Agenda Packets - 2026/01/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Staff Report 1/26/2026 – Height Requirements Page 3 The Mounds View Vision A Thriving Desirable Community variance, staff would not recommend this as an option; variances should be reserved for unique situations. The idea discussed at the 12/1/2025 Work Session was to allow an increase in height for parcels within the Corridor 10 Overlay Zone, with mixed-use development (commercial on ground-floor with residential above) at a new maximum of five stories, and multifamily-only development at a new maximum of four stories. To do this, staff has proposed adding language allowing ‘mixed- use’ development within the Overlay Zone when the underlying or ‘base’ zoning designation is B- 3 or B-4. Some communities include an increase in setbacks from side and rear lot lines, to help prevent structures from ‘towering’ over shorter development adjacent to it. The setback requirements (referred to as ‘yards’ in the zoning code) for a principal building are found in Section 160.055(C) – see Figure 1. The city’s current requirements gradually increase the required setbacks as the ‘intensity’ of a zone changes. The Corridor 10 Overlay Zone also requires a maximum setback of five (5) feet from the lot lines along Mounds View Boulevard, so new development would already be required to be located further from side or rear lot lines. The proposed ordinance includes an increased setback of 10% as required in the underlying zone as found in Section 160.055(C) when a development is constructed to the newly proposed maximum height. Figure 1: Excerpt of Section 160.055(C). Note that setbacks for PUDs are set at the time of the PUD being created. Amendment Criteria The zoning code lists criteria for the city to consider when reviewing an amendment to the zoning code, per Section 160.450(E). These are listed below in italics, with comments from staff following: (1) Relationship to Municipal Comprehensive Plan; The city’s 2040 Plan has guided areas of the city as ‘mixed-use’, allowing for a variety of uses to occupy a single parcel or site. Allowing an increase in the height of buildings