River Falls council approves broad zoning package aimed at housing flexibility; driveway-width item tabled
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Summary
On Feb. 24 the River Falls City Council approved multiple Title 17 zoning amendments addressing accessory dwelling units, multifamily standards, parking and shade-structure rules after second readings; the driveway-width ordinance was tabled to allow further planning commission review.
River Falls — The City Council on Feb. 24 approved a package of zoning amendments intended to implement parts of the city’s comprehensive plan, voting to adopt ordinances that revise rules on accessory dwelling units, multifamily spatial standards, parking requirements and shade structures while tabling a driveway-width proposal for further study.
Council members voted to adopt ordinance 20-26-01, which updates the city’s rules on accessory dwelling units, after a motion and second. A council member who supported the changes said the amendments “are needed to help meet these goals for our community,” citing the comprehensive plan’s emphasis on efficient infrastructure, housing diversity and affordability. Administrator Scott Simpson told the council the comprehensive plan was approved in March 2023 and staff and consultants began implementing the items in April 2023, with the proposed zoning amendments progressing through staff and commissions before reaching second reading.
Not all members supported the package. One council member said they would vote no on the ADU changes and the other Chapter 17 items, arguing the changes would “change the character and image of our city” and should return to the planning commission for reevaluation. Another council member urged consideration of housing costs and inclusion, saying the amendments primarily codify standards that have been discussed and reviewed by the planning commission.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 20-26-01 (Accessory dwelling units): Approved on second reading. - Ordinance 20-26-02 (Multifamily spatial standards, amenities and open space): Approved on second reading. - Ordinance 20-26-03 (Code clarifications): Approved on second reading. - Ordinance 20-26-04 (Driveway width): Tabled; referred back to planning commission for further review and re-noticed when returned. - Ordinance 20-26-05 (Single-family, multifamily and industrial parking standards): Approved on second reading. - Ordinance 20-26-06 (Shade structures): Approved on second reading.
The council took the measures as part of an effort to align zoning with the city’s March 2023 comprehensive plan, staff said. Supporters framed the package as a way to diversify housing types and reduce barriers to affordability, while critics said some proposed changes would alter long-held neighborhood character and deserved additional public forums.
The ordinances that passed will become effective according to the city’s established timelines for codification; the driveway-width item will return for further planning commission discussion and later a new council hearing. The council also held first readings on several other zoning-related ordinances and a separate first-reading rezoning request for property at the southwest corner of St. Croix and Summit Street.
