►
Description
Additional information at
https://lims.minneapolismn.gov
B
The
city
will
be
recording
and
posting
this
meeting
to
the
city's
website
and
youtube
channel
as
a
means
of
increasing
public
access
and
transparency.
This
meeting
is
public
and
subject
to
the
open
meeting
law
at
this
time.
I'll
ask
the
clerk
to
call
the
role,
so
we
can
verify
quorum
for
our
meeting
today.
B
There
is
a
quorum
present
at
the
meeting
today
I'll
begin
with
the
consent
agenda,
which
includes
items
five
through
thirteen
item.
Five
are
the
liquor
license
approvals
and
six
are
the
license
renewals
item?
Seven.
Are
the
gambling
license
approvals?
Item
number.
Eight:
is
a
affordable
housing
trust
fund,
contingency
pool
loan
for
a
project
at
16
4th
street
north
item
number.
B
Nine
is
a
contract
with
the
city
of
lakes,
land
trust
for
minneapolis
homes,
financing
program
item
10
is
a
comp
plan
amendment
to
the
built
form
guidance
for
a
site
at
3225,
east
minnehaha
parkway
item
11
is
a
loan
from
the
commercial
property
development
fund.
This
is
for
rectangle
organization
operating
as
rectangle
pizza.
This
is
a
400
000
loan
item
number
12
is
a
multi-jurisdictional
agreement
for
35th
and
penn
avenue
north
with
hennepin
county
and
item
number.
13
is
hennepin
schools
building
company
we're
doing
a
revenue
bond
issuance.
This
is
setting
a
public
hearing.
B
Are
there
any?
Is
there
any
discussion
on
the
consent,
agenda
or
items?
Anyone
would
like
to
pull
anyone
seeing
none?
I
will
move
the
consent
agenda
and
ask
the
clerk
to
call
the
rule.
E
B
B
Seeing
none
I
will
move
to
receive
and
file
item
14
and
postpone
item
15
to
our
rec's
next
regularly
scheduled
meeting,
which
is
august
10th
I'll.
Ask
the
clerk
to
call
the
roll
on
that
motion.
E
B
F
Yes,
thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
am
in
the
meeting
and
I
am
president.
B
Thank
you
I'll
ask
that
the
clerk
record
council
member
ellison
is
voting
in
the
affirmative
on
the
consent
agenda,
as
well
as
the
receive
and
file
and
postponed
item
with
that.
We'll
move
on
is
that,
okay
with
you,
council,
member
ellison.
G
Yes,
I
said,
thank
you.
B
Okay,
then
we'll
go
ahead
and
move
on
to
the
public
hearing
agenda,
starting
with
item
number
one
which
is
o'shaughnessy
distilling,
and
I
will
call
on
miss
tisha
and
mr
velasquez
to
give
this
report.
H
This
presentation
was
prepared
by
inspector
christina
steester
oceanacy
distilling
company
located
at
600,
malcolm
avenue,
southeast
in
ward
2
requests
a
pair
of
licenses.
The
first
is
an
on
sale,
liquor
cocktail
room
with
limited
entertainment
and
sunday's
sales
license.
The
second
is
an
off
sale,
distilled
spirits
license
with
sunday
sales.
H
The
hours
of
operation
will
be
monday
through
friday
from
4
p.m,
to
1
a.m,
saturday
and
sunday
from
12
p.m,
to
1
a.m.
O'shaughnessy
distilling
company
offers
indoor
seating
for
237
guests
across
the
two-story
cocktail,
room
and
seating
for
an
additional
103
guests
in
its
more
than
4
000
square
feet
of
outdoor
patio
space.
H
On
july,
2nd
eight
public
hearing
notices
were
sent
out
to
the
residents
and
property
owners
within
600
feet
of
the
premises
to
the
prospect
park,
neighborhood
association
to
the
northeast
chamber
of
commerce
and
council
member
gordon's
office.
No
comments
were
received
from
the
community
in
response
to
the
public
hearing
notice.
H
If
approved,
o'shaughnessy
distilling
company
will
offer
tours
of
the
more
than
28
000
square
foot
facility,
where
guests
can
sample
uniquely
crafted
whiskey
before
making
their
way
to
the
two
level
cocktail
room
or
the
sprawling
4
000
square
foot
outdoor
patio
space
full
dinner
menu
will
also
be
available.
Porshada
see
the
selling
company
has
yet
to
open.
So
there
are
no
311
cases
or
police
calls
for
service
that
are
attributable
to
this
location.
H
The
licenses
and
consumer
services
division
recommends
approval
for
both
the
on
sale,
liquor,
limited
entertainment
with
sunday
sales
license
and
the
off
sale
distilled
spirits
with
sunday
sales
license.
This
concludes
my
presentation
and
I'll
gladly
stand
for
any
comments
or
questions
that
you
may
have.
B
I
Great
thank
you,
chair
goodman,
and
I
want
to
thank
councilmember
gordon
as
well
for
helping
us
get
to
this
stage.
I
We
are
extremely
excited
to
join
the
neighborhood
and
I
think
all
of
you,
when
you
have
an
opportunity
to
come,
see
us
we're
more
than
happy
to
to
show
you
what
we've
been
working
on
over
the
last
year
and
a
half.
It's
an
exciting,
exciting
project.
I
We're
welcoming
the
master
distiller
from
irish
distillers,
he's
a
world
renowned
distiller
into
the
town
of
minneapolis,
and
over
the
last
year
we've
had
some
some
really
tough
times
for
the
hospitality
industry
and
and
we're
excited
to
be
a
positive
note
in
that
space
and
and
we're
looking
forward
and
started
hiring
a
really
good,
talented
group
of
hospitality
professionals
from
the
area.
So
we're
looking
to
welcome
the
neighborhood
to
our
space.
B
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
work,
mr
duggan,
for
everything.
You're
doing
we're
excited
to
be
able
to
come
over
and
see
your
team
in
person
we'll
see
if
there's
anyone
else
on
the
call
on
item
number
one.
It
does
not
look
as
though
anyone
is
on
the
call,
but
I'll
confirm
that
with
the
clerk.
J
B
J
J
E
B
K
K
The
missing
middle
rental
program
was
created
to
incentivize
a
diverse
set
of
housing
types
at
a
smaller
scale,
not
typically
seen
in
minneapolis
through
financing
of
affordable
rental
units
that
serve
households
at
or
below
50
percent
of
your
median
income.
The
program
was
designed
to
meet
goals
set
out
in
the
2040
comp
plan,
such
as
increasing,
affordable
housing
types,
grading,
housing,
options
that
allow
people
to
stay
within
their
communities
and
leveraging
funding
to
create
additional
units
within
developments
that
are
financed
missing.
K
Middle
housing
designs
tend
to
have
smaller
footprints
on
a
unit
by
unit
basis
as
compared
to
single
family
homes
and
allow
for
infill
and
development
density,
or
otherwise
it
may
not
be
possible.
They
are
an
important
strategy
for
providing
incremental
development
options
that
are
more
accessible
to
community
based
and
bypass
developers.
K
Today,
staff
is
recommending
three
proposals
that
collectively
provide
15
total
units
of
housing,
nine
of
which
are
affordable
to
fifty
percent
area.
Median
income
households
total
funding
requested
is
699,
680
and
applications
that
were
for
over
200
000
were
taken
to
the
development
finance
committee
and
received
approval
recommendations.
K
The
first
project
recommended
by
staff
is
by
northeast
development
llc,
which
is
a
small
minneapolis-based
developer.
The
applicant
is
proposing
a
seven
unit
development
at
715
1719
lowry,
which
is
a
city-owned
project
site
that
is
both
shallow
and
has
limited
off-street
parking.
The
developer
worked
to
design
a
building
that
fits
the
special
site
characteristic
and
provides
two
three-bedroom
affordable
units.
In
addition
to
five
non-affordable
units,
the
project
is
recommended
for
140
000
of
financing
for
the
affordable
units.
K
Next
slide,
please.
The
second
project
recommended
by
staff
is
by
good
neighbor
homes
llc
and
it
is
a
live
work
building
at
3707,
fremont
avenue
north,
which
is
also
a
city-owned
project
site.
The
developer
is
also
a
small
minneapolis-based
developer
and
they're,
proposing
all
four
units
to
be
affordable.
K
The
developer
is
partnering
with
northside
economic
opportunity,
network,
otherwise
known
as
neon
in
this
concept,
and
it
has
also
worked
closely
with
the
fallwell
neighborhood
organization,
which
has
an
office
space
closely
located
near
the
proposed
development.
The
project
will
be
lead.
Zero
and
gold
certified
in
addition
to
being
green
home
institute
certified
and
is
recommended
for
an
incentive
bonus
to
achieve
those
green
standards.
K
K
The
third
recommendation
recommended
by
staff
is
for
a
four
unit:
townhome
development
at
2601,
2605,
14th
avenue,
south
also
city
owned
project
site.
The
applicant
keith
of
d
is
a
minneapolis
resident,
bypac
and
female
developer.
Who
designed
this
project
to
house
large
families.
The
units
are
exceptionally
large
for
rental
units
and
all
have
a
garage
attached
to
the
building.
Keefe
is
partnering
with
a
general
contractor
and
an
architect
who
have
worked
on
previous
projects
financed
by
the
city.
The
project
is
recommended
for
two
hundred
ten
thousand
dollars
next
slide.
K
I
believe
two
of
the
three
developers
are
here
to
speak
briefly
about
their
projects.
Unfortunately,
keith
was
not
able
to
attend,
but
she
wanted
to
express
her
excitement
about
getting
to
work
with
the
city
on
this
project
and
bringing
it
to
fruition
before
we
invite
the
speakers
to
present
I'm
happy
to
take
any
questions
that
you
may
have
about
the
products
or
the
program.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
B
Thank
you,
mr
cannaes,
for
your
work
and
the
work
of
all
the
people
on
your
team
I'll
see.
If
there
are
questions
for
staff
on
these
items
as
presented
today,
seeing
none
I'm
going
to
proceed
to
open
the
public
hearing.
Ask
the
clerk.
If
there
are
any
speakers
on
this
item.
Rachel
has
told
me:
there
are
two
speakers,
jennifer
krantz
and
thomas
herzog,
so
we'll
start
with
miss
kranz,
please
press
star
six
to
unmute
and
you
have
two
minutes.
A
Yes,
thank
you
chair
goodman
and
members
of
the
committee.
My
name
is
jenny,
krantz
and
I'm
the
owner
of
northeast
development
llc
and
on
the
call
with
me,
I
have
my
spouse
and
business
partner.
Michael
krantz.
We
submitted
the
proposal
for
2015
and
2019
lowry
avenue,
and
we
are
really
excited
about
the
staff's
recommendation.
A
We
just
wanted
to
take
a
quick
minute
to
express
our
support
for
the
missing
middle
program.
We
think
it's
a
great
way
to
encourage
new,
affordable
housing
and
also
supporting
local
business,
and
then
we
also
wanted
to
take
a
moment
to
thank
city
staff.
Kevin
knies,
jamie
riddell
and
andrew
friends
were
all
incredibly
helpful
and
we
really
appreciated
their
feedback
and
their
prompt
responses
to
all
of
our
questions
throughout
the
process.
Thank.
B
F
F
As
some
of
you
may
know,
I
own
a
nearby
building
that
is
more
conventionally
mixed
use,
meaning
the
commercial
space
is
separate
and
distinct
from
the
residential
portion
and
working
in
conjunction
with
the
fallwell
neighborhood
association.
We
struggled
for
months
to
find
a
neighborhood
entrepreneur
who
was
ready
to
occupy
a
full
commercial
space.
Like
that,
it's
it's
only
1800
square
feet.
It
was
fully
renovated
and
ready
to
make
ready
for
someone
to
make
it
their
own.
F
F
A
young
entrepreneur
can
occupy
this
space
for
a
year
or
two
or
as
long
as
they
want,
while
they
test
their
business
ideas,
concepts,
refine
their
marketing
sales
approaches
and
on
and
on
for
generations
to
come,
it's
flexible,
it's
affordable
and
it's
right
sized
for
my
neighborhoods.
F
B
E
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I'm
happy
to
move
forward
these
great
projects.
B
E
K
The
city
marketed
the
property
alongside
its
minneapolis
homes,
financing
and
missing
middle
rental
pilot
programs
and
developers
could
apply
to
purchase
the
property
with
funding
or
without
funding
through
one
of
those
two
programs.
One
of
those
two
programs
excuse
me:
a
team
of
cped
housing,
rental
and
ownership
staff
reviewed
the
proposals
that
were
received.
K
K
Cpen,
housing
policy
and
development
staff
are
recommending
city
of
lakes,
community
land
trust
proposal
in
partnership
with
hope,
community
for
the
sale
and
funding
of
three
million
dollars.
The
proposal
is
to
rehab
the
property,
which
requires
substantial
rehabilitation
into
seven
perpetually,
affordable
condominium
units,
so
that
the
city's
investment
can
serve
multiple
households
in
perpetuity
through
clclt's
land
trust
model
that
operates
using
a
99-year
land.
Lease
units
would
be
affordable
to
households
at
or
below
60
of
area.
Median
income
and
six
of
those
units
would
be
three
bedrooms
two
baths
and
one
would
be
one
bedroom.
K
One
bath
units
would
allow
families
to
live
in
the
community
or
that
live
in
the
community
and
in
the
adjacent
buildings
to
move
into
an
affordable
ownership
opportunity
within
their
community.
Cdlclt
was
selected
due
to
the
comprehensiveness
of
their
proposal
and
the
ability
to
meet
multiple
program
goals.
K
B
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
report,
mr
canis
I'll,
see.
If
there
are
any
questions
from
members
of
the
committee
on
your
report,
seeing
none
I'm
going
to
proceed
to
open
the
public
hearing.
I
understand
there
are
three
people
in
queue
on
this
item:
shannon
jones,
jeff,
washburn
and
marnie
paschall
we'll
take
them
in
that
order.
You
each
have
two
minutes
so
shannon.
If
you
would
like
to
suppress
our
sixth
on
mute,
we'd
be
happy
to
hear
from
you
now,
hello.
Everyone
can
you
we
can
hear
you.
Can
you
hear.
L
Me
yep
hi.
This
is
shannon
smith-jones,
the
executive
director
of
help
community.
Thank
you,
mr
knace,
and
thank
you
council,
chair
goodman.
We
are
super
excited
to
partner
with
the
city
of
lakes,
community
land
trust,
to
create
this
ownership
opportunities
for
families
that
will
remain
affordable
in
perpetuity.
L
It
is
across
the
street
from
hope
community,
and
we
have
washed
it
be
vacant
for
over
20
years,
which
has
been
super
difficult
when
we're
facing
so
much
homelessness.
We
are
super
excited
to
see
this
be
transformed
to
be
able
to
start
this
work
right
away
so
that
it
can
switch
over
from
being
this
space.
L
That
is
somewhat
of
an
eyesore
to
a
community
asset
that
families
can
live
and
thrive
in.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
your
time.
M
M
Thank
you,
chair
goodman,
council
members.
I'm
incredibly
pleased
to
be
here
as
well.
Today.
Many
of
you
may
not
be
aware
that
over
17
years
ago
the
hope
community
raised
the
dollars
to
make
the
first
four
community
land
trust
properties
a
reality
here
in
the
city
of
minneapolis
and
from
then
we've
grown
to
have
over
330
homes
a
perpetually,
affordable
hometown
of
minneapolis
and
we've
been
able
to
sit
close
to
450,
low-income
households,
as
shannon
mentioned.
M
M
Neighborhood
are
renters
about
80
or
households
of
color
and
about
80
percent
earned
less
than
60
percent
of
median
income,
and
it
speaks
so
well
to
our
ability
to
to
assist
larger
families
through
outreach
and
in
marketing,
with
the
partnership
with
the
community
to
really
help
households
who
are
going
to
benefit
from
an
ownership
opportunity
right
in
the
neighborhood.
That
hope
has
been
so
instrumental
in
growing
so
yeah.
M
We're
excited,
as
shannon
mentioned,
we're
ready
to
go
and
really
appreciate
about
the
city
of
your
support
and
by
by
putting
this
forward
and
giving
us
an
opportunity
to
make
something
amazing.
Thank
you.
B
B
B
B
N
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
I'm
really
excited
for
this
project.
Finally,
to
take
off
this
building
has
been
centered
around
for
many
years
and
the
opportunity
for
ownership.
It's
wonderful,
so
I'm
excited,
and
I
thank
everyone
and
the
staff
and
everyone
that
have
worked
on
it.
So
thank
you
and
I
approve
this
item
for
approval.
B
C
B
Though
that
item
is
then
approved
and
thank
everyone.
Who's
been
working
on
that
for
two
decades
now
we
will
move
on
to
our
quasi-judicial
public
hearing.
This
is
a
conditional
use,
permit
and
variances
appeal,
and
I
will
ask
staff
to
give
that
presentation
and
the
staff
doing
that
today
will
be
lindsay.
Silas,
miss
silas,
welcome.
O
Hi
good
afternoon
committee
members,
I
have
a
presentation
that
it
can
pull
up
here
the
project
in
questions
at
2648
marshall,
street
northeast,
and
there
we
go
the.
So
this
is
a
residential
parcel.
It's
over
twenty
thousand
square
feet
in
size
and
is
located
on
the
east
bank
of
the
mississippi
river.
The
site
is
bordered
by
a
66
unit
apartment
building
to
the
north
and
a
large
industrial
concrete
yard
to
the
south.
O
This
site
contains
an
existing,
duplex
and
detached
garage.
The
applicant
has
proposed
to
establish
a
cluster
development
on
the
site,
which
would
allow
them
to
construct
to
retain
the
existing
duplex
to
construct
a
new
detached
structure
with
one
dwelling
unit
in
it.
That
would
be
a
one-story
structure
and
they
are
also
proposing
a
new
thousand
square
foot
detached
garage
workshop.
O
O
At
the
june
28th
meeting
of
the
city
planning
commission,
they
approved
the
following
applications
for
this
proposal,
which
included
a
conditional
use
permit
to
establish
the
cluster
development
and
then
two
variances
relating
to
the
placement
of
the
new
structure
on
the
site
variants
to
allow
development
within
40
feet
of
the
top
of
a
steep
slope
in
the
shoreline
overlay
district,
and
it
varies
to
the
structure
placement
within
the
mississippi
river
corridor.
O
Critical
area
overlay
district
to
allow
the
new
structure
to
be
within
a
bluff
impact
zone,
which
is
the
area
20
feet
with
within
20
feet
of
the
top
of
a
bluff
line,
as
defined
by
that
ordinance
on
july
8.
Liz
wilinski
and
others
filed
an
appeal
of
the
city
planning
commission's
decision
to
approve
this
eup
invariances
next
slide.
Please.
O
So
there
have
been
a
number
of
comments
received
on
the
project
and
and
staff
just
wanted
to
clarify
that,
while
this
project
is
this
site
was
designated
for
perks
in
minneapolis
2040
in
the
land
use
map
and
then
parks
and
open
space
on
the
build
form
map.
So
there
is
kind
of
that
that
designation
here
now,
however,
even
though
it
has
that
park
designation,
it
is
currently
a
privately
owned
lot.
O
The
properties
on
either
side
to
the
north
and
south
are
also
privately
owned,
and
the
comprehensive
plan
does
not
prohibit
owners
from
improving
their
privately
owned
property
in
ways
that
comply
with
the
comprehensive
planning
zoning
code.
So
I
know
there's
been
some
some
discussion
over
what
it
means
to
have
those
park
designations
and
really
what
that
came
from
in
the
2040
plan
was
indications
from
the
park
board
as
far
as
their
intentions
for
future
expansion.
O
However,
this
property
and
both
and
both
properties
on
the
other
side
do
continue
to
be
privately
owned
and
the
the
parks
designation,
the
built
form
designation,
is
fairly
restricted,
but
it
does
allow
for
low-density
residential
structures
of
up
to
three
units
and
two
and
a
half
stories.
So
this
proposal
fits
within
that
next
slide.
Please.
O
I
won't
spend
too
much
time
on
these
plans,
but
this
is
a
site
plan
showing
the
site.
As
you
can
see,
the
existing
duplex
is
located
closer
to
marshall.
They
have
proposed
three
surface
parking
stalls
behind
that
for
the
residents
of
the
duplex
with
a
cluster
development,
there
is
a
requirement
that
40
percent
of
the
space
not
occupied
by
buildings
be
shared
space
for
the
benefit
of
all
residents
of
residents,
of
both
of
the
or
all
of
the
units.
O
So
they've
proposed
that
between
surface
parking
and
the
proposed
garage,
then
into
the
garage
and
and
then
the
new
structure
at
the
at
the
western
edge
of
the
site
closer
to
the
river
which
you
can.
You
can
see
that
that
is,
you
know,
kind
of
on
the
top
of
the
bluff
line,
as
shown
by
those
topographical
indicators.
Next
slide,
please.
O
So
I
know
that
we'll
we'll
probably
get
back
to
this
when
we
talk
about
the
findings,
but
this
is
a
bluff
line
diagram
submitted
by
the
applicant,
showing
the
bluff
line
on
the
site
and
on
the
adjacent
sites,
and,
as
you
can
see,
this
site
specifically
is
significantly
different
and
the
bluff
line
here
is
unique
when
compared
to
the
properties
on
either
side.
So
the
properties
of
the
north
and
south
have
retaining
walls
and
the
the
bluff
line.
O
Is
you
know
within
20
to
30
feet
or
less
of
the
the
water
line,
whereas
on
this
side
the
bluff
line
cuts
into
the
site
about
140
feet
next
slide?
Please.
O
And
then
just
for
some
context,
these
are
some
of
the
drawings
of
the
proposed
structure
and
of
the
proposed
dwelling
unit
structure
and
then
the
proposed
garage
structure.
It's
just
a
one-story
design,
because
there
is
concrete
debris
on
the
site.
They
are
not
proposing
a
basement
due
to
concerns
with
you
know,
destabilizing
the
area
with
that
debris
if
they
were
to
dig
a
basement
there
next
slide,
please
so,
for
the
staff
analysis,
staff
finds.
O
O
Please,
the
variances
for
the
shoreland
overlay,
district
and
mississippi
river
critical
corridor
area
overlay
districts
were
evaluated
together
because
those
those
ordinances
or
the
variances
were
triggered
by
similar
requirements
in
both
ordinances
staff
does
find
that
practical
difficulties
exist
in
complying
with
the
ordinance
because
of
circumstances
unique
to
the
property,
and
I
just
want
to
focus
on
this
in
two
separate
ways.
One
is
that
the
primary
practical
difficulty
is,
as
you
saw
in
that
bluff
context
diagram,
is
that
the
the
bluff
line
on
this
site
is
significantly
different.
O
O
So,
as
we
looked
at
when
we
saw
the
site
plan,
the
requirements
for
cluster
development
include
that
shared
space.
Also,
there
are,
you
know,
setback
requirements
between
the
buildings
and
in
order
in
order
to
accommodate
those
things
as
well.
As
you
know,
constructing
a
new
dwelling
unit,
that's
going
to
be
one
story
for
aging
in
place.
Those
things
were
all
in
in
competition
with
each
other,
so
staff
did
find
that
the
the
bluff
line
here
itself
is
a
practical
difficulty.
O
In
addition,
the
applicant
has
submitted
information
indicating
that,
because
there
is
you
know,
there
is
concrete
debris
on
the
site.
There
are
supports
for
the
surrounding
retaining
walls
on
the
site.
The
applicant
had
hypothesized
that
the
the
natural
bluff
line
here
has
been
modified
over
time,
given
the
amount
of
concrete
debris
here
and
the
likelihood
that
this
property
has
been
used
for
dumping
or,
for
you
know,
vehicle
access
to
the
river
being
adjacent
to
an
industrial
concrete
facility.
O
However,
I
know
there's
kind
of
been
a
back
and
forth
a
bit
about.
You
know
whether
this
is
the
natural
bluffline
or
not,
and
you
know
the
the
existence
of
these
kind
of
this
debris
on
the
site
does
is
something
that
had
indicated
to
the
applicant
and
to
staff
that
it
may
have
been
modified
over
time.
O
However,
staff
finds
that
the
practical
difficulty
the
unique
circumstance
exists
whether
this
is
the
natural
bluff
line
or
not,
and
it
seems
at
this
point
very
difficult
to
be
able
to
determine
whether
this
bluff
line
has
been
modified
in
a
significant
way
or
historically.
O
So
that
is
the
practical
difficulty
finding
and
then,
as
far
as
the
the
subsequent
finding
that
the
applicant
is
proposed
to
use
the
property
in
a
reasonable
manner
that
will
be
in
keeping
with
the
spirit
intent
of
the
ordinance
and
comprehensive
plan
staff
found
affirmatively
that
the
that
the
proposed
building
and
the
proposed
site
use
and
design
is
reasonable.
O
The
applicant
has
proposed
to
add
one
additional
dwelling
unit
in
an
area
of
the
city
where
you
know
city
wide.
We
are
encouraging
up
to
three
dwelling
units
on
most
sites.
O
O
That
will
be
retained,
there's
a
wooded
area
between
the
existing
detached
garage
and
the
water
that
would
be
retained,
and
the
applicant
has
also
proposed
to
have
rain,
gardens
and
native
plantings
as
part
of
this
project
that
would
improve
stormwater,
runoff
and
infiltration
on
the
site
next
slide.
Please
so
staff
recommends
denying
the
appeal
and
upholding
the
planning
commission's
decision
to
approve
the
conditional
use
permit
and
both
variances
with
the
two
stated
conditions
for
the
conditional
use
permit
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
O
B
You
for
your
very
thorough
report,
we'll
see
if
there's
are
any
questions
from
members
of
the
committee
and
while
we're
waiting
to
see
if
there
are
any
questions,
I'm
wondering
if
you
could
tell
me
if,
as
staff,
you
believe
that
there
is
a
reasonable
alternative.
B
O
So
I'm
I
will
allow
that.
I
think
the
applicant
has
prepared
some
some
kind
of
displays.
That'll
show
you
know
whether
they
think
there's
a
reasonable
alternative
or
not.
My
understanding
is
that
the
goal
for
the
applicant
is
to
age
in
place
on
the
site,
which
is
why
they're
proposing
a
one-story
structure
that
would
have
you
know
a
slightly
you
know
longer
footprint
than
if
they
were
proposing
a
two
and
a
half
story
structure
with
a
smaller
footprint
because
of
the
requirements
for
a
cluster
development
requiring
that
open
space.
O
B
D
It
would
be
my
understanding
that
they
would
have
needed
a
requirement
or
a
variance
for
someone
accommodation
to
the
cluster
development
requirements,
but
that
would
be
available
not
saying
that
that's
necessarily
desirable
or
practical,
but
that
would
be
the
process
that
they
would
have
needed
to
follow
if
they
were
to
breach
the
requirement
for
common
space
usage.
O
Yeah,
basically,
they
would
have
to
reconfigure
the
entire
site
right.
So
you
assume
that
the
duplex
is
not
movable
at
this
point,
so
we
would
have
to
look
at
you
know.
O
Could
they
move
the
the
dwelling
unit
structure
back
far
enough,
that
it
would
get
them
outside
of
that
zone
and
if
they
did,
that,
is
there
any
opportunity
for
them
to
have
a
garage
whatsoever
or
not,
and
then
then
looking
at
whether
they
could
provide
that
required
shared
space?
O
I
think
it's
really
hard
to
speculate
without
having
like
some
possible
future
psych
plans
here,
but
yes,
it's
possible
that
they
would
need
variances
to
the
cluster
development
standards.
If,
if
there,
if
there
even
was
a
different
orientation
on
the
site,
that
would
be
feasible.
D
Yeah
and
that's
the
clarification
I
was
seeking,
so
any
deviation
from
common
area
space
as
prescribed
in
the
cluster,
would
be
another
variance
request
and
and
the
parking
would
not
be
required
or
the
parking
structure
per
our
current
guidelines,
so
one
would
need
additional
variances,
which
is
speculative
and
difficult,
and
the
other
is
just
something
that's
there.
That
makes
it
better
from
their
perspective.
O
Correct
yeah
yeah:
it's
it's
possible
that
you
know
a
different
orientation.
The
site
would,
like
you,
said,
require
the
cluster
development
variances
or
could
potentially
require
you
know,
other
setback
variances,
depending
on
where
they
were
able
to
place
the
structure.
B
B
Ms
balinsky,
I
I
know
you're
on
the
call
the
actual
appellant
is
given
10
minutes
and
then
everyone
else
who'd
like
to
speak.
There's
a
long
list
of
people
also
noted
as
the
appellant
can
speak
for
two
minutes,
so
you
can
decide
amongst
yourselves,
I'm
cool
with
that
who
speaks
for
10
minutes
and
who
speaks
for
two,
but
that
will
be
the
total
amount
of
time
and
the
same
thing
will
happen
with
the
applicant
greg
elsner.
B
B
Okay,
I'm
just
gonna
go
in
order,
so
the
next
person
on
the
call
is
colleen.
O'connor
toberman,
miss
toberman.
Are
you
on
the
call,
and
would
you
like
to
speak
as
the.
B
Okay
is
ms
wilinski
or
miss
o'connor.
Toberman
are
either
of
you
on
the
call
plus
press
star
six
to
unmute
or
maybe
unmute
your
microphone.
B
P
Q
P
P
We
disagree
with
staff's
finding
that
of
practical
difficulties,
based
on
a
claim
that
the
bluff
was
modified
by
a
previous
owner.
In
fact,
the
record
contains
no
evidence
that
a
prior
owner
modified
the
bluff,
even
if
the
bluff
were
modified
changes
in
and
previously
changes
in
geographic
features
within
the
mrcca
and
shoreland
overlay
district
do
not
justify
overriding
the
environmental
protections
provided
by
these
regulations.
P
In
direct
conflict
with
the
intent
of
the
mrcca
ordinance,
finally,
approval
of
this
project
is
inconsistent
with
current
city
and
park
board
priorities
to
address
historic
inequities
and
access
to
parkland.
This
parcel
is
part
of
a
land
acquisition
plan
by
the
minneapolis
park
and
recreation
board
scheduled
for
inclusion
in
the
above
the
falls
regional
park.
It
would
delay
linking
north
and
northeast
minneapolis
to
the
rest
of
the
regional
park
system,
making
expanding
the
marshall
terrace
spark
for
public
river
access
impossible.
P
B
Q
Thank
you.
This
is
adam
mullenberg
from
the
mississippi
national
river
and
recreation
area.
The
national
park
service
unit
out
of
st
paul,
the
mississippi
nra,
agrees
with
aspects
of
the
appeal
for
2648
marshall
street,
northeast
challenging
the
approval
of
variances
to
provisions
of
the
mississippi
river
critical
area
rules
and
the
city's
ordinance
which
incorporates
provision
of
these
rules.
Q
We
agree
with
the
dnr
that
the
this
project
does
not
meet
the
statutory
statutory
criteria,
ms462
0.357
for
practical
difficulties
and
reasonable
manner
without
meeting
the
criteria.
The
city
of
minneapolis
must
deny
the
variant
the
newly
adopted
minneapolis
merca
ordinance
and
the
minneapolis
2040
comprehensive
plan
state
that
there
shall
be
no
construction
within
the
bluff
impact
zone
or
the
40-foot
setback
for
the
urban
mix
district,
where
this
property
is
located,
the
city
ordinance
describes
what
a
buildable
area
is
in
the
merca
ordinance
as
the
syria
or
a
lodge
or
a
parcel
on
which
structures.
B
May
be
placed
your
testimony,
sir.
I'm
sorry,
your
two
minutes
is
up.
Thank
you.
We'll
move
on
to
irene
jones,
who
would
have
been
speaker
number
three
in
the
order
that
I
see
miss
jones.
Are
you
on
the
line?
Can
you
please
press
star
six
to
unmute,
you
have
two
minutes.
R
I'd
like
you
to
go
back
to
liz
wilinski
so
that
she
can
present
the
appeal
we
haven't
actually
presented
the
appeal,
so
it's
kind
of
hard
to
testify
about
this
project.
I
don't
understand
why
this
is
being
handled
this
way.
So
I
would
like
to
give
my
time
to
liz
wielinski,
and
I
would
also
like
to
make
sure
the
dnr
has
a
chance
to
testify
and
that
they
are
not
part
of
the
appeal,
so
they
should
not
be
part
of
the
10
minutes.
B
S
U
B
B
T
I
would
like
to
speak
for
part
of
the
applicants.
Yes,
some
of
them
want
to
participate
themselves
like
ms
jones
and
the
stoverman,
and
I
have
no
intention
of
taking
a
full
10
minutes
and
I'd
like
to
apologize
for
the
technical
difficulties
here
at
my
stucco
basement
that,
wouldn't
let
me
get
through
to
the
phone
call.
B
Not
a
problem,
we
were
just
trying
to
get
people
speaking
to
use
up
the
time,
so
go
ahead,
go
ahead.
T
Appreciate
that
good
afternoon,
chair
goodman
and
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
liz
wolinski
and
I
am
the
lead
appellant
in
opposition
of
the
project
that
was
approved
by
the
city
planning
commission
for
the
property
at
2648
marshall
street
northeast
the
forum
that
was
submitted
by
myself
and
others,
including
friends
of
the
mississippi
river,
the
audubon
chapter
afk
and
the
national
parks,
conservancy
association,
etc.
Contains
many
specific
details
of
how
this
project
does
not
conform
to
the
goals
of
the
24-bit
plan.
T
The
claim
that
the
site
presents
practical
difficulties
should
be
ignored.
The
proposer
chose
to
live
on
the
shores
of
the
mississippi
river,
the
mississippi
river
scours
and
does
other
things
in
fact,
two
spots
to
the
north
at
marshall
terrace
park
a
few
years
ago,
a
sinkhole
came
into
the
middle
of
the
park
that
had
to
be
taken
care
of
when
you
build
next
to
a
river.
Those
are
chances
you
take,
there
will
be
years
of
floods
years
of
drought,
and
they
no
doubt
have
to
carry
extra
insurance
for
living
in
a
flood
plain.
T
Knowing
all
of
this
they
choose
to
build
on
the
edge
of
the
river.
I
am
afraid
that
that
is
not
something
that
I
would
consider
a
practical
difficulty.
I
would
consider
it
the
place
you
chose
to
live
and
the
problems
that
come
with
it,
the
site
that
can
accommodate
more
density,
but
would
this
be
wise
if
they
are
in
certain
need
to
how
you
say
age
in
place
by
building
another
building?
T
The
former
shearer
brothers
site
came
up
for
sale
on
the
spur
of
the
moment
after
no
one
thought
the
park
board
could
ever
get
that
land.
How
are
we
to
know
if
marshall,
concrete
and
cywick
lumber
might
not
join
the
park
portfolio
anytime
soon?
They
have
both
had
discussions
with
the
park
staff
and
if
many
money
and
other
items
can
be
met,
they
are
willing
sellers
both
of
them.
Having
served
on
afcac
and
worked
to
get
the
updated
about
the
falls
plan
class.
B
Thank
you,
ms
willinski,
thanks.
So
much
for
your
testimony.
We'll
now
call
on
the
other
folks
who
have
signed
up
to
speak,
except
for
the
ones
who
have
already
spoken,
and
the
next
person
on
the
list
I
have
in
front
of
me
is
colleen
o'connor
toberman
miss
toberman.
If
you
would
press
star
six
to
unmute,
you
have
two
minutes.
U
Good
afternoon
sharon
goodman
and
council
members,
I'm
colleen
o'connor
toberman
with
friends
in
mississippi
river,
I'm
speaking
in
support
of
the
appeal
specifically
to
the
merka
variant
for
structure
placement
and
bluff
setbacks.
This
isn't
a
question
about
the
number
of
housing
units
on
this
property.
The
question
is
whether
these
homes
can
meet
the
city's
requirements
for
design
standards
and
environmental
protections
that
protect
the
river
as
an
asset
to
all
residents.
U
You
just
voted
to
approve
the
merka
ordinance
back
in
december,
and
this
is
a
first
variance
request
made
under
the
brand
new
ordinance.
So
the
precedent
you
set
here
is
incredibly
important.
In
this
case,
the
ordinance
was
applied
incorrectly
in
several
ways.
The
america
ordinance
requires
several
specific
findings
that
were
not
mentioned
in
the
staff
presentation.
U
For
instance,
variances
are
required
to
be
in
substantial
compliance
with
the
city's
merca
plan
and
extent,
location
and
intensity.
This
variance
is
not
in
substantial
compliance
where
the
merca
bluffs
setback
requirement
is
40
feet.
The
applicant
has
proposed
a
zero
foot.
Setback
also
be
consistent
with
the
management
purpose
of
the
merca
district,
which
specifically
prioritizes
bluff
protection
and
erosion
protection.
U
This
finding
also
is
not
met,
given
the
realities
of
increasing
erosion
from
increasingly
extreme
rainfall.
We
can't
afford
to
treat
blood
protections
as
an
afterthought,
and
the
bluff's
existence
is
not
a
practical
difficulty.
The
property
has
plenty
of
buildable
area
to
support
reasonable
use,
as
evidenced
by
the
existing
conforming
home.
I
also
believe
that
the
site
has
sufficient
space
for
an
additional
home
if
it
were
designed
differently.
I
have
to
point
out
that
a
thousand
square
foot
garage
is
enormous,
that
is
bigger
than
many
houses.
U
This
variance
application
was
driven
by
design
preference,
not
practical
difficulty.
I
dealt
with
this
bluff
setback.
What
variants
would
have
been
granted
in
other
parts
of
the
city
along
the
river
and
we
can't
hold
more
polluted
and
damaged
areas
like
northeast
to
a
lesser
standard
for
future
development
and
especially
not
when
it
comes
to
protecting
what
might
be
one
of
the
very
few
natural
bluffs
remaining
in
the
area.
U
B
R
R
The
planning
commission
should
have
recommended
denial
of
the
variants
for
encroaching
on
the
bluff
impact
zone.
The
merka
rules
are
something
I
also
have
long
experience
with.
I
worked
at
friends
of
the
mississippi
river
for
21
years
and
have
continued
to
take
a
keen
interest
in
how
the
river
is
protected.
Since
my
retirement
a
couple
years
ago,
and
one
of
the
most
important
things
on
merca
is
the
building
on
the
black
building
on
on
the
bluff
in
murca
is
prohibited.
Pretty
much
full
stop.
R
I've
never
actually
seen
any
cases
where
people
have
built
directly
over
the
top
of
the
bluff.
Fluff
step
back.
Variances
are
common,
but
building
on
the
bluff
was
still
simply
is
not
done.
This
is
not
florida.
It's
minnesota
and,
furthermore,
removing
trees
and
other
vegetation
on
the
bluff
will
be
harmful
to
the
river.
There's
no
question
that
this
development
is
proposed,
as
proposes
inconsistent
with
the
city's
merka
plan
and
would
negatively
impact
two
primary
conservation
areas,
the
bluff
impact
zone
and
the
vegetation
on
the
bluff.
R
There's
also
no
hardship
here,
there's
plenty
of
space
on
the
property
for
an
additional
house
and
a
new
garage
without
encroaching
on
the
bluff
impact
zone
and
there's
no
reason
why
it
shouldn't
be
20
if
not
40
feet
away
from
the
bluffs.
So
this
variance
request,
as
many
have
said
before,
is
is
being
requested
due
to
a
design
preference,
not
a
hardship.
R
There's
also
a
real
slot
argument
in
the
staff
report
that
the
bluffs
line
has
been
altered.
It
states
on
the,
if
states
in
the
staff
report,
if
the
national
bluff
line
had
been
retained
on
this
site,
the
proposed
location
for
the
new
structure
would
not
be
located
in
the
bluff
impact
zone.
Well
that
that
is
pure
fantasy.
The
opposite
is
much
more
likely
to
be
true.
Industrial
users
fill
in
bluffs
to
create
land.
No
one
cuts
90
feet
out
of
the
bluff
to
create
land.
R
B
V
Thank
you
very
much
chair
goodman,
I'm
speaking
for
friends
of
the
riverfront,
and
we
support
the
appeal
for
the
reasons
stated
in
the
dnr's
detailed
analysis
and
in
going
along
with
irene
jones
point,
the
slope
of
2648
marshall
was
was
not
was
not
altered
due
to
industrial
uses
and
historical
documents
that
I
reviewed,
including
building
permit
cards,
city
directories
and
real
estate
ads
all
support
the
fact
that
2648
was
historically
in
residential
use
as
it
is
today.
V
It
is
far
more
likely
that
the
adjoining
properties
have
been
altered
with
dread
spoils
from
the
building
of
the
upper
harbor
terminal.
In
fact,
the
park
board's
history
of
marshall
terrace
park
says
quote
in
the
1960s.
Some
dredging
of
the
river
for
the
creation
of
the
city's
upper
harbor
on
the
opposite
bank
created
fill
for
the
area
between
the
park
and
the
river
and
increased
it
the
usable
space
by
four
acres,
and
that's
huge.
So
this
explains
why
the
other
areas
are
larger
and
filled
in
a
former
property
owner
near
2648.
V
Marshall
said
during
a
recent
interview
that,
at
the
time
of
the
building
of
the
upper
harbor,
there
was
tremendous
pressure
for
property
owners
to
accept
dredge
spoils
on
their
property.
Despite
this,
the
owner
of
2648
refused
to
accept
the
spoils,
and
if
you
look
at
the
adjacent
prop
property,
which
is
an
apartment
building
that
was
built
in
1968
before
river
protections,
it
has
all
the
hallmarks
of
being
the
same
situation
as
marshall
tyra's
park.
It
has
a
retaining
wall
up
to
the
water
that
likely
is
also
dredge
spoils.
V
Photographic
evidence
by
the
mwml
confirms
the
the
history
of
this
site,
and
I
I
did
want
to
add
a
little
bit
to
what
council
member
reich
said
too.
It
would
seem
that
there
is
a
space
on
this
property
for
a
colossal
development,
but
shared
space.
I
think
we
have
to
consider
that
this
space,
perhaps
with
a
variance,
could
use
the
slope
down
to
the
river,
including
canoeing.
Thank
you
very
much.
B
S
Hello,
this
is
mary
jamin
mcguire,
I'm
speaking
on
behalf
behalf
of
afghak,
the
above
the
falls
community
advisory
committee
and
thank
you,
chair,
goodman
and
council
members
for
this
community
meeting.
This
appeal
is
not
about
a
small
cluster
development
in
northeast
minneapolis.
It's
about
the
mississippi
river
and
the
health
of
the
mississippi
river.
This
site
does
retain
the
natural
bluff
line,
and
this
proposed
building
site
is
within
40
feet
of
the
top
of
a
steep
slope
and
within
the
bluff
impact
zone.
S
The
house
currently
on
the
site
was
built
in
1901.
There
is
no
evidence
there
was
any
industry
on
the
site
prior
to
that
until
1968,
when
the
apartment
building
was
built
to
the
north,
this
site
was
bordered
by
single-family
homes.
There
was
a
stretch
of
about
10
single-family
homes
along
this
side
of
the
river,
in
1985
marshall,
concrete
expanded
to
the
south
side
of
this
of
this
property.
S
S
There
are
a
few
others
on
this
in
this
part
of
town
that
retain
a
natural
bluff
line
and,
as
such,
should
be
preserved
and
respected
the
when
the
mwmo
moved
into
their
building
just
south
of
this
site,
they
actually
dug
out
the
the
the
garbage
that
was
put
there
to
to
redevelop
the
natural,
the
natural,
the
natural
shoreline
that
this
this
site
has.
S
The
proposed
use
is
not
in
keeping
with
the
spirit
or
intent
of
the
merkel
ordinance,
and
the
record
does
not
reflect
the
additional
findings
required
to
grant
the
variance
or
conditional
use
permit.
We
urge
you
to
deny
these
variances
and
conditional
use
permit,
as
approved
by
the
planning
commission,
and
thank
you
for
your
consideration.
B
Thank
you
for
your
time,
mary.
Well
now
we'll
now
move
to
the
project
apple
project
applicant
and
give
him
an
opportunity
to
present
their
case.
I
note
that
andrew
wattenhoffer
and
greg
elsner
are
the
applicants
listed.
I'm
not
sure
who
of
you
will
speak.
You
have
10
minutes,
sir
sirs
either
one.
B
B
B
Okay,
mr
elsner,
are
you
speaking
on
behalf?
Are
you
as
the
applicant
speaking.
G
No
john
don
and
andy
are
the
applicants
and
they'll
be
speaking.
Andy,
montgomery
and
don
brittnell
are
the
owners
of
the
property
and
they'll
be
using
10
minutes
I'll
follow
up
with
two
minutes
of
comments
afterwards.
Thank
you.
W
Madam
chair
I'll
just
mention
the
both
of
the
applicants
on
the
phone
that
may
have
their
own
devices
muted,
so
press
make
sure
to
unmute
your
device
in
case
that
is
muted,
as
well
as
pushing
star.
B
B
B
I'm
not
sure
what
to
say
ken
all
the
other
people
were
able
to
figure
it
out,
we'll
go
ahead
and
ask
mr
elsner
to
speak
if,
if
andrew
watenhofer
and
the
other
applicants
are
not
able
to
press
star
six
unmute
and
or
unmute
their
phones
so
greg,
would
you
like
to
speak
now,
mr
elsner?
I'm
not
going
to
come
back
to
you.
So
this
is
your.
B
G
G
So
in
working
with
our
clients,
don
and
excuse
me
in
way
of
introduction,
my
name
is
greg
helsinger,
the
architect
who
helped
don
and
andy
develop
the
design
of
the
home
for
their
property
and
working
with
them.
We
worked
and
their
goals
of
creating
plus
development
on
the
back
of
their
house
for
one
unit
dwelling.
G
Sorry,
this
star
sticks
got
me
off
guard
here,
so
we
worked
with
don
and
annie
to
develop.
We
feel
as
a
really
reasonable,
ask
and
and
house
for
their
goal
of
aging
in
place
and
redevelop
and
living
on
the
property
that
they
own,
the
structural
foundation
system
of
the
house.
Hotel
has
been
referred
to
as
peers
on
the
river
things
like
that.
Not.
G
In
addition
to
our
structural
design,
john
and
andy
has
hired
a
civil
engineer
and
metro
blooms,
landscape
architecture,
who
also
put
together
a
pretty
significant
set
of
retention
and
rainwater
retention.
Storm
water,
runoff
designs
that
are
part
of
the
goal
of
this
entire
project
is
to
improve
to,
for
donna
andy
to
stay
on
the
property
in
town,
allow
for
their
existing
house
to
be
rented
out
to
a
family
that
would
be
appropriately
fit
and
then
in
the
process
mitigate,
run
off
and
improve
some
water
retention
on
the
site,
they've
shown
by
the
pretty
significant.
G
Portions
yeah,
so
I
think
that's
all
I
have
and
hopefully
dominate
don
and
andy
are
texting
me
now.
I
hope
that
they
can
get
on.
Thank
you
don
just
said
she
believes
she's.
Thank
you.
B
X
Okay,
thank
you,
sorry
about
that.
The
star
6
wasn't
working
for
us,
so
I've
included
some
attachments
that
I'm
hoping
can
be
displayed
as
I
speak,
there's
a
pdf
that
includes
some
photographs
of
the
site.
X
I'd
like
to
take
this
on
quick
tours,
so
we
can
see
the
physical
conditions
without
relying
on
conjecture
here,
and
hopefully
everyone
can
see
those
pictures.
While
I
speak,
our
plans,
as
you
can
see
in
the
staff
report,
are
for
a
relatively
modest
1700
square
foot
single
family
house
located
in
a
place
on
the
lot
where
our
garage
currently
resides.
That
garage
is
visible
in
the
first
of
the
photos
and
to
the
left.
We
can
see
a
concrete
driveway
that
leads
down
to
the
river.
Proceeding
from
there
we
come
to
a
limestone,
concrete,
retaining
wall.
X
The
house
would
be
located
some
feet
above
that
wall.
I
should
point
out
here
that
every
square
of
space
that
we
can
see
in
every
one
of
these
pictures
has
some
form
of
concrete
on
it.
On
all
of
the
slopes
we
can
see.
Concrete
rubble
has
been
used
as
infill
material.
Every
flat
surface
is
impermeable
concrete
pavement
and,
of
course,
there
are
the
concrete
walls.
X
There
is
no
place
on
the
riverside
section
of
our
property
or
the
neighboring
ones
that
can
be
described
as
a
natural
surface.
Unfortunately,
looking
to
the
north
and
south,
we
can
see
the
retaining
wall
systems
at
the
apartment,
parking
lots
and
the
marshall
concrete
lot
as
they
reach
out
to
the
river's
edge.
These
create
the
unnatural
bloodlines
for
those
properties
that
are
closer
to
the
river
than
on
our
lot.
This
is
one
of
the
unique
conditions
present
on
this
lot
that
lead
us
to
applying
for
a
variance.
X
Our
plans
for
this
site
includes
some
remediation
of
the
concrete,
covering
the
slope
we'll
remove
as
much
of
the
concrete
as
possible
and
replace
it
with
best
management
practices
such
as
rain
gardens
and
bioswales
to
mitigate
the
stormwater
runoff.
That
currently
carries
pollutant
pollutants
from
these
surfaces
into
the
mississippi
river,
we'll
also
install
native
plants
and
trees,
to
restore
a
natural
landscape
here
and
if
I
include-
and
I
have
included
materials
in
my
uploads-
that
include
a
statement
from
our
landscape
architect-
rich
harrison
where
he
discusses
these
benefits
in
more
detail.
X
Moving
back
to
the
house
design,
you
can
see
that
it
sits
on
concrete
piers.
This
is
because
we
determined
in
the
design
process
that
any
excavation
of
material
for
a
basement
here
would
disrupt
the
slope
and
the
neighboring
parking
lot
retaining
wall.
The
solution,
our
architect,
architects
came
up
with
was
to
build
on
a
single
story
like
this.
We
really
like
this
design
for
two
reasons.
The
first
is
that
it
maintains
a
low
profile
for
the
house,
so
it
does
not
add
any
significant
height
above
the
where
the
current
garage
is
now.
X
X
Should
the
park
board
decide
to
repurpose
it
as
a
park
facility,
for
example,
when
they
take
over
the
property-
and
this
is
a
good
place
for
me
to
talk
about
the
park-
concerns
as
they
pertain
to
this
property
and
the
above
default
master
plan.
I
understand
it
is
not
within
the
purview
of
the
city
to
address
park
matters,
but
this
is
the
source
of
most
of
the
opposition
here,
and
I
need
to
bring
it
up.
We
agree
with
and
support
the
proposition
for
this
property
to
become
a
part
of
the
public
park
system.
X
We
do
not
agree,
however,
that
the
variance
process,
as
we
are
engaged
in
today
is
the
appropriate
venue
for
those
discussions.
This
is
because
there
is
an
existing
process
for
that
which
is
engagement
with,
and
partnership
with
the
minneapolis
park
and
recreation
board.
This
process
has
been
used
successfully
several
times
with
commercial
and
residential
property
owners
along
the
riverfront.
Already,
we've
initiated
this
process
with
the
mprb
and
it
requires
that
the
mprv
commissioners
approve
a
memorandum
of
understanding
with
us.
X
The
mou
is
in
flight
and
we
expect
it
will
be
approved
by
the
commissioners
at
their
meeting
on
august
18th
of
this
year
from
there
we
can
begin
the
complicated
process
of
devising
a
plan
with
the
park
board
to
ensure
that
this
property
is
incorporated
into
the
park
system
within
the
time
frame
and
scope,
as
defined
in
the
above
the
false
plan.
This
represents
the
best
possible
outcome
for
this
place
in
terms
of
park
considerations.
X
Now
I
will
conclude
my
remarks
with
this.
We
believe
that
our
plan
here
represents
the
best
possible
outcome
for
this
property.
At
this
time,
on
every
measure
we
have
an
attractive
design
that
sets
sits
well
in
the
existing
landscape
in
a
location
that
already
has
a
building
on
it
with
minimal
impact
to
its
surroundings.
X
X
With
that,
I
want
to
say
that
we
are
very
grateful
to
have
the
opportunity
on
our
riverfront
property
here
to
be
mindful
stewards
as
it
undergoes
these
transformations
in
the
coming
months
and
years.
Thank
you,
everyone
for
your
time
and
attention,
and
I
would
like
to
give
the
rest
of
our
time
to
my
wife,
dawn
brent.
B
Y
Y
Last
week,
the
new
york
times
published
an
interview
with
jerusalem
duncan
the
journalist
who
thought
to
answer
the
question:
why
cities
struggle
with
skyrocketing
housing
costs,
increasing
homelessness
and
difficulty
in
implementing
even
humble
public
infrastructure
projects.
Her
research
identified
two
main
barriers
to
development,
complex
bureaucracy
and
the
weaponization
of
environmentalism
and
other
progressive
causes
by
small
but
organized
groups
of
citizens
who
were
on
average
older
whiter
and
wealthier
than
the
general
population
of
the
city.
Y
Our
experience
with
this
very
modest
project
has
mirrored
her
findings
precisely
in
order
to
meet
all
of
the
requirements
to
even
have
a
variant
hearing
for
this
project.
The
point
at
which
we
could
be
would
be
told
whether
or
not
we
could
move
forward.
We
had
to
spend
literally
tons
of
thousands
of
dollars
on
architectural
and
engineering
costs
and
while
that
may
not
seem
like
a
lot
of
money
to
some
of
those
opposed
to
this
project,
it
is
a
lot
of
money
to
us
two
first-generation
college
graduates
who
both
work
for
the
university
of
minnesota.
Y
So
why
did
we
continue?
Because
we
have
been
assured
by
cities
planning
that
the
experts
of
city
code
that
we
had
a
very
clear
case
for
the
variances
we
thought,
and
additionally,
this
work
had
to
be
done
to
get
this
project
to
completion
anyway.
Moreover,
when
we
emailed
our
city
council,
member
and
our
neighborhood
organization,
fully
one
year
before
we
were
ever
scheduled
for
a
variant
hearing,
we
received
a
reply
of
support
from
the
council
member
and
no
reply
from
our
neighborhood
organization
natively.
Y
We
did
not
think
this
modest
project
would
raise
this
level
of
objection,
so
we
did
not
think
we
were
taking
a
huge
financial
risk.
We
were
then
quite
surprised
when
we
were
the
zoom
equivalents
of
jumped
by
the
president
of
our
neighbor
organization,
neighborhood
organization,
one
of
the
people
on
this
appeal
at
our
recent
annual
neighborhood
meeting
regarding
a
project.
Y
Those
opposing
our
project
made
several
claims
in
their
appeal
that
are
not
rooting
rooted
in
any
type
of
evidence.
Andy
has
addressed
some
of
these
already,
but
I
would
like
to
address
the
claims
made
about
migratory
birds
as
an
illustration:
I'm
not
an
ornithologist,
but
I've
done
some
reading
in
the
academic
literature
in
this
field
now
and
what
I
found
that
is,
that
buildings
most
highly
associated
with
migratory
bird
collision
are
those
that
are
taller,
larger
and
have
large
expanses
of
plate
glass
windows.
Y
This
project
has
none
of
those
characteristics,
and
yet
the
some
of
the
opposition
literature
uploaded
somehow
it's
roots
that
this
project
could
be
the
tipping
point
for
extinction
of
migratory
birds.
To
me,
this
is
a
clear
case
of
weaponization
of
environmentalism.
There
are
three
main
concluding
points
I
would
like
to
make.
First,
I
believe
city
planning
staff.
The
experts
are
right.
Y
Second,
this
process
is
unnecessarily
onerous
and
creates
incredible
financial
disincentives
for
anyone
other
than
moneyed
interest
from
pursuing
building
projects
in
those
cities.
If
we're
not
able
to
move
forward
with
this
project,
we
will
need
to
sell
the
property
in
order
to
recruit
at
least
some
of
our
financial
losses
and
to
move
into
a
home
that
will
meet
our
needs
over
time.
As
the
slot
is
down
to
r6
and
the
current
park
work
has
not
indicated
interest
in
purchasing
the
property.
Y
At
this
time
a
developer
could
come
in,
raise
the
existing
duplex
and
build
a
much
larger
structure
that
could
potentially
have
some
of
the
impact
the
opposition
suggests
about
this
project.
Third,
I
would
like
to
ask
a
group
of
people
opposing
this
project
to
keep
in
mind
when
they
oppose
projects
in
the
future
that
there
are
actual
people.
Y
B
B
I
would
call
on
adam
next.
If
he's
on
the
line,
please
press
star
six
to
unmute.
You
have
two
minutes,
sir.
Z
Petrick
hello
good
afternoon,
council
members,
I'm
dan
patrick
and
I'm
the
program
manager
for
the
dnr's
critical
area
program
and
I'm
speaking
in
favor
of
the
appeal
in
developing
the
2017
critical
area
rules.
Z
The
dnr
worked
closely
with
city
staff
to
design
critical
area
districts
and
setback
and
height
regulations
that
were
supportive
of
city
growth
and
design
goals,
while
protecting
shoreline,
bluffs
and
habitat
walk
protection
is
central
to
the
spirit
and
intent
of
your
ordinance,
because
bluffs
both
altered
and
unaltered,
provide
critical
habitat
and
scenic
character
and
they're
prone
to
erosion
for
land
alteration,
structure,
placement
and
stormwater.
Runoff.
Z
I'd
like
to
first
address
the
reasonable
manner
criteria
for
the
variants.
This
project,
while
nicely
designed,
is
completely
inconsistent
with
the
spirit
and
intent
of
this
ordinance.
Building
a
home
on
the
top
of
a
bluff
line
and
within
the
bluff
impact
zone
is
precisely
the
type
of
activity
the
ordinance
prohibits.
Z
This
variance
is
a
substantial
deviation
from
the
purpose
and
intent
of
the
ordinance,
not
some
minor,
minimal
relief,
which
might
be
justified
in
some
situations,
such
as
substantial
deviation,
renders
the
bluff
protections
meaningless
for
this
site.
A
variance
allowing
such
a
substantial
deviation
begs
the
question
as
to
whether
the
reasonable
manner
requirement
of
the
city's
ordinance
is
really
a
requirement
at
all
now
for
unique
circumstances.
Z
Others
have
already
pointed
out
that
the
speculation
about
past
industrial
uses
modifying
the
bluff
line
or
without
foundation
the
physical
conditions
of
this
property
strongly
suggest
it's
been
in
long-term
residential
use.
In
fact,
the
bluff
alterations,
including
the
tiered
retaining
walls,
stairways
and
a
boat
access
ramp,
are
typical
of
residential
properties.
We
see
throughout
the
state.
Z
In
fact,
bus
lines
differ
all
the
time
from
immediate
neighbors
bluffline.
It
is
not
a
unique
circumstance.
Bluff
lines
are
not
static
and
regular.
Another
bluffs,
naturally
undulates
in
response
to
water
flows
and
erosion
and
many
have
been
altered
to
some
degree,
but
regardless
of
whether
the
bluff
has
been
altered,
it's
still
susceptible
to
erosional
forces
and
provides
important
scenic
and
habitat
character,
which
is
a
rarity
in
this
stretch
of
the
river.
So
with
that,
we
urge
you
to
support
the
appeal.
B
B
D
Thank
you,
madam
chair,
and
clearly
from
the
testimony
and
the
length
and
passion
of
the
discussion
and
arguments.
We
have
a
very
difficult
decision
before
us.
D
I
will
note,
even
though
we
are
not
party
to
the
decisions
of
park
and
rec,
commissioner
meyer
did
reach
out
to
me
for
full
disclosure
and
gave
me
some
of
his
insights
on
their
deliberation
and
did
caution
me
as
to
the
unexecuted
potential
document
in
terms
of
an
mou
which
I
think
in
spirit
is
very
much
in
terms
of
the
counter
applicants
or
the
applicants
for
the
project
as
they
typify
anything
in
the
spirit
of
which
I
think
there
are
conversations,
but
he
was
cautioning
me
as
to
it
being
executed
and
approved.
D
So
I
just
wanted
to
share
that,
because
that
seemed
like
german
information
for
the
body
and
to
have
full
disclosure
on
my
ex-parte
communications.
D
I
will
say
that
there's
certainly
an
interest
in
the
city
in
terms
of
housing
policy
that
was
described
in
staff
and
some
of
the
other
discussions.
But
clearly
we
have
a
counter-posing
set
of
interests
in
terms
of
our
natural
resources
and
policies
that
are
newly
minted.
In
much
of
our
discussion,
I
would
say
that
a
lot
of
the
discussion
in
terms
of
what
the
planning
commission
had
on
a
split
decision
in
the
affirmative
and
again
this
was
some
of
the
information
I
got
from
chris
meyer
also
serves
on
that
commission.
D
Some
of
the
information
in
terms
of
bluff
line
were
different
in
his
perspective
subsequently
than
when
he
was
presented
at
the
time
and,
of
course,
that's
reflected
in
the
staff
report,
which
heavily
relies
on
the
notion
of
was
this
a
natural
bluff
line
or
not,
and
it
seems
like
there's
less
of
an
emphasis
on
that
based
on
today's
staff
presentation,
it's
more
about
the
irregularity
created
by
the
two
adjacent
properties
and
even
some
of
the
other
adjacent
properties,
some
of
which
have
been
addressed
by
people
who
spoke
in
favor
of
the
applicants,
and
so,
oh
and
clearly
the
the
intentions
and
design
of
the
people
who
were
presenting.
D
I
would
not
ever
question
the
veracity
of
their
involvement
and
intent,
particularly
towards
the
river,
the
neighborhood
or
the
design
of
their
project.
I
think
it's
all
sound,
certainly
in
the
abstract.
D
No
one
would
be
very
hard
to
argue
that
this
is
not
a
good
sense
of
design
for
the
purposes
intended
and
certainly
when
it
was
brought
to
my
attention
in
the
absence
of
any
other
considerations.
That
would
stand-
and
I
did
look
at
my
communication
from
over
a
year
ago.
Of
course,
what's
presented
to
us
now
and
heavily
relied
upon
in
terms
of
the
applicant
to
deny
on
appeal,
does
rely
on
our
newly
minted
regulations
for
the
river,
particularly
the
mrcca
and
there.
D
I
think
the
question
pivots
that,
with
the
reasonable
use
of
existing
land
right
and
the
regulations
put
in
place
for
the
current
and
long-term
view
of
the
river,
our
very
special
resource,
and
on
that
I
would
say,
yeah
zero,
zero,
lat
line,
variance
in
the
absence
of
art
in
fast
practical
difficulty,
and
what
I
mean
by
that
it
seems
as
though
there
could
have
been
some
alternatives
in
terms
of
design,
reasonable
or
practical.
Those
are
debatable
notions
of
where
that
line
is
drawn.
D
Obviously,
variances
would
have
been
needed
for
any
deviation
from
the
cluster
development
requirements,
but
then
we
would
be
counter-posing
which
kind
of
variances
we
want
to
approve
to
approve
good
projects
per
se,
and
it
seems
to
me
that
the
evidence
is
not
really
supporting
such
a
strong
variation.
The
practical
difficulty
created
by
the
two
adjoining
properties
and
even
extending
it
to
the
park
and
rec
property
are
based
on
land
use
patterns
that
are
completely
not
approvable.
D
Today,
certainly
are
not
in
the
spirit
of
our
current
regulations,
certainly
not
in
the
spirit
of
our
future
plans
for
our
park
and
rec,
and
I
do
think
that
there
could
have
been
an
alternative
that
could
have
met
both
objectives
that
are
before
us
in
terms
of
land
use
and
protections
of
the
river.
Unfortunately,
that's
not
before
us
at
this
moment,
and
so
I
would
be
moving
to
uphold
the.