Council advances Nations neighborhood rezoning and UDO on second reading after large, contested public hearing

Summary

After hours of public testimony from residents, neighborhood association leaders, business owners and developers, the council approved on second reading Roland Horton’s Nations neighborhood rezoning package and accompanying UDO as substituted. The bills passed second reading 26–7–4 after a substitute and promises of further amendments on third.

The Metropolitan Council advanced a comprehensive rezoning and unified development ordinance (UDO) for the Nations neighborhood on second reading after a lengthy public hearing that drew hundreds of supporters and opponents and more than two dozen speakers.

The package includes three companion bills (BL2025-830, BL2025-831 and BL2025-832) that would apply a new overlay/UDO across roughly 329.32 acres of the Nations and change base zoning in many areas to accommodate missing-middle housing types, tree and stormwater requirements, and design standards the sponsor says will preserve neighborhood character while expanding housing choices.

Sponsor Councilmember Roland Horton described the effort as the result of nearly two years of community meetings and revisions. In remarks on the council floor, Horton said the plan adds required open-space and impervious-surface standards, triples tree-density requirements, and introduces height and design standards intended to limit so-called "tall-and-skinny" houses while allowing more small-scale multifamily and…

Council advances Nations neighborhood rezoning and UDO on second reading after large, contested public hearing

Summary

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