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Fergus Falls planning commission opens review of city code on standalone residential garages
Summary
The Planning Commission began a staff-led review at the city’s request into whether single, standalone garages can be permitted on residential lots without an associated primary dwelling, and voted to create a subcommittee to draft proposed zoning language and outreach steps.
The Fergus Falls Planning Commission on an item referred by the City Council opened a review of city zoning rules that currently prevent standalone garages on single residential lots and voted to form a subcommittee to draft proposed language.
City planner Clara Beck told commissioners the referral began after a constituent told Council Member Layton his family had purchased a vacant lot where they wished to build a garage for storage and workshop use but were told the city’s code requires a primary residential use. "The way that I worded it is that we are reviewing code to see if there is a solution to allow stand alone garages or not," Beck said, summarizing the matter for the commission.
Why it matters: commissioners said the change could encourage investment in underused or blighted parcels but could also reduce land available for future housing. Commissioners discussed three principal approaches — leave code unchanged (require a primary use), add a conditional use permit (CUP) pathway, or create a new zoning district or overlay that allows residential storage garages under defined standards — and debated trade-offs for administration, neighborhood notice, and housing supply.
Discussion highlights and options considered included using a conditional use permit process as a quicker, case-by-case option; creating a new residential-storage zoning district or overlay (an example from Watertown, South Dakota, was presented); and holding community outreach such as a survey or open house. Commissioners raised process concerns including Minnesota statutory limits on spot zoning and whether requirements for utilities, lot coverage, or minimum lot sizes should apply. Beck noted Watertown had initially required neighbor signatures but later removed that requirement. The Watertown example's dimensional guidance cited in commission discussion included a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot area, 100-foot width, 40-foot front yard, 10-foot side yards, 15-foot rear yard and a maximum height of 24 feet, which commissioners referenced as a possible template to adapt locally.
Action taken: the commission voted to establish a subcommittee to draft proposed zoning language (district or overlay) and an outreach plan to present to the full commission and, if appropriate, forward to City Council. The commission recorded the passage by voice vote (ayes). The motion to form the subcommittee was offered and seconded; no formal roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: staff and the subcommittee will draft proposed ordinance language, define clear parameters for permitted uses (for example: personal storage or workshop only, no commercial use, limits on height and lot coverage), and recommend an outreach approach for public feedback before a formal planning-commission public hearing and potential referral to City Council.
Ending: Commissioners agreed further research and a drafted proposal are appropriate before any zoning changes; the subcommittee will prepare language and outreach materials for subsequent commission review.
