Special Planning Issue Penny Wise and Penny Foolish? Searching for a Light Ahead in Duluth's City Planning Crisis by Jerry Kimball, retired head of the former Duluth Physical Planning Division I find myself in undesired territory these days-territory in which I'm often commenting on the lack of a balance in City Hall's planning and development role. My entire career was spent in promoting planning, so I find my current situation somewhat depressing. Whenever I promise myself I won't write another questioning article, however, someone points out the need for me to continue to serve a "loyal opposition" role, to clarify where the promise of potential is being eroded. And so on these pages I jump into the fray yet again, in the hope that I can help. I believe that Duluth's current City administration is penny wise and MANY poundS foolish-and that their miscalculation is costing the city dearly. Speakers at Duluth's recent Housing Summit, for example, cautioned that housing development is being hindered in part by the lack of timely building permits. Over the last few years, a substantial number of building inspectors have been cut from the city budget. It could be argued that the cost of more inspectors would be recovered quickly with taxes generated by more new housing units. Elimination of city planners is also a disinvestment. Returning as well to an adequately staffed planning department would be a wise investment. Duluth's Physical Planning Division has been eliminated, with its few remaining, overworked planners reassigned to the Urban Development Division. Unfortunately, though every City Council candidate during the fall election acknowledged the problem with the city's lack of planning, the Duluth budget for 2002 shows no improvement in funding. In fact, the last of the long-time physical city planners, bill majewski, is retiring this month. What's the gist of all of this? I believe Mayor Doty views planning as nothing more than a hindrance to development. But, Instead of greasing the path to easy development, this dismantling of a balanced planning function has done the opposite: It has slowed development. One reason we now see so many land-use controversies, lawsuits, and referendums, for example, is that almost all proposed developments that arrive at City Hall find their way to the City Council. Councilors then have the unenviable task of asking the tough questions. In cities with strong professional planners, the "clinker" proposals are filtered out long before they have to be taken up by the City Council. It is perhaps in our neighborhoods that we most frequently see the problems caused by this situation. The inclination on the administration's part to approve virtually every project has caused tension between the city and neighborhood groups. Residents often express a lack of trust in city government and say they want more openness in the process and more balance in land-use decisions. Duluth's supposed "image" of being "anti-development" is erroneously faulted to neighborhood citizens and smart-growth or sustainable-development groups, when in reality it is the lack of up-front planning and public input that is the true culprit. There have been too many examples of planning mistakes that have harbored citizen mistrust. The city has missed deadlines on projects, for example, thus forcing the automatic approval of permits for those projects, as with the demolition disposal facility in Gary New Duluth and the Westgate apartment. Likewise, both sides of the Spirit Mountain dispute have wasted time and money debating the golf course issue as a result of the city's lack of knowledge about grant limitations imposed on Spirit Mountain lands. Mistrust of the city administration was perhaps at its most severe after the Community Unit Plan (C.U.P.) was misused to allow the commercial Opus development in an area still zoned residential. The City Council later eliminated the C.U.P. (originally intended to encourage creative mixed-use development) and asked that the language of the C.U.P. be tightened to guard against future misuse. City staff, however, is pushing for loosening the language even further, so redrafting of the plan languishes, as do some good housing proposals that would require mixed-use zoning. Another symptom of not having a viable planning function is the inability to fully access grant resources to impliment good creative public developments like the rest of bayfront park. But how about that light ahead? I'm thrilled with the creative spirit I saw at Duluth's recent Economic Summit. I find it hopeful as well that the city administration brought in the talented Waterfront Center people to help us sort out our varying visions for Bayfront Park. It's imperative, however, that the mayor listen to them better than he did to his Bayfront Task Force. The willingness to listen-and to respect and act upon what is heard-is at the root of tackling all the difficulties I've chronicled here. As we head into this new year, perhaps a good resolution for us all would be to make sure that we continue to be willing to listen. And that we continue as well to demand to be heard. Super-connector of People By Kent Worley, Landscape Architect Nearly 25 years ago, a graduate Landscape Architect who worked with me suggested a concept that would help pull some central, scattered areas of Duluth together. The more I have looked at this opportunity as the years have passed, the more feasible and valuable it appears. Imagine the area from downtown east to the health care complex of the Duluth Clinic, St. Mary's Hospital, and the former Miller Dwan Hospital, now a connected and integral part of this complex. Then look at the five elderly housing facilities lined up in an L-shape between the health care facilities and downtown. They are in perfect alignment and proximity to be nodes along a connecting skywalk leading to downtown and linking with substantial existing and planned skywalk extensions through our entire downtown. Imagine as well the huge population at the health care complex and the resident and visiting population in these five housing buildings. The numbers are impressive, and I would predict this connecting corridor would become a "super-connector" of people and activities. Here are some of the benefits we might envision: During both winter and summer, safe and convenient access from resident buildings to health care. Just think how easy it would be to take your parents to the clinic, even during a winter storm-or for them to go on their own. Increased pedestrian travel, reduced vehicular trips and parking demands, and more customers for downtown businesses. Retail infill of some of our vacant downtown commercial space would follow. A way for hospital-bound patients and their family members to find relief and perspective-whether it's an outing simply to enjoy a great view along the way or a destination like Lake Place or the Lakewalk. Elevators would provide access at key vertical transition points, perhaps escalators too. Relief and perspective as well for residents of the five housing facilities and their families. Imagine family members moving through this corridor with a parent or grandparent, in a wheelchair or on foot. Compare this image to that of visiting a parent in elderly housing facilities, sitting in a room trying to find things to talk about. Creation of a healthy environment for popular recreational pursuits, such as walking, or simply for people-watching and other sorts of human communication. A physical joining of downtown and our health care facilities, establishing a greater image of convenience while orienting people to Duluth's somewhat complex, hilly, one-way streets. At present, Duluth's health care complex is effectively cut off from downtown, even though it is only a few short blocks away. This "super-connector" of people is a connection waiting to happen, and eventually it will happen. In the interim, we must plan for this option. We must make certain that developments do not encroach on the linking corridor in ways that could jeopardize this opportunity to further connect the places and the people of Duluth. A Grand Way to Start the Year! Mark January 12 on Your Brand New Calendar Join DPPA on Saturday, January 12 for our first gathering of the year.... and a discussion of what (three or four?) main issues DPPA will focus on in 2002. Should it be trying to help Duluth's over-stretched City Councilors get staff? A review of the structure of the City Charter? A system for making sure that any questions asked publicly at City Council meetings are answered publicly as well? How to help women candidates run for office in 2003? Encouraging the city to protect until-now unprotected Duluth green space? The 2003 mayoral race? Please attend-and help decide. We'll focus that morning on one of these topics, with a presentation from a member of Duluth's Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), Kinnan Stauber. The Duluth city administration has recently recognized that much of the city's highly-prized green space has little or no formal protection. Working with the local office of the Nature Conservancy, the city is developing an ordinance that will allow Duluth to protect forever areas with high ecological value. Kinnan is chair of the EAC; she'll speak about the process that is underway, the role of the EAC in the process, and how DPPA members can help. Bring your skis! Following the meeting, DPPA board member Andrew Slade will lead a cross-country ski outing on the Piedmont Ski Trail and elaborate on Kinnan's presentation in relation to that particular piece of treasured green space. Next DPPA Meeting Date: Saturday, January 12 Time: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Place: Beaner's Central Café, 324 N. Central Avenue (624-5957) Fattening snacks available. Bring x-country skis! Sometimes in Losing We Actually Win There are few stranger times in life, it seems, than an election night. For weeks and months, people running for office or working on campaigns live in a windstorm of door knocking, literature dropping, and envelope stuffing. There are debates to prepare for and to live through, yard signs to deliver, phone calls to make. And then somehow, it's Election Day-and time seems to stand still as we watch the polls close and the outcome of the votes rumble in. This year, that night was November 6th, an evening filled with both disappointment and victory for DPPA members. Later that same week, Bill and Georgette Hardesty extended their legendary hospitality yet again to host DPPA's second post-election party. It was a cathartic night, filled with great food, a cozy fire, and thoughts shared by volunteers and candidates alike. At-Large candidate Nancy Nelson was one of those people to share her insights that evening as she spoke about having run for City Council. Here are some excerpts: "The election is like a pass-or-fail test...it's over abruptly, and the outcome isn't always what we want. The only justification for expending so much energy is that we accomplish something simply by the act of campaigning. I did not win this election, but I know that we can't have labored so hard and so long without making an impact... a change ...a difference. I think I succeeded in making people more aware of the environment and green space and Lake Superior. I think I helped make it acceptable to talk about trees and a sense of place. And I think we brought together a broad coalition that needs to keep working together... environmentalists, labor, seniors, DFL, Greens, and others. I also know that to sit around and refuse to participate makes one mean and grumpy. One woman I called told me she wasn't interested in talking to me because she thinks that politics is "just a joke." I hung up feeling sorry for her because it seemed to me she had no hope. Politics is, indeed, screwy, but we have to try to make the world what we want it to be, even if we don't totally succeed. (SALLY "TRY" IN ITALICS, PLS.) I'm a firm believer in the importance of trying; whether or not you succeed at reaching your ultimate goal, there is value in the attempt. And I think it's important to remember that being on the City Council is only one way to make change. If we have a vision of what we want to accomplish, then we can continue to work on making that vision a reality. As Václav Havel, a writer and president of the Czech republic, said, 'When a person tries to act in accordance with his conscience, when he tries to speak the truth, when he tries to behave like a citizen even in conditions where citizenship is degraded, it won't necessarily lead anywhere-but it might. There's one thing, however, that will never lead anywhere, and that is speculating about whether such behavior will lead somewhere.'" Our Friend, Alden Lind It was with great sadness that we heard in November of the passing of long-time environmental leader and DPPA supporter, Alden Lind. Glenn Maxham was friends with Alden for many years: "For all who shared Alden's intense concern for the environment, he was our general leading us into battle...always mentoring, never shying away from controversy. His passing leaves an immense chasm that we can only hope to fill with our own dedication." For those who wish to send a card to Ora Lind, the address is 4130 McCulloch Street, Duluth, 55804. Mother Nature Delays the Ringsred Bench... But Fails to Foil Matrimony DPPA Vice President Will Rhodes has been ambling about the windswept hills at Leif Erickson Park, along with Tom Kasper of the Duluth Parks Department, choosing a location for the Eric Ringsred Appreciation bench. A spot was found, a date to install selected, and then the big Lakewalk-dismantling storm hit. Alas, there will be a brief delay, but the bench will appear soon. Keep your eyes open for it... on the path that leads down toward the park stage. Congrats to DPPA Treasurer-Secretary Terry Brown and DPPA member Wendy Grethen! They were married in November. Has It Been Nearly a Year Already?! Last year's DPPA Spaghetti Feed Extravaganza was a huge success, and planning is now underway for the 2002 dinner and auction. It'll be held on Friday, April 19, beginning at 5 p.m., at Peace Church. Duke Skorich and board member Patty McNulty have agreed to again be our hosts for the evening. Please contact Iver Bogen (728-3987 or ibogen@d.umn.edu) or Hal Moore (727-5319 or bthm@earthlink.net) to volunteer to help with cooking, getting food donations, decorating, or whatever else our two brave Event Chairs have in mind. And please begin thinking of auction items or experiences (boat rides, breakfast in bed, skydiving, and so on) that you might like to donate! Donations can be called in to or dropped off at the home of Sally Rauschenfels (727-4198 or manitou@cp.duluth.mn.us). Calendar of Upcoming Events January 2002 Mon 07 4:45 pm At DECC: Agenda Session 6:00 special Council meeting (swearing in of Councilors), Mayor's State of the City address Sat 12 11:00 am DPPA meeting, 11 a.m. Beaner's Central Café, "DPPA Goals for 2002" discussion, speaker Kinnan Stauber, and x-country ski outing with Andrew Slade. Mon 14 6:00 pm Council Committee meeting: property tax and legislative issues. 7:00 p.m. City Council meeting. Tue 15 6:30 pm SPPA meeting, 6:30 p.m., Coppertop Church, Info: 728-1002 Mon 28 7:00 pm City Council meeting. February 2002 Sat 02 Citizens in Action Training. Info: 525-6878, Rosie. Sun 03 The Ultimate SuperBowl Party with "Buddy Holly," Norshor, (Armory benefit) Mon 04 7:00 pm Council committee meeting, with Citizens' Advisory Committee for Comp. Plan Mon 04-5 Mon, Tue. Feb. 4 and 5 Duluth Days, State Capitol. Mon 11 7:00 pm City Council meeting. Mon 25 7:00 pm City Council meeting. March 2002 Sat 02 Annual Living Green Networking Conference, Info: 726-1828 April 2002 Fri 19 5:00 pm Second Annual DPPA Spaghetti Feed Extravaganza! Peace Church Info: 728-3987 or 727-5319. These articles are retained on the web for historical interest and do not necessarily reflect the views or goals of DPPA today.