Council hears appeal on Rice St. Market

Posted

Rice Street Market owner Bilal Asadi has been unable to sell fuel for several months because Rice-Maryland reconstruction put his gas pumps too close to the property line. (Photo by Stefanie Berres)

By JANE MCCLURE

The St. Paul City Council will hear an appeal of a controversy over the Rice Street Market at Rice and Maryland, neighbors Raymond and Susan Cantu filed the appeal objecting to a Planning Commission decision. The hearing was set for Wednesday, Nov. 7.

The Cantus and other neighbors are unhappy that the existing Rice Street Market will remain in place at 1200 Rice St., instead of a new building. They have concerns about placement of new gas pumps and pump island as well as adequate access space and traffic safety.

The dispute is complicated by the Rice and Maryland reconstruction project. Rice Street Market owner Bilal Asadi has been unable to sell fuel for several months because Rice-Maryland reconstruction put his gas pumps too close to the property line. And although Asadi won a $1 million settlement earlier this year in a condemnation dispute with Ramsey County, building a new building isn’t feasible in part due to costs he has incurred. On top of his legal fight with the county, Asadi has spent more than a year trying to get a site plan that city and Ramsey County officials will accept. Ramsey County is involved because Rice and Maryland are county and county-state aid roads. Asadi’s site plan was finally accepted by city officials in August, prompting the neighbors’ appeal.

Raymond Cantu told the Planning Commission Zoning Committee this fall that neighbors supported the original Rice Street Market plans with the understanding that the old gas station turned convenience store and restaurant would be torn down and replaced. The Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Rice Street Market in May 2012. But because a new building wasn’t built, a new building and a number of conditions neighbors agreed to won’t go into place.

The Planning Commission and city staff said that means previous approvals are in place and Rice Street Market can continue to operate.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here