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Home My WebLink About2025/04/16 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - Study Session Planning commission April 16, 2025 6:00 p.m. 1 Planning commission Study Session Members present: Jim Beneke, Mia Divecha, Matt Eckholm, Sylvie Hyman, Jan Youngquist, Tom Weber, John Flanagan Members absent: Estella Hughes (youth member) Staff present: Sean Walther and Katelyn Champoux Mr. Walther noted upcoming Visioning 4.0 training for those interested in hosting an engagement session with neighbors. He asked commissioners to host a session and invite others to participate in trainings to be held on May 1 and May 8. He added that there are both in-person and virtual options. Mr. Walther also shared a form to be filled out related to any proposed changes or additions to the planning commission work plan. A majority of the commission would need to recommend the change and staff can complete the paperwork on their behalf for council consideration. 1. Zoning Code Update phase 2 consensus workshop The city council adopted the zoning code updates related to expanded housing options on March 3, 2025, and the ordinance went into effect on March 28, 2025. The zoning code audit, preparation, and review of the new code were two-year efforts. On March 19, 2025, staff facilitated a focused conversation to reflect on this process and learn from commissioners’ experiences as the city moves forward with phase two of the zoning code update. On April 16, Mr. Walther facilitated a consensus workshop regarding the second phase of the zoning code update. Planning commissioners discussed how the city can better reflect and address the strategic priorities in the remaining zoning code updates and the process. Prior to this discussion, planning commissioners reviewed the city’s current strategic priorities and the proposed work plan for phase two. Mr. Walther posed this question to the planning commission for the workshop discussion: “How can the zoning standards better align with the city’s strategic priorities .” Mr. Walther facilitated a consensus workshop with the planning commission and conducted a brainstorming exercise with the commissioners. He asked them to capture their ideas in 3- 5 words per card related to the question posed to the commissioners. Docusign Envelope ID: 96AA918D-97DB-46F4-87A1-BF84131D209B Official minutes Planning commission April 16, 2025 2 Commissioners’ ideas were shared with the group in successive rounds, and had discussion after each set of ideas was shared. Ideas were organized into categories, and eventually each category was named. Commissioner Hyman asked for clarification about guiding big-box commercial to structured parking. Commissioner Eckholm stated he was referring to guiding big box commercial developments to create two stories vs. one story and putting parking under the store, similar to Ikea at Mall of America, while specifically encouraging parking to remain in a smaller area. Chair Divecha asked if bike lanes are part of zoning standards. Mr. Walther stated bike lanes can be part of zoning standards but are more often addressed in subdivision standards. Commissioner Flanagan added that biking could be part of signage. Commissioner Eckholm noted sites that are so large that they are a PUD, such as at the Terasa development, may also include biking within the zoning. Commissioner Eckholm asked what slow streets are. Chair Divecha stated she did not know how to describe them exactly, however, pointed to streets in San Francisco that are designed to be slow streets either during special events or permanently, and added that she was not sure if slow streets represent a zoning code within an area. She noted this concept would be similar to Open Streets events in Minneapolis for pedestrians. Commissioner Eckholm asked where slow streets would be appropriate in St. Louis Park. Commissioner Weber stated possibly near Dakota Park, where bollards could be set up for a more pedestrian-friendly area. Commissioner Hyman stated she would like to see slow streets on Excelsior, near the Trader Joe’s area. Chair Divecha noted she sees many of the planning commission’s comments pointing to the strategic priorities vs. the zoning standards. Commissioner Weber noted that prioritizing small commercial businesses should be a priority. Chair Divecha agreed and added that community gathering hubs would be another priority to consider, especially with walkability as the goal. Commissioner Hyman stated there should also be a priority on publicly accessible green space. Commissioner Eckholm agreed and added that de-emphasis on the color green and more emphasis on native plants and pollinators should be the goal. Docusign Envelope ID: 96AA918D-97DB-46F4-87A1-BF84131D209B Official minutes Planning commission April 16, 2025 3 During the discussion, 8 categories emerged, and Mr. Walther and the commissioners placed the comments and ideas under each heading noted below: Parking reform • Eliminate parking mandates • Reduce land used for parking lots • Eliminate parking minimums • Reduce impervious surfaces • Charge $$ for city parking • Guide big box commercial to structured parking Prioritize small commercial • Neighborhood commercial nodes • Small business zones • Increase small commercial corners • Caps on corporate chains • Promote neighborhood commercial • Survey residents whether small corner businesses in neighborhoods might be acceptable • Allow grocery anywhere it does not already exist within ¼ mile of housing • Less is more • Can zoning affect personal ownership rate • Is there a way to effect corporate vs. personal ownership of property Prioritize pedestrian-oriented development • No buildings with backs to the street – no focus on parking lot • Eliminate/ban drive-thrus in smaller/medium commercial areas • Limit construction of drive-thrus and Big Box Stores • Drive-thru moratorium • Require walkable facades for businesses • Development that calms traffic Green space to eco-space • Encouragement of native plant landscaping • Get rid of turf • Landscaping • Limit construction of fences/walls (use useful things instead) • Sustainability standards • Incorporate accessibility requirements in green space requirements Complete streets • Sidewalk enhancement/study • Encourage bike lanes • Park Place Blvd – Calming – more walkable west of West End Docusign Envelope ID: 96AA918D-97DB-46F4-87A1-BF84131D209B Official minutes Planning commission April 16, 2025 4 • Study requirements for bicycle and pedestrian-friendly development • Make safe routes to connect people to businesses on foot or by bike • Bikeway-specific signage • Bike facilities beyond bike parking • Make it safer to bike in SLP • Identify high-risk pedestrian crossings – learn and change • Connect residents to commercial without needing a car Adaptive reuse • Rethink districts to match how people work and live in 2025 • Promote office conversions • Small business space in mixed-use buildings • Allow residential in commercial • Utilize business districts more for housing • Revisit what would help home businesses Support balanced mobility options • Establish a standing transportation commission • People first, then transit, bikes, CARS LAST • Transit frequency • Connectivity to transit for bikes/peds • Density near transit stops/stations Develop community gathering hubs • Patios/outdoor gathering spaces • City “parklets” on public streets • “Slow streets” districts • Promote neighborhood community locations • Coffee shop in every precinct • Map distance from home to park, library, café • Better incentives for community participation in surveys Mr. Walther thanked the planning commission for their work and noted the next meeting will be a study session on May 7 at 6 p.m. 2. Adjournment – 7:45 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Sean Walther, liaison Mia Divecha, chair member Docusign Envelope ID: 96AA918D-97DB-46F4-87A1-BF84131D209B