09-09 Bill No 2025-08City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-08
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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 SECTION 507 “PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS” AND
SECTION 509 “GENERAL PROVISIONS”
WITH CHANGES RELATED TO THE MR-2 & MR-3 ZONING CODE UPDPATES
THE CITY OF RICHFIELD DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1 Subsection 507.07 “Definitions” is revised at the following subdivisions to read as
follows; all other subdivisions to remain unchanged, except for being renumbered
accordingly:
Subd. 54 “Expanded 66th & Lyndale Area.” All parcels located on either side of
66th Street, between Rae Drive to the west and Stevens Avenue to the east; on
either side of Lyndale Avenue, between Highway 62 to the north and either 67th
Street W (along east side) or Lake Shore Drive (along west side) to the south;
and on either side of Nicollet Avenue, between 64th Street to the north and 67th
Street East/AHA Way to the south (as depicted on the “Residential Parking
Reduction Areas” map on file with the Community Development Department).
(Added Bill No. 2025-08).
Subd. 61. "Group housing Multi-building development." A housing development
located on a single lot that consists of two (2) or more buildings, each of which
contains three (3) or more dwelling units. (Amended Bill No. 2025-08).
Subd. 95. "Open space, Outdoor." Lawns and other natural areas and open
courtyards. Open space does not include driveways, parking areas or sidewalks.
(Repealed Bill No. 2025-08).
Subd. 96. "Open space, Usable." Specifically designated open space that is
easily accessible and intended to serve residents and/or employees as well as
visitors. This encompasses various types of open space for passive enjoyment
as well as active use and includes accessible green areas and hard-surfaced
urban plazas, linear pedestrian-oriented greenways, major pedestrian areas,
courtyards, pocket parks and outdoor recreation areas. Usable open space does
not include driveways, parking areas or required landscape setback areas,
unless these are specifically designed for resident, public or customer access
and use. (Amended Bill No. 2025-08).
Subd.142 “Transit Line, Frequently Operating” A bus service route having:
i.Weekday frequency of two (2) runs per hour between 7:00 a.m. and 6:30
p.m.;
ii.Regularly scheduled service weekdays after 6:30 p.m.; and
iii.Some Saturday, Sunday, and holiday service. (Relocated Bill No. 2025-08).
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-08
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Subd.143 “Transit Line, High Frequency.” A north-south bus service route on an
arterial roadway, having stops with a 15-mintue headway or less. (Added Bill No.
2025-08).
Section 2 Subsection 509.07 “Lot provisions” is amended at to read as follows:
509.07. - Lot provisions.
Subdivision 1. One building and use. Except in the case of planned unit
developments, group housing multi-building developments, and developments in
the Mixed-Use Districts, only one (1) principal building and use may be located
on a lot. This subdivision is not intended to prohibit similar types of uses from
occupying a multi-tenant building if all other requirements of this Code are met.
(Amended Bill No. 2025-08).
Subd. 2 thru 5: unchanged.
Section 3 Subsection 509.11 “Not encroachments” is amended at to read as follows:
509.11. - Not encroachments.
The following shall not be considered as encroachments on setback
requirements in all zoning districts:
a)Principal building cornices, canopies, eaves, gutters, and other similar
features, provided they project not more than 30 inches into a required
yard. In no event shall such features be closer than 24 inches from any lot
line;
b)Principal building chimneys, flues, vents, and other similar features,
provided they project not more than 24 inches into a required yard and
are no more than five (5) feet in width. In no event shall such features be
closer than 30 inches from any lot line;
c)Principal building window wells and bay windows, provided they project
not more than 36 inches into a required yard. In no event shall they be
closer than 24 inches from any lot line; (Amended, Bill No. 2011-13)
d)In required front yards, principal building entry vestibules that extend a
distance of six (6) feet or less, provided such vestibule is not more than
eight (8) feet in width or more than one (1) story in height;
e)In required front yards, principal building balconies that extend a distance
of four (4) feet or less, provided they are seven (7) feet or more above
grade at the front building line;
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-08
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Balconies attached to principal buildings may project up to four (4) feet
into required front yards and up to three (3) feet into required side and
rear yards, provided such side yards are not adjacent to properties guided
for low-density residential use. These projections are permitted only if the
balcony is located at least seven (7) feet above grade at the building line.
f)In front yards and street side yards, fire escapes attached to the principal
building that extend a distance of four (4) feet, six (6) inches or less;
g)In required front and rear yards, landings, steps, uncovered porches, and
other similar features attached to the principal building that extend a
distance of six (6) feet or less, provided such landing or uncovered porch
does not extend in elevation above the height of the ground floor level,
and in no case shall they be located more than 30 inches off the ground;
a railing enclosure no more than three (3) feet in height may be placed
around such landing or uncovered porch, unless prior approval for a
greater railing height is granted by the Director. In the MR-2 & MR-3
zoning districts, the feature may be covered.
h)In required side yards, uncovered porches attached to the principal
building that extend a distance of three (3) feet or less, provided they are
not more than 30 inches off the ground. In no event shall they be closer
than four (4) feet from any side lot line; and
i)In required side yards, principal building steps, stoops, handicap access
ramps, and other similar features that extend a distance of three (3) feet
or less. In no event shall they be closer than two (2) feet from a side lot
line.
Section 4 Subsection 512.05 “Permitted, Conditional, Accessory and Prohibited uses in
Residential Districts” is amended at to read as follows:
Land Use R R-1 MR-2 MR-3
Residential
Single-family detached dwellings P P N N
Two-family dwellings P N P N P N
Multifamily dwellings and multi-building developments
(minimum 3 units)
N N P/C P/C
Cluster home developments C N P/C N
City of Richfield September 9, 2025
County of Hennepin
State of Minnesota
BILL NO. 2025-08
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Section 5 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