Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Story
Zoning Board approves Lake Harriet home elevator variance despite staff concerns
Proposed Zoning Code Text Amendments: Fence Regulations
Votes (2)
4629 East Lake Harriet Parkway Variance Request
Dissent: One unidentified board member voted Nay, despite 6 individual Aye votes heard, the clerk's final tally was 5 Ayes and 1 Nay.
Moved by Vice chair Wang [00:01:00] · Seconded by Board Member Ikolts [00:01:01]
The item focused on a variance to allow a 33-ft flat-roofed elevator enclosure, exceeding the 28-ft flat roof limit in the Shoreland Overlay. Staff highlighted the intent of the Shoreland Overlay to limit massing and protect views, noting the applicant's proposal had less massing concerns than a 'by right' alternative. The main staff concern was the lack of 'unique circumstances' for the property. The applicant argued for the design's lower massing and the need for elevator accessibility. Board members discussed how topography changes and potential tree canopy impacts from alternative designs could constitute unique circumstances.
Staff Proposed Zoning Code Text Amendments: Fence Regulations
Dissent: null
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Sarah Roman presented proposed changes to Chapter 550, Development Standards, focusing on fence regulations. The amendments aim to increase flexibility and address a life safety issue. This includes allowing 6-ft partially open fences in corner side yards, reinstating 3-ft opaque fences in front yards (removed in 2023), and mandating setbacks for fences near side doors to ensure safe egress. Staff emphasized the goal of reducing the need for variances by addressing common issues that currently lead to complaints and non-compliance. Communication strategies for these changes were also discussed.
Notable Quotes (8)
The variance request in this case is to increase the allowed maximum height for a flat roof structure, or a portion of the structure that has a flat roof, to 33 ft in height. ... because it's in the shoreland, that specific ... section B would not apply in this case. It's not eligible.
Really the one clear clarification ... I'd like to have is the chimney itself in its current design would be allowed up to that 33 if the elevator did not extend up into that third story. And so, from an overall form standpoint, if they just extended their elevator to their second floor and first floor, the form of this wouldn't change at all.
The elevator is needed cuz I can barely walk. I mean, I have you you don't want to know all the problems I've got, but I can't go upstairs. ... you think about going out of a What's the roof the the top? You have a hatch and you have to go up steps and you have to if you're going to carry some orders or a drink or make a party out of it. It's It's work and they just don't do it. So they never used it.
So I thought there we could find a unique challenge of the property. So when we heard the testimonies about when the previous house was demolished and how the way that was backfilled sat a little bit lower, I think it is worth exploring on what that original property looked like, what what that topography actually was before all of those changes were made.
Enforcement is almost completely complaint-based in the city. ... What we're looking for is uniqueness to the property when we're granting a fence variance. And so things that we see commonly from applicants are, um, arguments around uh, necessity for safety, um, which is generally not considered a circumstance unique to the property historically at board.
we had a life safety issue where a fence was constructed on a property line and an adjacent home that was built within 3 ft of the property line was not able to open their door anymore. And then there was a safety issue where that was a problem.
I second the Hope that we would get less variance requests for fences. They just if it's not a health and safety issue it It usually comes across as neighbors nitpicking or tattletaling or Um Yeah, someone decided to put their own fence up and just never thought they'd even have to check for something. It's frustrating for all parties involved because they're The way that they present their cases are very much why am I even here
I appreciated the way that um you included photos and diagrams of like what would and would not be allowed. And I guess I would just um sort of request if it's possible to also include some of those photos in the fence regulation handout ... cuz I think for um the layperson does not understand what 60% opaque necessarily translates into um into reality.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
The agenda for the July 23rd, 2026 meeting, which was approved.
Minutes from the previous meeting, which were approved.
Zoning district for the 4629 East Lake Harriet Parkway property.
Overlay district for the 4629 East Lake Harriet Parkway property.
Overlay district for the 4629 East Lake Harriet Parkway property, impacting height regulations.
Specific code section regarding elevator exemptions, noted as not applicable in Shoreland Overlay.
Specific code section defining structure height, particularly related to chimneys.
Interpretation allowing chimneys to exceed 33 ft minimally for building code compliance.
Chapter of the zoning code containing fence regulations.
Study that previously removed allowances for opaque front yard fences.
General term for the city's fence regulations.
Public communication document explaining fence regulations.