Neighbor News
Proposed Legislation Requires Higher Density than St. Paul Ordinance
Bills were introduced before the legislature on Monday that would create higher density requirements for all large cities in Minnesota.
A bill was introduced before the legislature on Monday that would increase density requirements beyond those that were imposed by the St. Paul City Council last fall. The new law would require first class cities to allow up to ten units per lot. In contrast, the St. Paul ordinance allows up to six units per lot. Smaller cities would have increased density requirements as well, but the highest density requirements would apply to first class cities.
The bill differentiates between lots that are located within half a mile of a major transit stop and those that are located further away from transit. Cities would be required to permit development of up to ten units per lot in the former category if all of the units were energy efficient and powered exclusively by electricity, and if two of the units were affordable. If these same criteria were met for lots located more than half a mile from a major transit stop cities would be compelled to allow up to eight units per lot.
In addition to the density requirements, the bill would also prohibit cities from imposing aesthetic requirements on new development. Cities would not be permitted to require a certain material be used for aesthetic reasons or to require design elements such as gables and pitched roofs.
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Authors of the senate version of the bill, SF 3964, include Senator Nicole Mitchell, D-Woodbury; Senator Lindsey Port, D-Burnsville; Senator Omar Fateh, D-Minneapolis; Senator Susan Pha, D-Brooklyn Park; and Senator Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake. A similar companion bill, HF 4009, has been introduced in the house and has 21 authors representing both parties.
Correction: The article originally stated that the bill requires cities with a population of over 100,000 to allow up to ten units per lot. Under Minnesota law first class cities are defined as those with a population over 100,000, or those that once had a population over 100,000. This includes Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth. In addition, the original article omitted the fact that smaller cities have increased density requirements as well that are less than those required for first class cities.
