each of the ten
parcels tested. With refinements, it may be possible to
increase the amount of development on each parcel,
or to create a different configuration of building to
site, or to achieve a parking ratio closer to 4.0 spaces
per 1,000 square feet. All of those are worthy design
exercises once a developer can frame a site-specific
development program and identify a targeted use. For
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 39
39DemonstrationsProposed building footprint
Site area
4900 Block
Parking provided
Proposed building area
Second floor area
FAR
Parking ratio
8368 sq. ft.5850 sq. ft.5850 sq. ft.
1757 sq. ft.
1757 sq. ft.
1437 sq. ft.
1437 sq. ft.
1437 sq. ft.
2105 sq. ft.
2105 sq. ft.
0.25 0.25 0.30
8 on site
3 on street
10 on site
2 on street
5 on site
4 on street
——
5.23 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
4.18 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
5.12 spaces/
1000 sq. ft.
4911 Excelsior
Blvd.
4907 Excelsior
Blvd..
4901Excelsior
Blvd.
4911 4907 4901
Figure1.34 Potential layout for the 4900 block.
now, the demonstrations serve as a way of testing the
capacity of the parcels to accommodate development
following the guidelines, and, for the instances studied,
there is sufficient evidence to conclude the guidelines
are practicable for redevelopment.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 2)
Title: Design Guidelines for the South Side of Excelsior Boulevard Page 40
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Discussion Item: 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report and 2014 Work Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss the Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report and
Work Plan for 2014 with Planning Commissioners.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Is the Work Plan of the Planning Commission in keeping with
the City Council’s expectations?
SUMMARY: In accordance with Council policy, the 2013 Annual Report and 2014 Work Plan
were sent to the City Council for review earlier this year. The Council indicated it would meet
with the Planning Commission to discuss its work, and this meeting presents that opportunity.
The attached report summarizes the applications reviewed by the Planning Commission, study
session discussion topics, and highlights the types of cases heard by the Commission in 2013. In
addition, a 2014 Work Plan was also submitted. Several of the work items have been
substantially completed.
For 2015, it is expected that several redevelopment projects will be the focus of the Planning
Commission work, including the two sites on either end of Excelsior & Grand, the remaining
sites at the West End, as well as more attention to planning and development near the LRT
stations.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Not applicable.
VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan
Prepared by: Meg McMonigal, Planning/Zoning Supervisor
Reviewed by: Michele Schnitker, Housing Supervisor
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
St. Louis Park Planning Commission
2013 Annual Report
The St. Louis Park Planning Commission is a seven member advisory body made up of citizen volunteers appointed by the City Council. The Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations on comprehensive planning amendments, development projects and zoning studies and amendments. It also holds public hearings where the public can give input to Commission recommendations.DRAFTStudy Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 2
Corresponds to the map
below
This Annual Report provides
a summary of the Planning
Commission’s major activites
and accomplishments in 2013.
DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT
Eliot Park Apartments
Rezoning, Subdivision,
PUD, CUP, Variance
A new market-rate apartment
complex was proposed for
the former Eliot school site
on Cedar Lake Rd. Once the
former school building is
removed, two new apartment
buildings with a total of
138 units, plus two new
single family lots will be
constructed. Construction
has not commenced.
Goodwill Subdivision, PUD
A new Goodwill store recently
opened on a new 1.54 acre lot
next to the LA Fitness. The
17,600 square foot building
is highly visible on the east
side of Highway 100 and
just north of 36th Street.
Construction was completed
in the fall of 2013.
1
1
2
2
3
4
5 7
9
8
6
10
11
12
13
14
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 3
Calhoun Apt Homes
CUP
A 7-unit, 2- story apartment
building was approved to be
built south of Hwy 7, between
Inglewood and Glenhurst Ave.
Underground parking will be
provided. Construction began
summer 2013 and is expected
to be complete spring of
2014.
Luther Fiat
CUP
A new Fiat dealership moved
into the former Volkswagen
dealership building along
the east side of Highway 100
and just south of I-394. The
project includes removal of
the southern portion of the
building and renovation of
the remaining 21,000 square
feet as well as parking lot
improvements and new
landscaping. The dealership
opened for business in
January, 2014.
Yeshiva School
CUP
The Yeshiva School is a
Jewish high school for boys.
The school wanted to add a
residential component and
requested housing for up to
40 students. Renovations
were to the interior of the
building only, and included
landscaping enhancements to
the property and parking lot.
Wooddale Flats
CP, rezoning, plat,
PUD, variance
Gatehouse
Properties proposed
a townhome-style
development at the
former site of the
Church and School of
the Most Holy Trinity.
The project includes six
buildings with 33 total units
and provides garage and
surface parking. Five of the
buildings are proposed to be
3 stories and one building 2
stories. It is anticipated that
construction of the buildings
will be staged beginning in
the Spring of 2014 and phase
I is anticipated to be complete
in the Winter of 2014.
Automotion Carwash
Plat
A Preliminary and Final Plat
to combine the properties at
3901 Excelsior Blvd (former
Mobile gas station) and 3921
Excelsior Blvd (parking lot
located to the west of 3901
Excelsior Blvd) was requested.
The combination was sought
so that a car wash could be
added onto the existing gas
station.
TCF Bank
CUP
A new TCF Bank is under
construction at 8951 36th
Street West. The site was
previously home to a car
wash, which closed in 2012.
The former building was
demolished and a new
1-story, 2,813 square foot
bank building is being built
on the eastern portion of the
site with a drive-thru on the
west side of the building. TCF
will relocate from its current
location at the southeast
corner of the Knollwood Mall
parking lot. Construction
began in fall 2013 and is
anticipated to be complete
late summer 2014.
Costco Fueling Stations
PUD
A Minor Amendment to the
PUD was requested to expand
the number of pumps at
the Costco Fueling Facility
from six to nine. The canopy
over the pumps would also
be extended by 28 feet and
new signage will replace the
existing signage on the sides
of the canopy.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 4
West End Restaurants
PUD Major Amendment
The previous PUD allowed
the shopping center to have
up to 82,277 square feet of
restaurants. The request was
to increase the maximum
gross building area of
restaurants by 8,543 square
feet to a total of up to 90,820
square feet. The current
restaurant tenants, plus some
pending leases, will bring the
shopping center very near the
current limit.
Knollwood
PUD Major Amendment
A proposed remodel to
Knollwood Mall includes
removing the interior mall
located between Kohls and
TJ Maxx and replacing it with
approximately five junior
box retailers which would be
accessed from the outside.
A three-tenant building is
also proposed to be built in
the parking lot at the corner
of Hwy 7 and Aquila Ave.
In addition, a portion of the
parking lot will be redesigned
to improve traffic and
pedestrian flow along with
stormwater, lighting, and
landscaping improvements.
Construction is expected to
begin in spring 2014 and be
completed in fall 2014.
Peter Hobart School
CUP
The St. Louis Park School
District applied for a CUP
to add two permanent
classrooms onto the existing
building to help alleviate
crowded conditions at Peter
Hobart Elementary. The
addition is two stories with
one classroom per story and
is designed to be consistent
with the architecture of the
existing building.
Millenium Apartments
PUD Major Amendment
Millennium at West End
Apartments will replace the
former Chili’s restaurant
building located on Wayzata
Blvd. The new 158 unit, market
rate apartment building will
be six stories with two levels
of underground structured
parking. Construction is
expected to begin this spring
and be completed by summer
2015.
Bin & Keg
CUP and Variance
A CUP was requested for this
restaurant concept serving
gourmet food, liquor, wine
and craft beer. The proposed
restaurant will be located in
the west side of Texa-Tonka
Mall, adjacent to the Yesmart.
It is approximately 5,140
square feet in area, and is
proposed to have 67 seats.
Fretham 14th Addition
Preliminary and Final Plat
A Preliminary and Final Plat
were requested to split an
existing single family lot
into two single family lots.
The property is zoned R-2
Single Family Residential,
and it is guided in the
Comprehensive Plan as Low
Density Residential. The
existing single family home
will be removed, and two new
single family homes will be
constructed.
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14
11
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 5
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
3 5 4 2
6
3
1
5
2
3
3 3
7
5
1
6
3
6 5
2
2
2
1
1 4
5
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10
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1
1
Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Conditional Use Permits
Planned Unit Developments
Rezonings
Subdivisions/Plats
Variances
Zoning Code Amendments
33 22 15 25 16 32 27 Total
ZONING AMENDMENTS
Education Facilities
Zoning Text Amendment
This amendment was in
response to the request by
the Yeshiva high school to
provide boarding to students.
The amendment was to permit
Education Facilities with
housing in the R-3 District
only in order to minimize the
number of properties within
the City that could utilize the
student housing option.
Burlington Coat Factory
Rezoning
The Burlington Coat Factory
property is a large commercial
area that is designated
for Office use in the City’s
Comprehensive Plan. In
order to have the zoning
designation be consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan
guidance the property was
rezoned to O-Office.
Mobile Medical Uses
Zoning Text Amendments
Staff recommended amending
the zoning ordinance to
create definitions for “Mobile
Use”, “Mobile Use-Food” and
“Mobile Use-Medical” and to
establish regulations for these
uses. The recommendations
also included establishing
a $50 fee for Mobile Uses
permits.
Parking in C1 & C2 Districts
Zoning Text Amendments
Zoning Code amendments
were proposed to: remove the
“Parking Business” land use
from the zoning ordinance;
remove the “Time Transfer
Station” land use from the
zoning ordinance; establish
“Parking Lots” as a permitted
with conditions use in the
multiple family residential
districts; remove “Transit
Stations” from the residential
districts; and there were
miscellaneous amendments
to clarify existing provisions
and remove unnecessary
language.
Miscellaneous Zoning Text
Amendments
Staff requested several
amendments to the Zoning
Ordinance to clarify such items
as definitions; processing
comprehensive plan
amendments and planning
applications concurrently;
fence height in the front
yard; front yard setbacks in
commercial zoning districts;
compact parking dimensions;
and allowing outdoor seating
with food and beverage
service in the Business Park
zoning district.
Annual Applications Reviewed
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 6
STUDY SESSION
TOPICS
• Designed Outdoor Recreation Area
• Business Park Zoning District
• Planned Unit Development Revisions
• Creating Vital Aging Communities
• Louisiana Station Area Planning
• Form-based Codes
The St. Louis Park Planning Commission is staffed by the Community Development Department.
Kevin Locke, Director
Meg McMonigal, Planning & Zoning Supervisor
Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator
Sean Walther, Senior Planner
Ryan Kelley, Associate Planner
Nancy Sells, Administrative Secretary
Jason Zimmerman, Planning Intern
2013 Planning Commission Members
Carl Robertson, Chair
Dennis Morris, Vice-Chair
Lynne Carper
Claudia Johnston-Madison
Robert Kramer
Richard Person
Larry Shapiro, School Board Representative
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 7
Planning Commission 2014 Work Plan
1. Review Planning Applications
Hear applications for Conditional Use Permits (CUPs), Planned Unit Developments (PUDs),
Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Rezoning requests, Preliminary Plats and Variances.
Hold public hearings, discuss planning impacts, and make recommendations to the City
Council.
2. Updates to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance
a. Miscellaneous Revisions – consider general revisions to the Zoning Ordinance for
clarification or addressing the overall organization of the ordinance.
b. Planned Unit Development (PUD) – consider revising the structure and provisions
of the City’s PUD zoning such as establishing PUDs as a separate zoning district.
c. Subdivision Ordinance – consider revisions providing clarification and addressing
the overall organization of the Ordinance.
3. Long Range Planning Studies
Community Development Staff will continue to work on a number of long range planning
studies. The Planning Commission will be involved in several ways, including being
regularly updated and informed as work moves forward, and will contribute by serving on
committees and task forces on various subjects.
a. Form-Based Code – The City received a Metropolitan Council Livable
Communities pre-development grant to develop a form-based code for the three
Southwest LRT Station Areas in St. Louis Park. A consultant has been hired to lead
the project, which is expected to be completed in May, 2015. A work group has been
formed which consists of residents, property owners and developers. Commissioner
Carl Robertson is also a member of this group. Several community workshops will
take place over the course of the project to gather input from residents, businesses
and property owners, as well as the Commission and City Council.
b. Southside of Excelsior Design Guidelines – LHB will lead a process of working
with the local community to create design guidelines for the south side of Excelsior
Boulevard between Quentin and France avenues. This commercial and residential
strip continues to receive development/redevelopment pressures. Developing
“Design Guidelines” has been a useful tool for the city and neighboring community
in anticipating these future changes. A Task Force will be assembled and will meet
4-6 times to provide information and input on the guidelines, as well as review and
evaluate the consultant’s proposals for the guidelines.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 8
c. SW LRT Planning – Continued work on SW LRT station area design and
development planning decisions; looking at priorities for the Capital Improvements
Plan.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 3)
Title: Planning Commission 2013 Annual Report & 2014 Work Plan Page 9
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Discussion Item: 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment
RECOMMENDED ACTION: No formal action required at this time. The purpose of this item
is to allow the proposed project to be presented to the Council and to receive feedback.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Staff wishes to present and receive feedback on Bader
Development’s proposal to redevelop the ASAP site at 3905 County Road 25 (CSAH 25) and
adjacent properties. Policy questions include: Is the Council willing to consider land use
reguidance and rezoning of these properties, considering that one building is eligible for the
National Register? Additionally, input is needed as to whether the EDA would be willing to
consider providing financial assistance to facilitate the redevelopment of these properties. As a
related matter, does the Council support a study of a reconfiguration of CSAH 25 from Belt Line
Blvd to France Ave., particularly in light of the anticipated SWLRT project and other
redevelopment pressure?
SUMMARY: Bader Development has option agreements to acquire 3907 & 3915 Highway 7,
3013 Glenhurst Ave. (the ASAP building and Battlefield Book Store), and 3914 & 3918 31st St.
(residential properties - See Attached Map) The developer proposes to remove the current
buildings and residences and replace them with a residential development that includes some
commercial space. The current development concept consists of approximately 150 apartment
units, including 15 affordable units, and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor office space along
with underground and surface parking. The proposed building would front on CSAH 25 and be
five stories tall.
Additionally, with Southwest LRT on the horizon, Staff would like to pursue the study of
reconfiguring CSAH 25 particularly due to its role in connections to the Beltline Station and
future redevelopment along this corridor.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: In order for the proposed project to be
financially feasible, Bader Development will likely apply for Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
assistance. The amount of financial assistance necessary for the project has yet to be determined.
VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to providing a well-maintained and
diverse housing stock.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion
Map of Area of Interest
Development Concept Plans
ASAP Building Supplemental Evaluation
Prepared by: Ryan Kelley, Associate Planner
Greg Hunt, Economic Development Coordinator
Reviewed by: Michele Schnitker, Housing Supervisor
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager and EDA Executive Director
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Page 2
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND:
Redevelopment Proposal
The proposed project is located in the Triangle Neighborhood bordered by CSAH 25 on the
north, 31st Street on the south, France Avenue on the east and Glenhurst Avenue on the west.
Bader Development has option agreements to acquire 3907 & 3915 Highway 7, 3013 Glenhurst,
and 3914 & 3918 31st St. (namely the ASAP printing and Battlefield [Book] Store and the
residential properties behind them). The developer proposes to remove the current buildings and
residences and replace them with a residential development that includes some commercial
space. The current development concept consists of approximately 150 apartment units,
including 15 affordable units, and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor office space along with
underground and surface parking. The proposed building would front on CSAH 25 and be 5
stories tall.
Together, the assembled properties create a redevelopment site of approximately 2.2 acres. The
subject properties are currently guided either Commercial and zoned C-2 or guided Medium
Density Residential and zoned R-4. In order for the proposed project to proceed, all properties
would need to be reguided and rezoned. A mixed use project of this scale will also require a
PUD.
In order for Bader to fully implement its proposed vision on the subject site, tax increment
assistance will likely be needed to defray a portion of the building demolition, site preparation,
and structured parking costs. The precise amount of financial assistance necessary for the
proposed project is currently undetermined.
ASAP Building
As part of the redevelopment proposal outlined above, the ASAP Building would be removed.
This property was studied as part of the “Phase I/Phase II Architecture History Investigation for
the Proposed Southwest Transitway Project, Hennepin County, Minnesota” in 2010. A
Supplemental Evaluation was subsequently conducted by the State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO) and “the building was evaluated for the National Register under Criterion C:
Architecture as an example of distinctive characteristics of type, period, and method of
construction of the Modern architecture style.” The Evaluation’s recommendation was that the
building is “recommended eligible for the National Register when it reaches 50 years of age.”
The building became 50 years old in 2013. This recommendation means that the property owner
has the discretion whether to pursue having the building listed on the National Register or not.
The current property owner has chosen to not pursue listing the building.
CSAH 25
City engineering and planning staff have discussed the potential for changes to CSAH 25 from a
highway character to that of a boulevard, such as Excelsior Boulevard. The intent is to slow
vehicular traffic in this area and provide a more attractive and safe environment for pedestrians
and bicyclists along the roadway as well as across. Staff would like to begin further study with
Hennepin County on possible scenarios for this corridor due to Southwest LRT on the horizon
and more recent development interest in the area. This corridor is a significant part of the
Beltline Station area, which is expected to experience intensified redevelopment pressure due to
SWLRT and provides opportunities for improved pedestrian and bicycle access to the Beltline
Station.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Page 3
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment
NEXT STEPS:
If the City Council/EDA were willing to entertain the Bader proposal, next steps may include the
following:
1. Further refinement of redevelopment concepts
2. Neighborhood meeting (s)
3. Traffic Study
4. Apply for land use reguidance, plat and rezoning
a. Staff review
b. Planning Commission
c. City Council
5. Apply for TIF assistance
a. Staff review
b. Study sessions
c. Planning Commission
d. EDA/City Council
Minneapolis
Proposed
Redevelopment
Area
ASAP
Building
Area of Interest
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 4
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
BUILDING CONCEPT
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 5
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
BUILDING SUMMARY
Building Summary
Site area: 97,300 SF / 2.2 ACRES
Building area: 176,300 SF
FAR: 1.81
GFAR: 25,800 SF/97,300 SF = 0.27
Units: 150
68 Dwelling units per acre
Setbacks = 20’ North, West, and East, 30’ to South
Parking Summary
Office = 56 spaces for 10,000 SF office
Residential Mix
50% 1B
40% 2B
10% 2B+
Required parking is 1 stall per bedroom = 225 stalls
Provided parking = 270 stalls
Total pequired parking = 281 stalls
Total provided parking = 326 stalls
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 6
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
SITE ACCESS - NOT TO SCALE
VEHICULAR ACCESS
LAKE
CALHOUN
HWY 7
PROPOSED PASSENGER RAIL
PROPOSED BUILDING
FRANCE AVE1/3 MILE
FUTURE RAIL STATION
MINNETONKA BLVD
NORTH
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 7
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
SITE PLAN - NOT TO SCALE
NORTH
BIKE STORAGE
WALK-UP UNITS
OFFICE AMENITY
POOL
OFFICE PARKING
WALK-UP UNITS
LOBBY
RESIDENTIAL PARKING BELOW
MN 7 SER
V
I
C
E
R
O
A
D
GLENHURST AVE SFRANCE AVE SWEST 31ST STREET
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 8
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
SITE SECTIONS
64’32’32’36’
64’49’32’
GLENHURST AVEFRANCE AVE
31ST ST
HWY 7
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 9
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
AERIAL VIEW
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 10
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
AERIAL VIEW
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 11
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
November 4, 2014
113-0098.0
BADER - HIGHWAY 7 & GLENHURST MIXED USE
AERIAL VIEW
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4)
Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 12
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 13
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 14
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 15
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 16
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 17
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 18
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 19
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 4) Title: East Triangle Neighborhood Redevelopment Page 20
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Discussion Item: 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Paid Parenting Leave
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None at this time. Council directed staff to set aside time at a
study session to discuss creating a paid parenting leave program.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Does the City Council wish to create a paid parenting leave
program for benefit earning staff?
BACKGROUND: Council requested staff to set up time at a study session for discussion of this
topic. To prepare for this meeting, staff has provided information on the current leave programs
offered to our employees.
Information has also been obtained from Brooklyn Park and St. Paul on their recently adopted
programs.
For discussion purposes, a draft policy for a paid parenting leave program has been developed.
If Council wishes to move forward, staff would need to incorporate any specific details the
Council desired and then bring a resolution for Council approval at an upcoming meeting.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Funds for a new policy would need to be
included in the 2015 budget projections. They have not been reserved at this time.
VISION CONSIDERATION: Not applicable.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion
Draft Parenting Leave Policy
Prepared by: Ali Timpone, HR Coordinator
Reviewed by: Nancy Deno, Deputy City Manager/HR Director
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 5) Page 2
Title: Paid Parenting Leave
DISCUSSION
What leave is currently available for St. Louis Park employees for birth, adoption or parenting?
Currently, any employee who experiences the birth or adoption of a child may qualify for the
federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if they have been employed for at least 12
months and have worked at least 1,250 hours. FMLA provides up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for
the birth or adoption of a child.
In addition, employees may qualify for Minnesota Parental Leave which provides up to 12 weeks
of unpaid leave to employees who experience a birth or adoption if they have worked at least
half time in the past twelve months. FMLA and MN Parental Leave run concurrently so the max
amount of guaranteed leave is 12 weeks.
The City also has a general leave of absence policy which allows employees to request additional
time off if the 12 weeks provided by FMLA and MN Parental Leave do not meet the employee’s
needs. Approval is not guaranteed, but determined on a case-by-case basis and in consideration
of business needs.
What do we currently offer for paid leave?
At this time, employees on our flex leave program (all employees except members of the IAFF
Firefighter union group) are required to use their accrued leave when on FMLA, MN Parental
Leave, and/or a general leave of absence, although employees can choose to use unpaid leave if
their balance is 80 hours or less. Fire union members have sick and vacation instead of flex leave
and must use accrued vacation, holiday, comp time, or unpaid leave when on FMLA, MN
Parental Leave, and/or a general leave of absence.
Birthing parents (a parent who gives birth, i.e. the mother) on our flex leave program may also
qualify for short term disability (STD), which provides 67% of non-exempt employee’s salary
and 100% of exempt employee’s salary (paid by the city) after a three week waiting period. Fire
union members do not qualify for short term disability as they have not adopted the flex leave
plan and are on a sick and vacation program. Short term disability payments require physician
certification and end when a doctor says an employee is physically able to return to work –
typically six weeks after birth for a normal delivery, eight weeks for Cesarean section birth.
See below illustration for a typical 12-week leave due to the birth or adoption of a baby:
Birth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
12 weeks for non-birthing parent and all Fire Union – must use accrued leave or unpaid leave.
Birthing parent 3 week
STD waiting period
Must use accrued leave or
unpaid leave.
Birthing parent STD leave
Typically add’l 3 weeks
Paid at 67% non-exempt
Paid at 100% exempt
Birthing parent additional FMLA/Parental leave available
Up to 12 weeks total
Must use accrued leave or unpaid leave.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 5) Page 3
Title: Paid Parenting Leave
What Other Cities Do?
The City of St. Paul recently announced a paid parenting leave program which provides four
weeks paid leave to a birthing parent and two weeks paid leave to other parents.
The City of Brooklyn Park approved a parenting leave program on October 6, 2014 that provides
one week of paid leave prior to FMLA, and another week of paid leave at the end of the 12-week
FMLA leave (two weeks total).
How do St. Louis Park leave programs compare?
The flex leave program developed in the late 90’s along with short term disability was ahead of
its time. Most cities had vacation and sick leave. The policy direction in our city was to move to
a PTO or flex leave program to allow employees the flexibility and independence to manage
their own leave. Leave accrual levels were re-set and severance payouts were adjusted. The
short term disability program was developed to help employees who may run into some longer
term illness or injury and this would provide up to six months assistance with salary in
accordance with medical documentation. Flex leave and short term disability were first
implemented with non-contractual employees and negotiated into each union upon their request
for change of leave program. Firefighters are the only group who chose to remain on the old
sick/vacation program without short term disability.
To compare leave programs with other cities, it would be important to review the type of leave
available (sick/vacation, PTO or other system) and also what type of leave accruals are allowed,
maximum levels of accrual, severance payout and other programs offered such as short term or
long term disability, along with waiting periods for eligibility.
What Would It Cost in SLP?
We estimate we would have an average of six parental leaves per year with this policy. The
chart below shows the approximate cost of a paid leave program if providing one, two or three
weeks of paid leave for the estimated six births in 2015.
1 wk paid leave 2 wks paid leave 3 wks paid leave
Estimated 6 births in 2015
(avg $1,360/person/wk) $8,160 $16,320 $24,480
Recommended Policy
It is recommended that if Council wishes to enact a paid parenting leave policy, the following
items be considered:
1. Purpose: To provide parents of all genders time to bond with newborn children in hopes
of setting children up for long term health and wellbeing.
2. Eligibility: It is recommended that eligibility for paid parenting leave mirror the
eligibility for MN Parental Leave (must have worked at least half time in previous 12
months) and the employee must be a regular benefit-earning employee of the City of St.
Louis Park.
3. Question: Should birthing and non-birthing parents be eligible for the same benefit upon
birth or placement for adoption?
4. Surrogate mothers and sperm donors would be excluded from coverage.
5. Beginning Paid Leave: It is recommended that paid leave must begin on the date of the
baby’s birth or placement for adoption. (Paid leave cannot be held for use later. It would
begin upon date of birth or adoption with no exceptions.)
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 5) Page 4
Title: Paid Parenting Leave
6. Amount of Pay: It is recommended that employees receive 100% of their regular hourly
base wage for regularly scheduled hours while on paid leave.
7. Question: How many weeks of paid leave does the City wish to provide? Three weeks
(21 days) seems logical as that is the waiting period for short term disability. Leave will
be expressed in calendar days to avoid confusion for employees who have different work
weeks.
8. End of Leave: It is recommended that paid leave must end (7, 14, or 21) calendar days
after the birth or placement for adoption. (Paid leave cannot be extended. It must end 7,
14, or 21 calendar days after date of birth or adoption with no exceptions.)
9. After Leave: Short term disability eligibility continues to apply to those eligible (Fire
Union is not eligible for short term disability as they are on sick and vacation); FMLA
and MN Parenting Leave eligibility continues to apply.
10. Multiple births or adoptions (twins, triplets, etc.), medical conditions, and/or other
circumstances will not extend the paid leave past three weeks.
11. The Paid Parental Leave policy will run concurrently with FMLA, MN Parental Leave,
and/or STD and does not extend the expiration dates of those programs.
See below illustration for how this recommended paid leave policy would apply:
Birth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
NEXT STEPS
• If Council wishes to move forward with a paid parenting leave policy, Human Resources
will prepare a resolution to update the Parenting Leave Policy in Section 11.12 of the
Personnel Manual. Draft policy language is attached.
• Implementation of this program for non-organized employees can be done by resolution,
and for Unions we are required to meet with each bargaining group and obtain approval.
Non-birthing parent/Fire 3 weeks
Paid at 100% by City Non-birthing parent and Fire Union – 9 weeks
must use accrued or unpaid leave.
Birthing parent 3 week
STD waiting period
Paid at 100% by City
Birthing parent STD leave
Typically add’l 3 weeks
Paid at 67% non-exempt
Paid at 100% exempt
Birthing parent additional FMLA/Parental leave available
Up to 12 weeks total
Must use accrued leave or unpaid leave.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 5) Page 5
Title: Paid Parenting Leave
DRAFT PARENTING LEAVE POLICY
11.12 Parenting Leave
It is the policy of the City of St. Louis Park to provide paid and unpaid parental leave
benefits to employees due to the birth of an employee’s child or the placement within an
employee’s home of an adopted child. To be eligible for parental leave, a benefit-earning
employee must have been employed by the City, working at least 20 hours per week for
at minimum of one continuous year (12 months).
Paid parental leave will be provided to regular benefit-earning employees who meet
eligibility requirements as described above, for childbirth or adoptions occurring on or
after January 1, 2015. Surrogate mothers and sperm or egg donors are excluded from
coverage. The paid parental leave benefit is 100% of the employee’s regular base wage
for regularly scheduled work hours for up to three weeks (21 calendar days) and must
begin on the date of the baby’s birth or placement for adoption. Multiple births or
adoptions (i.e., twins, triplets), medical conditions, and/or other circumstances will not
increase length of paid leave granted. For the purpose of this benefit, holidays will be
counted as a regular scheduled work day and will be included in the 21 calendar day
count. For birthing parents, paid parental leave will run concurrently with short term
disability coverage (Section 10) and FMLA.
Unpaid parental leave will also be provided to eligible employees in accordance with the
MN Parental Leave Act. Unpaid parental leave must be taken within 12 months of the
birth or adoption and eligible employees can choose when the leave will begin. The
maximum amount of parental leave (including both paid and unpaid leave) is twelve
weeks.
Eligible employees anticipating paid or unpaid parenting leave must submit a written
request to Human Resources before the anticipated birth or adoption of the child
whenever possible. Parental leave (both paid and unpaid) and FMLA will run
concurrently. In no event will the combination of FMLA and parental leave exceed
twelve weeks duration. The employee shall be returned to the position that the employee
vacated at the commencement of leave or to a position of like status and pay.
For leaves requiring more than twelve weeks for pregnancy, delivery and postpartum
recuperation, an additional leave of absence without pay may be granted in accordance
with Section 11.1 on the basis that such action is taken in the best interest of the City.
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Written Report: 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Bee Safe Community
RECOMMENDED ACTION: No action at this time. At the request of the Council staff
prepared this report to provide background on declaring the City of St. Louis Park as a Bee Safe
Community. Please inform staff of any questions or concerns you might have and/or whether
you would like to discuss this at a study session. Absent that, staff is planning on bringing the
attached resolution to the November 17 meeting declaring the city as a Bee Safe Community
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Is the City Council supportive of declaring the City of St. Louis
Park as a Bee-Safe community by providing pollinator areas, educating the public on the benefits
of such areas, and passing a resolution in support of these efforts?
SUMMARY: Recent research has found that native and non-native bee (i.e. honeybees)
populations, and other pollinator populations, have been declining. This is due to a number of
factors, including pervasive insecticide use, habitat loss, pathogens, and diseases. The City of St.
Louis Park has been using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices for over 15 years related
to grass and turf and only chemically treats selected park turf areas, such as ball fields and high
use parks, to reduce the wear and tear on the turf. A majority of mowed areas in the City park
system are left untreated and provide large areas of dandelion and white clover growths which
are ideal early spring plants for pollinators (considered “pollinator areas”). Specific parks can be
deemed Bee Safe by not spraying chemicals and providing a diversity of plants for pollinators.
Since we are already consciously using few chemicals, this can be done without any changes to
current maintenance policies, procedures and protocol.
By declaring the City of St. Louis Park as Bee-Safe, the City would be actively supporting and
providing pollinator areas and opportunities throughout our park system and City-owned
properties (open space and random lots) and educating the public on the benefits of providing
such areas.
FINANCIAL OR BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Any costs associated with declaring the
City Bee Friendly are negligible.
VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a leader in environmental
stewardship. We will increase environmental consciousness and responsibility in all areas of city
business.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion
Proposed Bee Safe Parks
Resolution
Prepared by: Jim Vaughan, Environmental Coordinator
Reviewed by: Cindy Walsh, Director of Operations and Recreation
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 6) Page 2
Title: Bee Safe Community
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND: Pesticides, namely insecticides, have traditionally been applied onto plants
and crops. This has allowed for the insecticides to weather and wash away. Neonicotinoid
pesticides are a new class of systematic insecticides chemically related to nicotine. The name
literally means “new nicotine-like insecticides”. Neonicotinoids are also used in turf to help
control a number of insect pests, most importantly grubs. They work by "dissolving" into the
irrigation water or rain, which is then taken up by the plant and becomes part of the leaf and root
tissue. This ensures that any insect munching on the tissues of the grass gets a lethal dose, and
the lawn stays green.
Bee advocates argue that Neonicotinoids are responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder. CCD is
an event where large populations of the bee colony, particularly the worker bees, disappear or die
off. Without the worker bees, the queen and brood will eventually exhaust the honey reserve and
kill off the remaining bees.
Experts in this area believe the decline in bees is due to a number of interacting factors, including
reduction in stable food sources, introduction of bee diseases and parasites, and the irresponsible
use of insecticides. We can make efforts to change some of these factors in hope of increasing
bee populations.
PRESENT CONSIDERATIONS: Currently the City of St. Louis Park contracts with Phillip's
Tree Care, LLC. for any herbicide treatments. Philip’s Tree Care, LLC uses Glyphosate and
Millennium herbicides, not neonicotinoids. The chemicals used by Phillip’s are not insecticides
and have been determined safe for public use by the EPA.
The City’s Park Maintenance division has been using Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
practices for over 15 years related to grass and turf, only chemically treating (currently via
Phillip’s Tree Care, LLC) selected high-use park turf areas, such as ball fields and high use parks
(i.e. Oak Hill) to reduce the wear and tear on the turf. A majority of mowed areas in City park
system are left untreated and retain and provide large areas of dandelion and white clover
growths which are ideal early spring plants for pollinators (considered “pollinator areas”).
Specific (and many if so desired) parks can easily be deemed Bee-Friendly (no spraying of
chemicals and providing a diversity of plants for pollinators) without any changes to current
maintenance policies, procedures and protocol.
The City currently has and continues to create numerous raingardens, prairie areas, wildflower
buffer strips (along lakes and wooded areas), perennial gardens and many residential native
landscapes. The City has also been successful in purchasing plants and trees that have not been
treated with Neonicotinoids for landscape needs. These purchased plants and trees are put into
perennial gardens, wildflower areas, buffer strips, raingardens, boulevards and other landscapes.
NEXT STEPS: Adopt a Bee-Safe City Resolution, similar to one recently adopted in
Shorewood, Minnesota. The Bee-Safe City Resolution contains the following:
1. Turn public spaces into Bee-Safe areas (proposed parks are Westwood Hills Nature Center,
Fern Hill, Minikahda Vista, Twin Lakes, Shelard, Browndale, Bass Lake Preserve and
Lamplighter).
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 6) Page 3
Title: Bee Safe Community
2. Plant pesticide-free flowers.
3. No Spraying of the Bee Food (pollinator plants) -not on it, not near it.
4. Educate all citizens of St. Louis Park about bees: their gifts and needs.
5. Begin to implement this resolution in spring of 2015.
6. Publish a “Bee-Safe City Progress Report” each spring.
Unless staff hears differently, staff will present a Bee-Safe City Resolution at the November 17
City Council meeting.
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Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 6)
Title: Bee Safe Community
Page 4
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 6) Page 5
Title: Bee Safe Community
RESOLUTION NO. 14-_____
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING "BEE-SAFE"
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
WHEREAS, bees and other pollinators are integral to a wide diversity of essential foods
including fruit, nuts, and vegetables; and
WHEREAS, native bees and honeybees are threatened due to habitat loss, pesticide use,
pathogens and parasites; and
WHEREAS, recent research suggests that there is a link between pesticides that contain
neonicotinoids and the die-off of plant pollinators, including honeybees, native bees, butterflies,
moths, and other insects; and
WHEREAS, neonicotinoids are synthetic chemical insecticides that are similar in
structure and action to nicotine, a naturally occurring plant compound; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it is in the public interest and consistent with the
City’s Vision of Environmental Stewardship for the City to demonstrate its commitment to a safe
and healthy community environment through the implementation of pest management practices
in the maintenance of the city parks, open spaces and city property.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of St. Louis
Park, Minnesota, that:
1. The City shall undertake its best efforts to become a Bee-Safe City by undertaking
best management practices in the use of plantings and pesticides in all public places within the
City.
2. The City shall refrain from the use of systemic pesticides on St. Louis Park City
property including pesticides from the neonicotinoid family.
3. The City shall undertake its best efforts to prescribe and use plant material favorable
to bees and other pollinators in the City's public spaces.
4. The City shall designate Bee-Safe areas (Westwood Hills Nature Center, Bass Lake
Preserve, Shelard Park, Fern Hill Park, Lamplighter Park, Twin Lakes Park, Minikahda Vista
Park and Browndale Park) in which future City plantings are free from systemic pesticides
including neonicotinoids.
5. The City shall undertake best efforts to communicate to St. Louis Park residents the
importance of creating and maintaining a pollinator-friendly habitat.
Reviewed for Administration: Adopted by the City Council November 17, 2014
City Manager Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Written Report: 7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Update on Solid Waste Program Initiatives
RECOMMENDED ACTION: No formal action at this time. The purpose of this report is to
update Council on progress being made toward a multi-family recycling program and policy
recommendations relative to polystyrene containers and plastic bags.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Does Council support the idea of staff first defining solid waste
goals and objectives associated with polystyrene and single-use plastic bags to determine what
course of action is best for the City?
SUMMARY: At the June 23, 2014 Study Session, staff provided Council an update on the Solid
Waste Program which included recommended options for increasing multi-family recycling and
an update on the City of Minneapolis’ Environmentally Preferable Packaging Ordinance which
bans the use of polystyrene containers in food establishments. Council supported the multi-
family recycling program recommendations. The Council also directed staff to investigate
required next steps to institute a similar to Minneapolis on polystyrene containers, and research if
the City should consider a ban on plastic bags. Staff also discussed needing to update the Solid
Waste Ordinance (Chapter 22).
Multi-Family Recycling: The multi-family recycling work group met to move forward with
implementing recommendations supported by Council. Necessary ordinance revisions will be
presented to Council in January.
Polystyrene/Plastic Bags: Staff will prepare a plan with draft goals, recommendations, and a
public education plan to discuss with Council in January 2015. Possible plan actions include:
• Quantifying current use of polystyrene food containers in the City.
• Identifying reasons for polystyrene use and barriers to using alternative products.
• Identifying alternative products in place of polystyrene.
• Identifying current collection points for plastic bag recycling in the City.
• Researching current incentives for reusable bags at retailers.
• Determining assistance outlets for businesses to procure recyclable/compostable products.
As noted later in this report, prior to bringing this to the Council in January staff will be doing
further research on the use of polystyrene packaging in the community.
VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a leader in environmental
stewardship and will increase environmental consciousness and responsibility in all areas of city
business.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion
Attachment 1: MPCA Staff Input
Prepared by: Kala Fisher, Solid Waste Program Coordinator
Reviewed by: Scott Merkley, Public Works Services Manager
Mark Hanson, Public Works Superintendent
Cindy Walsh, Director of Operations and Recreation
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 7) Page 2
Title: Update on Solid Waste Program Initiatives
DISCUSSION
Multi-Family Recycling:
At the June 23, 2014 Study Session, Council supported staff’s multi-family recycling
recommendations. The Multi-family recycling work group recently met to identify next steps
necessary to move forward with implementation of Council supported recommendations. The
work group identified that the first priority is to address revisions in the Solid Waste Ordinance.
Staff is working with the Inspection’s Department to draft proposed Ordinance revisions to
discuss with Council in January 2015.
Polystyrene and Plastic Bag Initiative:
Local and National Bans
Staff is continuing to monitor the implementation of the City of Minneapolis’ Packaging
Ordinance as they work with the packaging industry, restaurant industry, and businesses to
clarify packaging definitions, reasonable alternatives and exceptions.
In September, California signed SB270 which prohibits single-use carry-out bags and requires a
fee for recycled paper bags at certain retail stores in the state by July 1, 2015 and expanding to
additional retail establishments in 2016.
MPCA Input
Staff has sought guidance from the MPCA in regard to polystyrene and plastic bag initiatives for
the City. MPCA is encouraging City staff to first define the solid waste goals and objectives
regarding these products in order to draft appropriate policies for the City. MPCA suggested that
product bans could be considered depending upon the needs and goals of the City. Policies, such
as product bans, may be used as a means or approach to reaching the end goal, but should not
necessarily be the end goal. MPCA provided some potential goals and policy approaches
including recycling/organics, waste reduction, litter management, consumer health, and
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (see Attachment 1).
Next Steps and Timeline
In addition to continuing to monitor local and national ban developments, staff has identified the
following actions to shape recommended goals, policy, and public education plan:
1. Survey food establishments to determine those using non-recyclable and non-reusable
packaging. Determine reasons for use of this packaging (cost, staff time unavailable for
new product research, unaware of other options) and identify alternatives. Nov/Dec 2014
2. Identify retail locations with plastic bag recycling and/or reusable bag incentives, as well
as potential locations to add such recycling and/or incentives. Nov/Dec 2014
3. Identify food establishments eligible to use City contracted collection service for Organic
Waste and create communication plan to educate businesses on options. Dec 2014
4. Draft an education plan to support goals including identifying technical assistance outlets
that businesses may use in the procurement of recyclable or compostable products for
food service. Dec 2014
5. Ordinance changes (existing collection program & multi-family updates). Jan 2015
6. Draft proposed goals for polystyrene and plastic bag initiate. Jan 2015
7. Discuss issue with Environment and Sustainability Commission. Time yet to be
determined
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 7) Page 3
Title: Update on Solid Waste Program Initiatives
ATTACHMENT 1
October 29, 2014 correspondence from Emily Barker, MPCA
Staff met with Emily Barker, Sustainable Materials Management Unit, MPCA in October to
request input on the polystyrene and plastic bags initiative. Ms. Barker provided the following
for consideration in the discussion.
“Thank you for the opportunity to provide input in the discussion on polystyrene and plastic
bags in St. Louis Park. The Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan includes
aggressive objectives for waste reduction, recycling, and organics diversion, and the MPCA
supports efforts which seek to increase resource conservation, reduce waste generation, and
minimize the amount of materials being disposed.
Determining if a product ban is appropriate requires defining the reasons for and policy goals
of a potential ban. These goals will depend on the needs and desires of a specific community,
and may include increasing recycling, reducing trash, minimizing litter, addressing health or
toxicity concerns, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or assessing the overall environmental
“footprint” of a particular product. Different goals are likely to result in different strategies
and policies regarding the types of materials being addressed. Potential goals and
corresponding guidance or policy approaches might include:
Increasing recycling/composting and reducing trash – promote materials which can
be readily recycled in local curbside programs, encourage retailers to collect recyclable
materials not accepted in curbside programs, provide city sponsored collection events or
ongoing programs for recyclable materials not accepted in curbside programs, promote
the use of reusable options in place of single-use products, discourage materials which
can only be disposed.
Minimizing litter – discourage materials which often end up as litter (especially items
that are particularly problematic for local ecosystems, such as lakes and wetlands),
provide adequate recycling and trash collection in outdoor public spaces, encourage
retailers to provide recycling containers for their customers when appropriate.
Addressing health or toxicity concerns – discourage products which use toxic
chemicals in their production or which may expose end users to harmful substances.
Reducing greenhouse emissions – promote materials which generate lower emissions
in production, transportation, and disposal (varies with disposal method).
Assessing the overall environmental “footprint” of a particular product – while some of
the above reasons may be easy to define and quantify, such as the volume or frequency of a
particular product found as litter, determining which products are environmentally preferable
from a life cycle perspective is not always straightforward, especially with packaging
materials. Addressing the entire life cycle of a product, which includes all of the reasons
above as well as many others, will give a more accurate picture of the product’s overall
environmental impacts. This can take time, but many resources are available to help inform
decision makers.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 7) Page 4
Title: Update on Solid Waste Program Initiatives
St. Louis Park has a robust and growing residential recycling program, including access to
curbside organics collection. Allowing small businesses to take advantage of those collection
programs, as St. Louis Park has, can greatly decrease the amount of materials that are
disposed. Additionally, providing technical assistance to businesses on product procurement
and solid waste options can greatly increase the amount of materials that are recycled or
composted.
As St. Louis Park continues the discussion on polystyrene and plastic bags, the MPCA would
encourage staff to first define the solid waste goals and objectives associated with those
products, and then adopt appropriate policies to support those efforts.”
Meeting: Study Session
Meeting Date: November 10, 2014
Written Report: 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE: Southwest LRT Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION: No formal action at this time. Discussion on SWLRT is
scheduled for the next City Council Study Session. In the meantime, please contact staff with
any questions you might have.
POLICY CONSIDERATION: Nothing specific at this time.
SUMMARY: Staff continues to work on a number of items related to the SWLRT project. This
update is to provide information on various processes including upcoming schedule items,
committee appointments, and LRCIs (Locally Requested Capital Investments).
• Attached is a schedule pertaining more specifically to St. Louis Park until the end of the
year. The Southwest Project Office (SPO) would like cities to commit to the funding of
the design of the various LRCIs by the end of the year.
• Additional information on LRCIs is attached
• The SPO is restarting the Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) and Business Advisory
Committee (BAC) for the next two year period and are looking for three CAC members
and two BAC members from St. Louis Park. SPO is requesting appointments by the end
of the year. Additional information is attached.
NEXT STEPS: Continued discussion at the November 24th and December 8th City Council
Study Sessions.
VISION CONSIDERATION: St. Louis Park is committed to being a connected and engaged
community.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Discussion
Prepared by: Meg J. McMonigal, Planning and Zoning Supervisor
Reviewed by: Kevin Locke, Community Development Director
Approved by: Tom Harmening, City Manager
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 8) Page 2
Title: Southwest LRT Update
DISCUSSION
Schedule
Time Period Milestone
Nov 24 and Dec 8 City Council Study Sessions – continued discussion
on LRCIs
Q4 2014
Master Funding Agreement (MFA) - This agreement
does not commit any funds, but rather it sets out a
process for transferring funds when approved to do so by
Met Council and the City.
Q4 2014 and Q1 2015 Subordinate Funding Agreement (SFA) – These
agreements are required for individual LRCI items.
They will lay out the scope of the LRCI, and provide a
method of payment for the design and environmental
work to be completed by Met Council and paid for by
the city or other agency. Prior to construction if the
city decides to go forward with a LRCI and pay for a
portion or all of it, another SFA will be necessary.
Q4 2014 CAC and BAC appointments – kickoff meeting in
January
Q1 2015 Conduct environmental reviews on LRCIs
March 2015 Public Outreach on Station designs
SPO Project Schedule
Q1 2015 Advanced Design Begins
Sept 2015 60% Engineering Plans
Q4 2015
Record of Decision (ROD)
FTA approval to enter Engineering
Q2 2016
Construction bids
New Starts Application for FFGA
Q4 2016 Full Funding Grant Agreement (FTA approval)
2016 - 2018 Heavy Construction
2019 Revenue Operation
The Preliminary Design Plans can be found at www.stlouispark.org/webfiles/file/community-
dev/swlrt_plans.pdf.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 8) Page 3
Title: Southwest LRT Update
Locally Requested Capital Improvements:
The City will need to commit to covering design and environmental costs for the LRCIs we wish
to pursue. Agreements will need to be in place by early 2015. Below is the list of the city’s
LRCIs with a NEW construction cost estimate and a design cost estimate.
The new cost estimates for Design purposes are based on construction cost only estimates for
the current year. They do not include design costs, or contingencies or adjustments for
construction in 2017-18, permits, etc.
LRCI Total Project
Expenditure
Opening day
(estimated)
Constr. Cost
estimating
Design &
Environmental
costs
New
Design
Cost
Estimate
New
Environ-
mental
Analysis
Cost
Estimate
Level of
Schedule
Impact
1. Grade separated trail
crossing at Wooddale
$3.5 m $2,300,000 $230,000 $46,000 1B
2. Xenwood Underpass thru
rail/lrt/trail corridor only
(city would be responsible
for extending street to
underpass)
$5.3 – 9 m $3,500,000 $350,000 $170,000 1B
3. Grade separated trail
crossing at Beltline
$775,000 $500,000 $50,000 $10,000 1B
4. Beltline Blvd underpass $17-23 m $11,500,000 $1,150,000 $345,000 1A
5. Circulation & access
improvements at Beltline
Station*
$1.5 m $300,000* $30,000 $9,000 1A
6. A commitment to
structured parking at
Beltline Park & Ride
No estimates; assumed to be covered in Joint Development
project
2
7. Ped/Bike Connection to
Methodist Hospital from
Lou Ave station
No estimates; SWLRT not intending to make improvements
off of the LRT corridor.
1A
8. Streetscape and
engineering plans to
accommodate
development in
accordance with TSAAP
plans
No estimates; These issues will be addressed during the
Advanced Design stage of the SWLRT design process.
Changed
to level 2
*Note: LRCI 6 entails some property acquisitions that are not included in the construction estimate. The
acquisition is needed for the extension of Lynn Ave to a new “backage” road at the Beltline station.
Study Session Meeting of November 10, 2014 (Item No. 8) Page 4
Title: Southwest LRT Update
CAC and BAC Appointments
The CAC and BAC will be renewed for a two-year period, beginning in 2015. The purposes of
the committees are as follows:
• Serve as a voice for the community
• Advise Corridor Management and Community Works Steering Committees
• Provide input on design: stations, public art, operation and maintenance facility, bike,
pedestrian, and park-and-ride facilities
• Identify impacts related to construction and operation of the light rail line
• Identify strategies to mitigate construction impacts
• Service as information resource and liaison to the community
St. Louis Park has been asked to appoint three members to the CAC and two members to the
BAC. Previous members on the committees were:
CAC BAC
Bob Tift Brad Bakken, Beltline
Bill James Curt Rahmen, Wooddale
Matt Flory Duane Spiegel, Louisiana
Alternates:
Kathryn Kottke
Claudia Johnston-Madison
Julie Williams
Nominations were accepted in 2012 for these committees. At a future study session, staff will
bring forth this item for discussion.