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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-20 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING January 20, 2022 Chair McAllister called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Chair McAllister, Commissioners Bates, Glynn, Lepage (remotely), Rheinberger, Council Liaison Junker Absent: Commissioner Anderson Staff present: Community Development Director Gladhill APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of December 16, 2021 special meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Rheinberger, seconded by Commissioner Glynn, to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2021 meeting. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Review Previous Parking Reservation Approval for Stillwater Farm Store Building, 401 Main St S (Commission Request) Chair McAllister prefaced the discussion by stating that every parking space in the system matters. Staff is asked to keep the DTPC aware of previous parking arrangements that may not be relevant anymore after a use changes. Community Development Director Gladhill stated that at the December meeting, the Commission requested a review of previous approvals (2020) related to 401 Main St S, specifically, the reservation of two stalls related to the loading dock and a proposed recreational equipment rental company. The proposed business did not materialize. The northern suite became a retail clothing company and parking needs were determined to be consistent with previous approvals and current zoning code. The southern suite is in the process of tenant build-out and staff is reviewing the permit. Parking needs are consistent with past review and may be approved administratively. The reservation of the two spaces is handled outside of the Conditional Use Permit process. The DTPC could recommend that the City Council return those spaces to general parking. This has not been discussed with the property owner nor the tenant. If the DTPC wishes, it could direct staff to discuss this with the property owner and tenant and bring back a formal request. Additionally, it is noted that the parking stall reconfiguration (head-on converted to parallel parking and creation of a sidewalk connection) has not yet occurred. Finally, zoning approvals are typically valid for two years. Staff is reviewing if this code provision also applies to parking approvals such as this. In any event, the previous approvals for the use as a recreational equipment rental service would expire in June 2022. Downtown Parking Commission Meeting January 20, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Rheinberger suggested that staff ask the property owner and tenant if they want to continue to reserve the spaces, otherwise there is no reason to tie up the spaces indefinitely. Chair McAllister added that the DTPC should look at loading zones as part of its overall plan. She agreed the City should inform the building owner, and ask them to inform their tenants, that if the previously approved business plans are not moving forward, the City will revoke the reserved parking. Mr. Gladhill agreed staff will reach out to the property owner and tenant and state that the City would like to gain back those stalls. Councilmember Junker remarked that he thought the parking reconfiguration/sidewalk project was on a faster track. When there is a sidewalk there, it may eliminate the loading dock anyway. Chair McAllister said she would like a running list of parking exceptions that have been made related to building addresses, so that review of the parking exceptions becomes a step in the process for a change of use. The reserved stalls also should be shown on the downtown parking map. Mr. Gladhill acknowledged there is a database of parking mitigation situations and staff needs to clean up the database in terms of where there are reserved stalls. The DTPC could also be notified of all permits reviewed by the Planning Commission that involve downtown parking. Commissioner Rheinberger suggested that categorizing the criteria by which the businesses need special parking situations would help address future requests. DISCUSSION Discuss Enforcement of Overnight Parking (Commission Request) Chair McAllister said she has noticed a laxness in overnight parking enforcement downtown especially this winter, which interferes with snow plowing and causes safety issues. Better communication tools are needed to inform downtown residents who permit-park and short term rental guests where they can and cannot park. She would like to discuss this and get feedback from Public Works. Councilmember Junker said he noticed this issue all summer too. The Police Chief and Parking Enforcement Officer should be brought in to get an update on their enforcement strategy. The DTPC should discuss how to put more emphasis on the guidelines that are in place. Chair McAllister said this also is an opportunity to review signage. There are no signs that specifically state no overnight parking. Mr. Gladhill agreed to discuss the issues with the Police Chief and look at the issue in regard to the budget. Short Term Home Rentals also should be part of the conversation. The newly formed Economic Development Authority is preliminarily looking at ways to capture additional revenue to pay for the higher levels of service to downtown, and staff is communicating with similar communities on how they handle these issues. Commissioner Glynn agreed the DTPC needs to address how to better communicate where overnight parking is and is not allowed. Signage is part of the issue. Chair McAllister brought up the concern that the City is continually taking the overnight lots away for events, with no real communication mechanism to notify permit holders who park in those lots. She added that the City Council, in approving the 200 Chestnut building, allowed 36 more vehicles to be in the system which will all be overnight. Overnight parking will continue to be a problem in general as the DTPC moves forward. FYI/STAFF UPDATES Downtown Parking Commission Meeting January 20, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Update on Event Parking Fee for Parking Ramp (Commission Request) Mr. Gladhill said at the last meeting, the DTPC was concerned with the handmade $10 event parking sign. Currently, $10 event parking is only for the Fourth of July. Staff will monitor that and in the future will use a more professional looking sign. A larger issue to be discussed with the City Council is whether to charge an event parking rate during the bigger events. It is challenging to charge the events themselves, especially when they are community based nonprofits. Councilmember Junker noted that $10 all day parking for whatever is deemed a special event is already part of the fee schedule approved by the City Council every year. Commissioner Glynn added the City needs to get better at incorporating technology into parking. Update on 200 Chestnut Apartments Construction Schedule Mr. Gladhill informed the Commission that demolition and construction will begin around February 1, which will occupy the parking along the site perimeter. Then, pile driving will cause vibrations and noise, which will be monitored by engineers. The contractor has been highly encouraged not to use Main Street for construction traffic if at all possible. Update on Chestnut Street Plaza Public Improvement Project and Downtown Parking District Impacts Mr. Gladhill said plans should be completed in March and construction should start in July. The turn lanes from the old configuration of Chestnut will not be needed, so 5-6 parking stalls will be gained. Phasing will be challenging, as the City is waiting for the Manning Avenue interchange to be fully open as a detour route. Additionally, Highway 36 will be resurfaced from St. Paul to Stillwater this summer. COMMISSION REQUESTS Chair McAllister asked about the project underway along the river. Mr. Gladhill stated that a segment near the Dock Cafe was deleted from the project. Final touches will be done this spring before construction starts on Chestnut Plaza. Chair McAllister noted that before construction, there was overflow parking on the land south of the mill buildings, across from the Oasis. She asked if there is discussion of making that a parking lot. Mr. Gladhill said he will provide the Commissioners with the Bridgeview Park plan. Councilmember Junker said he is not in favor of having any parking there. The grass area is very soft and flood prone. Mr. Gladhill stated that the Council approved a legislative platform for all the riverfront improvements and will be making a pitch for state bonding dollars to help with these projects. Councilmember Junker said in the next meeting, or no later than March, he would like a discussion about possibly raising the charge from $3 to $5 for Lot 2. Mr. Gladhill suggested raising the charge in Lot 3 also. If the charge can be consistent and staff can say “south of Water Street” is the $5 pay zone, that would make it easier to administer. ADJOURNMENT Chair McAllister adjourned the meeting at 9:27 a.m. Heidi McAllister, Chair ATTEST: ________________ Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director