The St. Paul Board of Zoning Appeals held a public hearing with a vividly packed agenda, the results of which were posted in a document detailing the board's decisions on several high-profile variance requests. This includes a considerable project from Ryan Companies US, Inc. that proposed substantial variances for a new mixed-use development on Ford Parkway and another commercial building on Cretin Avenue South.
Starting to juggle the decisions, the BZA waded through multiple variance requests for the planned development at 2200 Ford Parkway. Ryan Companies sought to construct three single-story commercial buildings and a four-story mixed-use building with 97 dwelling units. Among the variances requested, some aimed to allow for lesser floor area ratios, reduced building heights, and ambitious lot coverages. The BZA in their discernment decided to split to approve a portion of the requests while denying others. Notably, proposals to undercut the floor area ratio and minimum building height were struck down, as indicated in the published results.
Conversely, the decisions seem to lean more favorably toward variance requests regarding the transparency of glazing along the ground floor of the buildings. Despite the Ford Site Zoning requirements dictating higher percentages of transparent glazing, the BZA approved variances, allowing significantly less transparency than the master plan initially called for. This move has sparked mixed reactions among community stakeholders.
Another case addressed was Concordia University's proposal to install new wall signs on campus, challenging the H1 district's restrictions on the number and size of identification signage. The university's hopes to prominently identify campus buildings were met, it seems without opposition, as the BZA approved all requested variances unanimously. This means larger signs will soon be marking the Concordia campus landscape, according to the hearing document.
The Board began their session by setting the agenda's order and quickly moved to approve the minutes of their December 9th meeting. The resolution section stood empty, apparently not calling for any new approvals this time around. The meeting concluded after addressing the new and old business items, drawing the attention of developers, university officials, and residents alike to see how the city’s zoning landscape will soon be shaped.
