A group of residents that fervently lobbied, and ultimately failed, to stop St. Paul leaders from approving a plan for the former Ford Plant site this fall recently took a new approach to prevent the city's vision from becoming a reality.
But Wednesday they once again hit a roadblock with the City Council.
The group, called Neighbors for a Livable St. Paul, wanted to put a referendum on the 2018 election ballot giving voters the chance to repeal the Ford site zoning plan, which provides a framework for development at the 122-acre property.
They said the plan would lead to traffic congestion, a lack of green space and development too dense to fit the character of the surrounding Highland Park neighborhood.
The City Council quashed that effort Wednesday.
The city attorney's office determined state law gives St. Paul municipal planning power that would pre-empt a referendum, and the council voted not to submit the question for the next ballot.
"It's our duty as the council to follow the law," and not put it on the ballot, said Council Member Chris Tolbert.
Council Member Jane Prince noted the zoning plan was the start of the redevelopment process and community members will be able to give more input later.
