Task force lowers heights in St. Pauls West Side Flats plan
Viewshed images created by Hoisington Koegler Group demonstrated that buildings at 125 feet will visually block the bluffline and alter the character of the valley.
Image: Hoisington Koegler Group
St. Pauls West Side Flats Master Plan update recently reached a milestone when the community task force approved its Draft Plan, wrapping up 18 months of work. Established to advise City staff and consultants during the planning process, the community task force included FMR staff, and other stakeholders representing business, industry and local residents.
Previously, the task force had signaled its willingness to allow building heights of 100-125 feet on Robert Street between Fillmore and Plato. This would have almost doubled what is allowed under the current West Side Flats Master Plan, which calls for buildings to be 4-6 stories tall. FMR and a number of local residents raised concerns about tall buildings blocking the panoramic scenic valley that surrounds downtown St. Paul. Protecting scenic vistas is critical to the long-term success of both the City and the River.
Working with the National Park Service and Saint Paul Riverfront Corp, FMR reached out to city staff to discuss the importance of protecting scenic views across the West Side Flats. One very important outcome from our meeting with city planners was that they agreed to conduct additional view studies. The most revealing of these images, were the views from Kellogg Park near the Wabasha Bridge. This study shows buildings taller than 95 feet would block views of the bluffs.
Subsequently, the task force met twice to resolve growing community concerns that the plan update allowed more height than was needed or desired. Several task force members also attended a presentation and panel discussion on the topic organized by FMR, the West Side Citizens Organization and the National Park Service about the national significance and unique scenic quality of the Mississippi River in St. Paul as it rounds the bend and widens into Americas famed floodplain river. FMR is proud of the collaborative work of the many partners that resulted in the resolution of this issue.