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Council hears draft code changes on undersized lots, variance rules and data centers
Summary
Staff presented draft amendments to chapters 30 and 32 clarifying 'existing lots of record' requirements, raising buildable-area minimums (1 acre platted, 2.5 acres unplatted), aligning variance criteria with state 'practical difficulties' standard, and adding a prohibition on data centers due to limited municipal utilities.
Jennifer, planning staff, reviewed proposed amendments to the subdivision (chapter 30) and zoning (chapter 32) codes. She said the draft seeks to align conveyance language, reaffirm a historical cutoff date (04/21/1961) for recognizing lots of record, and set a 1-acre minimum of buildable area for platted lots. For unplatted lots created by 'meets and bounds,' staff proposed a 2.5-acre minimum to avoid the variance process.
Jennifer also outlined changes to variance criteria to match the state statute (2009 shift from 'hardship' to 'practical difficulties') and said the ordinance language draws from the League of Minnesota Cities template; she further proposed adding a data-center definition to the use table and listing data centers as not permitted citywide because the city lacks municipal utility capacity. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers; council deferred a final vote to a future meeting after additional review and public input.
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