Minneapolis Planning Commission backs TIF for inclusionary units, approves two consent items including right-of-way vacation

The Minneapolis Planning Commission on Aug. 18 adopted staff findings that a proposed project is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and approved use of tax-increment financing (TIF) tied to inclusionary zoning (IZ) units. The commission also approved two consent items, including a public-right-of-way vacation near 5117 Harriet Avenue, after staff clarified the vacation does not transfer fee title to adjacent property owners.

Chair Chris Meyer opened the Aug. 18 meeting and asked for a revision to the draft minutes from Aug. 4 to record a failed motion he had made on a zoning text amendment; the commission adopted the revised minutes before taking up other items. "Sometimes I find that the most interesting things are the motions that fail," Meyer said when requesting the change to the minutes.

The commission then considered item 4, a request connected to a TIF allocation. Commissioner Baxley questioned the appropriateness of using TIF for the project and asked whether the planning commission’s role was limited to deciding consistency with the comprehensive plan. "I just want to ask a few questions around why we're using it, appropriateness for this project," Baxley said.

A city staff member replied that the planning commission’s required finding is whether the project is consistent with the comprehensive plan and does not examine detailed financing rationale. Staff explained the TIF request in this case was tied to on-site inclusionary zoning units. That staff member also said the appeal related to the project had gone to the city council’s "biz committee" and was denied there; the matter will go to the full City Council later in the week.

A commissioner moved to adopt staff findings for item 4; the motion was seconded and adopted with the commission recording no roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes.

The commission opened a public hearing for two consent items (items 5 and 6). No members of the public spoke. Commissioners and staff discussed item 6, a proposed vacation of public right-of-way east and north of 5117 Harriet Avenue. Some community members had expressed concern that the vacation would amount to a giveaway of public land. A staff member responded that underlying fee title to the vacated land remains unchanged by the vacation and that the action removes public rights to enter, pass or access the parcel rather than conveying ownership. "There's no land conveyance here. It simply removes the right of the public to access, enter, pass on that property," the staff member said. The staff member added that disposition of any fee title is the county’s responsibility.

The commission then moved, seconded and adopted the consent agenda, including the two items, by voice vote. Commissioners closed the meeting by noting upcoming items for the Committee of the Whole: a project discussion for 250 Fremont Avenue North and a text amendment discussion on possible sign regulation changes. The commission set its next regular meeting for Sept. 8.

Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt corrected minutes from Aug. 4 (requested addition: failed motion regarding zoning text amendment): adopted (voice vote). - Item 4 — Adopt staff findings related to TIF for a project with inclusionary zoning units: adopted (voice vote). - Consent agenda (items 5 and 6, including vacation of right-of-way near 5117 Harriet Avenue and item at 5200 West Lake Street): adopted (voice vote).

The commission’s minutes record no roll-call vote tallies for these actions in the public meeting transcript.