A. Integrate Land Uses, Livability and Economic Activities
1. Vision
St. Anthony Park seeks substantial land use change in the existing industrial area to support more intensive use of the land and an increased tax base. As the geographic center of the metro area with excellent access, the area will become a vibrant and integrated mix of industry, commerce and housing within a pedestrian scaled and transit-oriented environment.
2. Objectives and Strategies
L1. Land Use. Redirect land use with appropriate regulatory controls to encourage an integrated mix of industrial, commercial, housing and public amenities and a larger tax base.
- L1a. Amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the recommended land use changes shown on the map on page 29 into the city’s land use plan.
- L1b. Work with the City to revise the city’s Zoning Map to incorporate the land use changes indicated on the map on page 29.
- L1c. Conduct a review of zoning designations to ensure appropriateness of existing designations such as RT-2 Townhouse Residential District Zoning in St. Anthony Park.
- L1d. Carefully use zoning designations to establish a gradual transition between land uses and building forms to assure compatibility.
- L1e. Develop better communication with city agencies to improve the Citizen Participation Review Process. Work with the city and Legislature to extend timelines to allow for greater District Council deliberation and more time to involve the neighborhood in the decision-making process.
- L1f. Encourage U of M to make future expansions to the east of the campus (fairgrounds side) so the residential area to the west is not negatively affected by new campus development.
L2. Historic Preservation. Protect, maintain and/or adaptively reuse designated historic buildings.
- L2a. As many buildings in the neighborhood are reaching the 100 year mark, restart the process of buildings indentified in the 1980’s city survey of historic value and investigate both the process of designation and sources to help maintain those buildings.
- L2b. Work with the Historic Preservation Commission and the designation process to officially adopt the Milton Square building.
Proposed New Land Uses
A variety of new land uses are proposed for the revitalization of South St. Anthony Park. These proposed land uses, in combination with proposed new transportation elements, comprise the community’s vision of a revitalized South St. Anthony Park.
Mixed Use TOD – Centered at University and Raymond, area will contain renovated or new in-fill with retail on the first floor and office and residential on upper floors. Buildings will meet design standards for historic structures or infill sensitive to historic quality of the area. Buildings will be built to the sidewalk and be bicycle friendly.
Mixed Use Light Industrial/ Housing – . Area is envisioned for industrial activities compatible with housing. Area will provide transition from existing SF housing on the west and provide affordable live-work, studio and process-production opportunities.
Mixed Use Office-Commercial – This large area will benefit from improved visual and transportation access to I-94 and the University of Minnesota, and be attractive to knowledge based industries and/or as a corporate campus environment. Buildings and sites will be designed for pedestrian scale and access. Integrated and natural stormwater infiltration systems will be required. Parking ramps will be encouraged.
Parks and Buffers– New acreage will be converted to park use as a catalyst for new residential and commercial development and as needed amenities to meet the Multi-Family Housing – Small demands of a growing residential apartment buildings (under 50 units) population. Greenbelt buffers will be and urban style town homes will designed along edges between surround the TOD district and serve residential and commercial or as a transition to single-family areas industrial areas. and new mixed-use commercial.
- L2c. Issue no permit for the demolition or relocation of any buildings in the District without prior review by the Community Council.
L3. Design Standards. Institute commercial mixed-use design standards that reinforce human-scale buildings, promote sustainable design, promote quality in exterior materials and construction, reinforce a pedestrian oriented streetscape, promote green design, manage storm water retention, reduce impervious surfaces and visually screen surface parking.
- L3a. Develop and recommend design standards for the designated historic district (part of the University-Raymond TOD district) that respects its historic quality and enhances pedestrian accessibility and increased transit use.
- L3b. Develop and recommend design standards for new and rehab moderate to high density housing in and around the TOD district and in-fill throughout the community (does not include historic district).
- L3c. Develop and recommend design standards for new mixed-use commercial-office buildings.
- L3d. Promote additional community gardens to serve as buffers between industrial and residential uses.
L4. Streetscape Enhancement Plan. Develop and implement a long -term streetscape plan to achieve the economic development, livability, identity and transportation goals of the community.
• L4a. Mixed Use Transit Oriented Corridor (University Avenue). Community goals include the enhancement of pedestrian related economic activity, the mitigation of negative traffic impacts, the visual anchoring of South St. Anthony Park redevelopment and the maintenance of University as a vital arterial route.
• L4b. Create parkways (see proposed new circulation system map on page 33) with emphasis on trees, interconnections with parks, bike lanes and boulevard plantings where possible. Community goals include the creation of new pedestrian connections, the calming of traffic, creation of neighborhood identity and connections of previously disconnected areas.
• L4c. Create gateways of architectural and landscape significance to announce entry into St. Anthony Park. Community Goals include the creation of a physical identity and to enhance public awareness of the spatial location of St. Anthony Park.
• L4d. Mitigate exposure to large power lines in Hillside Court and elsewhere in the neighborhood.
L5. Development Opportunities. Identify opportunities for development and redevelopment, including commercial districts, to strengthen neighborhood village character and vitality.
- L5a. Survey existing space to identify commercial and residential development opportunities. Identify the type of use that might be accommodated with consideration of scale and design.
- L5b. Work with the University, railroads, land owners and policy makers to redevelop underused industrial land for higher value knowledge based industries requiring proximity to University research functions. Strategy also includes the redevelopment of land to serve the commercial service needs of University students and employees. The creation of new transportation connections to the University that leverage LRT and existing regional transportation access in South St. Anthony Park is central to this economic development initiative, as is the need to create new cultural and spatial connections with the University.
- L5c. Support the development of family friendly eating establishments (such as pubs) serving food, beer and wine as a new type of place for social gathering.
- L5d. Build a parking ramp with a “green roof” in South St. Anthony Park.
L6. Code Enforcement. Increase understanding of appropriate building and zoning codes and pertinent licensing issues, and improve compliance between residents, businesses and the city.
- L6a. Identify the most common code violation issues in the District and educate residents about methods and resources to correct the violations.
- L6b. Develop and promote a process for stricter licensing, building code and zoning code enforcement.
- L6c. Continue to restrict billboards in the neighborhood per St. Anthony Park sign plan.
