The West Side Community Organization and City Planning Commission staff presented a revised Zoning Study proposal on May 9th. Over 60 West Siders attended to hear proposed changes to Stryker Avenue commercial corridor zoning. 

For background information on the Stryker Zoning Study please read this previous blog post. 

Meeting Summary

Monica Bravo, WSCO Executive Director opened the meeting with a brief presentation of the decade long process of proposals and studies that have led to the current process. View the Stryker history time line here.

Addressing a concern noted at the first zoning study meeting Monica explained that a state statute required a 40 acre area. This is why the area south of Morton to Annapolis was included. It is Minnesota Statute 462.357 Subd. 5. (It’s about halfway down in that paragraph.)

Council Member Rebecca Noecker, followed with remarks on the historical context of her collaboration with WSCO to restore and improve the corridors vitality. Noting that the loss of Jerabek's bakery was symbolic of the Stryker corridor's decline she reiterated that the zoning study request is an effort to expand options for community oriented businesses and housing needs.

Michael Wade and Alena DeGrado then presented an overview the City's proposed options for Stryker Avenue area zoning. See the meeting handout here.

The Planning Commission's ongoing process for the Stryker Avenue Zoning can be found below. The updated zoning study can be found at this link.

Saint Paul Planning Current Activities Link

Summary of the zoning districts: https://www.stpaul.gov/sites/default/files/Media%20Root/Zoning%20Basics%20Updated.pdf

Next Steps

City planning staff have reviewed their meeting notes and sent an updated proposal to WSCO.

WSCO Board of Directors and Leadership Team will review and make recommendations from this meeting for a presentation to the  Comprehensive and Neighborhood Planning Committee (CNPC). If possible this will take place at the May 28th Board Meeting, otherwise it will be the June 24th meeting.

After review at the CNPC, the Zoning Study recommendations go to the full Planning Commission. The process for continuing public input and comment is outlined here. The tentative dates have been pushed back and will be revised. 

WSCO community's Question and Answer notes can be viewed here .

Also, check out this document by the City of Saint Paul: Zoning Principles and Processes: Community Input on Zoning Decisions