12-03-2025 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA DECEMBER 3, 2025 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 3rd day of December, 2025 in the Conference Room at the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: ROLL CALL: In attendance were, Mayor Fischer and City Council Members Miller, Gutierrez, Kwapick and Malone. Absent: none. ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Bryce Shearen, Community Development Director Ben Harrington, Assistant City Administrator Laura Linehan and City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller. DISCUSS CODE AMENDMENTS FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES The Community Development Director reported that the City Council held a workshop on November 12, 2025, to review accessory structures and buildings and performance standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). He noted that the Council was still undecided on ADUs, specifically whether owner occupancy should be required when either the principal home or the ADU is rented. He explained the key concerns expressed about allowing both the home and ADU to be rented included the potential for greater property use intensity with two tenant households instead of an owner and a tenant; the possibility of non -local corporate ownership and property consolidation and the potential neighborhood opposition based on perceived changes in character. The Community Development Director explained the main advantages of allowing both units to be rented include greater housing flexibility and ADU viability by maximizing use potential; simplified administration by removing the need to verify owner occupancy; consistency with existing nuisance and property maintenance standards that already govern tenant behavior. He reviewed other zoning and utility connection requirements that would apply to someone wanting to build an ADU on their property. The Community Development Director stated that whether one of the units should remain owner - occupied was another concern. Fischer stated he is concerned about how to ensure the property is taken care of for the rest of the neighborhood. The Community Development Director stated that a rental license would be issued, and the city can revoke a rental license if there are issues. Miller stated he is comfortable with allowing one rental unit per property. Fischer asked if there is a way to prevent corporations from buying properties and building an ADU in order to rent two units on the property and maximize profits. The Community Development Director stated requiring one unit to be owner -occupied is the best way to prevent this. The Community Development Director explained that staff has identified two main options for Council consideration: leave the ordinance as drafted which allows a property owner to rent both the primary home and the ADU. He stated that staff does not anticipate widespread issues with corporate buyouts or nuisance violations compared to single -unit rentals, though this approach