A new residential neighborhood will emerge on St. Paul’s Highland Park river bluff over the course of the next 20 years, and its map was laid Wednesday evening.

After a lengthy public hearing, the St. Paul City Council voted 5-2 to approve a sweeping master plan and zoning layout for the 135-acre site that was once home to Ford Motor Co.’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant on Ford Parkway.

The documents, a decade in the making, have drawn both tough opposition and strong support from residents throughout Highland Park and the city. The city plans envision up to 4,000 new housing units, 20 percent of which will be designated affordable housing, as well as office and commercial structures.

Council member Chris Tolbert, who represents Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland, said he grew up playing baseball on the Ford site ball fields and visited redevelopment sites across the country for perspective.

He noted that Ford is cleaning the land to residential standards under the supervision of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which has said it has no concerns about groundwater within the redevelopment area.

“This plan presents a great opportunity, and it’s exciting,” Tolbert said. “As someone who grew up in this neighborhood, and someone who drives in this neighborhood, and who grew up playing on the Mississippi River … I welcome the opportunity to add currently missing housing options, so families can downsize, and stay in the neighborhood.” Related Articles After man sentenced to 40 years in St. Paul murder, courthouse locked down and shots fired nearby

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Council members Dai Thao and Jane Prince voted against the zoning and public realm plan, calling the housing density too intense and neighbors too divided.

“I think it goes against the principle of government for the people and by the people,” said Thao, who had tried without success to get the council to agree to a health assessment and other studies. “The people weren’t heard. … The real winner out of this is the developer.”

Council member Rebecca Noecker praised the work of city staff, calling the plan “really balanced and appropriate.”

“I actually disagree, council member Thao,” Noecker said. “I think this plan and this process represents the best of government. … We have to make hard choices.”

Earlier, Thao persuaded the council to designate that half the future affordable housing be reserved for the very poor, or residents earning no more than 30 percent of area median income, which is currently $27,100 for a family of four.

Council president Russ Stark noted that the medium- to high-density development will include new amenities, such as storefronts within walking distance of housing.

“The folks who have concerns about the density are under-appreciating the benefit of some of the new things coming in,” Stark said.

Council member Amy Brendmoen, who chairs the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, noted that Ford has not yet chosen a master developer for the site, and years of studies, planning and public review are still ahead.

“We’ve read your tweets, we’ve read your Facebook posts,” said Brendmoen, assuring critics that no development is imminent. “We’re not talking about projects or structures. … It’s a zoning plan. … Your voices have been heard, and we want to continue to hear them.”

Prince said she remains troubled by pollution in “Area C,” a 22-acre dump site that is not within the developable area of the Ford plan but sits below the river bluff adjacent to it.

Prince also raised concern about the unknown fate of the ball fields, the degree of green space and river connections.

“There’s a half a dozen task force recommendations that are not supported in the final plan,” Prince said.

Council member Dan Bostrom praised Tolbert for his years of dedication to the process.

“The work has been done,” Bostrom said. “It’s time to move forward. Not everyone is going to agree.”