We provide these West St. Paul City Council previews with your support.
Monday’s City Council meeting will include a change to a big project and progress on several city initiatives, including hiring a new city manager, reducing parking minimums, and economic development plans.
Amended Town Center One Project
The biggest task for City Council on Monday will be approving changes to the Town Center One project, now that Granny Donuts has sold and the land is being incorporated into the project.
The basic changes are pretty straightforward and were approved unanimously by the Planning Commission:
- Reducing the building height from five stories to four.
- Adding eight additional units.
- Expanding the retail by an additional 250 square feet.
- Adding 13 parking spaces.
- Moving the dog park so it abuts Robert Street (plans note that it’s still set back 26 feet from the street).
But a bigger change will be covered during the Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting—increasing the tax-increment financing (TIF) from $3.82 million to $5.1 million. The increase is to “accommodate the increased costs of acquisition of Granny Donuts.”
On the Agenda:
- City manager: During the Open Council Work Session (OCWS), the Council will discuss a transition plan for the outgoing city manager.
- Parking minimums: The Council will consider proposals to reduce parking minimums from the Planning Commission during the OCWS.
- Development initiatives: The EDA work session will include a conversation about strategic initiatives for economic development. The agenda packet has some interesting notes—Crew Car Wash at the former Baker Square? Gents Bakery and Cafe? We’ll have to wait until Monday’s meeting to get details. There’s also a map of 12 potential redevelopment sites.
- Recognition: The City Council will declare December 3 International Day of Persons With Disabilities.
The public can watch the meeting live on Town Square TV or cable channel 18 starting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (5:30 p.m. for the EDA work session).
If you’re not able to attend the meeting in person, you can always use our coloring pages to imagine you’re there.
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West St. Paul Reader 
“But a bigger change will be covered during the Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting—increasing the tax-increment financing (TIF) from $3.82 million to $5.1 million. The increase is to ‘accommodate the increased costs of acquisition of Granny Donuts.'”
For some reason the phrase that leaps to mind is, “salt in the wound.”