Zoning board denies two new variances for United Village regarding number of windows

Developers of United Village’s planned eight-story hotel and five-story parking ramp will have to make their case for variances to the Saint Paul City Council this spring. The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) has denied two variances tied to percentage of window openings.

The final vote was March 2, after initial denial Feb. 17, 2026. The initial denial was on a technicality as a minimum of four votes are needed to pass or reject a variance request. The board voted 3-1 for denial, and didn’t act on a motion to approve.

Developer Snelling Midway redevelopment LLC filed the appeal prior to the final BZA vote. A City Council public hearing date has not been set.

City staff recommended approval as did Union Park District Council and the Midway Chamber of Commerce.
The variances would be the ninth and 10th needed for the project. The current variance request is for glazing or windows along the University Avenue facade. The amount of space required is based on underlying zoning and size of the building itself.

The code calls for at least 50 percent of the hotel’s ground floor facade to have windows. The design calls for windows on 43.1 percent of the hotel facade, for a variance of 6.9 percent.

The second variance is for the parking ramp building. The code calls for the ground floor facade to have at least 30 percent windows. The design calls for windows on 23.3 percent, for a variance of 6.7 percent.

In a presentation to the district council in January, Mike Hahm of the United Village project said timing for approval is “critical” so that the project can move ahead this year.

The 160-room hotel and 300-space parking ramp with retail and community room space are to be built between Asbury and Simpson streets.

Hahm said the design is to accommodate interior space uses. It is also in response to community requests that the main hotel entrance be on University Avenue.

Board members Brian Martinson, Daniel Miller and Chris Schweitzer said the request doesn’t meet a required variance finding of “practical difficulty.” Schweitzer said more windows could easily be added.
Board member Jerome Benner said he is disappointed that the measure didn’t pass and that the variances should be granted. His motion for approval failed.

Martinson, who also serves on the Saint Paul Planning Commission, recalled that the project previously needed eight variances and a conditional use permit, which the commission acted on. He asked why the latest variances weren’t brought forward then. Carolyn Wolff, who also works on the United Village project, said the interior design for the hotel’s main floor has changed since.

In 2024, United Village developers Snelling Midway Redevelopment LLC went through a lengthy fight with UPDC, Hamline Midway Coalition and Saint Paul Planning Commission. The developers sought eight variances and a conditional use permit for the hotel/parking ramp project. The Planning Commission opposed one variance and rewrote conditions on others regarding door and window openings.

City planning staff recommended approval of all eight variances and the conditional use permit. Planning staff and the Planning Commission handled the 2024 request because the conditional use permit was involved.

One variance and conditions on two others wound up before the council on appeal, winning final approval in April 2024. Some variances were for building and driveway placement, and placement of a front door. The conditional use permit was needed to allow additional building height.