City Council Meeting Date: October 15, 2024
To: Members of the City Council
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Title
Consideration of Approval of the Second Reading of Ordinance 1066 Text Amendments Related to Parking Standards in Chapter 34 - Land Development Code and Chapter 14 - Businesses of the Northfield City Code.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to approve the second reading of Ordinance 1066 text amendments related to Parking Standards in:
• Chapter 34 - Land Development Code:
o Article 3. - Site Development, Section 3.6 - Off -Street Parking, Loading, and Mobility and Section 3.4 - Neighborhood Compatibility Standards;
o Article 2. - Zoning Districts and Use Regulations, Section 2.9 - Use-Specific Standards;
o Article 5. - Subdivision Standards, Section 5.2 - Subdivision Design Standards;
• and Chapter 14 - Businesses, Article III. - Rental Housing, Division 3. - Occupancy, Use, and Maintenance Standards, Section 14-122. - Parking.
Summary Report:
Staff have reviewed and revised the proposed Parking standards in conjunction with the consulting firm WSB. These revisions have come forward to address a strong interest from the Planning Commission (PC) in removing parking minimums (as well as staff). While removing parking minimums staff and WSB lowered certain parking maximums, and updated bicycle parking standards to align with best practices and support the Climate Action Plan.
As can be seen from the ordinance draft, much of the language is already within the codified ordinance. Potential changes are found in strikeouts and underlines.
A draft of the text amendments was provided at the May 16, 2024 Planning Commission (PC) meeting. The PC asked staff to make minor changes in regards to cross-referencing city code for all parking related regulations to be redirected back to Article 3. - Site Development, Section 3.6 - Off-Street Parking, Loading, and Mobility. The PC held a public hearing and made a motion recommending approval to City Council on the proposed changes on July 18, 2024.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends the Northfield City Council approve the second reading of text amendments related to Parking Standards in:
Chapter 34 - Land Development Code:
o Article 3. - Site Development, Section 3.6 - Off -Street Parking, Loading, and Mobility and Section 3.4 - Neighborhood Compatibility Standards;
o Article 2. - Zoning Districts and Use Regulations, Section 2.9 - Use-Specific Standards;
o Article 5. - Subdivision Standards, Section 5.2 - Subdivision Design Standards;
• and Chapter 14 - Businesses, Article III. - Rental Housing, Division 3. - Occupancy, Use, and Maintenance Standards, Section 14-122. - Parking.
Alternative Options:
Additional changes to the ordinance can be made.
Financial Impacts:
No direct financial impacts are expected with this ordinance.
Tentative Timelines:
July 3, 2024: Public Hearing Notice Published in the Northfield News
July 18, 2024: Public Hearing and Recommendation from the Planning Commission
September 3, 2024: First Reading of Ordinance with City Council
October 15, 2024: Second Reading and Summary Publication Notice with City Council
October 23, 2024: Summary Publication Notice Published in the Northfield News
November 22, 2024: Ordinance goes into effect