VII.3. First Reading Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 of the Hopkins City Code Regarding Attached Garages in N3-B Zones; Howard
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2023-062
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Kurt Howard, Planner
Date: June 6, 2023
Subject: First Reading: Ordinance 2023-1191 Amending Chapter 102 of the
Hopkins City Code Regarding Attached Garages in N3-B Zones
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt for First Reading, Ordinance 2023-1191 Amending Chapter 102 of
the Hopkins City Code Regarding Attached Garages in N3-B Zones
OVERVIEW
The City’s updated Zoning Code established new provisions related to setbacks for
attached garages relative to the main 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. The code requires attached garages in N3-B,
Small Lot Traditional Neighborhood zones be set back 30 feet behind the main building’s
front façade and only allows garage doors to be located on the rear, side, or side street
façade. These standards reflect that most, but not all, properties in N3-B zones are
served by improved alleys, which presents design challenges for garages on properties
in the N3-B zone that are not served by an improved alley.
The proposed ordinance would grant an exception to the attached garage setback and
garage door location standards to properties in the N3-B zone that are not served by an
improved alley, allowing garages under such circumstances to be designed according to
the standards that apply to N3-A, Mid Lot Traditional Neighborhood zones. More
specifically, the code requires attached garages in the N3-A zone to be set back 10 feet
behind the main building’s front façade and allows garage doors to be located on any
façade as long as the garage door constitutes no more than 30% of the front façade
width. This proposed ordinance is intended to offer relief to properties located in N3-B
zones that are not served by an improved alley while still encouraging development to
be human-scaled and pedestrian oriented. The Planning and Zoning Commission
reviewed the proposed ordinance at their May 23, 2023 meeting and voted unanimously
to recommend that the City Council approve the proposed ordinance.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Proposed Ordinance 2023-1191 Amending Chapter 102 of the City Code Regarding
Attached Garage Setbacks in N3-B Zones
• Planning and Zoning Commission Resolution 2023-04
• Map of Properties in N3-B Zones W ith and Without an Adjacent Improved Alley
Planning and Economic
Development Department
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