Unanimous Approval Of City Council
Source Star Tribune Jan. 20th, 2022-
The St. Paul City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a set of zoning code changes that will make it easier for residents to build tiny homes, accessory dwelling units, and cottage clusters.
The rule changes aim to allow more medium-density housing throughout the city, which officials say is facing a shortage of units to serve its growing population. The ordinance — which city staff described as a set of minor tweaks to streamline planning and remove barriers to building certain types of housing — paves the way for conversations about more significant zoning changes later this year.
“People have talked about ‘missing middle housing’ as being something that American cities could provide more of or support,” St. Paul Planning Director Luis Pereira said in a presentation to the council earlier this month. “We’re talking about the lower-density scale of that — duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, cottage or courtyard housing options. They typically are smaller in scale and … fit in well with pretty much all of our predominantly residential areas.”
Article Star Tribune St. Paul zoning changes pave the way for smaller homes, cottages clusters
City Of St. Paul City Council Jan. 19th, 2022
City Of St. Paul, Minnesota Rule Changes
Amending The Zoning Code As Recommended In Phase 1-4 Housing Study
Sponsor Amy Brendmoen
The Amendments Approved By The Council Include:
- The removal of a clause requiring homes in residential districts to be at least 22 feet wide.
- A change that will allow multiple principal residential buildings on one lot.
- The deletion of a 5,000-square-foot lot size requirement for accessory dwelling units. Another code tweak changes the maximum permitted size for an accessory dwelling unit from 800 square feet to 75% of the principal unit.
- The removal of a requirement that an accessory dwelling unit can only be built on a lot occupied by its owner.
1-4 Unit Housing Study Engagement Website
Starting next month, the city will host virtual engagement sessions for the public to hear about next steps and offer feedback. Those conversations, each of which will focus on a different sector of the city, will be held Feb. 1 and 10 and March 2 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Links to attend sessions will be posted the day they are held on the 1-4 Housing Study Engagement Study Website.
The second phase of St. Paul’s examination of its land-use rules will look at the possibility of allowing duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in more parts of the city. Nearly half of St. Paul’s land area is currently zoned to allow only single-family homes, according to the city.
1-4 Unit Housing Study
Saint Paul’s Zoning Code controls how much housing can be built in certain parts of the City. These requirements make it difficult to build enough new housing to fix Saint Paul’s current housing shortage. City Council Resolution 18-1204 and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan call for studying ways to allow more neighborhood-scale housing in all areas of the City.
The 1-4 Unit Housing Study has two phases. Phase 1 of the study focused on small housing, accessory dwelling units, and small parcels; these amendments were adopted by the City Council on January 19, 2022 in City Council Ordinance 22-1. Phase 2, the broader and more in-depth study, is in a technical analysis stage with input from housing, development, and financial experts; this will be followed by intentional public engagement around zoning and housing. This page will be updated with more details as they are available.