V.1. 2023-11 Text Amendment for Attached Garage Setbacks for New Construction in N3-B Zones
CITY OF HOPKINS
Planning Application 2023-11
To: Planning and Zoning Commission Chair and Members of the Commission
From: Kurt Howard, Planner
Date: August 22, 2023
Subject: Text Amendment for Attached Garage Setbacks for New Construction in
N3-B Zones
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt Planning & Zoning Resolution 2023-12, recommending the Hopkins
City Council approve an ordinance amending Chapter 102 of the City Code Regarding
Attached Garage Setbacks for New Construction in N3-B Zones
BACKGROUND
In July of 2022, the City’s zoning code update established new provisions related to
setbacks for attached garages relative to the main principal building’s front façade in
neighborhood zones and the allowed locations for garage doors in order to encourage
development that is human-scaled and pedestrian-oriented. More specifically, the code
update originally required attached garages in N3-B, Small Lot Traditional
Neighborhood zones to be set back 30 feet from the main principal building’s front
façade and only allowed garage doors to be located on the rear, side, or side street
façade. These standards reflect that most properties located in N3-B zones are served
by improved alleys. However, this presented design challenges to property owners in
the N3-B zone that are not served by an improved alley, including a home proposed at
13 Harrison Avenue South for which variances were requested.
In May of 2023, the Planning & Zoning Commission adopted two resolutions related to
front loaded garages on properties without alley access in the N3-B zone. The first was
a resolution recommending denial of requested variances to allow the home to be
constructed with a front-loaded garage at 13 Harrison Avenue South. The second was a
resolution recommending the City Council approve Ordinance 2023-1191 to amend the
zoning code regarding attached garages setbacks in N3-B zones for cases when the
property is not served by an alley. Specifically, Ordinance 2023-1191 allowed garages
under such circumstances to be designed according to the standards that apply to N3-
A, Mid Lot Traditional Neighborhood zones, allowing attached garages to be setback
behind the principal building’s front façade by 10 feet instead of 30 feet and to have
garage doors located on the front façade.
In June of 2023, the City Council voted to deny the requested variances for 13 Harrison
Avenue South and approved Ordinance 2023-1191 with direction to staff to explore
options to further amend the code in order to allow homes designed in the same
manner as the one proposed for 13 Harrison Avenue South to be constructed in N3-B
zones on undeveloped lots that are not served by alleys.
Planning & Development
At its meeting on July 25, the Planning and Zoning Commission held a discussion
where staff presented information on options to further amend the code and ask for the
Commission’s input and feedback to inform a further amendment that would meet the
goals of allowing the design of the home proposed at 13 Harrison Avenue South to be
constructed while maintaining a basis in deemphasizing automotive uses according to
the various goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission expressed
support for the options to amend the code that were presented and appreciation for the
opportunity to seek the right balance between the purpose and intent of the zoning
code’s attached garage standards and the goal of enhancing the City’s single family
neighborhoods with appropriate infill development.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
The proposed ordinance would make changes that apply under two specific sets of
circumstances.
First, for legally nonconforming attached garages on N3-B properties that lack access to
an improved alley, the proposed ordinance would allow garage additions to be
constructed to the same setback as the existing garage.
Second, for new construction on vacant N3-B lots that lack access to an improved alley,
the proposed ordinance would allow attached garages to project in front of the principal
building’s front façade by up to 12 feet if all of the following conditions are met:
• The garage is no wider than 22 feet
• The garage door is no wider than 16 feet and no taller than 9 feet
• A minimum of 10% of the garage door consists of transparent surfaces
• A covered porch 5 feet in depth extends across the entire habitable portion of the
main principal building’s front façade.
The proposed ordinance is intended to follow the City Council’s direction to further
amend the code to enable homes on vacant lots to have front loaded garages while
maintaining a basis in deemphasizing automotive uses according to the various goals
and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Proposed Ordinance 2023-1198 Amending Chapter 102 of the Hopkins City
Code Regarding Attached Garages for New Construction in N3-B Zones
• Previously Approved Ordinance 2023-1191 Amending Chapter 102 of the
Hopkins City Code Regarding Attached Garages in N3-B Zones
• Proposed Planning and Zoning Commission Resolution 2023-12
• Map of Properties in N3-B zones W ith and Without an Adjacent Improved Alley
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORIDNANCE 2023-1198
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE HOPKINS CITY CODE
REGARDING ATTACHED GARAGES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN N3-B ZONES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS HEREBY ORDAINS AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Hopkins City Code, Part III, Chapter 102, Article 2, Section 102-260 (d), is
hereby amended by adding the double-underlined language as follows:
102-260 (d) Parking & Accessory Structure. See Figure 260-B
9 Driveway
Access
Off alley; if no alley, one off
side street; if no side street,
front street
10
Attached
Garage:
Additional
Setback
10 ft. min.
from main
principal
building's
front facade
30 ft. min.
from main
principal
building's front
façade[1] [2] [3]
[1] The standards for the N3-A zone
apply to properties in the N3-B zone
that are not served by an improved
alley.
[2] Additions to existing attached
garages on properties in the N3-B
zone that are not served by an
improved alley are permitted to be
built to the same setback as the
existing garage.
[3] For new construction on vacant lots
in the N3-B zone that are not served
by an improved alley, attached
garages may project in front of the
main principal building’s front façade
by a max. of 12 ft. under the following
conditions:
• The width of the garage is
limited to max. of 22 ft.
• The size of the garage door is
limited to a max. of 16 ft. in
width and 9 ft. in height
• A min. of 10% of the garage
door must be transparent
• A covered porch at least 5 ft. in
11
Allowed
Garage
Door
Location
Any facade;
30% max of
front
facade width
Rear, side,
side street
façade[1]
depth must extend across the
entire width of the habitable
portion of the main principal
building's front façade
SECTION 2. Hopkins City Code, Part III, Chapter 102, Article 2, Section 102-16160, is
hereby amended by adding the double-underlined language as follows:
NEW CONSTRUCTION. Construction of a new building or other structure on a vacant
lot where no building or other structure exists, including any accessory structure.
SECTION 3. In accordance with Section 3.03 of the City Charter and Minn. Stat. §
412.191, subd. 4, due to the significant length of this Ordinance, City staff shall have the
following summary printed in the official City newspaper in lieu of the complete
ordinance:
On September 12, 2023, the Hopkins City Council adopted Ordinance 2023-1198
an Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 of the Hopkins City Code to allow additions
to attached garages on properties in the N3-B zone that are not served by an
improved alley to be built to the same setback as the existing garage. The
ordinance also allows new construction on vacant lots in the N3-B zone that are
not served by an improved alley to have attached garages that project up to 12
feet in front of the principal building’s front façade with certain conditions.
A printed copy of the ordinance is available for inspection during regular business
hours at Hopkins City Hall and is available online at the City’s web site located at
www.hopkinsmn.com.
SECTION 3. The effective date of this ordinance shall be September 21, 2023.
First Reading: September 5, 2023
Second Reading: September 12, 2023
Date of Publication: September 21, 2023
Date Ordinance Takes Effect: September 21, 2023
By:___________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORIDNANCE 2023-1191
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE HOPKINS CITY CODE
REGARDING ATTACHED GARAGES IN N3-B ZONES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS HEREBY ORDAINS AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Hopkins City Code, Part III, Chapter 102, Article 2, Section 102-260 (d), is
hereby amended by adding the double-underlined language as follows:
N3-A N3-B
102-260 (d) Parking & Accessory Structure. See Figure 260-B
9 Driveway
Access
Off alley; if no alley, one off
side street; if no side street,
front street
10 Attached
Garage:
Additional
Setback
10 ft. min.
from main
principal
building's front
facade
30 ft. min.
from main
principal
building's
front façade[1]
[1]The standards for the N3-A
zone apply to properties in the
N3-B zone that are not served by
an improved alley.
11 Allowed
Garage
Door
Location
Any facade;
30% max of
front
facade width
Rear, side,
side street
façade[1]
SECTION 2. In accordance with Section 3.03 of the City Charter and Minn. Stat. §
412.191, subd. 4, due to the significant length of this Ordinance, City staff shall have the
following summary printed in the official City newspaper in lieu of the complete
ordinance:
On June 20, 2023, the Hopkins City Council adopted Ordinance 2023-1191 an
Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 of the Hopkins City Code to allow attached
garages constructed on properties in the N3-B zone that are not served by an
improved alley to be constructed according to design standards that apply to
attached garages in the N3-A zone.
A printed copy of the ordinance is available for inspection during regular business
hours at Hopkins City Hall and is available online at the City’s web site located at
www.hopkinsmn.com.
SECTION 3. The effective date of this ordinance shall be June 29, 2023.
First Reading: June 6, 2023
Second Reading: June 20, 2023
Date of Publication: June 29, 2023
Date Ordinance Takes Effect: June 29, 2023
By:___________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2023-12
RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING NEW
CONSTRUCTION OF ATTACHED GARAGES IN N3-B ZONES
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins’ updated Zoning Code adopted established provisions
related to setbacks and garage door location for attached garages; and
WHEREAS, the proposed ordinance is intended to offer relief to new construction on
properties located in N3-B, Small Lot Traditional Neighborhood zones that are not
served by an improved alley while still encouraging development to be human-scaled
and pedestrian oriented; and
WHEREAS, the Hopkins Zoning and Planning Commission, pursuant to published
notice, held a public hearing on and reviewed the proposed ordinance on August 22,
2023: all persons present were given an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the written comments and analysis of City staff were considered.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning & Zoning Commission of the
City of Hopkins hereby recommends the City Council of the City of Hopkins approve an
ordinance amending Chapter 102 of the City Code Regarding Attached Garages for
New Construction in N3-B Zones.
Adopted this 22nd day of August, 2023.
___________________________
Andrew Wright, Chair