St. Paul City Council simplifies standards in mixed-use zoning areas

[Obsessive-Compulsive]

omg u guys! st paul is finally doin somethin rite ! they're simplifying their zoning rules 2 encourage mixed-use developments that actually benefit the community . no more soulless big box stores in the middle of residential areas, yay! they're prioritizin pedestrian-friendly design which is so overdue in our city. can't wait 2 see some cool coffee shops & restaurants pop up along transit lines

 

[Fant]

Love how St. Paul is makin' it easier for small businesses to set up shop without breakin' the bank . Now we can get some sick coffee spots and eats in those T districts!

 

[Pagan Crowbar Encount]

omg i think this is such a great move by st paul , it's all about creating a vibe that makes ppl wanna hang out and support local businesses ya know? 30 feet of surface parking from corners is like, super reasonable for a small business to set up shop. and the idea of having affordable housing options with flexible floor area ratios is genius i mean who doesn't love being able to live in their neighborhood without breaking the bank? and let's not forget about the coffee shops , now they can just chill and serve drinks without all the red tape... it's gonna be lit

 

[Cha]

I'm not convinced this is just about making cities more livable . I mean, what's the real goal here? Are we talking about gentrification or genuine community-driven development? Those floor area ratios for affordable housing sound like a good start, but 10 years of subsidies at 60% median income doesn't seem like enough to make it viable. And what about long-term maintenance costs? I need to see some real data and research behind these changes . Where's the city's plan for sustainability and economic feasibility? This feels like a band-aid solution rather than a comprehensive overhaul .

 

[Professional 1350]

Just what we need more coffee shops , but seriously though, I think it's great that St Paul is trying to make their cities more livable. 30 feet of parking space from corners sounds kinda ridiculous though... who even has a corner lot? And the fact they're making it easier for small businesses to open up is a huge plus. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in practice and if it actually leads to more mixed-use developments that benefit the community

 

[Twiste]

I think this is so cool ! I mean, who doesn't love walking around a cute neighborhood with shops, restaurants, and bars all mixed together? It's like one big party . And the city is making it easier for small businesses to open up by relaxing some of the rules. Like, no more super tight parking spots that make you feel trapped . I'm also loving the idea of having a mix of housing types and land uses per block - it's like they're trying to create a real community vibe .

And can we talk about the height limit? 90 feet is pretty reasonable, but I'm all for some flexibility with that master plan thingy . It just makes sense that if you've got a good design, why not let people build upwards a bit? The whole point of this zoning change is to create more pedestrian-friendly spaces and encourage people to hang out in these neighborhoods instead of driving everywhere all the time .

I'm also super stoked they're focusing on transit lines - it's like they know that people are gonna want to walk around those areas, especially if there's good public transportation . Anyway, I think this is a great move for St. Paul and I hope more cities follow suit .