The Richfield City Council approved on first reading Aug. 26 a package of zoning ordinance amendments aimed at facilitating small-scale multifamily development in MR2 and MR3 districts, an effort the city said is intended to support “missing middle” housing such as triplexes, quadplexes and small apartment buildings.

Council members said the updates—drafted after an eight-month process with city planning staff and consultant TC2—are designed to align zoning with the city’s 2040 comprehensive plan, streamline review and approval for smaller projects, and test real-world feasibility on standard parcel sizes. The package includes seven related ordinances; council members amended the draft to keep a proposed change to central air-conditioner side-yard placement from becoming easier to permit.

Under the amendments advanced on first reading, certain multifamily projects that meet code could be approved administratively rather than by public hearings: staff cited thresholds of roughly 16 units in MR2 and 13 units in MR3 for administrative review (the ordinance text specifies unit thresholds). Staff also proposed changes to EV-charging requirements, making them apply to number of parking stalls rather than number of units, and to increase the allowable percentage of metal panel exterior cladding from 20% to 40% to provide design flexibility.

Council members debated public-notice and public-participation implications of administrative approvals. Council Member Burke objected to a process where neighbors would only get notice after staff decision, saying residents should have an opportunity to comment before approval on projects that may be visible from their properties. Planning staff and the community development director explained that because these uses would be permitted if they meet code, the city’s “pyramid of discretion” provides greater policy influence at the ordinance-setting stage; once permitted, staff cannot legally deny an application that conforms to code. Staff said notice would be provided to property owners within roughly 300–350 feet, but the notice would follow staff approval rather than precede it.

Council amended one proposal concerning the placement of central air-conditioning units: members voted to retain the existing requirement (keeping the 5-foot side-yard guidance and requiring a variance process for closer placement), and to leave other changes in place. The first-reading vote on the zoning package, as amended, passed 4–1 and will return for a second reading.

The council also discussed a targeted downtown-area map of parking reductions (the “expanded 66th and Lyndale area”) and clarified that parking reductions would apply to properties within that area; building-height rules follow each property’s zoning. Planning staff said neighborhood meetings are required for rezoning, PUDs and comprehensive plan amendments, and are encouraged for larger mixed-use projects, but are not required for by-right building plans that meet code.

Council members praised the thorough staff process while weighing trade-offs between speeding construction of smaller multifamily buildings and ensuring neighbors have notice and opportunity to comment.

Background: staff and consultant TC2 began work in August 2024 and presented the amendments after testing designs on typical parcels; the updates do not rezone any properties, the staff report said.