Zoning board denies variance to allow curb cut at Wilshire Place property near Waite Park

The Minneapolis Zoning Board of Adjustment on Sept. 4, 2025, denied a variance request that would have allowed a curb cut from Wilshire Place for a proposed single-family dwelling, voting to adopt staff findings recommending denial by a 3-1 margin. Matt Perry, chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, presided over the hearing and called for the vote after public testimony and board discussion.

Staff told the board the property is an undeveloped interior lot of about 8,351 square feet served by an alley and that the zoning code generally prohibits curb cuts where alley access exists. "Staff finds that the proposal does not meet the required findings for approval and recommends denial of the variance request to allow curb cut where the property has access from an alley," Nicholas, city staff, told the board during his presentation. He described a vertical change of roughly 7 feet over the…