Project Proposal

As part of CRC's attempts to modernize its community engagement, it is essential to provide training to community members about the processes of CRC as well as existing city engagement opportunities and how decisions are made in our neighborhoods. A comprehensive orientation on community process needs to be established as a user friendly resource on the CRC website, and supplemented by hosting community participation courses through the library.

Board Sponsor

Shevek McKee, 9/28/2020

Location

George Latimer Central Library?

How does this fit the CRC Mission?

Well developed community orientation materials will help close the opportunity gap in the community engagement process.

What are the first steps or goals to work on?

Find funding, develop training program specific to District 17 aimed at both basic and advanced community participation. Complete outline of orientation parameters (aka CRC Member 101).

Schedule

Ongoing, but version one to be executed throughout 2021.

Other local organizations or government departments that may support this project?

Saint Paul Public Library

What community engagement will be involved?

Ongoing special meetings (Library courses), otherwise the work will be mostly research and development of online resources on the CRC website.

Project budget

$15,000-$25,000. Moderate staff time will likely be required.

Specific funding source plan?

A couple grants are being considered.

Additional resources needed?

CRC records on past projects. Someone to facilitate the courses.

Submit a project idea to the CRC!

Project Idea

Bring together downtown small businesses, specifically targeting storefront businesses that might share needs and issues, to discuss the neighborhoods strengths and weaknesses. The goal of the event is to provide value to downtown businesses by finding common goals and working together to achieve them.

Prepared by

Shevek McKee, 8/9/2020

Location

All of downtown.

How does this fit the CRC Mission?

Helping foster a more retail friendly environment in the community with increase vibrancy.

What are the first steps to take?

Gather business and contact information, administer a survey to find likely common goals and plan next steps.

Estimated Schedule

Three Months.

Other organizations that might support this project?

Visit Saint Paul, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Alliance, City PED

What community engagement do you think would be involved?

Discussion at regularly scheduled CRC meetings
Online Survey/Petition
Ongoing Special Meetings

Estimated project budget

< $2,500

Specific funding source idea?

Not at this time.

Additional Info

Shevek has a fairly comprehensive list of businesses at https://dtstp.org/projects/storefronts/

Project Proposal

Make sure CRC is prepared to properly contribute to the development of the Downtown Development Plan. This involves preparing notes from the 2019 community forums in a presentable way, and being ready to actively participate in whatever workgroup is established to prepare the plan.

Board Sponsor

Shevek McKee, 11/9/2019

Location

N/A

How does this fit the CRC Mission?

It is my understanding that the development of such a plan is one of the mandates of the District Council system. It is the embodiment of our mission, really.

What actions have already been taken?

Several community forums lead by Tabitha Benci-DeRango.

What are the next steps to take?

Go through notes from forums. Keep in touch with Saint Paul PED about next steps.

What are the projects short term goals?

Be prepared for Downtown Development Plan workgroup when it is formed.

What are the projects long term goals?

Produce an updated Downtown Development Plan to file with the City.

Schedule

Expected to take somewhere between one and two years (According to Kady Dadlez of PED at Public Realm meeting on 11/7/19)

Other organizations being asked to support this project?

Saint Paul PED, likely: Downtown Alliance, Chamber of Commerce?, Catholic Charities?, other city departments

What community engagement will be involved?

Discussion at regularly scheduled CRC meetings

Project budget

Money has already been spent on Community Forums. Moderate staff time will likely be required.

Specific funding source plan?

not sure

Additional resources needed?

Forum notes. Familiarization with existing DDP and supporting documents.

Additional Info

DDP and other D17 plans can be found on city's website here: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/planning-economic-development/planning/neighborhood-plans.

Downtown Development Strategy

Greater Lowertown Master Plan

Submit a project idea to the CRC!

Committee leads community engagement activities that focus on City plans; reviews downtown development projects to ensure benefit, sensitivity and compatibility with our downtown community and vitality; and makes recommendations on proposed changes related to zoning.

(NOTE: This was formerly named the Development Review Committee, and this new committee name is intended to better reflect the scope of the committee’s work.)

• Meetings:  As needed on the Third Thursday of the month at 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

For more information about the committee, please contact the CRC Executive Director. 

Meeting Agendas and Notes

Thursday, September 19, 2024: Planning and Zoning Committee, 9-10:30 a.m. 

Agenda:

• Zoning overview: City staff will provide an overview of the City's roles in zoning, focusing primarily on downtown (B4 and B5 zoning districts).
• Variance request to allow portions of the Allen Building, 287 East 6th Street, to be converted to secure storage: 
  • The building is zoned B5, Central Business Services: (link to City Code Sec. 66.417)
  • Storage facility, rental is a permitted use, and it must be within a mixed-use building, may only take up 15 percent of the building, and cannot be located on the first floor (link to City Code Sec. 65.785).
  • A Zoning Variance Application has been submitted by GB Realty Acquisitions, LLC (this will be considered by the City Board of Zoning Appeals on Monday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m., and CRC may make a recommendation regarding the request). The applicant is seeking to allow up to 85 percent of the building to be used as Storage facility, rental.

  • Here is a presentation that provides details on the company that would be purchasing and renovating the building: View Presentation

Updates:

• The CRC Planning and Zoning Committee made no recommendation on this request at the Sept. 19 meeting.
• The CRC Board of Directors voted to recommend support for the variance request on Sept. 24. 
• The City of Saint Paul Board of Zoning Appeals voted to reject this variance request on Sept. 30.
• The applicant may appeal that decision. More information will be provided if that occurs.

Thursday, May 16, 2024: Planning and Zoning Committee, 9-10:30 a.m. 

Agenda:

• Mary Hall Renovation: The CapitolRiver Council (CRC) Planning and Zoning Committee will meet to review and discuss plans to renovate Mary Hall, 438 Dorothy Day Place, via Zoom. The completed project will provide 88 deeply affordable supportive housing units, including 17 units for veterans who are currently experiencing homelessness. Members of the development team include Brian Call, Development Associate, Landon Group, and other staff from Landon Group and Aeon.

• Join Zoom Meeting

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• November 2022:
  • Purple Line Station Area Planning -- NEOO Partners representatives Jasmine Carey and Jerome Benner are seeking input recruiting volunteers to participate in working groups for the Purple Line BRT project. 
  • Potential Block Nurse Program for Downtown -- Downtown is one of only two Saint Paul neighborhoods that lack a program that coordinates services for seniors through Trellis, the Twin Cities Area Agency on Aging. Options to establish such a program could be to collaborate with an organization that serves one or more adjacent neighborhoods, or to start a new organization for that purpose. A handbook is available that provides a thorough explanation of how to start such a program, titled How to Start a Living At Home Program in Your Community. If you look at pages 14-21, you'll get a good sense of how CRC could engage the community in ways that could lay the groundwork to providing more services for seniors who live Downtown. Representatives from Keystone Senior Services, Teisha McGee and Julia McCarthy, will join us for this discussion. 
  • FYI and Update on 3rd Street-Kellogg Boulevard Bridge Project -- The Final Art Designs were recently announced, and other project updates are also on the project web page. City staff has engaged the CRC Development Review Committee and many other organizations throughout the planning process
• March 2020 - Meeting
  • Agenda: Review proposed new business in the Lowry Building, 350 St. Peter Street, Santé health and wellness center, which requires a license (see Chapter 427 - Health Sports Clubs)
  • Floor Plan (1 of 2) and Floor Plan (2 of 2)
• October 8, 2019 agenda: Continue discussion about the draft Equitable Development Scorecard and  21st Century Development model for engagement and planning activities
• September, 2019 - No meeting held
• August 13, 2019 meeting notes
• July 9, 2019 meeting notes
• June 11, 2019 meeting notes