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River Heights council adopts code amendments to give planning staff more review time
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 1‑2025 to update multiple planning-related city code sections, extending some review cycles and clarifying land-use definitions and review authority.
River Heights City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 1‑2025 on March 18, 2025, adopting a set of planning-code amendments recommended by the planning commission. The changes adjust review timelines and clarify language on permitted uses.
The ordinance updates include replacing the term "day care" with "preschool" in relevant sections, removing day-care restrictions that would have required additional outdoor fence and space requirements for the old school parcel, adding the planning commission chair to the development review committee (DRC) membership, and extending certain review cycles (for some items from 20 to 40 days and others from 15 to 30 days) to give staff and applicants more time for review and response.
Council member Mark Malmstrom reviewed the revisions and said the planning commission considered the underlined draft language before forwarding it to council. Malmstrom moved to approve the ordinance: "I will make a motion that we approve the code changes," he said. Councilmember comments included a request to ensure written numbers in the ordinance match numeric changes (for example changing "20" to "40" where appropriate).
Supporters said extending review cycles is intended to help small cities with limited staff capacity comply with state requirements and avoid rushed decision-making. Planning commissioners also noted the changes clarify references for street improvements, private lanes and minor subdivisions and make administrative procedures more consistent.
The motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. The council directed staff to correct any remaining written-number inconsistencies in the ordinance text before finalization.
