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River Heights council passes code amendments, defers senior‑PUD adoption
Summary
Council passed Ordinance 5‑2025 with edits to minor‑subdivision setbacks and refuse‑access wording, removed a pending SC‑PUD chart change from this ordinance to place it with the SC‑PUD adoption, and directed the Planning Commission and staff to clarify stormwater/utility easement setback language.
On Nov. 18 the River Heights City Council reviewed several proposed code amendments and approved Ordinance 5‑2025 with edits discussed at the meeting. Key changes included replacing a specific vendor reference ('Waste Management') with a neutral phrase ('the company contracted with the city to provide waste collection') in refuse‑access requirements, and clarifying how setbacks are measured in minor subdivisions—specifying measurement from either the development property line, the edge of a private lane, or lot‑specific easements as determined by the Design Review Committee (DRC), whichever is nearest to the proposed building footprint.
Councilors also discovered a typographical chapter reference that staff corrected and agreed to move an SC‑PUD land‑use chart change out of this code‑update ordinance and into the separate PUD adoption process once the PUD language is finalized. On the question of whether municipalities may require specific exterior materials in PUDs, the consultant noted the state land‑use handbook limits some municipal restrictions; the council directed legal review and Planning‑Commission consideration before finalizing any mandatory architectural standards.
A motion to adopt Ordinance 5‑2025 as edited carried by voice vote. The signs section and temporary/portable sign definitions were flagged for additional revision by the Planning Commission and will return for future council review.
