Canadian Pacific Proposal

Last week the St. Paul Planning Commission okayed a request for a variance on steep slopes and for a conditional use permit for building in the floodplain. This proposal was put forth by Canadian Pacific Rail to expand parking lot and office building on their property at 1000 Shop Road.

The District Council opposed this proposal for a variety of reasons, including that their written submission said they were requesting these things in anticipation of future, unspecified projects - one of which, we suspect, is a resubmission of a proposal by Marathon Oil to store hazardous materials in tank cars on CP property. The proposal would create more impermeable surface in the 100 year floodplain, and could release toxic materials buried at the old Pigs Eye dump site - a Superfund site...

We are considering an appeal of this ruling, but will need donations by residents to cover the $450 filing fee. We will be talking to neighbors about this project, and others, at our Monday, June 28 board meeting - 6:30p at Boys' Totem Town (398 Totem Rd. - Lower Level Conference Room). We hope you will attend and let us know what you think.