Reading the Highland Villager #4 (August 5 - 18 Edition)

[A bit late, but here's one anyway... -Ed.]

[Basically, the problem is that the best source of local streets & sidewalks news in Saint Paul is the Highland Villager. This wouldn't be a problem, except that its not available online. I'm reading the Highland Villager so that you don't have to. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free.]

Total number of stories about sidewalks: 5
Total number of stories about sidewalks by Jane McClure: 5


Title: City Hall waylays Walgreens' plan for Highland site
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: StP Zoning Commission tables oropsal to build a Walgreens on Ford Pkwy b/c of concerns over additional traffic on the corner. The vote came after a very close vote about rejcting the plan, on grounds that there is already a Synder's drug store on the very same corner.


Title: New zoning regulations for Holman Field
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: StP Zoning Comission are aking the Metro Airports Comission to reconsider recently passed zonining recommendations for the Holman Field (DT StP) airport. The changes would restrict height and new building construction in a very large area around the airport that includes much of DT StP, potentially killing the proposed new StP Saints stadium in Lowertown.


Title: StP may revisit a system of organized trash collection
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: StP City Council is looking at a system that would consolidate trash hauling. [Currently StP has a fully private system where citizens hire their own trash haulers, which means that almost every day a noisy garbage truck is going down your street early in the morning. --Ed.] A Mpls-like system of public hauling is mentioned. Article also mentions "small businesses" that will be killed, but also points out that 65% of current trash hauling is done by one of three large national corporations. Councilmembers Thune and Stark are behind the push for "organized trash collection."


Title: Committee favors East Mall rezoning, despite SHA objections
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: StP Zoning Cmttee voted to re-zone the mixed-use bldg on 841 Grand Avenue to favor "more intense" land uses. Article points to a rather obscure battle over B2-C, B2, and BC zoning, which are different levels of mixed-commercial and mixed-residential uses.


Title: BZA grants parking variance for Crossift fitness center inf Merriam Park
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: New fitness center gets to build its new fitness center w/out building 16 new parking spots in the Merriam Park neighborhood of St Paul. Says it will limit the size of classes and not increase demand for parking in the neighborhood.