09-09 Bill No 2025-13City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-13
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Motion by: Burk
Seconded by: Hayford Oleary
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE RICHFIELD ZONING CODE
(APPENDIX B OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE)
TO MODIFY “ADMINISTRATION”, SECTION 547,
TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS ASSOCIATED
WITH CHANGES RELATED TO THE MR-2/MR-3 CODE UPATES
THE CITY OF RICHFIELD DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1 Subsection 547.11 “Variances” is amended at to read as follows:
547.11. – Variances.
Subdivision 1. Limitations. The following limitations apply to variances:
a)A variance may be granted from the literal provisions of this Code only
when all of the following criteria are found to exist:
i.The applicant establishes that there are practical difficulties
in complying with the official control. "Practical difficulties,"
as used in connection with the granting of a variance,
means that the property owner proposes to use the
property in a reasonable manner not permitted by an
official control. Economic considerations alone do not
constitute practical difficulties. Practical difficulties include,
but are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight
for solar energy systems;
ii.Unusual or unique circumstances apply to the property
which do not apply generally to other properties in the
same zone or vicinity, and such circumstances were not
created by any persons presently having an interest in the
property;
iii.The variance, if granted, would not alter the character of
the neighborhood. The completed project would not impair
an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent properties,
or substantially increase the congestion of public streets,
or increase the danger of fire, or endanger the public
safety, or substantially diminish property values, or have a
detrimental or injurious impact on surrounding properties;
and
iv.The variance requested is the minimum variance that
would alleviate the practical difficulty.
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-13
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v. The variance requested will not alter the essential
character of the locality.
vi. The variance requested is in harmony with the general
purpose and intent of the ordinance and consistent with
the comprehensive plan.
b) Variances may not be granted for uses that are not allowed in the
zoning district where the subject property is located.
c) Conditions may be imposed in the granting of variances. Such
conditions must be directly related to and must bear a rough
proportionality to the impact created by the variances.
d) The Director may administratively approve a deviation of up to ten
percent (10%) from any dimensional standard without requiring a
variance, provided that:
i. The deviation arises from a unique or practical difficulty that
prevents full compliance with the standard;
ii. The deviation does not compromise the intent or purpose of
the zoning regulation, and is found to be in harmony with the
criteria listed above.
(Amended Bill No. 2025-13).
Section 2 Subsection 547.13 “Site Plan Approval” is revised at the following subdivisions to
read as follows; all other subdivisions to remain unchanged:
547.13. – Site plan approval.
Subdivision 1: unchanged
Subd. 2. Approval required. It shall be unlawful to do any of the following without
first obtaining site plan approval:
a) Construct a building;
b) Move a building to any lot within the City;
c) Expand or change the use of a building or lot or modify a building, accessory
structure, or site or land feature (See Subd.11 for amendments to previously
approved plans); and (Amended, Bill No. 2011-17)
d) Take actions to prepare a lot for development, including grading or removing
or adding soils to a site, except in conformance with a permit or an approved plan
which complies with the City's comprehensive surface water management plan or
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-13
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has received a variance from the appropriate water management organization as
necessary. (Amended, Bill No. 1998-2)
Subd. 3. Administrative site plan approval. Administrative approval of a site plan
may be granted by the Director for certain uses listed in this code, subject to the
following:
a)The application requirements (Subd. 4), general criteria and standards
(Subd. 8), and the terms of approval (Subd. 9) shall all apply. The
Director may impose conditions upon the approval to promote the intent
of the code or to bring nonconforming site improvements into
conformance according to Subsection 509.25 of the code.
b)Neighbor notifications for residential projects. Upon receipt of a complete
application, the city shall provide written notice by post mail to all property
owners and tenants either adjacent to the project site, or would be
adjacent except for right-of-way. The written notice shall include a brief
description of the proposed project, the name and contact information of
the applicant, the project site address, and a City contact number for
questions.
(Repealed, Bill No. 2011-17, Replaced Bill No. 2025-13).
Section 3 This ordinance is effective in accordance with Section 3.09 of the Richfield City
Charter.
VOTING AYE VOTING NAY
Supple, Mary Supple, Mary
Burk, Walter Burk, Walter
Christensen, Sharon Christensen, Sharon
Coleman-Woods, Rori Coleman-Woods, Rori
Hayford Oleary, Sean Hayford Oleary, Sean
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota, this 9th day of September, 2025.
____________________
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 12338
RESOLUTION APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION
OF SEVEN ORDINANCES MODIFYING THE MUNICIPAL CODE
IN RELATION TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
(MR-2 AND MR-3 DISTRICT CODE UPDATES)
WHEREAS, the City has adopted the above-referenced amendments of the
Richfield City Code; and
WHEREAS, the verbatim text of all seven amendments is cumbersome, and the
expense of publication of the complete text is not justified.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Richfield
that the following summary is hereby approved for official publication:
SUMMARY PUBLICATION
BILLS NO. 2025-08, 2025-09, 2025-10, 2025-11, 2025-12, 2025-13, AND 2025-14
SEVEN ORDINANCES AMENDING THE RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
This summary is published pursuant to Section 3.12 of the Richfield City Charter.
1. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13, “TRAFFIC, MOTOR VEHICLES,
AND OTHER VEHICLES” TO REPEAL RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS
THE REST OF THE ORDINANCES AMEND THE RICHFIELD ZONING CODE
(APPENDIX B OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE):
2. SECTION 507, “DEFINITIONS”, AND SECTION 509, “GENERAL PROVISIONS”
3. SECTION 525, “MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (MR-2)” ZONING DISTRICT,
4. SECTION 527, “HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (MR-3)” ZONING DISTRICT,
5. SUBSECTION 541.25, “VETERANS PARK AREA (VPA) OVERLAY DISTRICT”,
6. SECTION 544, “GENERAL BUILDING AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS”,
7. SECTION 547, “ADMINISTRATION”, TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROVALS
The changes modernize the development standards for multifamily housing and facilitate
in-fill development on MR-2 and MR-3 zoned properties. Changes are extensive, but
generally described include bulk and dimensional requirements such as building heights
and setbacks, changes to allow administrative review and approval for smaller projects,
and reduced parking in targeted transit and pedestrian -friendly areas.
Copies of the ordinances are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office during
normal business hours or upon request by calling the Department of Community
Development at (612) 861-9776.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 9th day of
September, 2025.
Mary B. Supple, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Friedrich, City Clerk