[0:19] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PLANNING COMMISSION FOR JULY 21, 2025. I'M CHRIS MEYER AND I'M CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. AT THIS TIME WE'LL ASK THE CLERK TO TAKE THE ROLL. [0:36] **Clerk:** COMMISSIONER BAXLEY IS ABSENT. CHOWDHURY IS ABSENT. CONLEY IS ABSENT. GORDON. [0:41] **Commissioner Gordon:** PRESENT. [0:42] **Clerk:** JONES IS ABSENT. MEYER. [0:44] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** HERE. [0:45] **Clerk:** SHEPPARD. [0:46] **Commissioner Sheppard:** PRESENT. [0:47] **Clerk:** SKJEFTE IS ABSENT. THOMPSON. [0:53] **Commissioner Thompson:** HERE. [0:54] **Clerk:** WAGNER. [0:55] **Commissioner Wagner:** HERE. [0:56] **Clerk:** WE HAVE A QUORUM. [0:58] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** FIRST WE'LL TAKE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 7, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT? [1:04] **Commissioner:** SO MOVED. [1:05] **Commissioner:** SECOND. [1:06] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? THAT PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE DISCUSS ITEM FIVE AND HAVE ITEM FOUR FOR CONSENT. SO NUMBER FOUR IS 3246 NICOLLET AVENUE IN WARD 8. WAS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM FOUR? ANYONE? SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ITEM FOUR ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL BE DISCUSSING ITEM FIVE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THAT AGENDA? [1:42] **Commissioner:** MOTION. [1:43] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** IS THERE A SECOND? [1:44] **Commissioner:** SECOND. [1:45] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [1:51] **Commissioners (Chorus):** AYE. [1:52] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OPPOSED? THAT AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM FOUR, 3246 NICOLLET AVENUE. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT, NOT SEEING ANY, SO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM FOUR. COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM FOUR? NOT SEEING ANY, SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM FOUR? [2:21] **Commissioner:** SO MOVED. [2:22] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** IS THERE A SECOND? [2:23] **Commissioner:** SECOND. [2:24] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [2:29] **Commissioners (Chorus):** AYE. [2:30] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OPPOSED OR ABSTENTIONS? ITEM FOUR PASSES. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROJECT. NOW OUR MAIN ITEM FOR THE EVENING, 5003 HENNEPIN AVENUE, 1340 WEST 31ST STREET, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. STAFF IS HILARY DVORAK. [3:09] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'M HILARY DVORAK, A PRINCIPAL CITY PLANNER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CPED. HERE TO PRESENT ITEM FIVE TONIGHT FOR YOU. THIS IS THE SEVEN POINTS REGIONAL PROJECT LOCATED AT 3003 HENNEPIN AVENUE AND SEVERAL OTHER ADDRESSES IN THE NEAR VICINITY. THE APPLICATIONS BEFORE YOU ARE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO AMEND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. OR AN AMENDMENT TO A CONDITIONAL USE FOR A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, EXCUSE ME, TO ALLOW THE 228-UNIT RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AND SITE PLAN REVIEW. THEY INITIALLY HAD A SITE PLAN FOR A SHOPPING CENTER THAT IS NOT NEEDED. IT'S JUST THE TWO APPLICATIONS, WE'RE REQUESTING THAT YOU RETURN THE ITEM TONIGHT. SO THIS IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LAKE STREET AND HENNEPIN AVENUE IN THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SITE IS ZONED ZM4 IN THE TRANSIT OVERLAY DISTRICT. THE SEVEN POINTS IS AN EXISTING PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT LOCATED ALONG THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LAKE STREET AND HENNEPIN AVENUE. THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES THE SHOPPING CENTER, A SPORTS AND HEALTH FACILITY, A PARKING RAMP, AND A VACANT LOT. THE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES THE ENTIRE BLOCK BOUNDED BY LAKE AND 31st, HENNEPIN AND VACATED GERARD AND THE ENTIRE VACATED LOT TO THE EAST IF YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT AND THE ENTIRE PROPERTY THAT REACHES ON TO HENNEPIN AVENUE, I'M SORRY LAKE STREET. PLAN NORTH IS TO YOUR LEFT. THIS IS THE VACANT SITE, EXISTING SHOPPING CENTER, CURRENT SHOPPING CENTER SPACE THAT WILL COME DOWN, EXISTING PARKING RAMP AND THIS IS FOR FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE. EXCUSE ME. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DEMOLISH THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE EXISTING MODEL. SO CV2, KITCHEN WINDOW, FAMOUS DAVE'S, THE NEW ENTRANCE THAT WENT IN LESS THAN 15 YEARS AGO, ALL OF THAT WILL BE COMING DOWN, AND THEY ARE PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT A FIVE STORY, 228 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ON THE SITE. THE PROPOSED BUILDING IS IN THE SHAPE OF A U. IT'S ORIENTED NORTH CREATING A COURTYARD BETWEEN THE PROPOSED BUILDING AND THE 7 POINT SHOPPING CENTER WHICH IS LOCATED 22 FEET NORTH OF WHERE THE BUILDING WILL SIT. OUTSIDE AMENITIES, THERE'S PAVED SURFACES AND GREEN SPACE, ALSO A DOG RUN IN THAT AREA. AND THOSE OUTDOOR SPACES ARE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE BUILDING AND CAN BE ACCESSED FROM INSIDE OF THE BUILDING OR THERE IS A WALKWAY THAT WOULD CONNECT HENNEPIN TO VACATED GERARD TO THE SITE FOR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE KEY CARD ACCESS. ALSO LOCATED ALONG HENNEPIN AVENUE, THERE'S A SHORT-TERM BICYCLE PARKING AREA LOCATED BETWEEN THE PROPOSED BUILDING AND THE NEW SOUTHERN WALL OF THE 7 POINTS SHOPPING CENTER. AND THEN ON THIS AREA BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS, THIS IS RESERVED FOR TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP ON THOSE DAYS THAT IT IS BEING UTILIZED. OTHER CHANGES TO THIS SITE CURRENTLY THIS IS VACATED GERARD, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS THE GERARD -- AT ONE POINT IN THE UPDATED PLAN, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REFER TO IT AS THE MEANDER ANYMORE. IT CONNECTS THE GREENWAY THROUGH THE NEXT TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF THIS SITE. CHANGES HERE, THE ENTRANCES AND EXITS TO VEHICLES FOR THE RAMP WILL STILL BE MAINTAINED ON THE NORTHERN END AND THEN ON THE SOUTHERN END, THERE WILL BE TRANSFORMERS AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT IN THIS LOCATION. THERE WILL BE A LOADING SPACE IN THIS LOCATION. THERE IS NO ON-STREET LOADING ZONE NEAR THIS SITE FOR THIS USE. HENNEPIN AVENUE CAN'T HAVE LOADING. 31st CAN'T HAVE LOADING. LAKE STREET CAN'T HAVE LOADING. SO THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR LOADING. BECAUSE OF THE ROADWAY, COMING IN AND OUT ON 31st WAS ALSO A NO. THAT WAS WHERE THEY'RE PROPOSING TO PUT THE LOADING SPACE IS TUCKED BETWEEN THE PROPOSED BUILDING, EXCUSE ME, AND THE EXISTING PARKING RAMP. THIS IS JUST A FLOOR PLAN THEN OF THE SITE OR OF THE AREA. THERE WOULD BE A PRINCIPAL BUILDING, I'M JUST GOING TO SIT HERE BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. THE PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE INTO THE BUILDING IS LOCATED HERE AT HENNEPIN AND 31st. YELLOW ON YOUR SCREEN ARE BUILDING AMENITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS. BLUE ARE UNITS. THIS IS AN INTERIOR BIKE STORAGE AREA. SO THAT IS HOW THE APPLICANTS ARE PROPOSING TO USE THE GROUND FLOOR OF THEIR BUILDING. IN THE CM FLOOR THERE IS REQUIRED COMMERCIAL. BUT THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT THAT STRETCHES THIS ENTIRE BLOCK, ALL OF THE REQUIRED COMMERCIAL FOR THIS SITE IS ALREADY ON THE SITE. IT ALREADY EXISTS. SO THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THIS HOUSING PROJECT PUT RETAIL IN IT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL BECAUSE ALL OF THE REQUIRED IS ALREADY ON SITE. THERE WILL BE A NEW WALL BUILT ON THE SOUTHERN END. OBVIOUSLY ONCE THEY DEMOLISH THE SOUTHERN PORTION, THERE WILL BE AN OPENING. SO THEY WILL BE BUILDING A NEW SOUTHERN WALL TO THE SHOPPING CENTER. THERE WILL BE MODIFICATIONS IN WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE JIMMY JOHNS SITE. THAT WILL BE OPENED UP AND ALLOW THAT ENTRANCE CONNECTION OR WALK THROUGH CONNECTION FROM HENNEPIN TO VACATED GERARD AS ONE CAN DO NOW. THERE IS A 731 SPACE PARKING RAMP ON THE SITE. NO CHANGES ARE PROPOSED. THE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO USE UP TO 113 OF THOSE PARKING SPACES. AND THEN FOR THE DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, THEY DID NEED TO ACHIEVE FOUR POINTS. THEY ARE DOING THE LIMITED VEHICLE PARKING, SO AGAIN THEY ARE ALLOWED UP TO 50%, SO 114. THEY'VE SAID OR NEGOTIATED WITH NORTH POND 113 SPACES SO THEY ARE PROVIDING THAT. AND THEN THEY ARE UNBUNDLING THE PRICE OF PARKING. SO YOU CAN RENT THE UNIT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO RENT A SPACE. THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE FEE. SO THEY DO MEET THEIR POINTS FOR THE TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH THOSE TWO STRATEGIES. SO THE TWO APPLICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO AMEND THE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO ALLOW THE 228-UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. WE DO BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD GRANT THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. THIS WOULD NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE SURROUNDING AREA OR TO THE AREA RESIDENTS OR DISRUPT THE SAFETY OR COMFORT OF GENERAL WELFARE. THIS IS ADDING 228 UNITS INTERNALLY THAT IS HEAVILY COMMERCIALIZED AND HAS BEEN. THIS MALL WAS DEVELOPED FIRST IN 1984. AND TO SUPPORT THAT RETAIL, THAT IS IN THE MALL NOW THAT WILL REMAIN, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE A GOOD ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. EXCUSE ME. SO WE RECOMMEND YOUR APPROVAL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. THE OTHER APPLICATION THAT'S REQUIRED IS THE SITE PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION. THE PROJECT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF SITE PLAN REVIEW, THANK YOU TO WHO POINTED OUT, THERE WAS A TYPO IN THE STAFF REPORT. IT DOES MEET ALL OF THE GENERAL LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS. I APOLOGIZE, THERE WAS A TYPO IN THE STAFF REPORT. THIS PROJECT DOES MEET THE LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING. SO THE ONLY ITEM THAT NEEDS ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE IS FOR BUILDING WALLS AND THAT'S FOR THE SOUTHERN WALL OF THE SHOPPING CENTER. THAT PROPOSED ELEVATION WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IS THE BOTTOM OF THIS. SO ON HENNEPIN AVENUE, THAT'S THE TOP IMAGE. THIS IS THE SOUTHERN END. THIS IS THE JIMMY JOHN'S RIGHT NOW. THIS WILL BECOME THE NEW SOUTHERN EDGE. SO WHEN YOU WRAP THE CORNER, THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO AROUND THE CORNER, SO SKIP THE MIDDLE ELEVATION, PLEASE. THIS IS WHAT'S THERE. AND THEN IT TRANSITIONS TO A DIFFERENT COLOR SCHEME THAT THEN MIMICS OR MORE CLOSELY MATCHES THE GRAYS IN THIS BUILDING AND SO WHAT THE APPLICANT HAS DONE IS BLENDING -- REVISED OVER MANY DECADES OBVIOUSLY. AND THEN THIS WOULD BE THE NEW WALL THAT WOULD MATCH OR COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING SOUTHERN END OF THE MALL THAT WILL REMAIN AND THEN THE NEW BUILDING THAT WOULD BE ON THE CORNER. SO THEY ARE ALTERING THOSE COLORS EVERY 24 FEET. WHILE IT'S NOT A RECESS OR A PROJECTION, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS MEETS THE INTENT OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW, SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU GRANT ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO APPLICATIONS. NO UNUSUAL -- I SHOULD SAY, I SHOULD GO THROUGH THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT -- I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T DO THAT IN MY PRESENTATION. I APOLOGIZE. SO THERE ARE THREE FOR 5A. THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH CONDITIONS ARE NOT TYPICAL OR STANDARD CONDITIONS. SO THE MAP OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH ENDS. SO THERE ARE, THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, THERE SHOULD BE KNOCKED DOWN BALLARDS AT BOTH ENDS. LIFE HAPPENS, THEY'RE NOT THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE. AND SO TO MANAGE THIS ACCESS INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AND TO MANAGE THIS AND TO DIRECT PEOPLE INTO THE PARKING GARAGE, NOT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF VACATED GERARD BECAUSE THIS WILL ALSO BE USED FOR LOADING, THIS IS ALSO USED FOR LOADING HERE FOR THE SHOPPING CENTER. IT WILL BE USED FOR LOADING FOR THE RESIDENTS. IT'S ALSO USED FOR TRASH AND RECYCLING PICK UP. BUT I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING THERE. YOU GUYS SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THERE. SO THE VISUAL CUES TO KEEP YOU GOING INTO THE PARKING GARAGE ARE BOLLARDS AND SIGNS. WE ARE ADDING CONDITIONS THAT STRENGTHEN THAT AND SO JUST THAT THE APPLICANT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN THE KNOCK DOWN BOLLARDS FOR THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT. SIGNAGE NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO HELP DIRECT TRAFFIC INTO THE PARKING GARAGE. AND THE APPLICANT AND THE OWNERS OF THE 7 POINTS NORTH POND SHOULD EXPLORE ELECTRONIC GATE CONTROLS THAT THEY HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE NARRATIVES, THEY HAVE NOT COME TO A RESOLUTION, SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO THAT WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE OTHER MECHANISM THEY'VE HAD IN PLACE. THE OTHER MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THIS WAS REDONE BACK IN 2008, 2010, WHEN THE MALL WAS REVISED. THESE CHANGES TO GERARD WERE DONE THEN. SO A CONTINUATION OF THEM ENSURING THAT THAT PEDESTRIAN PATH COMES THROUGH AND THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENSURE TO TRY TO MANAGE TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THE SITE. SO I THINK WITH THOSE ADDED CONDITIONS, I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT DIFFERENT ON THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SO I CAN STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. [16:10] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU, HILARY. COMMISSIONER CONLEY. [16:26] **Commissioner Conley:** THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAD A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION ON THE PARKING SITUATION. IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WERE 700 PLUS ACTUAL SPOTS BUT THAT THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO USE JUST OVER 100 OF THOSE. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS INCENTIVIZING BUS PASSES, CONSIDERING WE JUST PUT THE B LINE RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU. [16:54] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** I GUESS, YES. SO THERE ARE 731 PARKING SPACES. THE APPLICANT IS GOING TO CONTRACT WITH NORTH POND FOR 113 OF THEM. BUT I WILL LET THEM SPEAK TO THE BUS PASS QUESTION. THEY DON'T NEED ANYMORE POINTS OR ANYMORE STRATEGY POINTS FOR US TO ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE THAT APPLICATION, BUT I THINK YOU COULD ASK THAT QUESTION FOR THEM. [17:11] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER WAGNER. [17:17] **Commissioner Wagner:** THANK YOU, CHAIR MEYER. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER FOUR ON THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ABOUT THE SHALL EXPLORE THE IDEA OF ADDING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL GATE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT STAFF CAN MANDATE THAT THE APPLICANT DO, OR IS THAT NOT IN THE PURVIEW OF STAFF? [17:34] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** I THINK WE COULD ADD IT AS A CONDITION OF A WAY OF CONTROLLING TRAFFIC AND ACCESS THROUGH THERE. IT WOULD BE TIED TO THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. [17:44] **Commissioner Wagner:** AND AS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENT? [17:55] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** I DON'T HAVE ANY FEELINGS ON THAT ADDED CONDITION. I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO ASK THE APPLICANT TEAM. [18:05] **Commissioner Wagner:** THANKS. [18:06] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I HAVE SEVERAL WITH THE INTENT OF KIND OF PROVIDING GUIDANCE FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING. SO WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE THINGS THAT THEY ASK. SO THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY SUPPORT THE PROJECT IN GENERAL, THE ADDITION OF 228 NEW APARTMENTS INCLUDING THE AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THE APPROPRIATE SCALE AND HEIGHT AND MASSING. BUT THIS IS A MAJOR PEDESTRIAN AREA AND THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS UNDERWHELMING DULL FEATURES. THEY MAKE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS, WE SUGGEST LARGER WINDOWS, JULIET BALCONIES OR WALK-UP UNITS TO BREAK UP THE FACADE AND CREATE VISUAL INTEREST AT GROUND LEVEL. I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US, THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION, WHERE IT'S A PLANNING DEVELOPMENT WITH OTHER SITES AS PART OF IT AND WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED A CPA A CUP -- C.U.P. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WHAT IS OUR AUTHORITY IN THIS? [19:26] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** I'M NOT SURE WHICH WINDOWS WOULD GET LARGER. AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A MINIMUM WINDOW REQUIREMENT AND THEY ARE MEETING THAT. LIKE ON HENNEPIN AVENUE, THE FIRST FLOOR IS 20%, THEY HAVE 40%. SECOND FLOOR AND ABOVE FACING HENNEPIN IS 10%, THEY HAVE MORE THAN 10%. FIRST FLOOR FACING WEST 31st STREET, 20% AND THEY HAVE 35%. SO THEY ARE MEETING THE WINDOW REQUIREMENTS ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND EVERY LEVEL ABOVE THE GROUND FLOOR. THERE IS ENERGY CODE REQUIREMENTS TOO WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF YOUR WINDOW TO WALL RATIOS, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LARGER THESE COULD GET BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO START GETTING SMALLER. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ARCHITECTURAL TEAM WOULD NEED TO VERIFY FOR YOU. IN TERMS OF BALCONIES, JULIET BALCONIES ARE NOT BALCONIES THAT ALLOW ONE TO WALK OUT. FOR THOSE ON THE COMMISSION WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT A JULIET BALCONY IS, IT'S A SCREEN DOOR WITH A BAR IN FRONT OF IT SO YOU CAN LEAN OUT, SAY HELLO TO ROMEO MAYBE, BUT YOU CAN'T GO OUT ONTO IT. YOU CAN ONLY STICK YOUR HEAD OUT OF IT. WE DON'T REQUIRE BALCONIES. WE REQUIRE WHAT'S IN THE BUILDING WALLS, THE BUILDING ENTRANCES, AND BUILDING PLACEMENT STANDARDS. WE SAY THAT IF YOU TOOK THIS AND MADE A JULIET BALCONY OUT OF IT, WE WOULD BRING YOU BACK HERE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. BUT IF YOU ADD THEM, WE DON'T. YOU CAN'T SUBTRACT FROM THIS POINT, THEY COULD ADD WITHOUT US HAVING A MAJOR/MINOR CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER IT COMES BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE -- I DID READ ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS TOO, I DON'T KNOW IN WHAT WINDOWS THEY WOULD WANT THOSE. BUT I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THEM AND MAYBE THE APPLICANT. [21:28] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** SO THEY CAN ADD BALCONIES, BUT NOT SUBTRACT. COULD THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE A CONDITION REQUIRING A CERTAIN INCREASED NUMBER OF THEM? [21:38] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** CHAIR MEYER, I THINK I CAN SAY, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE SOME DIRECT NEXUS TO SOMETHING THE APPLICANT IS ASKING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE FOR. TYPICALLY WHEN WE START HAVING CONDITIONS LIKE THAT THAT ARE PURELY DESIGN FOCUSED -- IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF NEXUS TO SOMETHING THEY'RE ASKING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE FOR, THEN I THINK OUR CITY ATTORNEYS WOULD BE FINE WITH A CONDITION OF APPROVAL THAT ADDS SOME SORT OF DESIGN ELEMENTS WHERE IT'S NEEDED FOR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE. BUT BEYOND THAT, AGAIN THIS IS SITE PLAN REVIEW AND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE LAID OUT IN THE CODE. ASKING FOR THEM TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT WHEN THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, WOULD NOT BE ADVISABLE FROM STAFF PERSPECTIVE. [22:40] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THAT LEADS TO MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT THE ONE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE THEY'RE REQUESTING IN TERMS OF THE WALL. WHAT WOULD BE THE DEFAULT IF WE WERE TO DENY ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE? [22:56] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** YEAH, I TALKED TO THE APPLICANT ABOUT THIS. WITH THE BUILDING CODE, YOU COULD PUT WINDOWS, YOU COULD MOVE -- HANG ON -- THE LIGHT PORTIONS THAT YOU SEE BACK TWO INCHES. YOU COULD PULL THE DARK PORTIONS OUT. BUT THIS IS THE GRID LINE, THIS IS THE PROPERTY LINE FOR THE BUILDING. AND SO THERE ARE SOME BUILDING CODE IMPLICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE PROJECT TEAM AND THEIR ARCHITECTS WHO HAVE STUDIED THIS MORE SO THAN ME. BUT THAT WOULD BE THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO PUSH OR PULL IT A LITTLE BIT, ADD SOME WINDOWS EVERY 25 FEET, THEY CHANGE THE COLOR EVERY 24 FEET, SO WE THOUGHT THAT THAT MET THE INTENT. YEAH, WE THOUGHT THAT THIS MET THE INTENT. WE RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, BUT YOU COULD RECOMMEND SOMETHING ELSE. [23:37] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** SO BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, JUST WILL GIVE THAT ADVICE TO THE TESTIFIERS, YOU'LL BE MOST EFFECTIVE IF YOU DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TOWARDS THINGS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS CONTROL OVER, SO WE CAN DENY ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, WE CAN ATTACH CONDITIONS IF THEY HAVE A NEXUS TO ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY ABILITY TO REQUIRE COMMERCIAL AS HILARY SAID. WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'LL MAKE ONE OTHER PSA ABOUT IT, WE DO HAVE CLOSED CAPTIONING FOR THIS. SO WHEN YOU SPEAK, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY AND SLOWLY ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN CORRECTLY CAPTION WHAT YOU SAY. SO DO WE HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE WITH US TODAY? COME ON UP, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT. [24:36] **Development Lead (Applicant):** HI, GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TONIGHT AS THE DEVELOPMENT LEAD ON THIS PROJECT. I DO HAVE A QUICK KIND OF PRESENTATION I PREPARED JUST TO ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT HILARY BROUGHT OUT THAT MAY NEED FURTHER ANALYSIS. SO I WILL PULL THAT UP QUICKLY FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST SO I CAN BE CLOSER. I KNOW HILARY ALREADY GAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION OF CONTEXT WHERE THE SITE IS. JUST BRINGING THAT BACK UP FOR YOUR ATTENTION FOR BETTER VISUAL. THIS IS IN OUR ENTITLEMENT PACKAGE FOR THE ARCHITECTURE PLAN SET. YOU CAN SEE THE VACATED LOT WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THE FARMER'S MARKETS HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY IN UPTOWN, THE PARKING RAMP, THE REMAINING RETAIL, KIND OF THAT 7 POINTS CORNERS THAT YOU SEE AT THAT PROMINENT CORNER, AND THEN WHERE THE FUTURE SITE WILL BE LOCATED. TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, I KNOW HILARY SPOKE TO WHAT IS EXISTING TODAY, BUT THIS GIVES YOU A BETTER VISUAL OF WHAT YOU SEE CURRENTLY AT 31st AND HENNEPIN. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A TEMPORARY TENT IN THAT SPACE. THIS IS AN OLD FAMOUS DAVES THAT'S BEEN VACATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT THIS POINT. THIS IS A VIEW LOOKING INTO GIRARD. AND I THINK HILARY EXPLAINED -- SO THIS IS RIGHT PAST THE POINT WHERE YOU DRIVE IN AT THE PARKING RAMP RIGHT HERE AT THAT TOP RIGHT IMAGE. AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO LIMIT THAT PEDESTRIAN ONLY FEELING, AGAIN WE HAVE RECOMMENDED ADDING KNOCK BOLLARDS THAT DON'T EXIST TODAY. IMPROVING THAT PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE, AND BRINGING THAT PRESENCE. WHICH YOU CAN SEE THE 7 POINTS MALL HAS BEEN THERE A WHILE, BUT THIS PART OF THE MALL HAS BEEN THAT 1, 1 AND A HALF STORY ALSO A LOT OF PARKING LOT THAT EXISTS TODAY. SO IT BRINGS A LOT OF PRESENCE BACK INTO THAT STREET SCAPE. AGAIN HILARY TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT JUST REITERATING, THAT CONNECTIVITY THROUGH THE MALL, AS WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY OWNER NORTH POND IS IN CONTACT WITH US, AND HAS EXPRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING TENANTS BACK INTO THIS SPACE. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT TODAY WITH THE PRESENTATION AT HAND, I WANT TO REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT ACCESS THAT'S SHIFTING SLIGHTLY ON HENNEPIN TO THIS LOCATION POST CONSTRUCTION OF OUR SITE. IT GETS AGAIN PEDESTRIAN ACCESS THROUGH THIS MALL, ENCOURAGES ONCE TENANTS COME BACK INTO THIS MALL AND INTO A COMMERCIAL SETTING TO VISIT THOSE SPACES. IF THEY PARKED AT THAT RAMP TO MAYBE OTHERWISE GO TO ANOTHER RETAIL SPACE, RESTAURANT, SERVICE ON HENNEPIN. THEY'RE NATURALLY GOING TO HAVE THAT MID-BLOCK CROSSING POINT OTHERWISE THERE'S ANOTHER ACCESS POINT THROUGH A MALL. WE'VE TALKED THOROUGHLY WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE. I BELIELE SHE'S IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT TOO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. BUT SHE BELIEVES STRONGLY IN THE PRESENCE OF BRINGING IN THIS MULTIFAMILY USE AND KEEPING THAT ACCESS INTERNAL TO THE MALL DURING BUSINESS HOURS WHEN IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO HELP GET IN MORE COMMERCIAL SPACES. SO GIVING YOU KIND OF THE FULL CONTEXT AND PICTURE OF HOW AGAIN OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COMMERCIAL. AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, WE'RE MEETING AGAIN THE INTENT ABOUT BRINGING IN RESIDENTIAL INTO A SETTING OF A HIGHLY COMMERCIALIZED AREA TO HELP SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF THAT RETAIL. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO NOTE IS THAT COMMERCIAL COMPONENT THAT HILARY ADDRESSED WE ARE MEETING THROUGH THE OVERALL COMPLIANCE OF THE WHOLE AREA. THE FIRST FLOOR IS AMENITY SPACE. BUT WE ARE DESIGNING THAT AT A 12-FOOT CEILING HEIGHT MEANING IT HAS FLEXIBILITY IN THE EVENT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND IT'S NOT REALLY FOLLOWING THE ZONING COMPLIANCE RIGHT NOW TO PROPOSE COMMERCIAL. BUT IF WE HAD A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE TENANTS THAT DON'T WANT TO GO ON THE MAJORITY VACANT MALL, WE COULD COME BACK THROUGH WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REVISION TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL IN THAT FIRST. SO THERE'S THAT FLEXIBILITY IN THE CURRENT BUILDING, CALL IT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. THE OTHER THING I REALLY WANT TO NOTE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS PROJECT AND REALLY WHAT A PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION SAW WHEN WE WERE HERE IN 2023 IS THIS GREEN COURTYARD SPACE. RESIDENTS COMING INTO THIS ARE VALUING THAT COMMUNITY THAT REALLY THEIR ONLY GREEN SPACE THEY HAVE FOR THEIR UNIT. THEY'LL HAVE FULL-SIZE BALCONIES AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PLANS. BUT THAT GREEN SPACE WILL HAVE A DOG RUN LOCATED HERE ON PLAN WEST AND THEN SOME COMMUNITY SPACE WHICH I'LL GIVE YOU SOME IMAGES LATER ON TO KIND OF VISUALIZE THAT. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT JUST NEEDED TO BE ADDED FOR CLARITY. THAT WALL THAT WAS ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, THAT WALL FACES INTERIOR OF THIS BUILDING. SO THAT COLOR SCHEME, WHY IT'S MATCHING, THIS GRAY BLACK COPPER TONES OF THE MULTIFAMILY WAS INTENTFUL. THE FIRST 50 FEET OF THAT ELEVATION TO APPROXIMATELY THIS POINT IN YOUR SCREEN IS THAT KIND OF TERRA COTTA TAN COLORS THAT MATCH THE REST OF THE 7 POINTS MALL BECAUSE THAT'S TRULY WHAT YOU WILL SEE AS A NONRESIDENT WALKING PAST THIS SITE. CLARIFICATION, WE CANNOT ADD WINDOWS IN THIS ELEVATION. IT IS A BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENT, IT IS 22 FEET FROM THE RESIDENTIAL USE, SO THAT COMMERCIAL WITH A RESIDENTIAL USE ADJACENT LIMITS US. I WOULD ALSO NOTE WE HAVE PROPOSED WITHIN CONSTRUCTABILITY LIMITS, THOSE ARE PRECAST PANEL DESIGN THAT HELPS SUPPORT THIS WALL. THERE IS UNDULATION BY ABOUT AN INCH, AND I HAVE OUR ARCHITECT TO CLARIFY IN CASE I'M WRONG, IN EVERY COLOR. SO THE DARKER, THE LIGHT WOULD HAVE A STAGGER FRONT AND BACK. SO IT'S NOT JUST A FLAT PANEL WITH TWO DIFFERENT COLORS, IT ACTUALLY DOES VARIATE IN DEPTH A LITTLE BIT. SO WE PROPOSED WHAT WE COULD WITHIN A LOT OF THE LIMITATIONS WE HAVE WHEN YOU MIX NOW TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS BUT CLOSE TOGETHER IN THEIR SEPARATION. AND THEN ALSO COLOR SCHEMES THAT WERE RESPECTFUL OF WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES VERSUS WHAT INTERIOR TENANTS WILL SEE. AGAIN THIS IMAGE WAS IN THE PRESENTATION BY STAFF. IT GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE, THERE'S A BIKE STORAGE FACILITY IN HERE, AND THAT KIND OF SHORT-TERM BIKE PARKING THAT COULD BE USED FOR RESIDENTS OR ANYBODY VISITING THE MALL. PERSPECTIVE OF HOW THIS COMPLEMENTS THAT PREVIOUS IMAGE YOU SAW OF KIND OF THE LOW SCALE RETAIL THAT WAS PRETTY UNDER WHELMING AS IT STANDS TODAY VERSUS WHAT YOU'LL SEE FACING HENNEPIN WITH THAT THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE GO BACK THROUGH THE MALL WITH TENANTS HOPEFULLY INCREASED AS OUR PROJECT IS PROPOSED. THAT HENNEPIN AND 31st STREET IMAGE. AND THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHAT DOES ACTIVE AMENITY USE LOOK LIKE? WE ARE SEEING AS A DEVELER KIND OF LIVE/WORKING SPACES, THIS GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN THOSE SPACES. SO THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE AT THAT STREET LEVEL. SO IT'S SHOWING AS KIND OF A HARD TO TELL WHAT'S IN THOSE WINDOWS SO GIVING YOU MORE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT YOU WOULD SEE AS AN OUTSIDER. SAME THING WITH THAT BIKE STORAGE ROOM. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS WE JUST DID CALLED THE LAKER. THAT IS A BIKE STORAGE FACILITY, BIKE FIX-IT STATION. HEAVILY USED PRESENCE ON THIS STREET. AND ENCOURAGES THE MINNEAPOLIS LIFESTYLES YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE OFTEN SEEK WITH MORE THAN A ONE TO ONE BIKE STALL RATIO. WELLNESS, FITNESS, AGAIN SPACES THAT ARE ACTUALLY USED AND DESIGNED WITH INTENT THAT CREATE THAT KIND OF LIVABILITY. REFERENCE TO WINDOWS. AGAIN I THINK HILARY NOTED SOME OF THE CALCULATIONS WITH GLASS IN TERMS OF MEETING CODE. WE DO EXCEED THAT SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE FIRST FLOOR. WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH DOING LOCK-UP UNITS. I THINK THAT WAS WHAT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE QUESTION THERE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR US IN DEVELOPING THIS LOCATION AND THIS MARKET AS A DEVELOPER WE KNOW SECURITY AND ACCESS TO YOUR UNITS. WE'VE DONE LOCK-UP UNITS IN ALL SORTS OF MARKETS AND WE'VE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED MOST RESIDENTS DO UTILIZE THE INTERNAL BUILDING ACCESS, THE CORRIDOR ACCESS TO GET TO THAT UNIT. IT BECOMES KIND OF THIS AFTER THOUGHT OFTEN WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE AS A PREDOMINANT ACCESS POINT VERSUS A REAL USABILITY AND VALUE. AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE SOME GRAY CHALLENGES AS YOU GO AROUND THE BUILDING FROM FRONT TO BACK. THIS IS JUST AGAIN A HIGH-LEVEL RENDERING OF WHAT YOU SEE AS A YURT YARD, BUT REALLY WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IS THOSE AMENITIES THAT ARE AGAIN IT'S A VERY SANCTUARY TYPE OF SETTING IN AN URBAN AREA THAT ALLOWS FOR CHANGE. ANOTHER ITEM I KIND OF HEARD AS A QUESTION WAS TRANSPORTATION. SO IN OUR WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE 731 STALL PARKING RAMP IS AS YOU KNOW STANDS TODAY VERY UNDERUTILIZED. THE IDEA OF HAVING LESS RETAIL, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE LESS DEMAND ON THAT PARKING RAMP. SO ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO PARK WITH OBVIOUSLY THE LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS OF OUR APPROVAL TONIGHT, ENCOURAGES THEN AS RETAIL COMES BACK INTO THIS MALL THAT FEELING OF SECURITY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE NOW ON THAT RAMP, THERE IS THAT SAFETY, THAT FLEXIBILITY, AND IT'S A VERY UNDERUTILIZED PARKING RAMP EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED COMMERCIAL REDUCTION OF ABOUT 60,000 SQUARE FEET. SO WE FEEL THOROUGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF SHARING THAT USE AS AN OVERALL PUD. AND I KNOW ONE ITEM THAT WAS IN ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, EVERYTHING ELSE MEETS CODE, IS THAT BUILDING WALL WHICH IS AGAIN INTERNAL FACING TO THIS. WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN TO CONDITIONS WITHIN WHAT WE CAN DO FROM A BUILDING CODE PERSPECTIVE, AND WE CAN HAVE OUR ARCHITECTURAL TEAM UP HERE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE LIMITATIONS ARE. EXCITED TO BE HERE. WE ARE SEEING FROM THE COMMUNITY WE STARTED REACHING OUT BACK IN APRIL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ON APRIL 30TH, I KNOW THERE WAS A LETTER INCLUDED TONIGHT. THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WAS INVITED ALONG WITH OTHERS. PRETTY MINIMAL COMMENTS ACTUALLY UNTIL THE LAST WEEK THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN WELCOMING OPINIONS ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE CONSENSUS. AND I KNOW FOLKS ARE HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT TO THAT. SO THAT WAS APRIL 30TH THAT WE HELD THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AS A DEVELOPMENT TEAM WITH AGAIN INVITING THE TWO WARDS, WARD 7 AND 10 AND THEN ALONG WITH FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT SERVE THIS AREA. TONIGHT, I WILL HELP ADDRESS QUESTIONS AS THEY COME UP. FEEL FREE TO INVITE ME BACK IF IT'S SOMETHING HILARY CAN'T ANSWER AS A STAFF SPOKESPERSON. OTHERWISE WE HAVE OUR ARCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER PRESENT TONIGHT TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. [36:35] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? COMMISSIONER CONLEY. [36:44] **Commissioner Conley:** JUST WONDERED, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT INCENTIVIZING TRANSIT USE. SOME DEVELOPERS HAVE CHOSE TO INCENTIVIZE PUBLIC TRANSIT. THAT MEANS THEY DON'T NEED AS MANY PARKING SPACES AS THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD. AND OFTEN RAPID TRANSIT DOES ACTIVATE AREAS JUST LIKE HOUSING DOES. I WONDERED IF YOU HAD THOUGHT OF THAT IF THERE'S WAY YOU PLAN TO ATTRACT TENANTS USING THE RAPID TRANSIT THAT IS BRAND NEW TO THE AREA? [37:14] **Development Lead (Applicant):** GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CONLEY. WE HAVE A PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM AND WE TALKED TO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM ABOUT TRANSIT SOLUTIONS AND HOW WE PLAN ON MARKETING THAT. THE LONG AND SHORT TO YOUR ANSWER IS YES, ABSOLUTELY THAT'S A VALUE. AS WE LOOKED AT OTHER PROJECTS, WHAT WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL CALL IT CAPACITY TO MANAGE AS WE'RE MEETING PEOPLE WHEN THEY WANT TO COME LEASE A UNIT. SO WE CAN'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO HAVE A CAR IF THEY HAVE IT. BUT WE HAVE A VARIETY OF TOOLS WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT AS WE FINALIZE KIND OF OUR MARKETING PLAN ABOUT WHAT IS THE MOST CALL IT RESOURCEFUL USE OF PROMOTING ASSETS TODAY. OTHERWISE THOSE ARE TYPICALLY ITEMS WE LOOK AT AS WE GET FURTHER ALONG AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS AGAIN THE LONG-TERM OWNER AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM TO MEET WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS AT AND WHAT THEY REALLY VALUE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. [38:19] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER WAGNER. [38:22] **Commissioner Wagner:** THANK YOU, CHAIR MEYER. I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION AS I HAD FOR STAFF ABOUT THE GATE, AN ELECTRONIC GATE UPON THE PEDESTRIAN-ORIENTED STREET. CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT'S FEASIBLE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CONSIDERED THAT? [38:36] **Development Lead (Applicant):** YEAH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONER. THAT IS FEASIBLE. IT'S SOMETHING AS WE TALKED THROUGH THIS EARLY ON WITH STAFF, JUST DIDN'T GET THE TIME AND ATTENTION YET. THAT'S WHY IT'S PROPOSED AS CONSIDERING IT. WE WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT BEING A CONDITION. THERE'S A FIRE LANE ACCESS EASEMENT THROUGH HERE THAT EXISTS TODAY THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR PROJECT BUT THAT EXISTS. SO THAT WAS THE ONE ITEM THAT ACTUALLY KEPT US FROM COMMITTING TO IT TODAY BECAUSE I'D LIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE -- THERE'S WAYS TO DO THAT, THERE'S ELECTRONIC CAR READERS, THERE'S CODES THEY CAN HAVE SO THEY ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WITH LIMITED SERVICE THROUGH THERE WHICH IS JUST FOR MOVE INS OR TRASH PICKUP, YOU COULD PROVIDE A LIMITED CODE FOR THAT. IT'S JUST MAKING SURE IF THAT WAS A CONDITION TONIGHT, WE'RE ABSOLUTELY OPEN TO THAT, WE COULD HAVE THAT AS A CONDITION WITH CALL IT FINAL CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL BY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS. BUT IT IS ANOTHER RESOURCE BESIDES THE KNOCK DOWN BOLLARDS THAT COULD BE MANAGED. [39:34] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GORDON. [39:51] **Commissioner Gordon:** THANK YOU. THIS IS A QUESTION REGARDING THE WALL. WILL IT BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL TEAM REGARDING THE POROUSITY. I FEEL LIKE THAT COULD ADD SOME CHARACTER ALONG THERE, SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET SOME MORE CONTEXT THERE. [40:11] **Peter (Architect):** GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PETER, I'M ALSO A MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT. SO REGARDING THE SOUTHERN WALL OF THE 7 POINTS BUILDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING SO WE'VE CHOSEN THAT LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY LINE, IT'S BASICALLY A 0 OUT LINE. AND IT'S ALIGNING WITH THE EXISTING STRUCTURAL GRID OF THE 7 POINTS MALL. SO MY UNDERSTANDING, TABLE 705.8 IN THE MINNESOTA STATE BUILDING CODE, IF YOU'RE WITHIN 0 FEET OF A PROPERTY LINE, THERE'S 0% OPENINGS ALLOWED, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE SPRINKLED, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A PROTECTED OPENING. THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION AND UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU'RE WITHIN THREE FEET OF THAT LOT LINE, THAT YOU HAVE 0% OPENING. I BELIEVE ONCE YOU'RE 3 TO 5 FEET, THAT'S WHEN THOSE CONDITIONS OF PROTECTED OPENINGS COME INTO PLAY WHERE YOU CAN THEN, I BELIEVE, IT THEN GOES TO 15% OPENING ALONG THAT WALL. BUT WE'RE IN THE SITUATION, WE'RE KIND OF STUCK RIGHT AT THAT PROPERTY LINE AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE RELIEF VISUALLY BY CHANGING THE DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND DIFFERENT COLORS AND AGAIN I THINK IN THE ELEVATION WHEN YOU SEE THAT IMAGE, I THINK IT COMES ACROSS AS BEING KIND OF MONOLITHIC, BUT IT'S ALSO KIND OF A DISTORTION BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY NEVER GOING TO SEE THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT'S GOING TO BE OBSTRUCTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION BUILDING. SO I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND OPENINGS. WE'RE JUST DOING WHAT THE BUILDING CODE ALLOWS US. [42:38] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SHEPPARD. [42:43] **Commissioner Sheppard:** I JUST HAVE ONE CLARIFICATION ON THAT. YOU MENTIONED BRICK. IS THIS ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST WITH A BRICK VENEER OR JUST ARCHITECTURAL PRECAST? THE WALL WE'RE DISCUSSING. [42:58] **Peter (Architect):** WE'RE EXPLORING DIFFERENT OPTIONS RIGHT NOW. I THINK BOTH OF THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE. THE FINAL AESTHETIC WILL BE A BRICK AESTHETIC. I THINK RIGHT NOW AS IT'S PROPOSED, IT WOULD BE A TILT UP PRECAST PANEL. BUT YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHERE OUR ELEVATIONS ARE RIGHT NOW. [43:18] **Commissioner Sheppard:** YOU'RE WORKING ON IT? [43:19] **Peter (Architect):** YEAH. [43:20] **Commissioner Sheppard:** OKAY, THANK YOU. AND I'M SORRY, ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, IF I MAY. THE UNIT MIX, IS THIS 100% MARKET RATE? [43:31] **Development Lead (Applicant):** COMMISSIONER SHEPPARD, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT. 80% MARKET RATE WITH 20% AT 50% AMI. AGAIN AMI AREA MEDIAN INCOME, SO THE HENNEPIN COUNTY INCOME REQUIREMENTS AND THAT'S A MIXTURE, SO IT'S NOT ALL ONE. WE HAVE STUDIO ALCOVE WHICH IS A SMALL ONE BED, ONE BED PLUS DEN, TWO BED, AND THREE. SO WE'D HAVE A VARIETY OF THOSE 20% AFFORDABLE WHICH IS 46 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THOSE DIFFERENT UNIT TYPES EVENLY SPREAD OUT AND EVENLY SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE BUILDING. THAT IS AN INCLUSIONARY ZONING, EXCEEDING THAT REQUIREMENT OF 8%. [44:09] **Commissioner Sheppard:** EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. [44:11] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OTHER QUESTIONS? SO IN REGARD TO WHAT WAS IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD'S LETTER. SO THEY ASKED FOR LARGER WINDOWS, YOU'RE SAYING YOU ALREADY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS BY A LARGE AMOUNT. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE RELUCTANT TO GO EVEN LARGER, IS THAT CORRECT? OR WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO LARGER WINDOWS? [44:36] **Development Lead (Applicant):** I THINK FROM A DESIGN AESTHETIC STANDPOINT, GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE ELEVATIONS I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK AGAIN TO ENERGY CODE MODELING AND WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF GLAZING AND ALLOWED INCREASE. I KNOW WE'RE MEETING MORE THAN THE 20% REQUIREMENT RULE ON THAT FIRST FLOOR. SO OPEN TO CONDITIONS TONIGHT. WE ARE VERY MUCH ADAMANT ABOUT THE MOMENTUM AND NOT PURSUING WITH DELAYS ON THIS DUE TO KIND OF DESIGN TWEAKS, WILLING TO CONSIDER CONDITIONS. BUT AGAIN WITH FURTHER CONSIDERATION WE ARE PROPOSING SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT IS MEETING CODE AND OFTEN EXCEEDING IT IN MANY AREAS AND WHEN WE EXCEED IT, IT'S FOR A REASON. WE SEE VALUE IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT, BUT ALSO FLEXIBILITY IN THE WALL SPACE THAT WE DO HAVE TO AGAIN ALLOW FOR THE MOST FLEXIBILITY OF SOME LARGE AMENITY SPACE THAT COULD LATER CHANGE TO COMMERCIAL WITH AGAIN COMING BACK THROUGH IF THAT WAS THE DESIRE. SO IT GIVES US THE MOST FLEXIBILITY, WHAT WE SEE AS THE MOST CALL IT WINDOW WITHOUT LIMITING THE FUTURE KIND OF USE AND FINAL, FINAL PROGRAMMING THAT WE'RE NOT REQUIRED, CALL IT TO BE AT THAT STAGE DURING THESE ENTITLEMENTS. [45:51] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WALK-UP UNITS, BUT HOW ABOUT BALCONIES WOULD YOU BE RECEPTIVE TO ADDING MORE BALCONIES? [46:01] **Development Lead (Applicant):** TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, WE HAVE BALCONIES BASICALLY ON EVERY UNIT PROPOSED EXCEPT FOR A FEW OF THOSE GROUND FLOOR UNITS WHICH IS BASICALLY LIMITED TO ABOUT 15 UNITS ON 31st AND GIRARD. CHANGING THOSE TO PATIO DOORS WITH JULIET BALCONIES VERSUS A WINDOW IS SOMETHING WE COULD CONSIDER AS A CONDITION TONIGHT FOR APPROVAL. I WOULD SAY I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD SPEAK FROM A STAFF NEXUS STANDPOINT ABOUT WHICH YOU CAN DO. I DON'T KNOW THE LEGALITIES OF THAT. I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD SEE AS A LIGHT DECISION AS A DEVELOPER FROM WHAT A TENANT WOULD EXPERIENCE IN VALUE. WE DON'T DO JULIET BALCONY FROM OUR EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE DON'T USE THEM VERSUS AN OPERABLE WINDOW, THEY'D BE MORE LIKELY TO USE AND OPEN AND CREATE, I THINK, THE IDEA OF JULIET BALCONIES IS PROBABLY TO FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE PRESENCE ON THAT STREET LEVEL, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE A COUNTERBALANCE TO THAT BY PEOPLE AGAIN NOT WANTING TO OPEN THEIR PATIO DOOR TO JUST LEAN OUT VERSUS OPERATING A WINDOW TO GET IN THE AIR FLOW AND HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU MIGHT ALSO WHEN THERE'S A FARMERS MARKET HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FEEL THAT LIVELINESS, BUT OPENING YOUR PATIO DOOR AND HAVING A JULIET WOULD BE LIMITED TO JUST IT'S EVERY OTHER UNIT YOU SAW TODAY PRESENTED HAS FULL WALK OUT BALCONIES THAT ARE USABLE. [47:31] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY. IT DOES SEEM TO BE PLAUSIBLE THAT THERE COULD BE A NEXUS AROUND VISIBLE INTEREST WITH THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING? THANK YOU. COULD WE HAVE PEOPLE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING SO I HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY THERE ARE OF YOU. SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT TEN? OKAY. GREAT, AND IF ONE OF YOU IS REPRESENTING THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, I'D BE INTERESTED WHEN YOU SPEAK TO HEAR MORE SPECIFICITY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING. WE CAN GO AHEAD IF YOU CAN JUST COME RIGHT UP, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. [48:19] **Scott Engal:** YES, HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SCOTT ENGAL, I'M THE EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR FOR THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER, WE SUPPORT THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE PROJECT WITH THE 228 UNITS OF A HOUSING AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF ALL OF THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS COMING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LIKE THE MASSING, THE SIZE, THE HEIGHT SEEMS TO FIT THE AREA, SO WE'RE FINE WITH THAT. I THINK OUR CONCERNS ARE THAT THIS PLAN HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT MEETING THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ON APRIL 30TH. WE DID NOT GET TO SEE THIS PLAN UNTIL JUNE 30TH IS WHEN WE FINALLY SAW THE REVISED PLANS. PREVIOUSLY THERE WERE 7,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL ALONG THE HENNEPIN FRONTAGE WHICH IS A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. IT'S DISAPPOINTING, I UNDERSTAND MAYBE YOU CANNOT REQUIRE COMMERCIAL, BUT IT IS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A BIKE STORAGE ROOM AND MAIL ROOM AND STUFF. SO IT'S NOT THE WORST THING, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY ACTIVE IN A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. ALSO THE WINDOWS WE WERE REFERRING TO ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR. PREVIOUSLY THOSE RESIDENTIAL AMENITIES THAT ARE NOW ON HENNEPIN WERE ALONG 31st STREET AND GIRARD. AND NOW THEY'VE BEEN MOVED TO HENNEPIN AND SO THE GROUND-LEVEL UNITS ON GIRARD AND 31st, THEY LOOK ODD BECAUSE THE WINDOWS ARE SO SMALL. ALL OF THE OTHER UNITS IN THE BUILDING ON THE UPPER FLOORS HAVE THOSE DECKS WITH THE LARGE BALCONIES AND SO THE WINDOWS LOOK WEIRD AND THE WAY THEY'RE HIGHER UP, THEY'RE OFFSET FROM THE STREET. AND SO THAT'S OUR CONCERN IS THE PUBLIC REALM OF THIS PROPOSED BUILDING IS REALLY DULL. SO IT'S GREAT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A U SHAPE AND IT'S GOING TO FRONT HENNEPIN, 31st, AND GIRARD, UNLIKE THE CURRENT PROPERTY. BUT THE GROUND-LEVEL UNITS ARE NOT GREAT WITH THOSE SMALL WINDOWS. ADDITIONALLY, SOUTH UPTOWN DOES REFER TO GIRARD AS THE GIRARD MEANDER, WE REALLY LIKE THAT CONCEPT FROM ALL OF THOSE YEARS AGO, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT MAKING IT A PEDESTRIAN-ORIENTED STREET. TO THIS DAY, IT CONTINUES TO SORT OF LOOK LIKE A GLORIFIED ALLEY, AND I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE A LOT IN THAT WAY WITH THAT 20-FOOT FIRE LANE AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLANTINGS, THERE'S NO ARTWORK, THERE'S NO SEEDING. THE MATERIALS, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A COLORED CONCRETE SIDEWALK, A 6-FOOT SIDEWALK, BUT THAT'S NOT THE MOST INTERESTING CONCEPT. WE WERE HOPING FOR A PUBLIC SPACE, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT THE USE TO REQUIRE SOME PUBLIC AMENITIES THROUGH THAT AND THAT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING IN THIS. AND THEN THE LAST THING IS THE WALL, THE SOUTH WALL FOR THE FUTURE 7 POINTS, IT'S GOING TO STRETCH FROM HENNEPIN TO GIRARD. THERE'S A COURTYARD THERE. THERE'S 20 SOME FEET BETWEEN THE NEW APARTMENT BUILDING AND THE FUTURE WALL. AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VISIBLE. AND SO WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN THE LETTER, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DID ADD SOME OF THESE PANELS, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE VERTICAL PLANTINGS, MILLS, SOMETHING CREATIVE TO -- THAT WALL IS GOING TO BE 200 SOME FEET LONG. SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S SORT OF A MINOR POINT, BUT WE ASKED FOR MAYBE AN ADDITION OF COLOR IN THE PALLET OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING, MAYBE A BRIGHTER COLOR, BUT BEYOND THAT, I THINK THAT'S OUR CONCERNS. SO THANK YOU. [52:17] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. I HAVE GIVEN MY STAFF A SIGN-UP SHEET WITH 15 TESTIFIERS. I'M GOING TO READ FROM THIS NOW. LAUREN McCARLY IS THE NEXT ONE WE HAVE UP. THEN UP NEXT WOULD BE JUDY. LAUREN WELCOME. [52:40] **Lauren McCarly:** HELLO. MY NAME IS LAUREN McCARLY. I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT THE LETTER SAID. I THINK THE LETTER WAS ORIGINALLY ASKING FOR A ONE-MONTH POSTPONEMENT TO CONSIDER SOME OF THESE THINGS FURTHER. I UNDERSTAND DEPENDING ON WHAT THE RULES MAYBE, MAYBE THE MOST WE CAN ASK FOR IS AT LEAST TO URGE A RECOMMENDATION FOR SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE OF GREAT CONCERN FOR WHAT IS PRETTY MUCH A HIGH PROFILE INTERSECTION. IT'S GARNERED A LOT OF CONVERSATION FOR A REASON. AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES THAT WE SAW FROM THE PREVIOUS ITERATION OF THIS DESIGN WAS THE INCLUSION OF THE APARTMENT AMENITIES ON THE GROUND FLOOR. YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ACTIVATION ON THAT. AND YOU THINK OF MAJOR INTERSECTIONS, YOU WANT THINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND OUT. YOU WANT GREEN SCAPES. YOU WANT A STREET SCAPE. AND THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT GET A GROUND FLOOR UNIT WITH A PATIO ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SIT OUTSIDE AND THEY HELP KIND OF INCREASE THAT ACTIVATION. SO WE WOULD STILL LIKE FOR A RECOMMENDATION FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS TO STILL BE CONSIDERED. WE AGREE THERE SHOULD BE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR VARIATIONS, SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF REFLECTIVE OF THE KIND OF ICONIC AND UNIQUE POSITION OF THIS BUILDING AND THE SPACE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE RELATIVE TO UPTOWN. IT'S A PRETTY BIG SPOT IT'S TAKING UP. AND REALLY THAT STREET ACTIVATION IS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN. AND WITH SO MUCH SPACE TAKEN UP ALONG IT THAT'S NOT REALLY ACTIVATING THE PUBLIC, WE ALSO DID HAVE KIND OF IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED -- THINGS THAT MAY NOT EVEN HINDER THE SCHEDULE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO FOCUS ON THAT STRETCH BETWEEN HENNEPIN AND GIRARD AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ALMOST WIDEN IT AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A PUBLIC SPACE AND ACTIVATE IT MORE AND INCORPORATE A PRIVATE COURTYARD WITH A PUBLIC SPACE AND MAKE IT'S SOMEWHERE THAT'S REALLY AN EXTENSION OF THE PUBLIC SPACE. YEAH, SO THAT'S MOST OF WHAT I HAD TO SAY. AND A LOT OF THAT IS KIND OF PERSONAL STUFF, BUT I DO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. [55:04] **Judy (Business Owner):** I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF THE UPS STORE IN UPTOWN FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE UPTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FOR MANY YEARS. THE URGENCY FOR THE NORTH POND PARTNERSHIP PROJECT IS CRITICAL TO THE GREATER UPTOWN COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED FOR FAR TOO LONG IN THE UPTOWN AREA WITH THE LACK OF DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE CONTINUED TO WATCH BUSINESSES EXIT THE AREA IN RECORD NUMBERS. NORTH POND DESERVES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO GET THIS PROJECT OFF THE GROUND AND FINALLY COMPLETED. NORTH POND HAS BEEN A TRUE PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY BY HOSTING MULTIPLE EVENTS AT NO CHARGE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND NOW SUPPLYING SIGNIFICANT SPACE, STAFF, RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE UPTOWN FARMERS MARKET. NORTH POND IS A BUSINESS THAT LEADS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED BOTH WITH THEIR TIME, RESOURCES, AND MONEY. THEY ARE ASKING FOR OUR HELP TO BRING A MUCH NEEDED PROJECT TO THE AREA THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS, A PROJECT THAT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACT ON UPTOWN'S FUTURE. THEY HAVE ACTIVELY PURSUED INPUT FROM ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND HAVE SHOWN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND SUPPORT A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN FOR THIS WONDERFUL CHANGE TO A HUGE UNDERUTILIZED SPOT IN UPTOWN. THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE ANOTHER HUGE POSITIVE MILESTONE OF THE MANY WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE HAPPENING IN THE GREATER UPTOWN AREA. BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO AND MANY SPACES THAT NEED TO BE REACTIVATED. PLEASE LET THIS PROJECT PROCEED AND HELP MOVE ANY OTHER PROPOSED PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [57:00] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU, JUDY. NEXT WE HAVE HARVEY ZUCKLAND AND ON DECK WILL BE MICHAEL LANDER. [57:15] **Harvey Zuckland:** THANK YOU, MY NAME IS HARVEY ZUCKLAND. I LIVE IN THE EAST -- NEIGHBORHOOD. THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE 7 POINTS CENTER. SO WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS. AND I SERVE ON THE LIVABILITY COMMITTEE WHICH IS ACTUALLY MEETING TONIGHT AND THIS IS THE ITEM ON THEIR AGENDA TONIGHT. WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT THIS WAS BEING DISCUSSED TODAY AND WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ACTUALLY TO DISCUSS IT AND GIVE SOME FEEDBACK. I FOUND OUT EARLIER TODAY THAT THE MEETING THAT WAS HELD ON APRIL 30TH, OUR LEADERSHIP DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF THAT. WE DID FIND THAT NOTICE WAS SENT, THAT LETTER WAS SENT ON THE 23RD. AN EMAIL WAS SENT ON THE 28TH WHICH WAS ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT DIDN'T GET TO OUR LEADERSHIP, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW, WE DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND WEIGH IN ON THAT. SO MY PURPOSE IN BEING HERE TODAY, IS TO SAY URGENCY IS ONE THING, BUT DOING IT RIGHT IS ANOTHER THING. CAN WE REALLY GIVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SOME TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS AND GIVE SOME FEEDBACK. WE ALSO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTIVITY. I OWNED A BUSINESS ON 26TH FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I TRAVELED THAT STRETCH EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE AND I STILL DO AS A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M VERY INTIMATELY AWARE OF HENNEPIN AVENUE AND IT'S NEEDS AND THE NEED TO DO THINGS RIGHT. I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTIVATION. AS I LOOK AT IT AND I'M TALKING PERSONALLY NOW, TO CALL THIS A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT IS IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A WAY OF GETTING AROUND THE COMMERCIAL SPACE. WHEN I SAW THE NEW PLAN, I ASSUMED IT STILL HAD THE COMMERCIAL SPACE IN IT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VITAL PART OF IT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SMALL BUSINESS PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED SOME 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS NEVER CODIFIED I KNOW, BUT IT CALLED FOR RESIDENTIAL ON THE FIRST FLOOR, COMMERCIAL ABOVE THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD STILL HONOR THAT PLAN TO HAVE THAT KIND OF ACTIVATION, THAT STREET-LEVEL ACTIVATIONS THAT EXISTS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS SITE. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A SLIGHT STEP BACK AND SAY LET'S MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD YET AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SAY PLEASE CAN WE WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER WHILE WE'RE MEETING TO TALK ABOUT IT AND SEE WHAT THE FEEDBACK WILL BE AND HOW OUR BOARD WILL REFLECT ON IT. THANK YOU. [59:44] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. MICHAEL LANDER AND ON DECK WILL BE SAM ROCKWELL. [59:58] **Michael Lander:** GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MICHAEL LANDER. I'M AN URBAN INFILL DEVELOPER. I LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS. MY FIRST PROJECT IN 1991 WAS THE STATION 23 LOFTS AT 3524 HENNEPIN. MY MOST RECENT PROJECT IS ONE BLOCK FROM THIS SITE AND IT'S ALSO OUR OFFICE. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I ATTENDED A JUNE 21ST STAKEHOLDER MEETING AND GOT INSPIRED. A LOT OF PEOPLE TRULY CARE ABOUT UPTOWN. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMPANY FOR COMING INTO THIS CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT WITH A MAJOR INVESTMENT AND A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN UPTOWN. NEW HOUSING IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF UPTOWN FORWARD. BUT THIS IMPORTANT LOCATION THE CURRENT CONDITIONS DEMAND MORE. DELAYS ARE EXPENSIVE, BUT THE WRONG PROJECT HAS MANY MORE COSTS INVOLVED FOR ALL INVOLVED. TO LIMIT MY TESTIMONY, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK TO THE WORK WE'VE DONE, I'M GOING TO SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD A COPY, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WORK HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DONE ALREADY TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, ENGAGE THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND CREATE A PROJECT THAT BETTER REFLECTS BOTH MARKET CONDITIONS AND THE COMMUNITY GOALS. THE PUBLIC IS THE LANDER GROUP, MY COMPANY'S PRO BONO INITIATIVE. IT WAS FORMED IN 2013 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS THAT DON'T OFTEN HAVE THESE RESOURCES. WE'VE WORKED ON MANY OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL AND BEYOND. WE HAVE PRODUCED A PUBLIC REALM CENTERED PLAN AND AN ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN FOR THE PROJECT WE CALL UPTOWN FORWARD. IT INCLUDES HOUSING, PLUS A CENTRAL PLAZA, HUMAN SCALE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS EACH DIRECTION, A PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY BASED ON CONNECTION AND ACTIVATION. THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT. WE CREATE SMALL RETAIL SPACE AND A RETAIL STRATEGY THAT WORKS TO RESTORE THE MARKET AND GREEN BEAUTIFUL STREET SCAPES ON HENNEPIN, 31st, AND GIRARD AND RESIDENTIAL STOOPS AT GRADE. WE HAVE SHOWN THE PLAN TO MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS. WE MADE IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENTS AFTER FEEDBACK AND SHARED IT WITH THEM JULY 16TH. WE'VE OFFERED TO ASSIST ON A PRO BONO BASIS THE NEXT 30 DAYS. THIS AREA NEEDS ALL OF THE RESOURCES IT CAN MUSTER TO MOVE FORWARD. THEY CAN BE A GREAT ANCHOR AND PRODUCES GOOD BUILDINGS. OTHER STAND BY WOULD BE THE SUPPORTING CAST. WE ALL NEED A TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT AND WE CAN GET IT DONE FAST. WE ARE READY TO GO TO WORK WITH THEM TOMORROW AND EVERY DAY. PLEASE CONTINUE THIS APPLICATION FOR 30 DAYS AND GIVE US THAT TIME. THANK YOU. [1:02:35] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. SAM ROCKWELL, THEN ARON RUBENSTEIN. [1:02:43] **Sam Rockwell:** THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR WORKING? IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT THINGS ON THE PROJECTOR? THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SAM ROCKWELL. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE TRANSIT COMMENTS. MY NAME IS SAM ROCKWELL. I LIVE AT 31st AND COLFAX ABOUT A HALF HOUR WALK SOUTH OF THE PROJECT SITE. I AM A REGULAR USER OF UPTOWN AND MY CHILDREN ARE AS WELL. ACTUALLY MY SON'S 11TH BIRTHDAY WAS AT THE ROLLER RINK IN THIS SITE. SO I'VE GOT SOME SKIN IN THE GAME HERE. YOU KNOW, THIS PROPOSAL TO ME SAYS THAT UPTOWN IS DEAD WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ALL HEAR. THERE'S NOT ACTIVATION AND COMMERCIAL HERE IS A REAL VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FOR UPTOWN. AND IT IS TRUE THAT THE COMMISSION CANNOT REQUIRE COMMERCIAL UNDER THE ZONING CODE. BUT WITHIN THE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS, YOU ALSO MUST FIND CONSISTENCY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THAT IS SEPARATE FROM CONSISTENCY WITH THE ZONING CODE. THERE ARE ZONING CODES WHERE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE CONFORMANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, OURS DOES. SO YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT'S NOT A RUBBER STAMP TO LOOK AT THE ZONING CODE AND SAY WELL THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MUST BE MET. YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO WHAT DOES THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAY HERE? WELL, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HERE IS DESTINATION MIXED USE. DESTINATION MIXED USE SAYS COMMERCIAL RETAIL USES ARE REQUIRED AT THE STREET LEVEL OF ALL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CATEGORY. WE HEARD THE APPLICANT EARLIER TODAY SAY QUOTE, I WROTE IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S HELPFUL, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE, WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL P.U.D. SITE. THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT SITE. THE SOUTH PART OF 7 POINTS IS THE DEVELOPMENT SITE. IF WE LOOK AT THAT SITE, IT IS UP THERE. I CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE IT. IT'S UPSIDE DOWN. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SITE WHICH IS HERE, IT HAS MULTIPLE PARCELS. AND THE PART THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOWN HERE IS THE PARCEL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE SITE. IN THE 2040 PLAN, THE ENTIRE SITE IS DESTINATION MIXED USE. YOU MIGHT SAY YES, BUT IT ALL OPERATES AS ONE BUILDING SO WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE COMMERCIAL ON THAT ONE BUILDING. WELL THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE IDS CENTER BLOCK RIGHT HERE. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT THE 2040 PLAN DID FOR THAT, IT ACTUALLY GAVE TWO DIFFERENT USES. I'M USING THE IDS AS AN EXAMPLE HERE BECAUSE CRYSTAL COURT IS LIKE 7 POINTS. FOR EXAMPLE NOAH, THE RESTAURANT IN CRYSTAL COURT, THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THIS PARCEL HERE. IT ALL OPERATES AS ONE UNIT. BUT IT HAS DIFFERENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATIONS. YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION FOR THIS SITE. AND IT'S NOT JUST RESIDUAL FROM THE 2030 PLAN. THIS IS THE 2030 PLAN NEXT TO THE 2040 PLAN. THIS IS WHAT WE USED TO CALL ACTIVITY CENTERS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE ACTIVITY CENTER MOVED TO DESTINATION MIXED USE, BUT THERE WERE ADJUSTMENTS. THIS PARTS GONE. THIS PARTS GONE. BUT THIS PART, 7 POINTS, IT DID NOT CHANGE. THE INTENT OF THE 2040 PLAN IS TO HAVE COMMERCIAL, REQUIRE COMMERCIAL ACCORDING TO PLAN IN ALL DEVELOPMENT. REQUIRE COMMERCIAL ON ALL DEVELOPMENT. AND THEY COULD HAVE EVEN SPLIT THESE PARCELS UP KNOWING IF THEY'RE ONE BUILDING, ACTUALLY THE 2030 PLAN THIS IS ONE BUILDING SPLIT RIGHT IN HALF. PART OF IT IS IN THE ACTIVITY CENTER, PART OF IT IS NOT. THE SE KIND OF ANALYSIS FLOWS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GOODS AND SERVICES CORRIDOR. WHICH IS ANOTHER DESIGNATION WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. QUOTE, INCREASE ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL GOODS AND SERVICES BY REQUIRING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN WITH THE GREATEST DENSITY PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC TRANSIT AND SERVICE. THAT CORRIDOR GOES RIGHT THROUGH HERE, THIS AREA AS WE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES FROM COMMISSIONER CONLEY IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TRANSIT AREAS IN THE CITY. THERE IS THE B LINE. THERE IS THE E LINE OPENING SHORTLY. THERE IS THE UPTOWN TRANSIT CENTER. THERE IS PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF THE LAKES. THERE'S PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT COMMERCIAL IN THE AREA. EVEN IF WE DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT COMMERCIAL BE THERE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ALSO SAYS THAT THE CONDITIONAL USE WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY. THE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE VICINITY ARE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. WE KNOW AND WE HAVE THESE DISTRICTS LIKE IN THE 2040 PLAN, THESE DISTRICTS OF DESTINATION MIXED USE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN COMMERCIAL IS NEAR OTHER COMMERCIAL, WE CREATE A DISTRICT AND THAT DISTRICT THRIVES. IF WE START TO UNDERMINE THE DISTRICT, THAT DOES OF COURSE IMPACT AND INJURE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICT. NOW, I AM NOT ASKING THAT THE COMMISSION DENY THIS APPLICATION. BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD HERE. AND I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THIS COMMISSION TO SEE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER DEVELOPMENT THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS WITH A CONTINUANCE. THIS IS WHAT THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ASKED FOR. I THINK THERE IS JUSTIFICATION TO TAKE A CONTINUANCE TO ASK THAT CONFORMANCE WITH THE 2040 PLAN BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE APPLICANT AND TO REREVIEW THIS PROPOSAL IN 30 DAYS. THANK YOU. [1:09:40] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. JUST TO NOTE, SO WE LOSE OUR CAPTIONING AT 6:30. I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE GOOD ON THAT, SO I DIDN'T PUT ANY TIME LIMITS ON ANYBODY. BUT I MIGHT HAVE MISESTIMATED THAT. WE HAVE NINE TESTIFIERS LEFT SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PROCEED AS QUICKLY AS YOU'RE ABLE. NEXT WE HAVE ARON RUBENSTEIN WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC. [1:10:07] **Aron Rubenstein:** GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M ARON RUBENSTEIN. I LIVE AT 33rd EMERSON IN UPTOWN. THANKS TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. I SENT A FOUR PAGE LETTER TO YOU EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON VIA EMAIL AND I DON'T EXPECT THAT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, BUT I'LL TRY TO HIT MOST OF THE POINTS QUICKLY. I OPPOSED THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED. I AGREE WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT SAM ROCKWELL JUST SAID TO YOU. IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR UPTOWN. UPTOWN IS IN CRISIS, IT NEEDS MOMENTUM AND IT NEEDS A REALLY GREAT PROJECT TO BRING LIFE AND BUSINESS AND PEOPLE BACK INTO UPTOWN AND THIS IS NOT THAT PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO UPTOWN. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SO MUCH BETTER. SO I SUPPORT A 30 DAY LAYOVER AS WELL. THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY CAN'T REQUIRE THEM TO WORK WITH BILLED PUBLIC, BUT THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. MY LETTER GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT HOW I THINK THE PROJECT IS AS PROPOSED CONFLICTS WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE ZONING CODE AND THE SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. TO NAME A FEW, IT'S TOO BIG. THE HEIGHT IS FINE, BUT IT'S NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE CHARACTER AND CONTEXT. AS HAS BEEN SAID IT CONTAINS NO RETAIL USES ALONG HENNEPIN, THE PRIME RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL BLOCK IN UPTOWN. WHAT IS PROPOSED IS NOT ACTIVE AT ALL, IT HAS ONE SINGLE LEAF DOOR ON THAT WHOLE BUILDING. IN THE LETTER I MENTION REGARDING THE SCALE AND MASSING THAT THIS BUILDING OCCUPIES 43% OF THE BLOCK FACE OF HENNEPIN FROM LAKE TO 31st. I ACTUALLY MISCALCULATED, THAT'S THE BUILDING SITE, BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE 20-FOOT OR SO GAP BETWEEN THE BUILDING. SO THE BUILDING SITE OCCUPIES 33% OF THE BLOCK FACE AND IT HAS ONE SINGLE LEAF DOOR. I'LL GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE STAFF REPORT THAT I THINK ARE IN ERROR. I THINK THE PROJECT WOULD ENDANGER THE GENERAL WELFARE. IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HINDER RATHER THAN HELP THE REVITALIZATION OF UPTOWN. NEW HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THAT ALONE WILL NOT HELP UPTOWN AS EVIDENCED BY ALL OF THE HUNDREDS OF NEW HOUSING AND NEW HOUSING PROJECTS ALONG THE GREENWAY ALONG LAKE STREET IN RECENT YEARS. AS MR. ROCKWELL NOTED, THE PROJECT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE COMP PLAN POLICY IS THAT COMMERCIAL USES ARE REQUIRED AT STREET LEVEL OF ALL DEVELOPMENT TO ENCOURAGE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY BEYOND TYPICAL DAYTIME BUSINESS HOURS. IF CITY STAFF OR THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN VERIFY THAT STAFF INTERPRETATION THAT THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS PROJECT, THAT THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING. THE STAFF REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT THE GROUND FLOOR DOES HAVE ACTIVE FUNCTIONS AND I WOULD ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE WITH THAT. WHAT ELSE DO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT? THE APPEARANCE AND COMPATIBILITY OF THE BUILDING WITH INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS IN THE AREA, I WOULD DISAGREE THAT AS I SAID THE MASSING AND SCALE ARE WAY OUT OF CHARACTER WITH THE AREA. THE PORTION OF 7 POINTS MALL IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THIS PROJECT SITE CONSISTS OF FOUR SEPARATE DISTINCT BUILDINGS OR FACADES AND ACROSS HENNEPIN DIRECTLY FROM THIS SITE, THERE ARE THREE BUILDINGS WITH VARIOUS ENTRIES TO SEVERAL BUSINESSES. SO IT'S NOT CAM -- COMPATIBLE TO THE SURROUNDING AREA. I AGREE ABOUT THE GIRARD MEANDER. WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MUCH STRONGER AMENITY TO THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THIS PUD AND IT'S BEEN UNDERWHELMING AND I THINK THIS PROJECT WILL FURTHER DEGRADE THAT AMENITY. IT HAS A LOT OF UPGRADE POTENTIAL TO BE MORE OF AN FACT VATED PEDESTRIAN AREA THAT IS A BENEFIT TO UPTOWN, TO THIS PROJECT AND TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THE 6-FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK AT THE SOUTH END I THINK IS COMPLETELY INADEQUATE AS AN ENTRY TO THIS PEDESTRIAN AREA. IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAKE KNOWN I'VE BEEN A 20 YEAR MEMBER OF THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, BUT TONIGHT I'M SPEAKING SOLELY FOR MYSELF, NOT REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION OR ITS POSITIONS. WE ALL WANT TO SEE UPTOWN REVITALIZED. WE HAVE DIDN'T OPINIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET THERE. I AGREE THIS PROJECT IS WAY TOO IMPORTANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THIS PROJECT WHICH HAS JUST REALLY NOT ADEQUATE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MINNEAPOLIS IS TOO DESPERATE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND SETTLES FOR AN ADEQUATE PROJECT THAT SERIOUSLY HURTS THE CITY IN THE LONG RUN. SO I HOPE YOU WILL LAY THIS PROJECT OVER SO IT CAN BE REVISED. I THINK UPTOWN REALLY NEEDS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO BRING BUSINESS TO PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT IT, AND IT'S REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I WOULD HATE FOR ALL OF US TO MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. [1:15:33] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO SET THE TIMER -- ARE YOU -- [1:15:36] **Staff:** BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS STARTED WITHOUT THE TIMER, WE NEED TO GIVE ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SO WE CANNOT USE THE TIMER. [1:15:47] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY. I'M GOING TO BEG PEOPLE IN ORDER FOR US TO GET THROUGH EVERYBODY, I'M ASKING YOU TO LIMIT YOURSELF TO TWO MINUTES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TIME FOR DISCUSSION AFTERWARD. NEXT WE HAVE ERIC FOLLOWED BY BART DAVIS. [1:15:58] **Eric Enge:** I WILL ONLY TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF. MY NAME IS ERIC ENGE. I'M A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE WEDGE NEIGHBORHOOD. A 35 YEAR BUSINESS OWNER IN THE AREA. PAST 5, 8 YEARS THAT MULTIUSE BUILDING HAS BEEN DEAD. AND IT IS THE HEART OF UPTOWN, PART OF IT. AND WE FINALLY HAVE A COMPANY THAT'S MOVING FORWARD, HAS A PRETTY GOOD DESIGN. I THINK IT MIGHT NOT BE PERFECT FOR EVERYBODY WHICH IS HARD TO DO, BUT WE HAVE MOMENTUM AND WE'RE STARTING TO GET MOMENTUM IN UPTOWN. AND TO DELAY THIS AND TO DELAY THIS UNTIL WE GET IT PERFECTLY FOR EVERYBODY'S SITUATION IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. SO I PROPOSE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND KEEP UPTOWN MOVING FORWARD AND KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING THAT WE HAVE. I'VE SEEN MORE BUSINESS, I WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES EVERY DAY, AND I SEE MORE AND MORE SMALL BUSINESSES POPPING UP. THEY ARE EXCITED TO SEE SOMETHING GOING FORWARD. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO START. THANK YOU. [1:17:15] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. BART DAVIS AND ON DECK WILL BE ANDREA CORBIN. [1:17:26] **Barb Davis:** GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BARB DAVIS. I'M A LOWRY HILL RESIDENT AT IRVING AND DOUGLAS. I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT. I THINK THAT THE ACTIVITY THAT CAN BE A CATALYST FOR MORE ACTIVITY TO MAKE THE BALANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BRING BACK THE PEOPLE THAT CAN REALLY SUPPORT WHAT'S GOING ON AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE PROJECT AND THE TIMELINESS OF STARTING THE PROJECT NOW CAN BE IN FACT THAT CATALYST TO BRING OTHER THINGS IN AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED AT ALL IS THAT THERE IS A VACANT LOT ON LAKE STREET THAT IS CLEARLY PART OF THE SAME PROJECT THAT NEEDS MORE CONSIDERATION AND CAN TAKE MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL THE NEEDS OF THAT CORNER BECAUSE UPTOWN IS NEEDING TO BECOME SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN IT IS AND I THINK THIS PROJECT SATISFIES THE RENTAL OPPORTUNITY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE IN TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT AND DRAW INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. [1:18:41] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. ANDREA CORBIN AND NEXT WILL BE LAURA McCROFT. [1:18:58] **Andrea Corbin:** HI, MY NAME IS ANDREA CORBIN. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UPTOWN ASSOCIATION. AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE -- BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS IN THE UPTOWN AREA. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. WE ARE STRUGGLING BIG TIME TO GET THE REST OF THE MALL FILTERING NOW. WE HAVE A LOT OF RETAIL SPACE IN THE MALL, BUT WE'RE STRUGGLING TO GET FILLED ESPECIALLY ON THAT STREET WHERE PARKING IS LIMITED. SO THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT COME INTO THAT CORRIDOR NEED TO BE CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE PARKING THAT SOMEBODY CAN COME IN AND OUT. SO IF THEY'RE PICKING UP FLOWERS OR THEY'RE PICKING UP FOOD, IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT STRETCH TO FILL WITH COMMERCIAL. BUT I THINK WE HAVE A HUGE CORNER THAT HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMERCIAL SPACES AND WITH THIS PROJECT, I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO SAM MACON WHO'S THE OWNER OF THE 7 POINTS MALL, AND HE SAID THAT THERE ARE THREE TENANTS ON HOLD WAITING TO MOVE INTO THE MALL, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE THE INVESTMENT WITH THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD IN ORDER TO MOVE INTO THE MALL. SO THERE IS A LOT HINGING ON THIS PROJECT AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. AS YOU KNOW WITH A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE, YOU MISS A GOOD WINDOW OF TIME AND YOU MISS AN OPPORTUNITY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING THAT AND LIKE ERIC ENGE SAID, WE CAN HAVE 50 DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE 50 DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAPPY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. [1:20:18] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. LAUREN McCROFT AND ON DECK WILL BE NATASHA GREELEY. [1:20:33] **Lauren McGraw:** HI, I'M LAUREN McGRAW. I'M THE PROPERTY MANAGER AT 7 POINTS AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT. JUST LIKE ANDREA SAID, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH SEVERAL TENANTS. AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE STRUGGLED TO SEE ANYBODY COMING IN THAT WANTS TO BE IN UPTOWN. RIGHT? WE'VE GOT THREE THAT ARE VERY, VERY INTERESTED, BUT THEY'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO BE INVESTING IN UPTOWN. WE'VE GOT A PROJECT HERE, WE'VE GOT A GREAT DEVELOPER. THAT'S COMING TO THE TABLE. LET'S GET IT DONE. LET'S PUT LIFE BACK INTO UPTOWN. THANK YOU. [1:21:05] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. SORRY -- WERE YOU NATASHA GREELEY? GO AHEAD. I LOST TRACK OF THE ORDER. AND ON DECK WILL BE MICHAEL. [1:21:31] **Natasha Griling:** HI, I'M NATASHA GRILING. I'M A PROPERTY OWNER IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE PROPERTY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS WAYS IN THE UPTOWN AREA FOR MANY YEARS. SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE GREATER CITY REALLY. IT COULD BE A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. I BELIEVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AS MANY HAVE SAID BEFORE. THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM BEHIND THIS PROJECT, I BELIEVE THEY TREAT THIS AS THEY DO OTHER PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE LONG-TERM INVESTORS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY'VE BROUGHT FORTH IS NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY, BUT WILL MAKE THE AREA BETTER. AND ALSO JUST BY BRINGING THAT MULTIFAMILY BUILDING WITH GREAT AMENITIES AND IT'S WELL THOUGHT OUT IN MY OPINION. IT'S AN ASSET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WILL BRING QUALITY HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY THE IMMEDIATE AREA, BUT ALSO OTHER RETAIL OUTSIDE ANY OTHER PARTS OF UPTOWN AND GREATER UPTOWN. LASTLY, THE PROJECT HAS REALLY BEEN IN THE WORKS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. AND SO I BELIEVE AS OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT THE TIME IS NOW TO EMBRACE THAT MOMENTUM AND MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD BECAUSE EACH DELAY IS PUTTING RENEWED LEASING ACTIVITY IN NOT ONLY 7 POINTS BUT OTHER AREAS AS MENTIONED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ZONES ON HOLD. NO ONE WANTS TO BE FIRST, LAST, OR NOT INCLUDED. SO PLEASE HELP UPTOWN AND LET US MOVE FORWARD. [1:22:56] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. MICHAEL TODROS AND UP NEXT WILL BE NIA WILSON. [1:23:11] **Michael Todros:** HI, MY NAME IS MICHAEL TODROS. I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE COMING DOWN HERE AND REALLY SPEAKING ABOUT THIS, THAT'S FIRST OFF. BUT FROM EVERYTHING THAT I SEE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE EVEN HAVING THIS MEETING. WE NEED ACTION AND WE NEED ACTION NOW. I THINK THE VISION HAS ALREADY BEEN SET BY VOTING COMING UP WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PUTTING A COMMISSION AND ADVISORS AND CITY PLANNERS IN. THEY'VE ALREADY SAID THEY SUPPORT IT, THIS IS CLEAR. THEY'RE JOINING THE COMMERCIAL. THERE'S A LOT OF ABANDONED STREETS, ABANDONED BUILDINGS ALL UP AND DOWN HENNEPIN AVENUE, WINDOWS GETTING BUSTED IN EVERY DAY, WINDOWS GETTING BROKEN. THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES CAN BE APPROVED, AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT'S NOT A LIMITATION RIGHT NOW. WHAT'S THE WORST THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU LET THIS PLAN GO THROUGH? IT'S GOING TO BE WE'RE WALKING BY SOME COLORS AND WE'RE WALKING BY COLOR VARIANCES OR WE'RE WALKING BY MORE WINDOWS OR LESS WINDOWS? YOU GOT TO LET THIS THING GO BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE ABOUT IT IS NOT TAKING ACTION, IT'S NOT BRICK THROUGH SOMEBODY'S WINDOW. IT'S ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER THAT FAILS. IT'S ANOTHER PLACE THAT CLOSES, IT'S ANOTHER SHOP THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING ALL DOWN HENNEPIN AVENUE THAT CLOSES. I'VE BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS NOW, MY GOAL WAS TO BE ON HENNEPIN AVENUE AND I FINALLY GOT THERE AND IT'S LIKE JEEZ THIS IS WHAT YOU WORKED SO HARD FOR. I HOPE YOU TAKE ACTION AND LET THE PLAN GO THROUGH AND I AM SUPPORTIVE OF IT. [1:24:43] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. NIA WILSON AND THE LAST PERSON IS NICO WOODS. DO WE HAVE NIA WILSON? OKAY, NICO WOODS? ALL RIGHT, DID ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS? COME ON UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF. [1:25:01] **Phillip Quail:** GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PHILLIP QUAIL. I'M A RESIDENT AT LAKE AND EMERSON SINCE 1982. THANK YOU FOR HEARING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY. I SPEAK TODAY AS A PRIVATE RESIDENT. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER A DELAY OF ONE CYCLE ON THIS PROJECT. IT IS NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME. IT IS CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF UPTOWN THAT YOU GET THIS RIGHT. WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS -- PAST COMMISSIONS HAVE ALLOWED PROJECTS TO GO FORWARD AND LICENSES TO GO FORWARD WITH LARGE SCALE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE BUSINESSES. THE PROOF IS WHERE UPTOWN IS TODAY. SO I RESPECTFULLY, WHILE WE SUPPORT THE EFFORTS, WE SUPPORT THE PROJECT, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WISE TO ALLOW PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER CYCLE AND IMPROVE THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. [1:25:56] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY? BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARITY FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I'M GOING TO ASK SOMEONE TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. WOULD THAT BE YOU? WOULD YOU BE THE BEST PERSON? THE LETTER ASKS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR US TO MEET ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE SO I WANTED TO KNOW MORE SPECIFICITY ABOUT WHICH THING WOULD BE MOST IMPACTFUL FOR THE SOUTH UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD? IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS SOME POSSIBILITY FOR JULIET BALCONIES. COULD YOU CLARIFY HOW MANY BALCONIES YOU WERE SEEKING AND WHERE? [1:26:40] **Scott Engal:** FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE 31st AND GIRARD FACADES ON THE GROUND LEVEL, THOSE ARE WHERE THE SMALL WINDOWS ARE, EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE BUILDING, THERE ARE DECKS WITH PATIO DOORS, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE SMALL WINDOWS, JUST AND THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TIME TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK. WE DIDN'T GET THIS UNTIL JUNE 30TH. SO IT'S 22 DAYS LATER. SO WE HAD HOPED THAT THIS FEEDBACK COULD BE SUBMITTED AND KIND OF WORKED THROUGH BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THESE THINGS WORK. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE THINK THE ENTIRE FACADE OF HENNEPIN AVENUE NEEDS TO BE COMMERCIAL. BUT WE WOULD THINK A LITTLE BIT OF IT MAYBE COULD BE A COMMERCIAL SPACE. MAYBE ADDITIONAL DOORS ALONG THE HENNEPIN AVENUE FRONTAGE. SOME ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING DESIGNS FOR GIRARD AND PERHAPS ALONG THE WALL FOR THE SOUTH WALL OF THE 7 POINTS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ASKING FOR IT ALL, BUT JUST SMALL DESIGN TWEAKS IS ALL WHY WE PUT THEM IN THE LETTER. [1:27:57] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** IF YOU COULD JUST PICK ONE VISUAL ELEMENT DESIGN, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE? [1:28:05] **Scott Engal:** I THINK HENNEPIN AVENUE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VISUAL AND MOST PROMINENT LOCATION. [1:28:11] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THANK YOU. I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS MOTIONS? ANYONE? ALL RIGHT, I'LL START OFF WHERE I'M AT. I AGREE WITH THE TESTIFIERS WHO SAID THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ACTION TONIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT APPLICANTS DESERVE A YES OR NO AND I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO DELAY THINGS UNLESS THE APPLICANT THEMSELVES ASKS FOR THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REACH A DECISION TONIGHT. I DO FEEL THAT THE APPLICATION MEETS THE INTENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A FINDING AGAINST THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE COMMERCIAL, BUT EVEN IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF THE CITY, WE HAVE SO MANY VACANT PROPERTIES THAT I ACTUALLY THINK WE SHOULD REVISIT SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND DO NOT THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA UNDER THESE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS TO EXCEED THOSE REQUIREMENTS. BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A NEXUS IN RELATION TO VISIBLE QUALITY IN RELATION TO THE WALL THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE FOR, I THINK IT WOULD BE REASONABLE FOR US TO DO SOMETHING IN THAT REGARD. SO I'M INTERESTED WHAT OTHER COMMISSIONERS THINK ON THAT. I'M ALSO RECEPTIVE TO THE CONDITION THAT COMMISSIONER WAGNER ALLUDED TO DURING QUESTIONING. COMMISSIONER CONLEY. [1:30:18] **Commissioner Conley:** THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. SO I KIND OF HAVE A COMMENT AND THEN JUST WONDERING IF STAFF COULD CLARIFY A PIECE THAT I HEARD. SO I WOULD JUST SAY MY COMMENT REALLY IS WHEN YOU HAVE BUILDINGS WHERE WE HEARD THAT THE MAIN LEVEL THE WINDOWS ARE SMALL, THEY'RE UP A LITTLE BIT HIGH, I HEARD MURALS, I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MURALS. WE'VE BEEN ACTIVATING LAKE STREET FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW ALONG EAST LAKE STREET AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BRING THAT WEST. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC ART AS INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILIZE THE MANY, MANY INCREDIBLE ARTISTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY TO BRING LIFE TO THAT WALL. AND THEN THE CLARIFICATION THAT I WOULD ASK MAYBE STAFF TO CHIME IN ON IS THIS POSSIBLE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE 2040 PLAN AND THE DESTINATION MIXED USE DISTRICT AND HOW THIS PLAN -- THIS DEVELOPMENT MEETS BOTH OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE 2040 PLAN AND THE DESTINATION MIXED USE SO THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON THAT. THANK YOU. [1:31:17] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** YES, SO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, IT IS A REQUIREMENT TO PLAT THEM INTO AS MANY LOTS AS NEEDED TO SATISFY THE PROJECT. IN THIS CASE THERE ARE FIVE UNDERLYING LOTS, ONE GOES WAY BACK WHEN FOR OWNERSHIP PURPOSES, THAT'S PART OF THE NORTH POND. SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE LOTS, BUT THEY CAN BE PART OF A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT. A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT IS LISTED ON THE USE TABLE, GAS STATIONS, POLICE STATIONS, OFFICE BUILDINGS. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, IT'S A USE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS ONE DEVELOPMENT. SO WHEN LOOKING AT HOW MUCH COMMERCIAL IS REQUIRED IN THE DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE MALL AND THE HOUSING PROJECT. AND THAT IS THE PROJECT. AND SO IN THIS CASE THE AMOUNT OF COMMERCIAL THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT IS SATISFIED IN THE MALL. NOT REQUIRING MORE COMMERCIAL IN THIS BUILDING. [1:32:13] **Commissioner Conley:** WHICH MEETS BOTH THE 2040 PLAN AND THE DESIGNATION MIXED USE? [1:32:20] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** THAT IS CORRECT. AND THE TEXT AMENDMENT THAT JUST WENT THROUGH THE HOUSEKEEPING TEXT AMENDMENT THAT JUST WENT THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT AND OUR COUNCIL CLARIFIED THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. [1:32:30] **Commissioner Conley:** THANK YOU. [1:32:31] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** COMMISSIONER WAGNER. [1:32:32] **Commissioner Wagner:** I'LL GO, SURE. I THINK EVERYONE WANTS TO GET IN. I CAN HOP IN. SO I ALSO WHEN THE TIME COMES, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC GATE. I HAVE SOME TEXT PREPARED SO WHENEVER WE'READY FOR THAT, I CAN MAKE THAT AND GIVE FEEDBACK FOR THAT. I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH STAFF AND THE REST OF THE BOARD -- [1:33:01] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU HAVE? [1:33:04] **Commissioner Wagner:** YEAH, TO CLARIFY WHAT I HAVE HERE, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT ITEM NUMBER A4 IT CURRENTLY SAYS SHALL EXPLORE THE IDEA OF ADDING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL GATE, AND I WOULD STRIKE THE TEXT SHALL EXPLORE THE IDEA OF HAVING AND CHANGE THAT TO SHALL INCLUDE AND AT THE END AFTER THE LAST WORD OF THE SENTENCE, I WOULD CHANGE THAT TO UNLESS DEEMED NOT POSSIBLE AS DETERMINED BY PUBLIC SAFETY. [1:33:31] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. [1:33:33] **Commissioner Wagner:** DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I'M OPEN TO CHANGING THAT HOWEVER IS NEEDED FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT. IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK ON THAT? [1:33:41] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** YES. SO THE WAY IT'S WORDED RIGHT NOW IS TO ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS AN ISSUE WITH IT. SO I GUESS IF YOU WERE GOING TO CHANGE IT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU CHANGE IT INSTEAD OF SHALL EXPLORE THE IDEA, SHALL WORK WITH STAFF TO ADD AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL GATE, THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD LANGUAGE THAT WE USE FOR CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL WHERE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN CONSULTED AND HAVE A STAKE IN THE GAME. [1:34:05] **Commissioner Wagner:** THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. I'M GETTING CLOSER TO MAKING THESE MOTIONS CORRECTLY AS I MAKE THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT THAT RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE PROBABLY NOT. BUT I'M HAPPY WHENEVER THE TIME COMES FOR THAT. [1:34:21] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** I THINK UNLESS SOMEONE MAKES AN OBJECTION WE CAN JUST ADD IT TO WHATEVER -- [1:34:22] **Commissioner Wagner:** ADD THAT IN NOW AND VOTE ON THAT? [1:34:25] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** NO, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO. [1:34:26] **Commissioner Wagner:** OKAY, I CAN KEEP GOING WITH MY COMMENTS THEN? SORRY, PROCEEDING TO THE REST OF MY COMMENTS. I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF, WE'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING IN, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THE STAFF HAS DONE, THE DEVELOPER HAS DONE, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS ONE IS TOUGH FOR ME, EVERYONE IN MINNEAPOLIS COLLECTIVELY NEAR UPTOWN, I LIVE NEAR UPTOWN, WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL, I DON'T SEE THAT IS A REASON TO DENY THIS PROJECT. I ECHO WHAT CHAIR MEYER SAID ABOUT COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS. AND THEN BRIEFLY TO SPEAK TO MINNEAPOLIS IN GENERAL, AND I'LL REFERENCE STATS FROM THE CPC ANNUAL REPORT IN 2024, A MAJOR PROJECT IS ANY DEVELOPMENT RESULTING IN TEN OR MORE DWELLING UNITS. IN 2024 WE HAD 180 NEW DWELLING UNITS DOWN FROM 954 IN 2023. DOWN FROM 3,458 IN 2022. SO WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY. WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN UPTOWN AND FOR THAT REASON, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT AS IS. [1:35:29] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY. [1:35:34] **Commissioner Chowdhury:** YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR MEYER. I WAS HOPING FIRST TO MAYBE GET LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY FROM THE APPLICANT IF THAT'S OKAY JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT PROCESS ON NOT INCLUDING GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL AND THEN JUST IF YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THE LINE FOR THE PUBLIC REALM EXPERIENCE AND JUST BUILDING CONNECTIVITY WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, I THINK OFTENTIMES BODIES LIKE THIS AND EVEN THE COUNCIL GETS ASKED TO USE BLUNT FORCE TOOLS LIKE A 30 DAY EXTENSION OR A VARIANCE TO KIND OF BROKER THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN PARTIES, MULTIPLE PARTIES IN THIS CASE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING AND TAKING IN A LOT OF THE VALID THINGS ESPECIALLY NEIGHBORS BRINGING UP SOUTH UPTOWN AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD COMMENT ON THAT AND IF YOUR THINKING HAS KIND OF BEEN EVOLVING AS THIS DISCUSSION HAS GONE ON? [1:36:47] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** I'M GOING TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO SPEAK TO COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY'S QUESTION? [1:37:12] **Development Lead (Applicant):** THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMING BACK HERE TO SPEAK TO I THINK YOU HAD TWO KIND OF QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS THE PUBLIC REALM PIECE. I HEARD MURALS, I HEARD ACTIVATION. REMIND YOU THIS IS AN ENTITLEMENT PACKAGE. IT'S A HARD SPOT TO BE IN EVERY TIME WE COME THROUGH AS A DEVELOPER BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THE FULL VISION, RIGHT. AND I THINK THERE ARE COMPONENTS WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO FROM THE FINAL LANDSCAPE PLANS TO POTENTIALLY ADDING MURALS IN KEY LOCATIONS. WE'VE DONE THAT WITH MULTIPLE PROJECTS. MOST RECENTLY IN MINNEAPOLIS WITH A PROJECT CALLED THE LAKER. SO THERE ARE THOSE COMPONENTS WHERE WE WOULD BE OPEN TO IF ADDED A CONDITION TO THAT WALL THAT I THINK IS A LITTLE CONCERNING COLLECTIVELY IS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE COMMISSION TONIGHT THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE AND INTERESTED IN. AND THEN I'D SAY SECONDLY, THERE IS ANOTHER COMMENT THAT I HEARD IN TERMS OF JUST ABILITY TO WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND WE ABSOLUTELY HEAR THAT, UNDERSTAND IT, AND APOLOGIZE THAT SOME OF THE LETTERS MAYBE DIDN'T MAKE IT FROM THE POINT OF REPRESENTATION THAT WE HAD ACCESS TO, RIGHT, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. AND HAVE CONTINUED EXPRESSING INTEREST. NORTH POND WE KNOW AS A PROPERTY OWNER HAS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO BEYOND OUR PROJECT, THEY'RE TRYING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER IN THE NEXT STAGE. SO I THINK WE RESPECT THE OPINIONS AND THE CHANGES AND THE DESIGN TWEAKS. BUT WE HAVE THOUGHT THROUGH THIS THING SINCE 2021. WE HAD A PROJECT IN 2023 READY TO GO. WE HAVE LISTENED TO THE MARKET FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS. ALL OF THE COMPLEXITIES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS A DEVELOPER ALONG WITH PUBLIC INPUT BEYOND APRIL FROM 2021 THAT WE'VE HEARD IN TERMS OF RETAIL BEING AN ISSUE. WE STARTED, THERE'S A REFERENCE TO A PROJECT SHOWN WITH RETAIL. WE STARTED WITH RETAIL BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE HAD TO AND IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE PROJECT. IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM IN TERMS OF HAVING SO MUCH RETAIL AND THEN BRINGING IN MORE ESPECIALLY AGAIN MORE ON A STREET FRONTAGE HENNEPIN AVENUE THAT DOESN'T HAVE CONVENIENT PARKING SO YOU LIMIT WHAT TENANT CAN GO INTO THAT TYPE OF SPACE THAT IS AT A GROUND FLOOR. IT WOULD BE LIMITED TO 30 FEET DEEP BECAUSE OF IT BEING IN A MULTIFAMILY BUILDING. NOT ONLY ARE YOU ADDING COMMERCIAL AT THE TIME WE THOUGHT WE HAD TO ABIDE WITH CODE, YOU'RE ADDING A DIFFICULT COMMERCIAL TO FILL. SO THAT WAS IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE AMENITY SPACE THAT WE'RE NOW SHOWING. WE FEEL IT'S ACTUALLY A MUCH MORE IMPROVED PROJECT TO NOT HAVE THAT COMMERCIAL. OUR CONCERN AND ONCE THAT TEXT AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED AND STAFF CLARIFIED WITH US THAT NO YOU DON'T HAVE TO, THE REASON WE CHOSE NOT TO WAS PURPOSEFUL BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT CREATING MORE ISSUES FOR THE BROADER CALL IT GOAL TO BRING IN BUSINESSES AND TO INCREASE TRAFFIC AND GENERATION. SO LONG WINDED ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, BUT WE ARE OPEN TO CONDITIONS WITH REGARDS TO THAT SOUTH FACING WALL OF THE UPTOWN MALL TONIGHT AND RESPECT THE DECISIONS BEING MADE TONIGHT AND ALL OF THE COMMENTS AND CONTINUE TO BE HOPEFULLY PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY AS INVITED. [1:40:34] **Commissioner Chowdhury:** THANK YOU. I'LL JUST CONCLUDE WITH MY COMMENTS. I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP HERE. HEARING THE CONVERSATION FROM COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM, THIS IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION. THERE IS A PRESSURE BOTH IN THE FUTURE OF UPTOWN, WHAT THIS PROJECT IS AND WHAT IT WILL BE, AND THEN ALSO A PRESSURE WHERE UPTOWN IS RIGHT NOW. LIKE I HEAR 100% THE CONCERNS AROUND WHAT IT MEANS TO SLOW THINGS DOWN IN THE FACE OF A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE A CORRIDOR THAT HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL AND NEEDS LIFE AND IS I WOULDN'T SAY DEAD, I WOULD SAY IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF LIFE, MAYBE ALMOST ENTERING INTO SPRING. RIGHT? FOR ME IT'S IMPORTANT WE TAKE ON THE CONSIDERATION FOR A CONDITION FOR THAT SOUTH FACING WALL FOR THAT ACTIVATION. I THINK IT MATTERS TO HAVE THAT. I THINK IT'S AS A COMMISSIONER, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK THAT IF WE DID A DELAY FOR 30 DAYS SOMEHOW THE PARTIES WOULD LEAN IN AND THINGS WOULD CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF A DELAY. ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND THAT I WANT TO SHARE TO THE DEVELOPERS IN THE AREA IN SEEING A LOT OF THESE APARTMENT BUILDINGS GO UP THROUGHOUT OUR CITY IS AND IN THE WAYS THAT IT CHANGES A CORRIDOR, OFTENTIMES FOR THE BETTER, IS THINGS DON'T END AS SOON AS THE PROJECT IS DONE AND IT'S CONCLUDED FOR THE FIRST ITERATION OF TENANTS. THE WAY THAT YOU BUILD THIS PROJECT AND HOW IT SHOWS UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO DETERMINE HOW YOU'RE ADDRESSING CONCERNS AROUND SAFETY AND ACTIVATION. LIKE IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A SIDEWALK THAT'S BUSY AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO. IT IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT IMPACTS THE SAFETY AND LIVABILITY DOWN THE LINE WHERE YOUR TENANTS THAT LIVE WITHIN THE BUILDING HAVE A REASON TO COME OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AND HAVE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE PUSHING FOR THAT TYPE OF ACTIVATION WITHIN PUBLIC REALM THROUGH COMMERCIAL OR JUST THROUGH THOSE ADJUSTMENTS, SO THIS BUILDING, THIS PROJECT DOESN'T JUST ACT AS A BUILDING WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN. LIKE THERE IS A COMMUNITY BUILT AROUND IT. SO I WOULD ASK THAT THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ENGAGE WITH THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE HERE AND TAKE THAT INPUT. TAKE THAT INPUT AROUND WHAT IS POTENTIAL ACTIVATION DOWN THE LINE AND NOT BUILD A PROJECT WHERE MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE TEN YEARS FROM NOW YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO MAYBE OPEN UP SOME OF THESE DOORS FOR ANOTHER POTENTIAL ON A CORNER. YOU MIGHT NEED IT. LIKE MINNEAPOLIS UPTOWN 2025 IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME AS UPTOWN IN 2035 AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I'M HAPPY TO PUT TOGETHER THAT CONDITION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A WILLINGNESS FROM THE APPLICANT. I WOULD NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP POTENTIALLY FROM THE CHAIR AND STAFF TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. I'VE HEARD SOUTH-FACING WALL. BUT IF THERE'S MORE SPECIFITIES THAT WE NEED WITHIN IT, WOULD APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THERE. [1:44:18] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY, SO FOR THE SOUTH FACING WALL, WE COULD REQUIRE MURALS, VERTICAL PLANTINGS, ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING OR OTHER PUBLIC-FACING ELEMENTS. THAT'S WHAT THE LETTER INCLUDES. WE COULD BE SPECIFIC TO ONE OR LEAVE IT OPEN ENDED FOR SOMETHING. [1:44:36] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** YES, AND FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE JUST BORROW FROM THE ZONING ORDINANCE WHICH HAS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ABOUT BREAKING UP THE WALL, SO WE DON'T HAVE A BLANK UNINTERRUPTED WALL THAT EXCEEDS 25 FEET. THE LANGUAGE READS THAT WE WOULD NOT ALLOW BLANK UNINTERRUPTED WALLS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE WINDOWS, ENTRIES, RECESSES OR OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS AND EXCEEDS 25 FEET IN LENGTH. YOU WOULD DENY ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AND ASK THAT WALL BE BROKEN UP TO NOT EXCEED 25 FEET IN LENGTH AND ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO CHOOSE IF THEY'RE GOING TO ADD WINDOWS, RECESSES, ENTRIES, OR OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS. [1:45:19] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** POINT OF CLARIFICATION, IS A PROJECTION THE SAME THING AS A MURAL? [1:45:24] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** NO A PROJECTION IS A LITERAL DEPTH CHANGE IN THE WALL. [1:45:28] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY. [1:45:29] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** SO A MURAL WOULD STILL REQUIRE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE? A MURAL IS NOT CONSIDERED SOMETHING THAT BREAKS UP A BLANK WALL PER THE ZONING CODE. [1:45:38] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** I'M STRUGGLING TO SEE HOW THAT -- INCORPORATING THAT LANGUAGE WOULD ACHIEVE A MURAL OR VERTICAL PLANTINGS AND THAT TYPE OF THING WITHIN THAT WALL. [1:45:51] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** SO THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT THE ZONING CODE USES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS NOT A BLANK WALL. [1:45:58] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY. [1:46:00] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** SO THE ZONING CODE REQUIRES A RECESS, A WINDOW, A MATERIAL CHANGE OR ARCHITECTURAL CHANGE EVERY 25 FEET. IF THE COMMISSION IS OKAY WITH A BLANK WALL WITH A MURAL, THEN YOU COULD JUST SAY THAT ALSO. BUT THAT'S SLIGHTLY MORE ARBITRARY THAN THE ZONING CODE LANGUAGE. [1:46:21] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** AND ANOTHER DISTINCTION ON THAT, IF WE DENY ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE, THEN WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A NEXUS TO REQUIRE ANYTHING ELSE ELSEWHERE. BUT IF WE GRANT ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONDITION OF A MURAL, WE COULD ALSO REQUIRE BALCONIES IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT? AS PART OF IMPROVING THE VISIBLE APPEARANCE. I THINK I JUST SET THAT ON THE TABLE, I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING OTHER COMMISSIONERS WEIGH IN. I THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING THING FOR US TO CONSIDER. I APPRECIATE HILARY GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN CONSIDER THAT ZONING CODE CHANGE AND DENIAL ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE. BUT IF THERE'S OTHER THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE COULD DO HERE, THE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT HERE IS WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS WALL? WHAT CAN WE DO IN TERMS OF PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS? SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR FROM OTHER COMMISSIONERS. [1:47:23] **Staff:** CHAIR MEYER AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION, I HAVE TO UNDERLINE THAT WE HAVE TO FINISH BY 6:30 BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE CAPTIONING PAST THAT POINT. [1:47:30] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** YES, AND I WANTED TO ASK IF ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT OR ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I CLOSE IT AGAIN? [1:47:33] **Development Lead (Applicant):** COULD I COME UP AND CLARIFY THAT WE ARE WILLING TO -- THERE'S A CONDITION OR WILLING TO ADD A CONDITION FOR A CERTAIN SIZE OF A MURAL, THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST WITH A PROJECT. SO IF ALLOWING ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AND I'M NOT A LEGAL EXPERT, SO I WILL HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORT ON BACKING THIS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST WE WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK AT A SIZE REQUIREMENT VERSUS JUST A BLANKET MURAL. FOR EXAMPLE THE PROJECT IN MINNEAPOLIS WE RECENTLY OPENED IN 2023 HAD THREE MURALS ALONG THE SECOND STREET THAT WERE 20 BY 22 FEET. THAT WASN'T A REQUIREMENT PER SE IN THE SAME SETTING, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD CONSIDER IF ALLOWED THROUGH CONDITIONS. THAT MIGHT HELP YOU JUST AGAIN GUIDE YOU TO SOMETHING WE KNOW MAKES SENSE, THE SCALE OF THAT HEIGHT IS 32 FEET OF THE BUILDING, IT IS 226 FEET LONG TO GIVE YOU PERSPECTIVE SCALE. [1:48:26] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** SO ARE YOU PROPOSING A CERTAIN SIZE TONIGHT FOR THE CONDITION? [1:48:33] **Development Lead (Applicant):** WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY PROPOSE, I WOULD SAY SCALE WISE KNOWING OUR OTHER PROJECT, I WOULD BE EITHER OPEN TO A 20 BY 20 FEET MURAL, IT ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY FOR AGAIN WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PROCURING THAT WITH MURALISTS MORE SPACE FOR THEM TO CALL IT USE THEIR DESIGN CREATIVITY. 3 TO 4 SEEMS LIKE A FAIR NUMBER IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE SCALE AND HOW THEY WOULD SPACE THEM APART AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WOULD SEE TYPICALLY WHEN YOU DO FOUR, THEY SOMEHOW TIE TOGETHER. SO I WOULD SAY WE'D BE OPEN TO ABOUT A 20 BY 20-FOOT MURAL FROM A SIZE PERSPECTIVE THAT'S SCALABLE WITH THE 32-FOOT HIGH WALL AND THAT A NUMBER THAT YOU COULD PUT ON THAT AS WELL IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MURALS. [1:49:22] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** FOUR 20 BY 20 OR A TOTAL OF 20 BY 20? [1:49:25] **Development Lead (Applicant):** I WOULD SAY WE WOULD BE OPEN TO ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 4. [1:49:33] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** AND WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO ADDING BALCONIES ON THE GROUND FLOOR UNITS? [1:49:40] **Development Lead (Applicant):** I WOULD SAY WE WOULD BE EXTREMELY CONCERNED. [1:49:43] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** WHEN I SAY BALCONIES, MY INTENT WAS FOR IT TO INCLUDE JULIET BALCONIES. [1:49:48] **Development Lead (Applicant):** COMMISSIONER MEYER, I WOULD SAY IF IT'S A STAKE OF GETTING THIS PROJECT TO A SPOT THAT EVERYBODY FEELS IS COMFORTABLE GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE TONIGHT, AGAIN FOR THE SAKE OF WE HAVE ALL THE MORE CALL IT GOAL AS A LOCAL DEVELOPER AND THE OWNER IS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT AND SHE GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WE AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE. SO WE REALLY WANT TO STAY PRESENT IN TERMS OF NOT TWEAKING FINAL DESIGN AT THIS POINT ON ITEMS THAT WE DON'T FEEL ADD VALUE OR COULD ALSO DETRACT VALUE. I WOULD SAY JULIET BALCONIES TO US COULD DETRACT VALUE TO THIS BUILDING. BUT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS THE STICKING POINT, WE WOULD BE OPEN TO IT. BUT I WOULD SAY MOVING FORWARD, MY GOAL AS THE DEVELOPMENT LEAD AND US AS A TEAM IS TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND MAYBE ITEMS THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TO MAKE EVERYBODY BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A COLLECTIVE VOICE, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON WHAT IS DESIRABLE. BUT WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS IF WE CAN GET TO A SPOT OF APPROVAL TONIGHT IS WHAT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE IN TERMS OF ACTIVATION. WHAT ARE ACTIVITIES ONCE WE'RE OPEN TO HELP GET RESIDENTS INTO THE MALL ONCE THERE'S COMMERCIAL. THOSE ARE THE THINGS I SAY I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ALLOW US IS TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS, TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WITH JULIET BALCONIES, IT'S A HARD ONE FOR US. WE DO SEE THEM AS A CONCERN. BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, ABSOLUTELY. [1:51:22] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY. ANYONE ELSE BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FINAL TIME? I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. [1:51:43] **Commissioner:** I'M A LITTLE SENSITIVE TO THE IDEA THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD LEGISLATE DESIGN. I SAY THAT AS AN ARCHITECT. THAT OUR FINDINGS OF FACT ARE CONFINED TO THE 2040 PLAN AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO SPECIFIC DESIGN ELEMENTS I RESIST. THE IDEA, THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BLANK WALL, THAT'S A PRIVATE COURTYARD ESSENTIALLY AS YOU HAVE DESIGNED IT, SO THAT IS PROBABLY THE LEAST IMPORTANT OF THE THINGS WHICH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BRINGING UP IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC REALM. THE IMPORTANT THINGS ARE THE HENNEPIN COUNTY STREET SCAPE AND YOU ALREADY DISCUSSED HOW YOU MADE THAT AMENITY SPACE RETAIL READY WHICH I ASSUME GOES FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR PLATE JUST OFF CURIOSITY. SO IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THESE GROUPS WHICH HAVE EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST IN WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THAT'S NOT ME MAKING A MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE. UNLESS YOU FIND THAT NECESSARY BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS ON CONTINUED EVOLUTION OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS OF THOSE PUBLIC REALM FACING. BUT I HESITATE TO MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT. AND I'LL ZIP IT NOW. THANK YOU. [1:53:01] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** CHAIR MEYER, IF I MAY JUST NOTE SO WE'RE NOT FURTHER COMPLICATING THINGS, IF THE INTENT OF JULIET BALCONIES WAS TO ALLOW FOR SLIDING GLASS DOORS ON THE FIRST FLOOR UNITS, SLIDING GLASS DOORS ARE NOT COUNTED TOWARDS THE MINIMUM NUMBER REQUIREMENT AND STAFF WOULD NEED TO REANALYZE ALL OF THAT SO I THINK THAT WOULD COMPLICATE THINGS. [1:53:28] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY, GIVEN THAT COMPLICATION, WHAT I'M GOING TO PROPOSE IS TO ADOPT STAFF FINDINGS WITH THE REVISION OF COMMISSIONER WAGNER'S CONDITION AS MODIFIED BY STAFF AND A REQUIREMENT IF COMMISSIONER CHOWDHURY APPROVES OF FOUR 20 BY 20 MURALS? [1:53:52] **Commissioner Chowdhury:** I WOULD MOVE THAT. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE APPLICANT IS AMENABLE AND WHEN THE APPLICANT'S AMENABLE, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE. SO I CAN MOVE THAT. [1:54:05] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** SO JUST TO REVIEW, HILARY, CAN YOU READ WHAT YOU SAID FOR TOM'S, COMMISSIONER WAGNER'S CONDITION? [1:54:17] **Hilary Dvorak (Principal City Planner):** SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE ITEM A BY MODIFYING CONDITION NUMBER FOUR TO SAY THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE OWNERS OF THE 7 POINTS SHOPPING CENTER SHALL WORK WITH STAFF TO ADD AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL GATE AT THE NORTH END OF VACATED GIRARD. AND UNDER C SITE PLAN REVIEW, WE WOULD BE ADDING A CONDITION NUMBER EIGHT THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL ADD FOUR 20-FOOT BY 20-FOOT MURALS ON THE SOUTH ELEVATION OF THE EXISTING SHOPPING CENTER IN ORDER TO BREAK UP BLANK WALLS. WE COULD LEAVE IT AT THAT. [1:55:00] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? [1:55:04] **Commissioner Thompson:** SECOND. I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SPEAK FOR A WHILE. I WILL ADD THIS, IT WASN'T PART OF MY THING. I THINK IT'S REALLY -- I FIND IT CHALLENGING THAT WE'RE SITTING UP HERE GLOSSING OVER STAFF STUFF TO GET MURALS WHEN LIKE THIS PROJECT, I JUST RAN SOME NUMBERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO. IT WOULD ADD POTENTIALLY WITH THE REVITALIZATION OF 7 POINTS AND THIS DEVELOPMENT COULD BRING IN $1.5 MILLION IN THE TAX BASE BACK YEAR OVER YEAR WHICH I THINK NEEDS TO BE PROFOUNDLY CONSIDERED WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY FACES. I'M GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO BE OKAY NOT HAVING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY THAT FOR A WHILE, WHATEVER WITH THE MURAL MURALS, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO MUCH. BUT I SUPPORT THIS BEING PASSED TODAY. THANKS. [1:55:51] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'VE GOT ONE MINUTE LEFT. SEEING NONE, CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [1:56:01] **Clerk:** COMMISSIONER BAXLEY IS ABSENT. CHOWDHURY. [1:56:04] **Commissioner Chowdhury:** AYE. [1:56:05] **Clerk:** CONLEY. [1:56:06] **Commissioner Conley:** AYE. [1:56:07] **Clerk:** GORDON. [1:56:08] **Commissioner Gordon:** AYE. [1:56:09] **Clerk:** JONES IS ABSENT. SHEPPARD. [1:56:11] **Commissioner Sheppard:** AYE. [1:56:13] **Clerk:** THOMPSON. [1:56:14] **Commissioner Thompson:** AYE. [1:56:16] **Clerk:** WAGNER. [1:56:17] **Commissioner Wagner:** AYE. [1:56:18] **Clerk:** MEYER. [1:56:19] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** AYE. [1:56:20] **Clerk:** WE HAVE SEVEN AYES AND 0 NAYS. [1:56:22] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** THAT IS ADOPTED. THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS FOR THE EVENING. OUR NEXT MEETING IS WHEN IS OUR NEXT MEETING? [1:56:30] **Staff:** AUGUST 4TH. [1:56:31] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** AUGUST 4TH. AND WE HAVE NO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THIS WEEK. ANY UPDATES FROM STAFF? [1:56:36] **Staff:** NOPE. [1:56:37] **Chris Meyer (Chair):** ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYONE.