Neighbors Continue Fight Against Garbage Depot Despite Losses at City
After filing an appeal to the City’s Planning Commision on January 21, the West 7th / Fort Road Federation continued to advocate against the proposed construction of a garbage truck depot and refueling station at 560 Randolph Ave. over the past several weeks.
“The city knows they made a mistake, but they’re doubling down on it,” said Meg Duhr, President of the West 7th/Fort Road Federation at a rally against the proposed depot on February 6. “Unfortunately, the burden of the public process falls on us.”
About 40 people attended the rally on a sub-zero afternoon to draw attention to what Duhr says is a disconnect between current zoning and long-range planning for the site.
City staff hold that the zoning on the site, which currently operates as a tow yard, allows for the proposed use, including dispatch, storage and natural gas refueling for an initial 36 garbage trucks belonging to FCC Environmental, the City’s new garbage operator who is scheduled to begin service this spring.
According to the Federation’s appeal, however, that finding does not include multiple long-range plans adopted by the City and other entities, calling for the site to increase residential density and provide a better connection to the river, amongst other things.
“We are all here today because we want to honor 20 years of city plans and participation that this community has been involved in and helped lead on for a different vision for the area along Randolph,” Duhr said.
Losses at the City
On February 21, the City’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the West 7th / Fort Road Federation’s appeal of the zoning determination made on the site.
This loss follows a 3-2 split decision by the Zoning Committee of the Planning Commission on February 13 to deny the appeal and accept the City of St. Paul’s staff recommend that the parcel meets the conditions of a “light industrial use” site consistent with a public works facility.
During the Zoning Committee meeting, 28 people testified on behalf of the appeal, citing concerns from increased traffic, to noise, smell, safety and road and environmental damage.
For FCC’s part, they say their facility is well within current zoning standards, which is consistent with the zoning staff’s findings in their staff report to the Zoning Committee.
Despite her disapproval of FCC’s intended use, Duhr agrees with what FCC is saying.
“We don’t want FCC here, but FCC is not really the enemy,” she said. “They have not broken any laws, they bought the property in a legal transaction. They’re doing what companies do. The problem is the city should have never gotten to this place.”
According to Julia McColley, Executive Director of the Federation, they are considering next steps after their loss at the Planning Commission, which may include appeal to the City Council.
She said that, while they were not successful in their appeal of the Zoning Department’s similar use finding, there will be other opportunities for public involvement.
“There will be a public hearing for the site plan review sometime in March,” she said.
Learn more
Learn about the actions West 7th / Fort Road Federation is taking at fortroadfed.org/fcc-trash-truck-site.
