If Not a Sexually Oriented Use, How About a Grocery Store?

We're at the next step of 2040 Plan implementation in Minneapolis. This time it's not about the scary things like density and building height. At the risk of oversimplifying, this isn't about how big you can build a given property, but about what that property is used for. Is this neighborhood solely residential? Are commercial uses allowed? If yes, what kind? Dry cleaning? Child care? How many square feet? What about parking lots? 

Planners at the City of Minneapolis have put forward a proposal to match the objectives that were laid out in the city's long range plan five years ago. John is joined by Brit Anbacht and Evan Roberts, two volunteers from the group Neighbors for More Neighbors (of which John is also a co-founder), to talk about the changes we need to make to our zoning code in order to create complete neighborhoods -- places where a grocery store, a coffee shop, or a haircut, is a 5 minute walk instead of a 15 minute drive. They praise the draft proposal for having 50% more commercially zoned land than we had before, but say that going from 3% to 4.5% isn't enough. Brit laments the fact that a gas station is their only source for walkable groceries; and suggests that if we're going to allow a 4-6 story apartment building on a transit route, it should include an option for ground floor retail. As we add population, we should be allowing spaces that meet basic human needs closer to where we live. Evan talks about the American tendency to use zoning to over-segregate uses in a way that reinforces car-dependency; and asks why the zoning code should favor churches over other uses? John makes fun of Evan's accent. Do all New Zealanders speak in a way that makes everything sound like a sexually oriented use ("sixplex" sounds like "sexplex" and "pawn shop" sounds like "porn shop")?

The comment period for this phase ends March 26. The city's survey is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FMGPJ33

In addition to this survey, please contact your council members before and after the comment deadline. The actual council vote may not happen for several months.

The proposed land use rezoning map: https://minneapolis2040.com/implementation/land-use-rezoning-study/

The proposed land use table: https://minneapolis2040.com/media/1927/lurs-uses-allowed-table-draft-handout.pdf

All of this and future updates can be found on https://minneapolis2040.com

Get updates from Neighbors for More Neighbors: https://moreneighbors.org/blog/

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