Residents of St. Paul and interested stakeholders are turning their attention to a forthcoming public hearing scheduled by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) as zoning variances come into play for numerous properties across the city. The meeting's agenda outlines plans ranging from modest home additions to larger mixed-use and supportive housing developments, all seeking deviations from standard zoning requirements, according to the City of Saint Paul.
The docket is mixed, with "Old Business" revisiting properties on Iglehart Avenue and Daly Street, and "New Business" introducing various proposals, each requesting their brand of variance. For instance, a plan for 1223 Van Buren Avenue requests a 2.5′ setback, where 5 feet is the norm, aiming to add a second-story dormer to the existing home. In contrast, a more substantial change is proposed at 385 Lexington Pkwy North, where a new mixed-use development falls short of required floor area ratios – a point of contention that prompts a variance of 0.256, a statistic that signals just how much these numbers matter in the world of city planning, as reported by the City of Saint Paul.
A trio of applicants are pushing the envelope with proposals for supportive housing – facilities designed to provide aid to residents in need. Each location – 764 Lincoln LLC, Lutheran Social Service of MN, and Dominic Carchedi – is proposing to set up such a facility within the specific proximity to other congregate living facilities that zoning code wishes to avoid. They stand, respectively, at 999 feet, within 1,320 feet, and 513 feet from their closest counterparts, well within the 1,320 feet distancing code.
These variances, while technical, echo a larger narrative of St. Paul's grappling with growth, community needs, and strict zoning codes that some see as barriers to progress. As such, public testimony is integral. Civic-minded individuals are urged to submit their comments via email to [email protected] by the 2:00 p.m. deadline on the day of the hearing, ensuring their voice is heard, as per the City of Saint Paul.
