Mayor Coleman, Council seeks committee members to inform Snelling- Midway area redevelopment in anticipation of potential soccer stadium

Mayor Coleman, Council seeks committee members to inform Snelling- Midway area redevelopment in anticipation of potential soccer stadium

Committee members will advise planning of the 34.5 acre Midway site at Snelling and University

SAINT PAUL – With momentum continuing to build for a soccer stadium in Saint Paul, Mayor Chris Coleman and the Saint Paul City Council are seeking applicants for a community advisory committee to guide the work of City staff and consultants as the project moves forward. The 15-20 person committee will be tasked with representing the broader interests of the community, providing input on the overall design and development decisions that would emerge on the 34.5 acre site.

“With momentum clearly building for a potential soccer stadium at the Midway location, it’s critical that we ensure diverse community voices are in place to guide the process,” said Mayor Chris Coleman. “While redevelopment of this area has been the subject of intense community conversation and focus for many years – including ahead of the construction of the Green Line, we want to ensure the mechanisms are in place to secure public input as Minnesota United and MLS say they want to negotiate a stadium in Saint Paul.”

This week, the Metropolitan Council, Saint Paul Port Authority and Saint Paul City Council will consider entering into a Joint Powers agreement. Should the JPA be approved and subsequent discussions be successful, a proposed lease of the site from the Met Council to the City of Saint Paul would be submitted to the governing bodies for consideration and approval. Additionally, both the Saint Paul City Council and Ramsey County have passed resolutions supporting property tax exemption for a possible soccer stadium.

“Should the team and MLS want to build a stadium in Saint Paul, the City Council and Mayor will need to make many decisions along the way – and we want this committee in place so we can thoroughly engage the community throughout this process,” said City Council President Russ Stark. “We are committed to engaging the public on this optimal site situated between downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul, whether or not the soccer stadium moves forward.”

Long a part of Saint Paul city government, community advisory committees and task forces provide guidance to city planners on everything from transportation infrastructure to green space to design. The city of Saint Paul currently has numerous active committees and task forces, including for high impact projects like the Capital City Bikeway, the Ford Site redevelopment, the Highway 5/Shephard Road study and the Grand Round. The Midway site has also been the focus of significant community input, including the development of a station area plan completed in 2008, and a subsequent review by outside consultants that resulted in the Snelling-Midway SmartSite TOD Development Strategy report. More information can be found at stpaul.gov/snelling.

Meeting specifics

The Midway Redevelopment Advisory Committee will meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., with the first meeting tentatively scheduled for December 3^rd.

Those interested in serving on the committee should submit the application available here by Wednesday, November 4, 2015. Those selected will be notified later in November.

For more information on the Midway Redevelopment Site located near Snelling and University visit stpaul.gov/snelling.

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