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Minnetonka staff outlines multi-step rewrite of zoning ordinance, schedules outreach
Summary
Planning staff told the commission the city is pursuing a broad rewrite of the zoning ordinance begun in 2025 with consultant ZoneCo; staff plans public education and summer outreach and aims to deliver a draft to council in October with potential completion by year-end.
Planning staff updated the Minnetonka Planning Commission on Feb. 19 on a multi-stage rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance, saying the effort grew from a 2024 diagnostic and community engagement and will proceed with additional drafts, public outreach, and planning commission review.
Miss Thomas told commissioners that City Council hired ZoneCo to do a diagnostic in 2024 and directed a broad rewrite the council initiated in February 2025. Staff and community work groups have met multiple times; staff received the first section of draft ordinance language in February 2026 and will bring those drafts back to work groups and the council for further review.
Why it matters: The rewrite aims to align the zoning code with Minnetonka's comprehensive plan goals (housing diversity, mixed-use development, resilience, clarity) and could change use, lot, and development standards across the city. Staff emphasized public engagement: educational videos, farmers market and Summerfest outreach, open houses and online materials.
Next steps and timeline: Staff plans a summer public-engagement campaign with videos explaining zoning basics, followed by broader outreach and work-group review. The staff target is to present a draft ordinance to council in October 2026, with planning commission review and public hearings to follow; staff said the timeline is flexible to ensure thorough review.
Context and process detail: Miss Thomas described two working groups (staff and community), technical reviews by the staff work group (impervious surface, tree protections, lot standards), and an outreach program to solicit visual-preference feedback and realistic trade-offs. Council direction may ask the planning commission to study specific topics as drafts advance.
