Thread by @WedgeLIVE

TONIGHT: "PALMISANO PRESENTS"

LIVE from Linden Hills! Join your host, Chet Wedgely, for an evening of unnecessarily high production values and grave concerns about parking, property values and neighborhood character. Coverage begins at 7 PM.

Parking in linden hills is as bad as advertised.

To give you an idea how far west I am, the alphabetical avenues have started over at A again. It's possible no Minneapolis journalist has ever ventured this far west for a tweet.

More parking crisis in Linden Hills.

Palmisano reports she has received "numerous calls, emails, and handwritten letters."

My internet is not great here in the far Southwest. So be prepared for technical issues.

Palmisano referring to Heather Worthington a couple of times as the "owner" of this comprehensive plan. Palmisano: "I don't endorse this draft in its current form. This is not my work. I have a lot of concerns."

Palmisano saying her best way to implement changes to the draft is "through you." Meaning public input.

Palmisano: "I'm concerned 4plexes in our Ward doesn't mean affordable housing."

"I'm concerned how new corridor designations affect single family homes."

"There's a lot of input to be gleaned from all of you."

Palmisano says the plan has the "right goals," but she "doesn't endorse" this draft.

Brian Schaffer "is driving the website tonight."

Heather Worthington says she knows this question is on a lot of people's minds: "Where is the PDF?" End of May!

Worth repeating: the comp plan isn't zoning. It's guidance. Zoning is far more detailed and complicated, and comes after the comp plan.

They paid a mural artist to draw the commentary on the wall in cartoon form. Good luck making Ward 13 more cartoonish.

Raw data is on the website. You can read all the comments published at the end of each engagement "phase."

first question about "single family homes replaced by high rise condos."

Resident: "All those houses are going away."

Worthington says nobody would be forced to sell their home. Oh my. They are really concerned about "eminent domain."

Palmisano says the eminent domain fear is a common concern she hears.

Question: have setbacks been eliminated?

Worthington: setbacks are a zoning issue. That's a detail to come later. The comp plan is not a zoning code.

Brian Schaffer asked to tackle the off-street parking question. Uh oh we're gonna lose the room!

Analysis: Not requiring the construction of parking is not the same as "parking will no longer be built."

Also you will still be able to park your two boats in your driveway.

Question: Why aren't we doing any upzoning absent guarantee the mayor's affordability plan will become real?

Worthington talking about zoning's historical role in restricting access to the most desirable parts of the city. This is the Single Family Zoning is Racist part of the presentation.

Worthington next making point that we should allow people to age in place, remain in their neighborhood in a smaller home, when their single family home becomes too much.

Worthington: if you don't like this plan, let us know. but please offer an alternative that shows how we're going to house all the people who want to live here.

Round of applause for off-street parking requirements.

Heather Worthington mentions the city council is currently working on an inclusionary zoning plan to either require or incentivize affordable units in new development. Separate from comp plan.

Palmisano: This comment period is "not one that we will endure" but that will actually shape the next draft.

Speak for yourself, I'm enduring it.

Looks like Heather Worthington anticipated the question about inclusionary zoning. Already answered. She answers again.

Worthington says this comprehensive plan is about addressing issue of equity through a systems lens. Housing, jobs, transportation, all related to closing racial and economic disparities.

$8000/yr to own a vehicle, says Worthington.

(Can we have another round of applause for requiring more off-street parking?)

How do we keep the historic qualities of our neighborhoods?

Worthington says the problem with historic guidelines and restrictions is that homeowners don't like restrictions on fixing up their homes.

Question: What's the rationale for this plan?

Palmisano mentioning projections for population growth.

Worthington: statute requires it. In the past we've done a "check the box" update that has not meaningfully addressed problems. As a result we've fallen further behind.

SW Light Rail! Palmisano notes largest station will be in West Calhoun.

Question: How many commuters will actually take the train to Eden Prairie? What do you do when you get there? Walk?

Palmisano says we need workforce housing along the swlrt corridor, if it ever happens.

"Why must blocks adjacent to transit corridors be so excessively upzoned?" (Interior 3 and corridor 4 designations)

"15 percent of commuters riding bicycles" gets a laugh.

I think people cheered the idea of Palmisano driving around in her car, but the cheering was so loud I couldn't hear it all.

Nobody uses the bike paths.

Guy says Blaisdell has 200 cars for every bike.

I think the submitted written question format has created some pent up energy. So the open mic session could be interesting.

Question: Why did no @Mpls2040 information get mailed to us? This is biased against people without computers.

Worthington says they've put resources into other forms of engagement. It was a good decision and she'll defend it.

Former two term Ward 10 council member Lisa McDonald is very concerned about fourplexes and variances. Gets first crack at open mic. Mentions 36th and Bryant. Gets nice applause. She's plugging a website. Wants you to join her movement.

It's heartening to come to these meetings to watch these voiceless powerless former elected officials grab the microphone to fight back against a system that's crushed them for too long.

Question: Lynnhurst is going to become Uptown.

Worthington begins to answer, then, "I'll finish my thought and then you can get the microphone."

"you're totally destroying the character of those blocks..."

"I don't wanna live on a block that has 3 or 4 apartment buildings that are 3 or 4 stories high." Along 50th. Loves single family homes.

Guy predicting ruin for his block. "People are already leaving the neighborhood."

Palmisano calling out the "cyberbullying" of people willing to stand up and speak into a microphone at these meetings.

East Harriet contingent here to talk about 41 units at 36th and Bryant. Worthington says that's an issue of existing zoning.

Resident skeptical about predictions of future population growth.

Palmisano: "We could be building housing for 7 years straight on the existing zoning that we have."

Analysis: would that not require the use of eminent domain?

Question about Heather Worthington's resume and where we can see how her work has impacted other communities.

Concerns that older people from Minnetonka won't be able to downsize into a small home here in Ward 13.

Heather Worthington just recited her quite lengthy resume and received a round of applause.

"this area, we can't handle more density." Cars are a reality. Too many cars.

Scenes from tonight's @Mpls2040 forum in Linden Hills.

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