Greenway Improvements Committee
This committee meets the second Thursday of every month to discuss developments and improvements to the Greenway. Contact rebecca@midtowngreenway.org if you'd like to get involved.
Xcel Hiawatha Project- Keep High Voltage Lines Out of the Greenway
Learn More:
Midtown Greenway Rezoning Study Fall 2009
The City of Minneapolis is undertaking a process in the third and fourth quarters of 2009 to change the zoning of properties in the vicinity of the Midtown Greenway. The purpose of this work is to provide zoning that matches the long term plans for land as identified in a series of land planning documents that have been approved over the past few years by the City Council. The Midtown Greenway Coalition has chosen to comment at this time on only one aspect of this work. We recommend that the City adopt a Zoning Overlay District to guide building heights on the south edge of the Midtown Greenway to protect solar access to the Greenway cycling and walking trails. Unfortunately, although this Overlay District was recommended for implementation in the City's own Midtown Greenway Land Use and Development Plan, City staff are not recommending that it be implemented. We are struggling to get the City to adopt an Overlay District for the Greenway regardless. The Overlay District could also be used to accomplish building setbacks in order to provide a public walkway on the street level rim of the trench segments of the Midtown Greenway, also as recommended in various City-approved land plans.
At the Minneapolis Planning Commission meeting on October 26, 2009, the commissioners decided to not act on the re-zoning recommendations from staff. Instead they postponed the matter until December 14, 2009 to allow more time to review all of the public comments and deliberate on whether to adopt the staff recommendations. The Planning Commission's decision will then be forwarded on to the Minneapolis City Council as the final decision-maker.
The Midtown Greenway Coalition's September 17, 2009 and October 26, 2009 comments documents are in the links on the left, as is our sample language for a zoning overlay.
Also check out the link of Wendy Morris' interpretive dance on the rezoning. (Note: we are no longer advocating inclusion of facade transparency, screening, or prohibited uses)
Developments Overview
Given the narrowness of the Greenway, developments that front on the Greenway can make or break the Greenway experience. Developments that gracefully integrate and have “eyes and ears” on the Greenway make trail users experiences much more pleasant than blank walls and parking garages. Since the first phase was completed in 2000, the Midtown Greenway has been seen by developers as a prime location for residential development. Even with housing market ups and downs, the Coalition has seen a steady stream of development proposals that front on the Greenway.
The Coalition does not endorse particular developments but rather chooses not to oppose and/or offer suggestions for making the development more Greenway friendly. We focus on the impacts that the development will have on the Greenway only and look to the local neighborhood organization to provide input on all other issues such as traffic impacts or the aesthetics of the buildings in question. Over the years, the Coalition has become the ‘go to’ organization that developers and elected officials contact about how a particular development impacts the Greenway. Developers request time on our Land Use and Transportation Committee agenda to present their proposals and hear our feedback. Then, the Coalition drafts a letter or resolution on the development which it sends to the developer, elected officials, and the local neighborhood organization. For larger and more controversial developments, the Board usually passes a resolution on the development while on less controversial developments, we usually only send a letter.
Besides giving input on developments, the Coalition participates in City land use planning efforts, advocates for changes in zoning that will create better developments, and looks at issues which impact the Greenway users experience like conflicts with auto traffic at at-grade trail crossings. We also work with other Coalition committees like the Greenspace Committee to insure that all Coalition interests are represented when talking to developers, etc.
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