Bloomington council directs narrower airport-parking rules, delays final decision on long‑standing lots

Bloomington’s City Council on Monday directed staff to return with an ordinance that separates hotel airport parking, new remote parking in existing structures, and the two large longstanding surface operators — rather than immediately imposing a broad permanent prohibition or making the lots permitted by right. The action follows a year of study and public testimony about airport-related parking near the Mall of America and Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, and a months‑long moratorium set to expire in October. The council’s direction asks staff to: make hotel airport parking a permitted accessory use where it already occurs; allow new remote airport parking in existing structures and other proposed facilities only after a conditional‑use review; and provide a pathway for the two long‑standing remote surface operators in the HXR zoning district to seek an interim‑use permit that would expire no later than 2027. The move is a compromise between planners’ recommendation — which proposed a three‑acre set‑aside on the surface lots and definitive timelines for retrofit and redevelopment — and property owners who said longstanding interim operations predate current plans and zoning. Planning staff and the planning commission had recommended stronger redevelopment incentives, including a requirement that operators reserve roughly three acres for future development and a performance standard timetable; several council members said those requirements risked discouraging any future investment. Planning manager Mike Centenario reviewed the study process and options, telling the council the city sought to balance the comprehensive plan and South District plan’s redevelopment goals with the realities of existing, profitable parking operations. Mall of America counsel Megan Rogers said the mall supports a tailored approach that would allow reuse of excess spaces inside existing ramps. Developer representative Bill Griffith stressed the family ownership history of surface parking in the quadrant and urged a final, full resolution rather than repeated temporary approvals, saying, “We don’t want to kick the can down the road for another two years.” Council debate focused on enforceability, the history of interim permits under state law, and whether performance standards (landscaping, lighting, stormwater retrofits) would incentivize or discourage redevelopment. Staff advised the moratorium will expire in October and that any interim‑use applications would need a pathway to be accepted after the moratorium is lifted. The council had earlier rejected, 2–4, a motion to make the two existing remote surface parking operations permitted by right; instead the majority later approved staff direction to return with the split approach and time‑limited IUP option (final vote on the returning‑ordinance motion: 4–2). The council stipulated that staff return with draft ordinance language for council consideration and to coordinate timing so the moratorium removal and any new code language align with council review. Councilmembers said they want a firm timeline and more community engagement before any permanent change to the two large surface operators’ status; staff said they will return with drafted code language and an implementation schedule. The City Attorney and planning staff will draft code changes reflecting council direction and present them at a future meeting for formal adoption.