Pedestrian Overlay Blues: I'm on the pavement, Thinking 'bout the government

Dependable Tire at 2604 Lyndale Ave. S. in 1961--Hennepin County Library Collection

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself"― Andy Warhol

The 2016 election is over. Those who followed it are exhausted, dismayed, bummed, whatever. During the bruising campaign, many people, including myself, were only half-heartedly following what has been going on down at Minneapolis City Hall. But while we were distracted, much has been happening down there that needs our attention.

Council Chambers at Minneapolis City Hall

First and foremost, citizen input is being shut down at an alarming rate. Gone are the days of developers taking proposals to neighborhood groups for lengthy discussion (for example, the months of ongoing debate about the demolition of the Orth House for Motiv Apartments). Instead, developers go directly to City Planning, the Planning Commission, and City Zoning and Planning Committee, and have their proposals rubber-stamped virtually without public comment. Then the proposal is put on the consent agenda, the Council votes on it without a public hearing, and voila, done and done! Slick.


Take, for instance, the so-called "Hennepin Lyndale Nicollet PO (Pedestrian Overlay) Study," introduced by the City at a quiet "kickoff" on June 1, 2016. (Read the details of this proposal on the City web site here.). This proposed zoning change is very complex and has many parts. Although it's called a "study", it's not; no official studies of related issues were done. In addition, the word "pedestrian" is misleading because the zoning changes relate to future development on these streets, not pedestrian issues. The Planning Commission did hold a public hearing, but during the day when most people are working. At the hearing the PC spent so much time on another  agenda item proposed by the PC  itself that they had little time for discussion about the PO "Study". The commission refused to hold an additional public hearing and placed it on the consent agenda at City Zoning and Planning. Done and done.

Most people would rather have their eye poked with a stick than have to read and digest all of the details posted on the website. So here it is in a nutshell: The PO zoning proposal represents the City's ongoing campaign to facilitate new developments on these commercial streets, on Lyndale Avenue in particular. Cars are out. Goodbye parking spaces, car-related businesses, and drive-through facilities. Hello, even more parking nightmares inside the neighborhood. Green spaces are out; pavement is in. Small businesses in small buildings are out; commercial rentals in large buildings hastily and cheaply built, of similar uninspired design, all with the same setback are in. Goodbye, houses and small commercial buildings. Hello, new four-story and some six-story commercial buildings.

Existing car-related business will stay, but they will not be allowed to change anything on their sites. Same for fast-food outlets of all stripe, even hipster favorites like Chipotle. (Is the City frustrated and angry that the 1980's McDonald's at Hennepin and Lagoon is hogging a prime development site with its big parking lot and drive-through? If only they could get around the grandfathering protections!)

Looking out on Lagoon from inside the Uptown McDonald's

Some people might find this vision of big, new developments on Lyndale Avenue appealing, but that's beside the point. The big problem is that the City is promoting and rushing through this major change with no regard for critically important related issues. No research has been done on the impact of this zoning change on the environment, traffic flow, affordable rents, water drainage, area small businesses, and property taxes. At stake are so many quality of life issues for the adjoining neighborhoods, the Wedge in particular. To make matters worse, if passed, this PO cannot be challenged by an appeal because it will then be part of the zoning code, a City sacred cow.

 Forgive me if this sounds cynical, but my perception is that if you write comments--comments critical of City planning and development proposals, they more than likely go directly into the virtual wastebasket at City Hall. If some criticisms are too hot to ignore, a city planner is given the task of plannersplaining the justification to an unenlightened public. If there is a public hearing, some CMs, notably CM Lisa Bender, chair of Z&P, make their contempt for citizens known by looking at the cell phones in their laps throughout public testimony. It's no wonder people give up on citizen participation.

Northeast corner, Lake and Lyndale, 1974--Minnesota Historical Society

Want change? There will always be change. The important thing is who manages, controls, and benefits from the changes. The future is very uncertain for the nation, state, and our city. Power-drunk, development-happy City officials are making Minneapolis less liveable by the month, especially for people of modest and limited means--which means most of us. Banks, developers, and real estate brokers and speculators are the ones benefiting from these changes, not homeowners and small business owners and landlords.

Prepare yourself for the upcoming city and state election campaigns. Decide what you want your community to look like five years from now. And, please, don't say you're moving to Canada. Trust me, they don't want you.

Minneapolis, love it and stay here.

Reurbanism. Saving places. National Trust for Historic Preservation