Last week the Saint Paul City Council voted to allow multi-family housing units to be built on lots previously limited to single-family homes. Those multi-family homes can be duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes, and maybe even a six or an eight depending upon the size of the lot.
Increasing density will increase the number of housing units. We need more housing in St. Paul. More housing means that housing will be more affordable.
ZONING CHANGES
- Create new residential zoning districts H1 and H2: to replace the existing, single-family-only R1, R2, R3, R4 districts, other low-density RT1-RT2 districts, and some lower-density Planned Development (PD) districts. The standards for these districts and the semirural single-family only RL district are also revised. Both districts allow for a variety of neighborhood-scale housing options including but not limited to duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), townhomes.
- Update regulations for accessory dwelling units: to increase the allowable size and number allowed per lot (up to two ADUs per single-family home).
- Add density bonus options: for ownership housing affordable to households earning 80% of area median income (AMI) or rental housing at 60% AMI; or for retaining an existing home; or for family-sized (three or more bedroom) units.
- Incentivize keeping existing homes: with the above density bonus options as well as greater flexibility to add two attached ADUs if the single-family home is existing.
- Update the cluster development ordinance: for greater flexibility in 1-4 unit housing development and lot layouts in exchange for an open space requirement.
- Create more and updated design standards: including some that are tweaked from the popular traditional neighborhood (T) zoning district design standards.
- Create new options for lot splits: including revisions to flag-shaped lots and the introduction of “back lots” and “reverse-flag lots” for more housing options.
For more information go to Stpaul.gov
