SARPA’s Position on 344 Summit

John Rupp’s proposal to convert 344 Summit into a “residential apartment hotel” is an issue of great importance to Summit Avenue and to SARPA. To this end, Mr. Rupp has provided us information on his proposal, board members attended a community meeting about it, we discussed the idea at our Annual Meeting, and we have received commentary and feedback from many nearby residents.

Knowing that the issue is very complex, SARPA sponsored a special meeting on August 25, with 344 Summit the only agenda item. We conducted a “SWOT” analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), and soon realized that the Weaknesses (and then the Threats) significantly and clearly outweighed the Strengths and Opportunities. The board voted unanimously to recommend against the Conditional Use Permit.

Our primary deliberation was that the granting of a Conditional Use Permit for 344 Summit to operate as a “residential apartment hotel” is clearly not allowed in the RT2 zoning for the property. The zoning does allow for the “reuse of structures over 9,000 square feet,” but only for a use otherwise allowed within the zoning code (for example as a school, home occupation, or even a bed and breakfast (up to 4 rooms). However, a “hotel” requires T2 zoning, or a rooming/boarding house RM1. Since spot zoning is disallowed by state law, a “residential apartment hotel” is simply not allowed at the site as zoned.

We also feel strongly that commercial development simply should not be allowed on Summit Avenue (as disallowed in the original Summit Avenue Plan, which the city apparently de-certified without or knowledge in 2009). Both the zoning and the original Summit Avenue Plan (1986) call expressly for Summit Avenue to be residential in nature. SARPA’s very charter is to “protect the historic, residential, and urban park character of Summit Avenue.” We feel strongly that this rationale is still sound and appropriate.

Were the city to allow this use, there would not be a principled way to say “No” to other commercial development, such as a high-end boutique shopping center or a luxury steakhouse. Summit Avenue stands as the nation’s longest, intact, Victorian residential street, and it is too valuable a part of our history to lose.

Macalester-Groveland Demolition and New Construction

At the SARPA meeting on Monday night, board members indicated concern with recent new construction issues in Macalester-Groveland. In particular, we were worried about historic homes being demolished, with less appropriate (0and often much larger) homes being built in their place. We indicated out concern to Councilmember Tolbert, and were pleased with his response, as copied below:

On behalf of Councilmember Tolbert, thank you for your email and your input on this important issue. We do currently have multiple proposals to address the issues we've see with new residential construction in the neighborhood. 

Through the comments that we've received we have learned that this is really a two-pronged issue. First, with the new construction has come a slew "bad neighbor" contractors who poorly maintain their worksites/properties and cause headaches for surrounding neighbors. Councilmember Tolbert is committed to cracking down on these bad actors through new ordinances including a Construction Management Agreement that contractors will be required to sign prior to construction. This agreement will also be mailed to neighbors surrounding the property in question to ensure that they also know the rules and know who to call if they are being broken. In addition to the Construction Management Agreement Councilmember Tolbert is introducing ordinances that tighten up dumpster regulations.  The legislation will license dumpster haulers, add a sliding scale to dumpster permit fees (the longer they sit on the street the more the contractor will need to pay per day), and create new safety signage for dumpsters. To hear more about these new ordinances and to testify on the topic of construction management please join us at the Saint Paul City Council Public Hearing on August 20th, 2014 at 5:30PM. Hearings are held in the Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of City Hall which is located at 15 Kellogg Blvd. W. in Saint Paul. I hope you can join us. 

The second issue is the homes that are being built. Councilmember Tolbert has asked that the city's Planning and Economic Development (PED) Department to study the heights of these new homes so that we can better understand what effect possible zoning code changes would have. Because at this point the Councilmember is asking the PED Department to do a study, he just needs to pass a resolution directing them to do the work. Resolutions do not have Public Hearings, so we will not be taking testimony on this at this time. However, after the study is completed the results will come before both the Planning Commission and the City Council and both will hold Public Hearings. Want to hear more and talk about this issue sooner than that? Join the Macalester Groveland Community Council for their July Housing and Land Use Forum Wednesday, July 23rd at 6:30PM at the Weyerhaeuser Board Room at 62 Macalester St. in Saint Paul. City Planner Josh Williams will be presenting on "Why Zoning Matters to You" and I will be there to answer questions on the study and the construction management ordinances. Attached is a flyer with information about this forum and their others. 

July Minutes

Summit Avenue

Residential Preservation

Association

Board Meeting Minutes

21 July, 2014     •     at 1358 Summit

Call to Order – 7:05pm. Agenda finalized. Present:  Gladhill, Westermeyer, Walsh, Natz.

Old business:

Summit Sale to be coordinated by Mary Lynch on September 20 (same date as MGCC sale). People will be encouraged to have individual sales, but no coordinated group effort.

Rachel reported on WSNAC. The WSNAC board just reviewed the report on the Buyback program and passed the recommendations. Rachel was commended for her hard work.

New business:

Gladhill will submit a Knight Green Line Challenge to fund the Walking Street study.

Decisions about land use were as follows:

900 Summit:  SARPA would not be opposed to the solar panels, provided they were in accordance with our solar energy position.

1621 Summit:  SARPA is not convinced that outward opening casement windows are appropriate for this house. However, we feel that the removal of the non-original storms (along with the retention of the transoms) is an extremely positive alteration. We believe the removal of the storms is the most important factor, and would not oppose outward-swinging casements in that case.

1890 Summit: In general, SARPA is not in favor of the demolition of original structures, including outbuildings. However, in this case, we believe that the current garage is in such poor condition that its replacement is warranted. We would encourage the homeowner to make some small changes to add some additional architectural character, which we believe will serve the property well and add particular value. We would like to see this project serve as an impetus for other preservation work on that block.

344 Summit was tabled until next month.

The board determined to send a letter to Councilmember Tolbert indicating a concern with tear-downs in Macalester-Groveland and urging a study and possible moratorium during the study.

The board voted to ask Old Hamline Village to keep us updated in their efforts to save old houses around Hamline University. Perhaps they should investigate a growth boundary for the university.

The board considered the proposal by Neighborhoods First to convert Ayd Mill Road to a linear park. Board members were concerned that this would put much more traffic onto neighborhood streets, especially Summit, and there was discussion about various issues with a linear park in that location. It was moved by Gladhill and seconded by Westermeyer that SARPA supports Ayd Mill Road be retained in its current use as a highway. Motion unanimously approved.

Gladhill updated the board on upcoming house tours including Summit homes by PAM and the SHA.

There was some discussion about new planters to replace the ones damaged in the recent vandalism. There was a preference for larger, lower planters. Such planters might even be able to sustain perennials or simpler gardening. It was estimated the cost would be $3,000-6,000, and we are not sure where that funding could come from.

The following board positions were elected:

Gladhill stays as president.

Vice President – Carolyn Will

Treasurer – Francis Luikart

Membership Chair – Mary Lynch

Walking Street Co-Chairs – Carolyn Will and Ted Lentz

           

Meeting adjourned at 8:20.

Bad Planter News!

Summit Avenue Planters over Ayd Mill Road Vandalized

(Saint Paul, MN)   Sometime between 8pm on June 22 and 8am on June 23, vandals tipped over and broke the large planters on the Summit Avenue bridge over Ayd Mill Road. The large concrete planters were tipped over and crashed on to the cement and  several planters were rolled into the street and the line of traffic with the plants scattered everywhere. Damage is estimated at several thousand dollars.

The planters are maintained by the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association (SARPA), an all-volunteer group dedicated to the preservation of the historic, residential, and urban park character of Summit Avenue. Each year, Ramsey County Master Gardener Marge Hols designs the planters, and volunteers show up every spring to plant the large pots. SARPA covers all the costs for the plants in addition to paying the city for watering the planters on a twice-weekly basis.

Ironically, just last week SARPA kicked off its “Summit Avenue — A Walking Street” initiative at its annual meeting. The project looks at Summit Avenue as a linear, urban park, in which thousands come to Summit as a destination avenue to walk, run and bike in all seasons. Associated with the “Walking Street” initiative has been a strong focus on traffic calming, and the Ayd Mill planters have been cited as a good example of passive calming efforts; cars generally slow down over the overpass when they see the planters.

Two of the seven planters were destroyed, and the remaining five planters sustained moderate damage. It is unclear whether the plants can be saved, or if the remaining planters will be structurally sound enough to hold the plant soil and water.

SARPA also maintains the gardens down at the west end of Summit Avenue next to the University of St. Thomas campus. Three years ago, SARPA was called up to replace broken granite benches and arborvitae and other flowering bushes that had been uprooted by a motorist who crashed his car following a high-speed chase down Summit.

If anyone has information on the incident at Ayd Mill that can be shared with police, please contact the SARPA President, Bethany Gladhill, 612-414-3790, or email info@sarpa.org.  If you would like to contribute to cover the replacement costs of the planters, please go sarpa.org for contact information. SARPA is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.

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Help Us Plant the Ayd Mill Urns!

It's springtime again, and time to plant the urns in the divider on the Ayd Mill Road Bridge!

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association plants these each summer, under the wonderful direction of master gardener Marge Hols. We weed them, contract with the city to water them, and compost them each fall.

While seven urns may not seem like much, they seem to have a big impact. As well as brightening up the median, they serve as a natural traffic calming element as people slow down to look at them.

And if we don't do it, no one will!

Many hands make light work!

Please come help us plant the urns this weekend:

Saturday, May 24
2-3pm

All you need to bring is yourself and a trowel, Marge will direct us!

The Taxman Cometh

Are Saint Paul's taxes property taxes too hight, especially for historic or higher-end homes? Is there a lot of variance between properties? How are your taxes calculated, and can they be appealed? Are additional levies (such as for brick alleys) sustainable?

Our final lecture of the season takes on more of a round table format as we discuss issues and what can be done about them. Some of your neighbors will also discuss some of the research they have done on the issue.

SARPA has no relationship to city or county government, so we can't promise any change. But we think it would be great to come together in a round-table atmosphere to share knowledge, discuss these issues, and see if there are any changes we might be able to instigate.

Thursday, March 13
6-7pm
the Germanic-American Institute
301 Summit Avenue

Crashed Ice

As you can tell from the bog ramp at the Cathedral, Crashed Ice is back for a 3rd year. Love it or hate it (and we know we have some of both), here's how to deal with it.

First of all, bookmark the city page:
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=4785

Here's the basic info:

THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE 2014
RED BULL CRASHED ICE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
 Event Dates: February 20-22nd, 2014
 

The city of Saint Paul is proud to host the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships for a third consecutive year.  Aside from Quebec City (site of the final round) no other city in the world hosts consecutive Crashed Ice events and we think it’s because of the passionate fan base, hearty attitude towards winter sports, and effective event management and partnerships with area residents, businesses, the city, and Red Bull.  We look forward to having you in Saint Paul again this year for this one of a kind event, held in a one of a kind city!

Just like in past years there is plenty of parking in downtown Saint Paul and Red Bull is providing free shuttles to and from the event area! Added to the transportation options this year are free Metro Transit passes for Saturday as well as event shuttles provided by area businesses (details on those are coming soon). We encourage everyone to take advantage of these great opportunities for safe, affordable, reliable transportation by following the links below. However, for safety and security reasons there is no parking in the event area or neighborhoods around Cathedral Hill during the event. Police will be ticketing and towing.

There are a number of events going on that weekend in Saint Paul so leave early and plan on spending the day in the city.  Remember to take extra time to get to your destination.

Thank you and have a great time at these incredible events in Saint Paul!