Two Strikes for Proposed Rezoning on Main Street
The site in question is visually at the northern end of the Stone Arch Bridge. The proposed development would put a 68-foot wall of condos at the end of the bridge, where the cars are parked in this photo.
A proposal to rezone a small parcel adjacent to the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis was denied this week by the Zoning and Planning Committee of the Minneapolis City Council. Last month the Planning Commission recommended rejecting the proposed zoning change for 600 SE Main Street, and denied the site plan, two conditional use permits, and a variance for a six-story residential and commercial building proposed by Bluff Street Development. The proposal heads to the full City Council on Friday, April 24, where it just might strike out.
FMR is recommending denial of the proposal, along with several other groups and organizations including the Minneapolis Park Board, National Park Service, Sierra Club Northstar Chapter, Marcy Holmes and Nicollet Island/East Bank neighborhood organizations, Friends of the (Central) Riverfront, and Minneapolis Park Watch.
The list of concerns raised by FMR and others is long, but could be summed up in one word (times three): Location, Location, Location. Situated within a regional park boundary, adjacent to the historic stone arch bridge, and on the riverward side of what will someday be an extension of East River Parkway, a large-scale, black glass, 6-story building is simply wrong for this place. And place really matters here. Here along the river at the headwaters of the only gorge on the entire length of the river. Here at the gateway to the St. Anthony Falls Historic District and birthplace of Minneapolis. Here in the heart of an amazing urban Riverfront Regional Park that is visited by millions each year.
Minneapolis has a long tradition of planning for parks and parkways along our lakes and rivers. In recent decades, the City and Park Board have made major strides towards planning for a more complete riverfront vision to have continuous parks and trails along both sides of the Mississippi River throughout the entire city. As a result, there are numerous adopted plans that support limiting development at this site and other areas along the river to the north.
In spite of the proposal being inconsistent with several official plans and policies, the Minneapolis planning staff initially recommended approving the rezoning. Add to that, the fact that Minneapolis has not quite completed the process of updating their comprehensive plan, spurring questions about whether to follow the old plan or the new one. So the public hearings went long, but there was strong testimony, lots of questions, and thoughtful discussion by commissioners and council members.
At the Zoning and Planning Committee, activist-extraordinaire Edna Brazaitis testimony brought new evidence forward. Edna had dug up the 1978 Acquisition Plan for the Central Riverfront Regional Park, in which the City and Park Board had agreed to acquire land within the park boundary over time, and to limit development, in exchange for Met Council resources to help implement and manage the park. She also pointed out an appendix to the citys current Comprehensive Plan in which they stated similar goals relating to limiting development through zoning controls or other means in order to complete the regional park.
FMRs testimony focused more specifically on technical aspects of the proposed zoning and its inconsistencies with the citys adopted critical area plan and shoreland overlay zoning district. We also commented on specifics of the proposed development, such as massing, height, effect of glass on migratory birds, and obstruction of the visual and physical connection between the river and neighborhood. Many of us reminded City Council members that property rights do not include the right to rezone.
After two hours of testimony and discussion, the Zoning and Planning Committee voted 3-2 to recommend denial of the rezoning. Voting for denial were Councilmembers Colvin Roy, Gordon and Schiff; voting against were Councilmembers Goodman and Remington. After the rezoning failed, the committee voted unanimously to deny the site plan, conditional use permits and variance. The City Council will take a final vote on Friday, April 24 at 9:30 am at City Hall.
If you live in the City of Minneapolis, please consider contacting Mayor Rybak or your city council member and asking them to oppose the rezoning for 600 SE Main Street.
For more information, suggested talking points or to get involved, please contact Irene Jones or Bob Spaulding via our contact form or at 651-222-2193.
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