03-23 CC Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
City Council Work Session
March 23, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Regan Gonzalez at 6:00 p.m. virtually via
WebEx.
Council Members Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Ben Whalen; Mary Supple; Simon
Present: Trautmann; and Sean Hayford Oleary
Planning Commission Jim Rudolph; Brendan Kennealy; Brett Stursa; and Kathryn Quam.
Present:
Planning Commission Bryan Pynn; Susan Rosenberg; and Peter Lavin
Absent:
Staff Present: Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant City Manager; John Stark, Community Development
Director; Melissa Poehlman, Assistant Community Development Director; Ryan
Krzos, Planner; Blanca Martinez Gavina, Executive Analyst; and Kelly Wynn,
Senior Office Assistant.
Item #1 DISCUSS POSSIBLE CHANGES TO SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
TO BRING THE ZONING CODE INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE 2040
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
Assistant Director Poehlman gave an overview of the item and presented on the following:
Background;
R District-Single Family Home Regulations; and
R District-Two Family Home Regulations.
Planner Krzos presented on the following:
Macro trends;
Multi-family trends;
Missing middle housing;
Duplex locations; and
Direction the city would like to go.
Assistant Director Poehlman reviewed the next steps and ideas.
Council Member Hayford Oleary thanked staff for the presentation and supports fixing the lot
size and duplex allowance.
Council Member Whalen expressed appreciation for duplexes as a housing option along with
townhomes and stated it should be an option for every lot.
Council Work Session Minutes -2-March 23, 2021
Commissioner Kennealy asked if duplexes were allowed for any lot and if there was a limit
how many go within a certain area.
Assistant Director Poehlman stated staff could look into a possible threshold.
Commissioner Quam supports beginning with corner lots designated for duplexes, removing
CUP regulations and revisiting the data in a year or two.
Commissioner Rudolph asked about current height restrictions in regards to duplexes.
Assistant Director Poehlman stated staff will explore the restrictions but does not see a current
reason for them to be adjusted.
Commissioner Stursa expressed support for more housing options and would like to see it
opened up to every lot.
Council Member Supple stated she would like to see more opportunities for housing and likes
the idea of filling in the missing middle concept.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez expressed her support to staff recommendations, removing CUP and
adjusting lot sizes. She also stated she would like to have a bigger discussion on corner lots and
busier streets as designated areas for duplexes.
Council Member Hayford Oleary asked for clarification on the density of lot sizes.
Assistant Director Poehlman explained staff could look into individual lot size versus block by
block and will come back with proposals to determine a denominator.
Council Member Hayford Oleary explained he would like to see more options in assisting
resident in getting into homes but not necessarily on busy roads.
Council Member Whalen expressed support for duplexes as it offers a dignified housing option
for people with disabilities and allows them independence.
Assistant Director Poehlman reviewed comments from Council and the Planning Commission
and supplied some next steps to move forward.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:38 p.m.
Date Approved: April 13, 2021
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
Kelly Wynn Katie Rodriguez
Senior Office Assistant City Manager