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Council pauses vote on Beacon’s Aragon rezoning after intense public comment
Summary
After more than a dozen residents and housing advocates testified for and against a rezoning request for 470 White Bear Ave, the Saint Paul City Council voted to lay the matter over one week to Dec. 11 to allow additional community engagement and legal review.
The Saint Paul City Council on Monday voted to delay a final decision on a rezoning request for 470 White Bear Avenue — the proposed Aragon family supportive-housing project — after a lengthy public hearing that drew dozens of speakers and hundreds of written contacts to council offices.
Supporters, including Beacon volunteers and housing advocates, told the council the project would provide screened, supportive family housing that aligns with city goals and cited staff and planning commission recommendations for approval. An applicant representative said similar Beacon properties achieve housing stability for a large share of families, noting that “86% of families achieve housing stability for one year or more.”
Opponents including nearby residents and neighborhood representatives argued the rezoning from H2 to RM2 constitutes illegal spot zoning under Minnesota law, raising concerns about traffic, parking, school proximity and permit compliance at other Beacon sites. Several speakers said they had submitted petitions and more than 100 neighborhood letters opposing the change.
Ward 7 Councilmember Shaniqua Johnson said her office had logged roughly 300 pieces of outreach and had been coordinating with the city attorney’s office to review claims and community engagement materials. Johnson asked for a one-week layover to allow her office to follow up with neighbors and to give the city attorney time to respond to legal questions; the council approved the layover to Dec. 11 by voice vote.
The vote was procedural; no final action was taken on the rezoning ordinance or conditional-use permit. Johnson said the office will host a public engagement session and report back before the council resumes consideration. The council closed the public hearing before debating the layover motion.
If the council takes up the matter again Dec. 11, members will consider the submitted community engagement plan, the planning commission’s recommendations, written public testimony, and any legal guidance from the city attorney’s office.
