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4/14/23, 11:00 AM Duplexes, town homes, cluster developments: What you need to know about St. Paul's proposed zoning changes • H3 residential: Allows up to six units on a lot and applies to land near transit corridors and neighborhood nodes. • RL large lot residential: Allows up to two units on a lot. City planners noted that this district is used only in a small portion of St. Paul's Highwood area, which is a hilly part of the Mississippi River bluff that is not consistently served by city sewer or water services. In H1 and H2 districts, it would be possible to add up to two additional units by complying with certain requirements. If one or two units contain at least three bedrooms, or if the owner rents out one or two units at prices affordable to someone making 80% of the area median income, they would be eligible for what the city is calling a "density bonus." Residents can look up how their lot is currently zoned and how it would change under the proposed amendments using an interactive map (https: stpaul.maps.arcgis.com apps/dashboards/e6748933eeld4591ba5d2764aaa99ba5) on the city's website. What other changes are being proposed? The city would update dimensional standards and other requirements so someone could feasibly build the type of housing the new zoning districts would permit. For instance, planners heard from the community and industry experts that setback and per -unit lot area minimums often limit a property owner's options — so the city wants to reduce both standards to allow more flexibility. The amendments would build upon minor code tweaks (https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-zoning-changes- pave-the-way-for-smaller-homes- cottage-clusters/600137974/?refresh=true)-the City Council approved last year to facilitate the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are smaller, secondary housing units on the same lot as a single-family home. St. Paul would allow each single-family dwelling to have up to two ADUs, one of which must be detached from the main home. The proposal also tackles standards for cluster developments, which are groups of multiple 1-to-4-unit dwellings on one lot, with a shared common space like a courtyard. Have other cities passed policies like this? Yes. All this may sound familiar because Minneapolis drew national attention in 2018, when it became the first city in the nation to loosen single-family zoning rules. St. Paul also studied subsequent state laws passed in Oregon and California and drew particular inspiration from changes to Portland, Ore.'s zoning code passed in 2021. In Minneapolis, the changes have been slow to catch on. The city is in the process of updating its zoning code standards to align with the broader changes. Until that happens, some property owners may have to seek variances (https://www.startribune.com/north-minneapolis-2040-plan-triplex- rejected/600264741/?refresh=true)_to fit a duplex or triplex on a lot that formerly housed a single-family home — a process that can be costly, timely and uncertain. Minneapolis is also appealing a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling f https: //www.startribune.com/lawsuit-challenging-minneapolis-2040-plan-headed-back- to-district-court-for-more-proceedings/600238959/)_that sided with environmentalists who challenged the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which included the elimination of single-family zoning. The opposing groups argued that a full build -out of the 2040 Plan could cause environmental damage and the city should have conducted a review required under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act. A St. Paul planning department spokesperson declined to comment on whether the city has concerns about similar challenges. When would these changes be implemented? https://www.startribune.com/st-pauI-zoning-housing-single-family-duplex-triplex-accessory-dwelling-unit-development/600266823/ 3/4