Yes, the Block E saga continues. As indicated below, several portions of the McCaffery project, as-built, are not in compliance with the drawings originally approved by the Planning Commission in May 2000. At the June 27th Planning Commission, Committee of the Whole meeting, several Planning Commissioners (including myself) were critical of the noted discrepancies from plan- especially the lack of public restrooms on the 1st and 2nd level, given the amount of public money invested in the project.
As a result of these changes (by the developer), the Planning Commission will re-open the Conditional Use Permit for the Planned Unit Development and hold a public hearing today, July 8th, at 4:30 p.m. in Rm. 317 City Hall. On the agenda for today's meeting, Planning Department staff are recommending the continuance of all re-applications for Conditional Use Permits/Planned Unit Development and Site Plan Review associated with Block E, until such time that all submissions by the Developer are deemed complete for the purposes of analysis and review and that no further building permits be granted until such time as the Planning Commission approves the re-application. However, once a public meeting like this begins, it is difficult to predict where discussions and actions will proceed. Therefore, I encourage you to attend if you have interest in the project. The current Planning Commission includes eight new members (of ten), since prior project approvals were issued for Block E. At today's meeting, I assume that City Planning staff will summarize the project's current status and the developer may or may not be present due to staff's recommended continuance. I expect the McCaffery folks or their architects will be present to address issues/questions, but that may not be the case. I also expect that the public will be allowed opportunity to provide input to the Planning Commission regarding pertinent issues being discussed per the agenda, regardless if the items are continued or not. The key to being heard in the public hearing is to get there early and sign up to speak to the Block E agenda item, so the Planning Commission President is aware there are public comments on the issue and can schedule testimony accordingly. I'd like to be encouraging on the time commitment needed by the public to address the issues at tonight's meeting but I can't assure when anything from the agenda will actually be addressed in the public hearing-- therefore be there at 4:30 to be safe. Written comments could also be submitted: fax- 612-673-2728 or email- [EMAIL PROTECTED] I encourage anyone interested in the Block E project to attend today's meeting and provide testimony to the Planning Commission. We solicit your input. Michael Hohmann Commissioner, Minneapolis Planning Commission > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of > List Manager > Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2002 10:44 AM > To: Mpls list > Subject: [Mpls] Block E: An undone deal? > > > Speaking of zoning and planning, there's a fascinating story in the > Strib today about Block E. Seems the finished product is different from > what developers agreed to with the city (no public restrooms, no > ground-floor connection between Hennepin and 1st Ave. N., no outdoor > escalator and differently configured bus shelters). > > The question is, what can/should the city do now? Apparently, there is a > Planning Commission meeting on the matter Monday...welcome back from > holiday! > > http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3040640.html > > David Brauer > List manager > snip _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
