Join us as we kick off a new year and new neighborhood projects!
Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019 – 7 p.m.
Location: Windom Park Recreation Center, 2251 Hayes St. NE. Accessible location with free park-supervised child care during meeting.
The Minneapolis City Council on Dec. 7, 2018, approved the “Minneapolis 2040” Comprehensive Plan and forwarded it, as required by state law, to the Metropolitan Council for final approval during 2019. The plan provides a roadmap for where the city sees itself in the coming years. Urban design, density, zoning, housing, transportation, heritage preservation, equity, community engagement and more are detailed for each area of the city. Check this link for details from the city.
The plan and its public meetings generated debate and news coverage; in the Windom Park neighborhood, debate generally centered around the city’s initial proposal to allow dwelling structures of up to four units (four-plexes; later reduced to tri-plexes plus an Accessory Dwelling Unit) on all residential properties – in conflict with the Small Area Plan the neighborhood approved. The Small Area Plan called for zoning to remain “as is” in this neighborhood. WPCiA submitted comment to the city stating that we support the Windom Park Neighborhood Small Area Plan and wish to have it incorporated into “Minneapolis 2040.” Your neighbor volunteers worked for over two years seeking community input, conducting surveys, holding community engagement sessions, working with a special consultant, conferring with city staff, listening to neighbors, revising and ultimately creating a plan for this specific area of Minneapolis. WPCiA is now in the process of organizing the Small Area Plan Implementation Steering Committee. If you are interested in volunteering for that group or other task forces, contact WCPiA or attend our monthly meetings.
WPCiA has completed the Windom Park Neighborhood Small Area Plan (SAP). This important document will provide direction for the neighborhood and the City of Minneapolis for the coming years on topics such as land use, zoning, density, transportation, parking, commercial area revitalization, and gateways. We thank all of you who provided input, answered our surveys, attended meetings, and served on the Steering Committee!
Please note that on Jan. 23, 2018, after considering the many comments on the SAP and motions made by neighbors attending the Jan. 16 neighborhood meeting, the Board of Directors voted to remove the Johnson Street opportunity site from the plan. Also removed are references to rezone the neighborhood to R3 (higher-density residential); instead, the document will express a preference that zoning in the neighborhood remains “as is.”
You can access the WPCiA Small Area Plan by downloading Volume 1 and Volume 2 here (approximately 12 MB each).
Other Key Milestones:
See also: Lowry Grove redevelopment plans
Redevelopment has been proposed for the Lowry Grove mobile home park adjacent to our neighborhood on Stinson Parkway at Lowry Avenue NE/Kenzie Terrace.
General Chronology of Recent Events
WPCiA continues to monitor and discuss these topic at our meetings and with our Minneapolis city council member and park board representatives, due to the proximity of this potential development site to our neighborhood. A group of residents, SAVNE Neighbors for a Livable Community, has also been organizing meetings and collecting documents on the project, which WPCiA will post here as they become available. (See also information on the WPCiA Small Area Plan.)
Other Documents
Board Meeting Minutes
Please stop by and see us during office hours, which are normally Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2-5pm. We are also in and out of the office throughout the week, so we are happy to make an appointment with you at your convenience. Accessible location near bus lines. Free parking and free "Kids Corner Hang-Out" child care supervised by park staff during this meeting. Call us to request other accommodations seven business days in advance.
