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Lindstrom council deadlocks over how to measure building height for lakeside lots
Summary
Council members split over a zoning code amendment that would define 'mean ground level' for building height measurements on sloped lakeside lots; a motion to limit all sides to 35 feet failed 2‑2 and the issue was tabled for clearer draft language and a full council meeting.
The Lindstrom City Council failed to change how building height is measured for lots that slope down to the lake after a 2‑2 tie on a motion to preserve a strict 35‑foot limit from any side.
Planner Jason (speaker 12) told the council the planning commission recommended an amendment to add a definition of "mean ground level" so measurements account for slope; the commission chose "option B" in its recommendation. Jason said the existing code requires a 35‑foot maximum but does not specify where that is measured from, leaving room for inconsistent staff interpretation.
Council member (speaker 3) moved to override the planning commission recommendation and codify that no side of a building be allowed to exceed 35 feet. "I don't want any side to be more than 35 feet," the council member said, arguing that allowing lakeside measurements to rise above the street standard would permit four‑story lakefront homes that are out of scale with single‑family neighborhoods.
Others pushed back that the proposed definition attempts to provide certainty about measurement and to avoid unpredictable interpretations by staff. Jason explained the proposal measures from the lower of the street elevation or a point 10 feet above the lowest point, and that the measure would produce different visual results from the street versus the lakeside depending on topography.
On roll call the motion produced two votes in favor and two opposed, so it failed. Council then asked staff to draft clear, codified language reflecting council direction and moved unanimously to table the item for the September meeting so a full council could review revised language.
Why it matters: the change affects how tall homes may appear from lakeside views and could alter development opportunities on riparian lots in Lindstrom. Council members who favored a strict 35‑foot measurement said their goal was to preserve neighborhood scale; those who favored a clarified definition said the code needs certainty to avoid inconsistent permitting.
The council provided staff direction on specific drafting approaches, including averaging lower elevations and treating certain multi‑street lots consistently. The item was tabled to allow staff time to produce revised ordinance language and to seek full council consideration at a later meeting.
