fyi Elizabeth Dickinson West Side
---------- From: Irene Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 14:49:23 -0600 To: Irene Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: river action alert! Dear Saint Paul Friends, The West Side Citizen's Organization (WSCO) is hosting a public input meeting regarding the Lander-Sherman development proposal for the west side flats on Monday, February 7th, 5:30 p.m. (details below). Please come to the meeting and voice your opinion about protecting the river valley's magnificent sense of place for all St. Paulites (and our many visitors) to enjoy. Developers Lander and Sherman are pushing through a new 8-story building proposal (after the planning commission unanimously rejected anything over 6 stories at the site a few months ago). WSCO's recommendation will carry a lot of weight with the city council. Many west side citizens are outraged that the neighborhood organization is considering an exception to the carefully crafted West Side Flats Master Plan, and their concerns have led them to insist on this public input meeting. Even if you don't live or work on the west side, please come and speak up. St. Paul's wide open vistas belong to everyone, and they must be preserved! February 7th, 2005 at 5:30 PM Humboldt High School Auditorium 30 East Baker Street 5:30 - Informal time to learn about the project 6:10 - Meeting will be called to order 7:05 - Public Input 8:00 - Adjourn For a map to Humboldt High School, click on the link below... http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&addtohistory=&formtype=addre ss&searchtype=address&cat=&address=30%20Baker%20St%20E&city=Saint%20Paul&sta te=MN&zipcode=55107%2d2966&searchtab=home Some Talking Points (Stay tuned - I may send out a few more on Monday morning) The proposed height of this development (136 feet/12 stories) far exceeds Mississippi River state critical area standards (35 feet/2.5 stories) which are intended to protect the river corridor's unique natural, scenic and historical qualities. Additionally, it does not comply with St. Paul's Mississippi River Corridor Plan (part of the city's comprehensive plan), the West Side Flats Master Plan or St. Paul's current zoning code. These plans were carefully crafted with input from community members, and should not be readily disregarded. The scenic, open and spacious character of the river valley is a hallmark attribute of the City that has characterized downtown St. Paul for over 150 years. Allowing heights of this magnitude will forever alter the historic and unique beauty of downtown St. Paul. The proposal will be the first residential development to occur since the West Side Master Plan was completed. If the first proposal is granted a height variance, it will set a precedent for other development on the west side to follow. The result will be the cumulative impact of many tall buildings blocking views of the river and bluffline. The city of St. Paul, WSCO and others have spent hundreds of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop the West Side Flats Master Plan, which calls for a new residential neighborhood with 4 to 6 story buildings. It does NOT call for an extension of downtown. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Hope to see you there! -- --------------------------------- Irene Jones Outreach Director Friends of the Mississippi River 46 East Fourth Street, Suite 606 Saint Paul MN 55101-1112 Phone: 651/ 222-2193 ext. 11 Fax: 651/ 222-6005 Are you receiving "Mississippi Messages," FMR's monthly e-mail update with information about FMR events, volunteer opportunities, and news on river-related issues? To subscribe, visit http://www.fmr.org/update.html. For the latest updates on FMR events and programs, visit us on the web at http://www.fmr.org. _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
