HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/10/19 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - Planning Commission - Study Session Planning commission study session
October 19, 2022
6:00 p.m.
If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call Sean Walther at 952.924.2574 or the
administration department at 952.924.2525.
Planning commission
The St. Louis Park Planning Commission is meeting in person at St. Louis Park City Hall, 5005
Minnetonka Blvd. in accordance with the most recent COVID-19 guidelines.
V isit bit.ly/slppcagendas to view the agenda and reports.
Agenda
St. Louis Park City Hall – Community Room
1.Update on zoning code audit
Future scheduled meeting/event dates:
November 2, 2022 – planning commission regular meeting
November 16, 2022 – planning commission regular meeting
December 7, 2022 – planning commission regular meeting
December 28, 2022 – planning commission regular meeting
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Planning commission: Study session
Meeting date: October 19, 2022
Agenda item: 1
1 Update on zoning code audit
Recommended Action: No action at this time. Provide feedback to staff and consultants on the
Zoning Code Audit findings thus far.
Background: HKGi has been collaborating with city staff on a zoning code audit. The code
audit was initiated by a staff workshop that identified the city’s needs for some zoning code
updates, including reducing zoning code barriers to the development of a broader range of
housing types in residential zoning districts, creating a new transit-oriented development (TOD)
district, improving the zoning code’s structure/organization to improve usability of the code,
evaluating and refining the city’s form-based code completed for light rail transit (LRT) station
areas but not adopted for potential implementation, and potential rezoning of LRT station
areas and other focus areas.
As a result of the workshop, it was determined that a two-part zoning code audit should be
completed to identify current zoning code issues, opportunities for improvements, and
priorities for code updates. The two primary elements of the zoning code audit are:
•Overall zoning code structure and usability
•The zoning code’s barriers to allowing a broad range of housing types
At the October 12th Planning Commission meeting, HKGi provided a presentation on the first
element of the audit regarding the zoning code’s structure and a review of alternative zoning
code approaches. At the October 19th meeting, HKGI will present the second element of the
audit regarding potential housing types barriers in the zoning code. The purpose of these two
meetings is to share information with the planning commission about the code audit and invite
planning commissioners’ questions and input. We will be presenting findings related to
potential housing types barriers rather than recommendations. The planning commissioners’
input will be incorporated into the code audit’s final summary of findings and priorities. The
zoning code audit’s findings and priorities will be used as a tool for the staff, planning
commission, and city council to prioritize future updates to the zoning code.
Overview of October 19th meeting presentation - housing types barriers audit
This element of the code audit will dive into how housing types are regulated in the current
zoning code. The primary purpose of this audit is to identify zoning code barriers to
development of a wider range of housing types. The analysis includes identifying opportunities
to enable Missing Middle Housing types, which includes medium density housing types
between single-family housing and apartment buildings. In addition, the audit considers the
potential for reducing/consolidating residential districts, the current zoning map and potential
rezoning, simplification of confusing and complex development standards and processes.
Experience with and review of precedents from other cities’ zoning approaches related to
housing will be part of the discussion. Additional background information will be provided in
advance of the October 19th meeting. This presentation will include the following:
•Identification of key housing types barriers
•What is meant by a broad range of housing types?
•2040 comprehensive plan vision and goals 3
Study session of October 19, 2022 (Item No. 1)
Title: Update on zoning code audit
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•Analysis of housing types allowed today
•Analysis of districts allowing housing development
•St. Louis Park historical zoning context
•Housing types barriers audit findings
Next steps: Based on the discussion and input at this meeting, staff will determine when a
follow -up meeting with the planning commission is needed. The planning commission’s input
from both meetings will b e incorporated into the zoning code audit summary report.
Prepared by: Jeff Miller, HKGi
Reviewed by: Sean Walther, planning manager/deputy community development director
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