University Master Plan public forums and comment

The public will soon get its turn to comment on the draft of the university’s updated master plan, an extensive document that guides the institution’s course over the next decade. The draft, which makes its debut on the Board of Regents’ docket this month, will also be made available to the public. Three public forums to preview the updated master plan will be held in early February (see below).

The Twin Cities Campus Master Plan 2009 document will be available online beginning Feb. 6. A hard copy of the document will be available at both the university’s Wilson Library, 309 19th Ave. S., and the Southeast Library, 1222 SE Fourth St., in the government documents reference area.

A word of advice to those who want their comments heard: act quickly. The comment period lasts just two weeks, until Feb. 20. University capital planner Monique MacKenzie said an updated version of the master plan reflecting public feedback has to be ready by the end of February, in time for the March Regents meeting. MacKenzie acknowledged the turnaround time was swift: “We understand the two weeks stretches everyone’s capacity,” she said, but she called it necessary.

The plan won’t be in its finalized form at the March meeting — appendices will likely be added to incorporate the Regents’ comments — but it’s still important that everything move on that schedule, said MacKenzie.

Master Plan public forums
Mon., Feb. 2, 1–2:30 p.m.
Cowles Auditorium
Humphrey Center
301 19th Ave. S.

Tues., Feb. 3, 10–11:30 a.m.
Mississippi Room
Coffman Union
300 Washington Av. S

Wed., Feb. 4, 1–2: 30 p.m.
McNeal 33
1985 Buford Av., St. Paul
(tentative location; see Master Planning website for confirmation)

Thurs., Feb. 5, 7–8:30 p.m.
Van Cleve Park
901 15th Ave. SE

Sydney Hall development delayed

Doran Development’s Sydney Hall — a planned 14-story mixed-use development adjacent to the Dinkydome — will be postponed by at least a year, said Kelly Doran, the company’s chief manager. The project, which also includes updates to the Dinkydome, had been on track to be completed in July 2010, but a lawsuit brought by the nearby fraternity Northwestern Chi Psi Educational Foundation — although unsuccessful — prevented Doran from keeping the project on the 2010 track. As Doran explained, even a short delay can become a major one when you’re marketing to students, as housing has to be ready to go before the start of the school year. “Obviously, with the student housing, you can’t be late,” he said.

Doran confirmed that sandwich shop Erbert & Gerbert’s, which left its spot at Southeast Fourth Street and 15th Avenue Southeast after its building was razed to make way for the new development, will reopen as a commercial tenant in Sydney Hall. Caribou Coffee, which was previously located next door to Erbert & Gerbert’s, decided not to come back. Wells Fargo, which is currently a street-level tenant in the Dinkydome, will relocate to the new building when Sydney Hall is completed, Doran said.

Taskforce moves ahead while moratorium stands

A taskforce organized by the city’s Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) last August to examine zoning, planning and regulatory review processes in the University District has released a draft report. The document, which contains preliminary solutions to various problems that have plagued the district is under review by area businesses and neighborhood groups, both of which have representatives who have been meeting regularly with the city’s planning department. To view the document, visit: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/ docs/ZPRR_draft_summary_report_121408.pdf docs/ZPRR_draft_summary_report_121408.pdf.

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last revised: January 31, 2009

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