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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes June 17, 2025 Page 5 1 on multi -family and commercial is not as effective. We should be looking at all residential. Other 2 alternatives need to be researched. 4 Chair Socha asked Mr. Grittman about the process to date. Assistant Morello stated the conversation 5 started in a City Council workshop in the Fall of 2024. This was an action for the Climate Plan. Staff 6 received directions to pursue the requirements for EV chargers. There has not been any outreach to 7 the community regarding this. It would be more feasible on new parking lots rather than while 8 upgrading existing parking lots. She suggested a work session with the PEC and the Council to 9 discuss this further. 10 11 Commissioner Corneille noted Richfield has an ordinance that allows for EV Charging to be 12 permitted within public rights -of -way and municipally owned parking lots. This would be a great 13 thing to look at. Ms. Morello stated that this touches on another one of the Climate Plan actions. It is 14 better to start with encouragement rather than unfunded mandates. 15 16 Commissioner Mayne does not want to see the level of charge required. This would match what St. 17 Paul is doing. He is not comfortable with anything non-residential. He would be comfortable with 18 EV-ready. This would provide a spot to plug in rather than installing a charger. 19 20 Commissioner Corneille suggested an option for new construction, as the cost of retrofitting existing 21 construction would be high. 22 23 Chair Socha asked if all commissioners would be in favor of adding new construction single-family 24 homes. Commissioner Erickson stated that it would be an incentive for a buyer to purchase the 25 property. 26 27 Commissioner Mayne stated this would apply to all new residential construction. Mr. Grittman asked 28 if a new parking lot is being built; would that be considered new construction? If a new parking lot 29 were built, it would be a new construction. Commissioner Corneille stated they want to constrain this 30 just to ground -up builds. He asked how that could be defined. Construction requires a new 31 foundation. Mr. Grittman stated it will take some time to come up with a definition for this. 32 33 Commissioner Corneille stated the City does not understand the electrical capabilities of existing 34 buildings. Economic hardship is not considered for variances. Commissioner Mayne stated it would 35 be no more of a burden than neighboring communities require. 36 37 Chair Socha stated her biggest reservation is requiring it for reconstructions. It could affect businesses 38 from wanting to be in St. Anthony. She likes to make informed decisions, and we don't know what 39 the State is doing or what the community thinks about it. She suggests going forward with this by 40 limiting it to new construction. 41 42 Commissioner Corneille stated the Diamond Eight has 144 units with one surface lot space allocated 43 per unit. Under the proposed ordinance, a substantial amount of electricity would need to be brought 44 in. 45