Council forwards West Side Flats comprehensive plan amendment after heated public comment and community benefits commitment

The council considered a proposed amendment to the West Side Flats master plan to change the land‑use designation of two parcels (associated with the Comcast building parking) from mixed residential to office/light industrial. City planner Chris Hong explained that the amendment is a first procedural step; any rezoning would return for full public review and Metropolitan Council action.

Community speakers and neighborhood groups, including the Westside Community Organization and Friends of the Mississippi River, urged the council to oppose the amendment, citing the West Side Flats master plan's riverfront vision and concerns about process, short notification timeframes and potential displacement of residential or mixed‑use opportunities. The district council and Westside advocates called for a more collaborative process and offered alternative sites for industrial expansion.

Representatives for the property owner and for Pier Foundry (the applicant) said outreach occurred and that the amendment starts a long process including rezoning and additional public review. Councilmember Naker, who worked on the West Side Flats master plan, acknowledged the history and process concerns but argued that an industrial expansion adjacent to heavy industrial zoning could be appropriate and pledged to secure a community benefits agreement with the applicant. She moved to support forwarding the amendment to allow the process to proceed; the council voted to forward the amendment (vote recorded in roll call). Councilmembers said rezoning would return with additional opportunity for review and agreement details before a final rezoning decision.