VI.1. Second Reading Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 of the Hopkins City Code Regarding Attached Garages in N3-B Zones; Howard
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2023-066
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Kurt Howard, Planner
Date: June 20, 2023
Subject: Second 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 Second 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, instead 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.
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 With and Without an Adjacent Improved Alley
Planning and Economic
Development Department
PREVIOUS ACTIONS
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. The City Council reviewed the proposed ordinance at their
June 6, 2023 meeting. The Council expressed some support for the ordinance as
proposed, but also expressed interest in exploring potential options to further amend
the code to find the appropriate balance between pedestrian-oriented design standards
and the ability to capitalize on limited remaining opportunities to construct single family
homes in Hopkins. It was agreed that the first reading of the ordinance should be
approved as proposed, but that further discussion of options for further amending the
code should be had when considering the second reading.
OPTIONS FOR FURTHER AMENDMENT
One option for further amending the code is to further reduce required setback
distances for attached garages relative to the main building’s front façade in
neighborhood zones. This option is an example of a modification to the proposed
ordinance that could be approved during the second reading.
One example of a more significant change that could be explored is developing
standards that base the required attached garage setback distance on the width of the
main building’s front façade, allowing buildings with wider habitable front facades to
have lesser attached garage setbacks. This potential option would establish an
alternative means of promoting the use of the area directly behind the front façade for
people and not the parking vehicles. This option is an example of a change that is
significant enough to require a new ordinance to be drafted and zoning code text
amendment process to be reinitiated.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the second reading to adopt the ordinance as proposed or with minor
modifications. By approving the proposed ordinance, properties in the N3-B
zones that are not served by an improved alley would be allowed to have
attached garages setback behind the main building front façade by 10 feet or
more and with the garage door located on the front façade. The effective date of
this ordinance would be June 29, 2023.
2. Deny the ordinance as proposed and direct staff to explore alternative changes
to the zoning code. By denying the proposed ordinance, staff would draft a new
or revised ordinance and reinitiate the zoning code text amendment process with
a public hearing at the Planning & Zoning Commission and a first and second
reading at the City Council.
3. Continue for further information. The item should be continued if the City Council
finds that further information is needed.
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 2023-04
RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING ATTACHED
GARAGES IN N3 -B ZONES
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins's 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 properties located in
N3-13, 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 May 23, 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 in N3 -
B Zones.
Adopted this 23rd day of May, 2023.
Nathan White, Chair