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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
Tues. March 16, 2010
University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN

1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by President Arvonne Fraser. A motion to approve the agenda was passed as was a motion to approve of the January minutes.
2. Board actions from earlier this evening were announced:
Approved MHNA participation in a Hennepin County Hazardous Waste Collection event this summer
Agreed to MHNA submitting 5 proposals for the TCF Stadium Good Neighbor grants.
Agreed with the Land Use committee to withhold support for the 520 Second St SE project for the following reasons ( B Distad motion) :
The neighborhood firmly supports the alignment of the rear façade of 520 2nd St SE with the rear facades of the Soap Factory and the WD Forbes buildings.
The neighborhood views the rear façade (toward the river) as every bit as important as the front façade (2nd St SE) because it is crucial to the existence of a view corridor that extends along the area that once contained the railroad tracks that serviced the milling industry. This is an integral part of the historical interpretation of the milling industry.
In addition, approvals for the East Bank Mills project have already been granted. At the time of the approval, commissioners stressed that access to parking for Buildings F and G was preferable through a driveway between 5th and 6th Aves SE. The extension of the building beyond alignment with its neighboring buildings is detrimental to the neighborhood vision of the desired historical experience. Extension of 520 2nd St SE beyond the alignment of all three buildings prohibits any possibility of the view corridor or a route for vehicular traffic between 5th Ave SE and 6th Ave SE becoming a reality.
The neighborhood is concerned about traffic in the area. The planned 2nd St SE access to the enclosed parking is directly across from the access to 521 2nd St SE and the driveway to 204 5th Ave SE. The developer states that this vehicular access to parking at 520 2nd St SE will not be burdensome and will not be injurious to use and enjoyment of other property in the vicinity. When the developer’s approval was granted for 521 2nd St SE, it was suggested in the site plan review that the Public Works Department reconsider the need for a Travel Demand Management plan. The time is now for this to happen with the additional housing units in the development.
Developer claims a hardship as a reason for seeking a variance to decrease the MLA from 295 sf to 217 sf to enable construction of 96 units, a variance to decrease the side yard setback from 15 ft to 6ft to allow for patios on top of the parking podium. A hardship cannot be economic. Undoubtedly, the development will be more profitable with more units and with more amenities, but the developer should not expect to change the zoning rules just so the development is more profitable.
The developer claims that there are adequate utilities, access roads, and drainage connections; however, it appears that additional power (electric) connections are needed if power lines are being strung across 2nd St SE. It would be an amenity to the neighborhood if the power lines were underground.
There apparently has been insufficient communication with neighbors to the east, west and north. Neighbors have concerns regarding the safety of their property during demolition and construction. In addition they seek mitigation of noise, lighting and congestion during and after construction. In exchange for any support on this project, the neighborhood would like frequent and quality communication between developer and his neighbors.
3. The board also met tonight with Doran Clark, our rep on the Neighborhood Community Engagement Commission to discuss the transition between phasing out NRP and entering into the city’s new Neighborhood Community Relations program in 2011.
4. President Fraser encouraged people to run for a seat on the board in our June elections. We will be electing new directors ( 2 yr term) and new officers ( 1 yr).
5. Cheyenne Erickson, CM Diane Hofstede’s office, reported on upcoming CARE meetings and next fall’s Third Ward Summit preparations. President Fraser expressed our dismay at a recent Star Tribune article that was critical of the council member. A motion ( B Distad) was made, seconded and passed regarding the article:
The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association expresses its profound disappointment in the extremely biased and one-sided article critical of Council Member Diane Hofstede that appeared in the March 3rd Star Tribune. The MHNA has a long history of working successfully with Council Member Hofstede. She has been responsive to your requests for assistance in working with the city bureaucracy and sensitive to the challenges and concerns of our university neighborhood. We commend the council member for her efforts on our behalf and on behalf of our city and look forward to continuing our relationship with her.
6. The group heard a presentation from U of MN students and Sierra Club members about their Beyond Coal campaign, aimed at getting the Foster Wheeler Steam plant, located at 6th Ave SE & the river, to make good on a public commitment to transition completely off burning coal there. The students are making yard signs available and trying to get more groups to adopt their resolution. The presenters were thanked and those present expressed appreciation for their activism. (Subsequent to this meeting, the Executive Committee voted to adopt the resolution “supporting the U of MN transitioning off coal and working to ensure that a transition off coal is part of the University’s plans for its energy future”.

7. Board member Doug Carlson reported on the Central Corridor light rail’s progress. Three more stops are being added in St. Paul and the U is still negotiating with the Met Council on mitigation.
8. President Fraser updated all on the University District Alliance. The group is exploring becoming a nonprofit 501 ( c )3 corporation. Representatives will be updating the legislature about the Alliance’s progress including several committees and demonstration projects* that are ongoing.
9. The meeting ended with reminder to fill out and mail back census forms and that the SE Minneapolis Council on Learning will be interviewing patrons at the library.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm Melissa Bean, Exec. Director
· *livenearyourwork.net

· *Collaborations for energy efficiency & sustainability

· *Demographic data by neighborhood

· *Mpls St Paul home tour – an Alliance house on SE Como on the tour

· *Homeowner preservation program

· *Increased safety & civility