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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[06] Public Hearing, 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update crrvOFST.JOb�1'H Planning Commission Agenda Item 6 MEETING DATE: June 11,2018 AGENDA ITEM: Public Hearing,2018 Comprehensive Plan Update SUBMITTED BY: Community Development STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Recommend approval of 2018 Comprehensive Plan to City Council and provide a recommendation on the land use plan and public input. PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: The Planning Commission recommended approval of the current Comprehensive Plan in 2008,which was subsequently approved by the City Council.There have been amendments approved since that time i.e.land use. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City has been working with consultant Community Design Group (CDG)to complete the 2018 Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan plans twenty years into the future but generally is updated every 10 years due to changes in demographics,land use pressure, relevance and the need to examine the community's vision for the future.This plan will serve as a framework for the future of St.Joseph and provides guidance in the day-to-day decision making of the city. The 2018 update began in February of 2017 with the formation of an advisory committee with members from the City Council,EDA,Planning Commission, College of St.Benedict, St.Benedict Monastery, St.Joseph Township, CentraCare,and St.Joseph Chamber of Commerce.The plan update incorporates previous studies and planning work, is based on smart growth principles,and on public input received. Public input was obtained through the advisory committee, an open house,workshop, interviews,pop up events(bringing it to the people),and an online survey. Public outreach included the city website,project website,advisory committee,city boards, St.Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Kennedy Community School, CSB/SN bulletin, faith based outreach, St.Joseph Newsleader,and City Newsletter. Antonio Rosell with CDG will present an overview of the 2018 Comprehensive Plan at the meeting. The plan includes the following components: ■ Introduction ■ Vision and Values ■ Framework for Recommendations ■ Land Use • Housing ■ Transportation and Mobility ■ Economic Development ■ Community Facilities and Utilities ■ Parks and Recreation ■ Sustainability and Resiliency ■ Implementation ■ Existing Conditions Report ■ Public Engagement Report The draft 2018 Comprehensive Plan has been available for public comment since May 11,2018 to present.We received a letter on June 4�''on the future land use plan of the Comprehensive Plan and on the zoning designation for the property located on the northwest corner of Northland Drive and CSAH 75. The property owner is requesting the consideration of a rezoning from B-2 Highway 75 Business District to R-3 Multiple Family Residential.The draft 2018 Comprehensive Plan includes a future land use plan map. The future land use plan guides property for specific types of uses.For example, for residential development this would include low density residential,mediuxn density residential, and high density residential.The zoning designation is specific classification and is an ordinance as regulated in MN State Statute.The corresponding land use for R-3 Multiple Family Residential is High Density Residential. Therefore, as part of the Comprehensive Plan update you would review the land use plan only at this time. Property along the Highway 75 corridor has been guided for vehicle oriented commercial for a number of years now. In determining future land uses consider the following: road classification,the highest and best use,and surrounding future land use and zoning.The property owner would be required to go through the formal development process prior to any development on the property. ATTACHMENTS: Request for Planning Commission Action Public Hearing Notice Draft 2018 Comprehensive Plan Letter from Mark Lambert, Summit Management, LLC Future Land Use Plan—Northland Dr.Property REQLIESTED PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Motion to Approve/Table 2018 Comprehensive Plan and provide direction and a recommendation on the land use plan/public input received. ���� �.JL ��o ���JLJ�� www.cityofstjoseph.com City of St.Joseph Public Hearing 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update The St.Joseph Planning Commission shall conduct a public hearing on Monday,June 11, 2018 Administrator at 6:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard at the St.loseph Government Center,75 Callaway Street East to obtain public input on the 2018 Comprehensive Plan,an Judy Weyrens update to the 2008 Comprehensive Plan.The 2018 Comprehensive Plan is a policy document intended to guide development and city decisions.The 2018 Comprehensive Plan contains a series of goals and plan elements including land use, housing, transportation, economic Mayor development, community facilities, parks and recreation, and sustainability. A copy of the draft Rick Schulrz 2018 Comprehensive Plan can be viewed at the St.Joseph Government Center or online at www.citvofstioseph.com. Councilors Judy Weyrens Administrator Anne Buckvold Troy Goracke publish:June 1, 2018 Bob Loso Dale Wick 75 Callaway Street East•Saint Joseph, Minnesota 56374 Email ciryoffices@cityofstjoseph.com Phone 320.363.720I Fax 320.363.0342 The City of St. Joseph Comprehensive Plan A Vision to the Future June 7, 2018 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thank you to the residents, businesses, community organizations and institutions, and elected PLANNING COMMISSIONS Troy Goracke, Council Voting LiaisonSteve Olson Gina Dullinger, ChairMatt Johnson Chad Hausmann, Vice ChairDaryl Schaefer CITY BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Park Board CITY STAFF Therese Haffner, Terry Thene, Public Works Director MAYOR / CITY COUNCIL Mayor Rick ShultzTroy Goracke Bob LosoDale Wick Matt Killam COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Jodi Gertken, CentraCare University Chad Hausmann, Planning CommissionRandy Sabart, City Engineer, SEH Dale Wick, City Council CONSULTANT Community Design Group www.c-d-g.org 1.1. Purpose 6 1.2. What is a Comprehensive Plan? 7 1.3. Prior Planning Work 8 1.4. Organization of the Plan 9 1.5. 11 2.1. Community Participation in the Planning Process 24 2.2. Community Assets 26 2.3. Vision and Values 27 3.1. Framework for Recommendations 34 3.2. Land Use 38 3.3. Housing 53 3.4. Mobility and Transportation 58 3.5. Economic Development 64 3.6. Community Facilities and Utilities 74 3.7. Parks and Recreation 82 3.8. Sustainability and Resiliency 86 3.9. Implementation Tasks and Timeline 94 4.A. Existing Conditions Report A-116 4.B. Public Engagement Report B-156 SECTION 1 Introduction Purpose 1.1 for the future of the city, and serves as a tool to guide the 1.2 PROCESS 1: ENGAGEMENT Gather ideas from The Comprehensive Plan: stakeholders to community residents; Envision and innovate 3:GOALS visions into goals for the future 4: STRATEGIES strategies to goals 1.3 • • • • • • East-West Corridor Study • • • Wellhead Management Plan • • • 1.4 Section 1: Introduction Section 2: Assets, Vision and Values Section 3: Plan Elements, Goals, and Strategies • Land Use: • housing needs, evaluates existing housing conditions, • Evaluates current and future • • Summarizes community goals for • • • Provides guidance for maintaining accountability, Section 4: Appendix • • 1.5 Community History What we heard “I love the history of our community” 23 Sartell Sauk Waite Park C ITY OF S T. J OSEPH 23 MEEKER 15 St. Joseph Today natural, and recreational amenities making the area Population collecting and analyzing historical, Population Growth in St. Joseph Future population Stearns St. Joseph as % of YearSt. Joseph CountyCounty Population 19702000 1,786 people4,681 people 133,166 Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center. 2016 6,864 people Figure 1.1. Population growth from 1970 to 2016. Data: U.S. Census. Age distribution Figure 1.2. Age distribution comparing St. Joseph and Stearns County in 2015. Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Race and Ethnicity Stearns St. Joseph St. Joseph MN EthnicityCounty PopulationPercentPercent Percent White 23 122 Islander Other Multi-racial Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Income Poverty City Rate Sartell Waite Park - this could be attributed to a change in college student Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center 2000-2010- 2010 20002010 % ChangeEstimates% Change Waite Park Sartell Stearns County Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center. IncomeSt. JosephStearns County Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Education Geographical Bachelor’s AreaDegree or Higher Stearns County Minnesota Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Households Total Year Households Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center. Persons per Geographical Area Household Stearns County Minnesota Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Employment CompanyProduct or ServiceEmployees Private College Coborns Elementary and Secondary School Central Minnesota Credit UnionCredit Union63 Fast Food Restaurant Scherer Trucking Borgert ProductsConcrete Paver Manufacturer Government Service PrecisePlumbing and Heating Contractor Sentry BankFinancial Institution CentraCare ClinicMedical Fabral Source: City of St. Joseph Unemployment Unemployment Rate in Stearns County from 2012-2016. Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Commuting WORK DESTINATIONHOME DESTINATION Place of Place of CountShareCountShare EmploymentResidence 233 233 Waite Park Sartell131 Sartell Waite Park Rockville 33 33 Distance TraveledCountShareDistance TraveledCountShare 212 161 miles miles Work Destination: Where workers are employed who live in St. Joseph Home Destination: Where workers live who are employed in St. Joseph Source: US Census Bureau Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) Source: US Census Bureau Longitudinal Employer- Household Dynamics (LEHD) SECTION 2 2.1 One of the most consistent goals received from residents regarding the to Kickoff Gathering and ListeningFinalize Plan Drafting Existing Conditions Final Document Research ENGAGEMENT PROCESS Interviews Engagement Activities 7 Open House Open House 1 Pop Up Events 5 Pop-Ups Online Survey 1 • • Approximately • • • 350 people engaged Online Community Survey in-person Approximately 300 people engaged online 2.2 The Downtown Core Vibrant Arts Community Welcoming Public Spaces Education and Knowledge the community and its students, faculty, and staff contribute to 2.3 What we heard Engagement activities yielded a rich variety of information “It’s vibrant, businesses aren’t closing, but are thriving instead!” Vibrant Lively Welcoming Proactive Sustainable Vibrant businesses in the life of their city and value a strong sense of Lively builds infrastructure systems for maintaining and increasing it a desirable community for individuals and families of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, income levels, and neighborhood Welcoming Proactive beauty of their neighborhood and caring for themselves and Sustainable SECTION 3 3.1 Goals are the short and long term • • • and • recommendations and the foundations for success that are What we heard “Preserving the city’s history but allowing sensitive growth of commerce is recommendations for its future, to recognize that it includes important” or districts offer different contexts for recommendations and The St. Joseph transect related contexts that exist in a community, by looking at it from Rural zoneSuburban zoneGeneral urban City center zone Usually, in most cities large or small, each of the transect zones Because their settings and contexts are different, and the and consideration of current and City districts General urban zone Suburban zone Rural ` and educational institutions are familiar elements to current smaller cities throughout the country - and for revitalizing local The downtown core Vibrant arts community Welcoming public spaces Education and knowledge to the community and its students, faculty, and staff contribute to the Land Use 3.2 Land Uses Discussion about future land uses in Please note that the discussion Housing stock Changes in land use over time it has gone through several changes in its economy and role Urban character that the character of large franchise retail that is located along How much land could the city need? **Projected **Projected **Projected Additional residential *Projected residential residential 30% (from YearLinearacres householdacres (Low acres (High Low den) for (Medium density)density) density) 1,266 Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center Residents’ preferences regarding growth The role of commercial and industrial development Includes single family detached Intended for commercial mix of land uses including residential, commercial and civic and design of commercial and mixed use areas should be enhanced Includes a range of retail, entertainment, and include a variety of textures, colors and accents to enhance Includes a variety of uses ranging from light and screened to minimize noise, light, and other environmental Open Space: Intended for state, federal, and local government uses Priority Redevelopment Areas commercial and residential buildings that are in substandard Downtown Redevelopment AreaNorth of CSAH 75 Redevelopment Area CSAH 75 and Old Highway 52 Redevelopment Area Minnesota Street and Chapel Lane Redevelopment Area CSAH 75 and 8th Avenue NE Redevelopment Area Mixed-use buildings offer housing and commerce What we heard “Become more reliant on renewable energy” suburban and rural areas • Mix land uses • • • • • environmental areas • communities • • effective • Encourage citizen and stakeholder collaboration in use decisions in areas likely to become urban in the future 3.3 family life, of the nurturing of the young and the caring for the entertainment, their decision to stay and live in the community % Change Housing 20002010 Units 2000- 2010 Waite Park Sartell6,123 Stearns County Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center. Housing Units by Percent Type & Year Built Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms demand of detached-single family homes in the City and may Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center. Housing Characteristics in the St. Joseph Area Owner Renter Median Median Persons OccupiedOccupiedGross Housing Per RentHousehold Waite Park Sartell Stearns County Source: US Census Bureau, MN State Demographic Center. neighborhood, and establish regulations for the demolition or What we heard “We need affordable housing for everyone” maintained, environmentally friendly, and energy connections through neighborhoods and connection to local and maintain structures that are not conforming to environmental 3.4 the groceries, get our children to school or daycare - and biking, taking transit, and driving a car are all useful methods encourage safe mobility for all users regardless of their mode Walkability and pedestrian networks What we heard “A walkable, bikeable community from both a recreation perspective as well as a • transportation perspective” • • • Bikeability and bicycle networks • connect to destinations in the city and to nearby trails • • visible and legible bicycle infrastructure • • • Public Transportation Motor vehicle travel and networks What we heard “Improve pedestrian access over Highway 75” The Lake system bicycle system that links residential, institutional, educational, 3.5 industries, but about maintaining a vibrant livable community Other considerations Local Downtown Businesses New Commercial and Industrial Uses Proximity to the Greater St. Cloud Region • • Business Retention and Expansion Program Public Financial Assistance Grant and Demolition Grant Programs, Tax Increment Financing Grant Preparation Community Promotion Site and Building Selection Demographic and Community Research Small Business Resources Priority Redevelopment Areas commercial and residential buildings that are in substandard Downtown Redevelopment Map North of CSAH 75 Redevelopment Map Minnesota Street and Chapel Lane Redevelopment Map CSAH 75 and 8th Avenue NE Redevelopment Map CSAH 75 and Old Highway 52 Redevelopment Map of existing businesses and encourage them to remain in the city, What we heard “We have great pride in our small town atmosphere” center for historical and cultural history designating buildings on local, state, or national registers in the arts and cultural activities 3.6 Community facilities like Kennedy Community School, have moved to the edge of Utilities and infrastructure Approach for Community Facilities and Utilities City Government Education Community Center Water Supply Wastewater Treatment Summary of Proposed Facilities • Existing Storm Sewer System Future Storm Sewer System for renovation of community facility buildings and construction facilities, ensure that the facility has a their continued availability to existing and future communities 3.7 St. Joseph Master Park Plan Stearns County Parks, Open Space, and Recreation Plan the creation and maintenance of Stearns County trail system for What we heard its recommendations regarding Lake Wobegon Trail and the “We love the coordination of trail maintenance services among city, county, parks and recreation!” of the existing natural assets and inform residents about issues throughout the City youth and civic organizations to assist in maintenance and 3.8 biological diversity of the city should be evaluated to determine Topography Soils Groundwater Watersheds Rivers, Lakes, and Streams of the city limits and Rassier Lake is located to the north of the Hazardous Waste Air Pollution Noise and Light Pollution Surface Water Management Plan • volumes and rates of runoff, • • Minimize soil erosion control through enforcement and education, • • • • • • to control for erosion and minimize the removal of natural created in the City and encourage the use of recyclable, hazardous materials on the environment community urban forest current issues related to climate change residential, commercial, and industrial uses and encourage 3.9 hundreds of residents, businesses, and visitors in an extensive • • • Budgets and Work Programs Economic Incentives Funding can come from, but does not have to be limited to, Implementation Matrix: Land Use Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 1: Preserve and enhance St. Joseph’s identity and small town character. City CouncilHigh Historical High Society City CouncilHigh Planning High City CouncilHigh Economic Medium Planning feasible to leverage infrastructure investment and strengthen community vitality High Commission City CouncilMedium Goal 2: Support the economic vitality of St. Joseph’s downtown. Economic High Community Medium Community High Planning High City CouncilHigh Economic Goal 3: Promote sustainable development. Economic High Planning Medium Implementation Matrix: Land Use Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Planning Medium Parks High City CouncilMedium Goal 4: Create neighborhoods that are well designed to attract new residents. Community High Public WorksMedium Planning Medium Commission Economic Medium Planning High region Planning High Planning High Planning High Planning Medium Planning Medium Implementation Matrix: Housing Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 1: Create a diversity of housing options within the city. Community Medium Planning Medium Commission Planning High Planning Medium Planning Medium Commission Goal 2: Preserve the character of existing neighborhoods that give St. Joseph a sense of place. Community the character of the existing neighborhood, and establish regulations for the Medium Encourage rehabilitation of deteriorating homes and the reuse of existing Community High City CouncilMedium Planning Medium Goal 3: Assist in the planning and construction of affordable housing options. Economic High Community High Community High City CouncilMedium Community Medium City CouncilMedium Implementation Matrix: Housing Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number City CouncilMedium Community High City CouncilMedium Public WorksHigh Planning Medium Commission Implementation Matrix: Transportation Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Public Works Community High Public WorksHigh Public WorksHigh Public WorksMedium Public Works Planning High Community High Community Medium Planning High Planning Medium Public WorksHigh Goal 3: Implement the Comprehensive Transportation Plan Planning High Public WorksHigh Implementation Matrix: Economic Development Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Economic High Economic Medium Economic Medium Economic High Community High Economic High Economic High Economic High Economic High Goal 2: Focus on competitiveness. Economic City CouncilMedium Planning High Planning Medium Commission Community Implementation Matrix: Economic Development Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 3: Provide a high quality life. Community High Planning High Commission Planning Medium Goal 4: Retain and attract residents. Community High Planning High Economic High Economic High Economic Planning Medium Planning Medium Commission Community Goal 6: Continue to host and sponsor local arts and cultural activities. City Council City Council Planning Medium Commission Park BoardHigh Community High Implementation Matrix: Community Facilities and Utilities Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 1: Provide facilities that support the community’s values and needs. The City’s Capital Improvement Plan should include funding for renovation of Utilities 1.1City CouncilMedium community facility buildings and construction of new buildings in the urban areas. The City should support the continued presence and expansion of school facilities Utilities 1.2City CouncilMedium within downtown and urban areas. Planning Utilities 1.3Construct community facilities within the downtown area, when appropriate.Low Commission The City should update the City website with information regarding community AdministrationMedium Utilities 1.4 facility redesigns and uses. The City will continue to work with the public and private schools within Planning Utilities 1.5the community to adequately plan for community growth, schools facilities, High Department community education, and shared facility issues. Goal 2: For construction of new community facilities, ensure that the facility has a positive impact on nearby neighborhoods. Renovation and new construction of community facilities should match the Planning Utilities 2.1High character of the existing neighborhood.Department Construction and renovation of community facilities should be environmentally Building Utilities 2.2High Inspections Goal 3: Provide potable water, sanitary waste collection, and surface water management to existing and Utilities 3.1Provide a consistently high level of service to existing and future areas.Public WorksMedium Create and maintain an infrastructure replacement program as detailed in the Utilities 3.2City CouncilMedium Capital Improvement Plan. For expansion of public services, new developments should be located in areas Planning Utilities 3.3adjacent to existing development within the city limits, primarily downtown and in Medium Department urban and suburban areas. Planning Utilities 3.4Medium the existing water and sewer infrastructure systems. Department Provide a full range of public services to subdivisions at the time of development. Utilities 3.5Public WorksHigh This includes storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and public water. Continue to implement and update, where necessary, the city’s Wellhead Utilities 3.6City CouncilHigh Protection program. Carefully review and limit development in areas that require private sewer and Planning Utilities 3.7Medium water systems, or high levels or public water and sewer services.Department Undertake a sewer capacity study for the Wastewater Treatment Plant sometime in Utilities 3.8Public WorksLow 2020. Periodically review agreements with sewer systems partners for any needed Utilities 3.9Public WorksMedium updating. Monitor and maintain all utility systems to ensure safe, functioning, and high Utilities 3.10Public WorksMedium quality facilities and services. Utilities 3.11Update street, water, storm sewer and sanitary sewer plans as needed.Public WorksMedium Utilities 3.12Update the water distribution study and water model.Public WorksMedium Implementation Matrix: Community Facilities and Utilities Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 4: Manage water resources to ensure their continued availability to existing and future communities. Require stormwater management and erosion plans as described in the 2004 Utilities 4.1City CouncilMedium surface water. Work with counties, townships, citizens, upstream landowners, and watershed Utilities 4.2Public WorksHigh organizations to reduce pollution upstream to match limits used within the city. Utilities 4.3encourage creative stormwater management strategies to reduce surface runoff Public WorksHigh and implement low impact development techniques. Utilities 4.4Continually evaluate utility fees, such as stormwater, trunk, pond, and access fees.Public WorksMedium Utilities 4.5Review stormwater standards and update as necessary in compliance with MPCA.Public WorksMedium Goal 5: Heighten community awareness of sustainable water use through education. Provide educational programs for residents and businesses that highlight the Utilities 5.1use of water conservation practices (e.g. water-saving faucets, outdoor water-use Public WorksMedium restrictions, and xeriscaping). Develop a community outreach program for all ages that meets requirements from Utilities 5.2Public WorksMedium Implementation Matrix: Parks and Recreation Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 1: Implement a comprehensive and effective park system plan. Park BoardMedium Park BoardHigh natural assets. Parks Medium Park BoardMedium Goal 3: Create and maintain an interconnected trail and sidewalk system for recreation and transportation that ties parks and open space together. Park BoardMedium Park Board Parks Medium Goal 4: Provide for the conservation and preservation of natural resources in the City. Park BoardHigh Parks High in St. Joseph. Provide residents with activities and programs throughout the City. Parks Medium Parks Medium Implementation Matrix: Sustainability and Resiliency Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 1: Develop a community-wide sustainability plan. Sustainability Planning Medium Commission Sustainability Planning Medium Commission Sustainability Community Medium Sustainability Community High Goal 2: Protect and improve areas that contribute to the biodiversity of St. Joseph. Sustainability Planning Medium Sustainability Park BoardHigh Sustainability Park BoardHigh Sustainability City Council Goal 3: Protect and improve water quality. Sustainability Planning High Sustainability Public WorksHigh Sustainability Public WorksMedium Sustainability Public WorksMedium Goal 4: Conserve energy use in public and private sector development. Sustainability City CouncilHigh Sustainability Planning Medium Commission Sustainability Planning Commission Sustainability Public WorksMedium Sustainability Public Works Sustainability City Council Implementation Matrix: Sustainability and Resiliency Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Goal 6: Minimize the negative effect of hazardous materials on the environment. Planning Medium Commission Planning Medium Commission Building Medium Goal 7: Work towards improving air quality within the City. City CouncilHigh City CouncilMedium City Council Goal 8: Minimize noise pollution in the community. City CouncilMedium City CouncilMedium Goal 9: Increase the density of the City’s urban forest. City Council Goal 10: The City will research current issues caused by climate change. City CouncilMedium Promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in residential, Community High Goal 11: Preserve St. Joseph’s Rural Heritage. City CouncilMedium Economic High Planning Medium Implementation Matrix: Implementation Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number implementation process. Planning Medium Commission Planning High High Goal 2: Consistently monitor and evaluate the implementation process. Planning Medium Medium Planning High Goal 3: Provide resources that will help implement the Plan. City CouncilHigh Economic High Economic but does not have to be limited to, the City, external governmental sources, High budgeting to coincide with the Comprehensive Plan. City Council Planning Commission Planning High Commission Implementation Matrix: Implementation Strategy StrategyOwnershipPriority Number Planning Commission Planning Commission UMMIT I���AIANAGEMEMT PHONE:651.705.3300 FAX:651 705 3387 June 4,2018 Planning Commission Members St. Joseph City Offices 75 Callaway St. E. St. Joseph, MN 56374 Re: Request to Amend Future Land Use Map Dear Planning Commission Members, I am the developer and owner of the Boulder Ridge Luxury Apartments at 535 Northland Drive, located off Highway 75. I also own the 2.7 acre vacant lot, currently zoned B-2, which is situated just to the south of the apartment building. I am respectfully requesting amending the zoning designation of the vacant lot to R-3. Providing R-3 zoning would increase the opportunity for development of the site. Cunently, I am considering as significant addition to the current 44 unit Boulder Ridge Building, creating a sorl of i1-shaped complex that would expand across both lots. The current Boulder Ridge building would be updated and refreshed to match the addition. The R-3 zoning would allow the current multi-family use of the property to continuc and is a better fit for that particular area instead of commercial use. Ample green space exists along the large buffer just north of Cedar Street allowing the building to be set back from Highway 75. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I would be happy to answer any of your questions or concerns directly at 651.689.2202. Sincerely, �.__ �t��"�=��= Mark Lambert Summit Management, LLC 0 2201140 203 205 209 215 221 235235 0 0 400 0 423 710 0 115 105 612 616 622 626606522516 601 708 701 510506502 601 600 602 600 304300 0 535 00225 0 0 0 601 208206204 207 207 219 0 611 615 621 602 608521515509505 601 609 603 605 604 604 602 605 603 Subj ect Pro perty Fu t u re L an d U se Pla n - N o r thla n d Dr. Pr op e r ty SEH St e arn s Cou nty Par ce ls Futur e Land Use Ce nt ra l Bus in es s D istric t/N eig hb orh oo d Or iente d Mixe d U se Orig inal Tow ns ite R e sid ential Co mmun ity Orie nted M ixe d Us e PUD Vehicu la r Or ien te d Co mme ric al Ligh t I nd ustr ial Low De nsity Re s id en tia l Mediu m De nsity Re sid en tia l Hig h De ns ity Re sid en tia l Ed uc ation al Ope n Spa ce Pu blic Water Ju n e 4 , 2 0 1 8 0 0.045 0.090.022 5 mi 0 0.07 0.140.035 km 1:2 ,0 0 0 SEHSEH S mar tC onne c t Us er Therese Haffner From: Chaphalkar, Raj <RCHAPHALKAR@CSBSJU.EDU> Sent: Friday,June 8, 2018 4:24 PM To: Therese Haffner Subject: St.Joseph 2018 City Comprehensive Plan Dear Therese, Antonio, and members of the planning commission, On behalf of Cultural Bridges, a St.Joseph volunteer organization, I am writing to thank you for your work on the draft of "Envision St.Joseph" 2018 City Comprehensive Plan.We appreciate the opportunity to provide comment on the draft. In particular, our comments view the draft through the lens of what will make St.Joseph the most welcoming and inclusive to newcomers who move into the city for any reason, including refugees, immigrants, and cultural and racial minorities. The plan is generally strong. In one area it mentions that there are immigrants who live here. What makes a community vibrant is the ability to reach out and make everyone feel a part of the whole. How are we doing on that? The plan portrays this lovely historic old town with people walking around and biking. It paints a lovely picture,though incomplete. Here are specific suggestions For example: - the word "welcoming"/"welcome" appears 13 times in the document (how does the city plan to make this feel welcoming to newcomers generally and to the over 50 Somali families here specifically?) - walkability for Somali residents (crosswalks, sidewalks, pedestrian bridges, education about traffic safety, location of housing relative to businesses) - transportation (bussing, public transit, carpooling,trains, walking for those who don't have their own cars) - jobs (attractive, well-paying jobs with a long-term future, providing dignity in the workforce, local jobs at all skill levels and education levels) - business resources (we can imagine ihat Somali-owned retail businesses may be formed in St.Joseph in the next 5-10 years; how easy is it to start a business, and where?) - language (in what languages are public materials and resources published, does the city consider the effort to translate,does the city do outreach to Spanish-language and Somali-language media outlets?) - safety(how does the police department plan to form relationships/connections with Somafi elders and community members to ensure trust and public safety) - housing(where and how much housing is available to Somali families,what are the needs of families,what plans does the city have to zone for multi-unit apartments and townhomes that have enough bedrooms to support large or multi-generational families, how can single-family homes be made accessible for eventual purchase, in addition to apartment style housing) - community space (how does the city plan to make public spaces easily available and usable for Somali community gatherings) To ease the process of assessing our feedback, we have selected key sections of the document to suggested changes. Comments are italicized. - Community Assets,Vision and Values, pp. 26-30 - Housin�stock, p. 39 - How Much Land Could the City Need/Population�rowth, pp. 41-43 - Introduction o p. 7 (What is a Comprehensive Plan)—consider revising"Records the future as desired by the majority of participating community residents" to "Records the future as desired by the participating community residents." Majority means 50%+1; we believe that the city should listen to and serve all residents who � share their voice, not just majority groups. Even our voting systems are designed to reflect the voice of the plurality, not only the majority. o p. 11 (Community History)—consider adding the following: "The Benedictine Sisters arrived in St.Joseph in 1863 and founded Saint Benedict's Monastery. Shortly after their arrival they opened Saint Benedict's Academy for young women. In 1913 the academy became the College of Saint Benedict, a liberal arts college for women. !n 2018 the College was named the 8th best Catholic college in the nation by the USA Today College Partner Network. The college's Benedicta Arts Center provides excellent Fine Arts programming for the people in the area, and the college's Clemens Library provides free library services to residents of St.Joseph." o p. 11 (Community History)—consider adding the following: "Completed in 1871,the Church of Saint Joseph structure is the first and oldest consecrated church in Minnesota." o p. 13 (Population)—under Future Population,consider adding data from the State Demographer about expected population growth among people of color in Stearns County and St.Joseph. See here for examples: https://mn.gov/admin/demo�raphy/data-bv-topic/immi�ration-lan�ua�e/, http://www.mncompass.or�/trends/insi�hts/2016-05-10-immi�ration, https://blandinfoundation.or�/content/uploads/OVPR-ImmiQrant-Workforce-Development-Report.pdf o p. 15 (Race and Ethnicity)—consider add+ng a comment about increasing racial and ethnic diversity of students at CSB and SJU. Suggested language: "In 2017, more than 20%of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University student population are American students of color or international students." o p. 15 (Race and Ethnicity)—consider adding the following: "In addition to immigrants of African and Latinx origin, people of color who already live in the United States or are children and grandchildren of immigrants are expected to move into St.Joseph. o p. 16 (Income)—Revise "The city's computed poverty rate is higher than surrounding areas, but this is due to the presence of over 2,000 college students who typically report little or no income,"to "The city's computed poverty rate is higher than surrounding areas;this may be due to the presence of over 2,000 college students who typically report iittle or no income, and to increasing immigrant populations." o p. 17 (Education)—add "In 2018, the College of Saint Benedict, a liberal arts college for women located in St.Joseph, was named the 8th best Catholic college in the nation by the USA Today College Partner Network." o p. 18(Employment)—Make it whether the table includes all employers, hand-selected employers, or top employers by number.Add employee numbers for the following businesses to the table: Saint Benedict's Monastery,Church of Saint Joseph/All Saints Academy, Kwik Trip. - Vision and Values - Framework for Recommendations - Land Use - Housing o p. 56 (Housing Snapshot)—consider adding to the second paragraph, "The presence of apartments with five or more bedrooms has provided felixble options both to students and to large, multi-generational immigrant families." o p. 57 (Goal 1: Create a diversity of housing options within the city)—consider adding to 1.2, "ensure that revised zoning takes into account major roadways and arteries to avoid segregating racial groups because of accessibility to housing options." - Transportation and Mobility o p. 105 (Implementation Matrix—Transportation)—Move "Explore expansion of St. Cloud Metro Bus service to St.Joseph" from a Low Priority to High Priority. Not everyone drives. The College has asked for it for the sake of the students. Many of our students do not have vehicles yet we are miles away from St. Cloud. St. Cloud State would have more opportunities to come to St.Joe, and St. Ben's to St. Cloud State if there was a bus service going back and forth. Bus service would link our seniors who no longer drive to the "bigger"center, being St. Cloud. A bus wou/d bring in people from St. Cloud to St.Joseph for business events, retail and education. The peop/e who have the smallest incomes are the hardest hit and the least 2 heard from. They are not we/l represented in our town. Although Tri-CAP is an alternative transportation, it is expensive for individuals living in poverty and difficult to know when and where to connect with the bus that travels through St.Joseph from Cold Spring to St. Cloud. - Economic Development o Consider adding comment about ADA accessibility and its impact on economic growth. The link gives the ADA requirements for small towns:https://www.ada.gov/smtown.htm#anchor17127. Historic buildings are somewhat protected, but has the city worked with its businesses to see if accommodations can be made at least from rear entrances? 1 looked at the Co-op...the front door would be difficult to adjust, but the back door has room for a ramp. How about other stores and businesses-Local Blend? new stores coming in? Community Center? I know by building codes,future buildings must comply, but what about the welcoming spirit of our town when it comes to existing businesses and their economic impact? It would be interesting to hear from someone in a wheelchair how many places she cannot enter in St.Joe. - Community Facilities and Utilities o Consider adding that despite lack of a public library in St.Joseph,the services of Clemens Library at CSB are available to all. Comment from Cultural eridges member: How many people know that they can use the Clemens Library on the Saint een's campus? This is our library- we won't see one built in St.Joe for many years to come. o Consider adding strategy around public meeting spaces and how people may use them. Comment from Cultural Bridges member:Most of our "publit"meeting places are in bars! Really? Where do scouts meet? Or don't we have scouts because there is no place? What about women's groups, reading groups, etc. Are these schedu/ed for the new community center? How will they get the word out? Does everyone have to make a trip to the Government Building to ask these questions? Does anyone know the answers? o Comment from Cultural Bridges member:The Government Center has now been in existence for over a year yet it hasn't been a high enough priority to make available the large meeting room. - Parks and Recreation o Comments from Cultural Bridges members: 1 remember my parents in their older age used to watch the local channel ta see the City Council Meetings and announcements about St.Joe. We have the Newsleader, but 1 don't think we as a community do a good enough job at submitting what is going on in St. loe-and very often it is late(not Newsleader's FaultJ Perhaps we could have a coordinated City member contribute local meetings and activities. The Newsleader is the only communication that goes to al/mailboxes, even those who are Immigrant Families. Someone in their family reads English and could keep watch if they knew the weekly City eulletin would be accurate and updated. The city's "In the Know in St.Joseph"official newsletter does not reach families or households who live in multi-unit dwellings, because it comes with the water bill and only goes to the bill-payer. So these families are structurally excluded from the communication in the city, even before it comes to the language and trans/ation barrier. o Does City Hal/have a board where they list al/groups and clubs/organizations and how to get in touch? How do we stay in contact? As far as I know, email is the only means of communication these clubs and organizations have. We need a centralized communication board where people could go to find out what is going on. Our little town still uses "word of mouth"to communicate. Is there someplace "downtown'where meetings and events could be posted? How many peop/e get the St. Cloud Times? There are only two of us in our apartment structure who receive the paper. Is this representative? How many seniors do we have living in our community? How many use the internet? The two major churches in St.Joe try to communicate to their parishioners...do we really know the needs of our people in rown? o Do we have a centralized person who communicates to the Spanish radio station and Somali radio station? o Not much was mentioned in the draft about the value that the Monastery lends to the community. 1 think it may have been mentioned twice in the Plan; however, it seems that the city links the Monastery with the College, yet they are two separate entities and both add to our community's history, charm, future and social and spiritual wellness. 3 o The draft misses mention of the community outreach such as the Food Shelf, Fare For All, Farmer's Market, etc. These are vital parts of our community that are shared by all. The flashing sign in front of the Government Building isn't enough-how many times would one have to walk or drive by to collect all the information? o The St.Joe Newsleader used to be our "Welcome"Center, although they never had a sign posted. Now they have moved. Chamber of Commerce exists in our city- where is their local office so that a person could stop in there and get information? o With the old school becoming a Community Center, will we really have enough input from all residents to state what is needed? Can we have opportunities to help those who need economic support through this source? Will we finally be able to have a loca/area for ESL classes? senior exercises? mother's support groups? summer activities? How do we get this information out when we have the final planning meeting? o Communication brings the community together. I see communication in St.Joe as one of the weakest links we have! o The comprehensive plan paints a rosy picture of a beautiful, active and inclusive town. Does it really go beyond the facade? And art is not a top priority. Have the city representatives walked around lately to see all the talent we have here? What are we doing to reach out to them and keep this going? - Sustainability and Resiliency - Implementation - Existing Conditions Report - Public Engagement Report As you can see, we think the draft is going in the right direction but it needs to be more intentional about how the city recognizes the existence of and plans strategies to serve residents from multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds, income levels, education levels, and physical abilities. Members of Cultural Bridges will plan to attend the planning commission meeting on Monday to discuss these questions and suggestions about the Comprehensive planning document with you. Thanks, Raj Chaphalkar Volunteer with Cultural Bridges Total Control Panel L�ltl Ta thaffner��cityofstjoseph.com Message Score:50 High(60}:Yass From: My Spam Blocking Level:Medium Medium(75):Pass prvs=8697833c9c=rchaphalkar@csbsju.edu Low(90): Pa.s Block this sender Block csbsju.edu This message was delivered because the content filter score did not exceed your filter level. 4