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Planning commission recommends zoning text amendments, including new path for multifamily in MU2
Summary
Staff presented proposed zoning ordinance text amendments to residential definitions and mixed-use districts; the commission voted to recommend the ordinances to the City Council, including a change to allow multiple-family residential in MU2 subject to approval through a Planned Unit Development (PUD).
Ken, a city planning staff member, presented proposed amendments to North St. Paul’s zoning ordinance and asked the planning commission to recommend the changes to the City Council. He told commissioners the packet reflects edits requested at the Oct. 2 meeting and summarized two main elements: updates to residential definitions and clarifications and goal language for mixed-use districts.
The staff presentation also proposed renaming “corridor highway” mixed-use districts to a corridor mixed-use label and clarifying the MU3 purpose to “provide more flexibility in the redevelopment of existing commercial centers and the development of vacant sites.” On MU2, Ken said the draft would allow multiple-family residential development not as a by-right use but as a potential use requiring city approval through a Planned Unit Development (PUD): “it opens up potentially more zoned property in the MU2 to have multiple family developments subject to getting approved by the PUD,” he said.
Commissioners discussed whether the changes align with the comprehensive plan and asked procedural questions; staff said references to other chapters of the state building code had been removed following commission comment and that the ordinance in the packet incorporated all requested edits. A commissioner also raised whether the zoning code should incorporate short-term loading or delivery pickup/drop-off requirements for larger multifamily projects because of growing delivery traffic; Ken agreed municipalities can add loading zones or require accommodations in building design.
After discussion the commission moved to recommend the ordinances to the City Council. Commissioner Rathy moved the recommendation and Commissioner Alvarez seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded nays. The commission’s vote is a recommendation to the council; any ordinance adoption would occur at a future City Council meeting.
What happens next: the planning commission forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to consider adopting the proposed ordinance changes. The staff report and revised ordinance language remain in the record and will be provided to council as part of the review package.
