Minutes of July 28, 1997 Meeting
1. The Monday 7/28/97 Prospect Park East River Road Improvement Association (PPERRIA) Board/Membership/Neighborhood Meeting (B/M/N Mtg.) was called to order by Susan Larson-Fleming, President, at 7:05 PM at the Prospect Park United Methodist Church, Orlin/Malcolm SE. A quorum was present. There were no additions or corrections to the meeting agenda available at this meeting.
3. Jeannie Moses of the Landscape Committee, indicated that several groups of neighbors have been busy seeing to the neighborhood public gardens. The neighborhood children with their Children’s Garden in Glendale have had another successful year and there were no incidents of vandalism to the garden. In addition, there were 500 trees and plants added to Glendale. Although there have been additional plantings at the various neighborhood gateways, there will always be additional work to be done. The creation of a neighborhood holding bed for neighbors to share extra and needed plants is in the works. If you are interested, leave a message on the PPERRIA voice mail: 331-2970.
5. Motion passed without noes: "PPERRIA authorizes that $2500 be allocated for the first printing of our Directory of Neighborhood Services to cover printing expenses for this project from the NRP/PPERRIA funds earmarked in the Livability section, page 26 of the NRP/ PPERRIA Plan." Before the vote it was asked if a quorum was present. There was. Ruth Fen and Andy Mickel circulated a mock-up of the proposed directory. Included will be entries from earlier directories plus new services. No more than 25% of the directory will be ads, with a calling card size costing $25. If the directory continues, it will be necessary that it generate enough income to cover its costs.
6. Motion passed without noes: "PPERRIA authorizes the amendment of the NRP/PPERRIA housing subsidy for the sale of University of Minnesota owned houses in the Motley neighborhood passed at the 2/24/97 PPERRIA Board/Membership/ Neighborhood Meeting. Changed is item 2 in the process section: Those awarded grants will be given until noon, ninety days after the University of Minnesota announces those selected to purchase the property." Daniel Patenaude of the Housing Improvement Committee explained that the original date of 9/1/97 is much too early as the University is not expected to have made public the purchase process until after 9/1/97. This clause allows any unused funds to be available for other uses within a reasonable time.
7. Presentation of PPERRIA budget was tabled until the 9/97 meeting.
8. Bill Kahn of the Environment Committee reported that there were errors in the article in the Southeast Angle about the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency hearing in 6/97 on American Can’s request for change in their aid pollution permit at their Delaware/27th Avenue facility. But, despite the errors, the committee considers that there was progress in addressing the committee’s concerns. Although some of the pollution will be shipped to another state, American Can has shown interest in entering into a Good Neighbor agreement with PPERRIA. The Environmental Committee is working on an environmental inventory.
9. Motion passed (as amended): "Since our neighborhood association’s position will need to be determined and presented before our next meeting, I move that (the reservations expressed at the 7/28/97 meeting be considered by the Zoning Committee) for the "Proposed Dunbar Development" our PPERRIA Zoning Committee be authorized to: (1) decide PPERRIA’s position and (2) present that position at any and all public meetings addressing this proposal." Not passed was an earlier motion to include the statement that the Zoning Committee’s position was theirs and had not been presented to PPERRIA for its approval. An earlier friendly amendment was not accepted because the question had been called.
Dean Lund of the Zoning Committee presented the motion. Dunbar has proposed for the Electric Machinery site on the North of University Avenue between 25th and 27th Avenue, a 196 unit housing/retail building. The major concerns are the 509 bedrooms, almost no parking on site, and the retail units that duplicate those in Stadium Village and the massive suburban building. The project is moving much too fast through the city processes, a city decision will be made on 8/8/97, to allow for the regular PPERRIA process of Zoning Committee/Executive Committee/Board-Membership-Neighborhood meetings. There has been one Zoning Committee meeting and due to the many unresolved issues, no recommendation was made. The affected neighborhoods seem to have been left out of the loop on this: Stadium Village, SEED and PPERRIA. A major/major concern. The site has been vacant for 16 years although there have been a series of proposals, all of which have been abandoned. Previous planning has recommended the site as mixed resident/commercial/ industrial use. The site is being reviewed as part of the SEED Committee Bridal Veil area and the current University Corridor study. The proposed project can be built within the zoning, but due to its size a Planned User Development review is required. The Zoning Committee recorded the many comments expressed at this meeting. Much more to come on this, soon.
The Executive committee was instructed to review the Zoning Committee process. Often items the Zoning Committee needs to address have calendars that are at odds with the above PPERRIA decision process and do not fit within a regular scheduled easy accessible committee meeting times. Expressed that there be a regular time and place for meetings, with an established process for those issues that do not fit. Also a review of the "out of the loop" issue needs to be done and recommendations made.
Dean Lund also presented two additional Zoning Committee actions. Recommended was the inclusion in the earlier UM Research building at the SW corner of University and 27th Avenue of a coffee house with occasional music and that they be allowed to be open to 3 AM. The owners indicated that there was not to be a liquor license request. The remainder of the building is used as music practice areas. Adequate set back for outside tables. Motion to accept recommendation passed without nos.
Also recommended was the Dinnaken project for 14 rental units of townhouse and apartments with underground parking at the SE corner of Ontario/Fulton SE. This is a three-lot site with the Architecture Fraternity house. No zoning change required but a conditional use permit is necessary, as there are more than nine units. Motion passed without noes to accept recommendation.
It was recommended that there be a large-enough-to-see area map at each meeting.
10,11,12. Harrison Nelson circulated copies of the proposed Minneapolis Plan (much more about this to follow,) copies of the 2020 PPERRIA long range master plan and asked that responses be returned to him by 9/8/97. This is an ongoing PPERRIA project and there should be raw data available at the 9/97 meeting. He also indicated that the University Avenue Business Corridor Survey is in progress.
13,14. Several committee chairs presented brief reports: Susan Larson-Fleming of the Education Committee: the food shelf is experiencing funding difficulties due to the closing of the Glendale Residents Action Council and other sources need to be located. Dan Cross of the Transportation Committee: the redesign of the Franklin/East River Road/27th intersection continues and as each problem develops, it seems to be resolved. Harrison Nelson of the Safety Committee: attention is on increasing the safety of the walkway along the freeway wall. Tom Kilton of the Bylaw Committee: the bylaws are being reviewed to bring into match with current requirements and practice; one immediate issue concerns membership. Jeannie Moses of the Parks Committee: the Luxton Park Council is working and there is increased total neighborhood involvement in the park. See the mailing for the Staff report.
Motion to adjourn passed.
Minutes respectfully presented by Daniel Patenaude, PPERRIA Secretary