Minnetonka advances major zoning overhaul to modernize city rules
The Minnetonka Planning Commission unanimously approved a sensory-friendly children's gym on September 4 and heard a comprehensive presentation on proposed zoning changes designed to align the city's building rules with its long-term community vision and adapt to modern living patterns like remote work and multi-generational families.
The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of Wii Rock Spectrum Sensory Friendly Children's Gym at 10925 Bren Road East, with the recommendation now heading to the City Council for final approval on September 14.
But the meeting's centerpiece was a detailed staff presentation on sweeping changes to Minnetonka's zoning ordinance. The update aims to make the city's building rules clearer to the public and better reflect the community's long-range vision outlined in its comprehensive plan. "The whole point of this exercise was to get kind of the alignment of the comprehensive plan, the long range vision of the community to match with what was actually in ordinance," said Julie, a staff member.
Key changes include consolidating residential districts, creating tailored rules for commercial "village centers" like Glen Lake and Ridgedale, reducing setbacks on major streets, and allowing twin homes and accessory dwelling units (small secondary homes on residential lots) more easily. The ordinance also introduces sustainability requirements for new construction and design standards for development near planned trails. Commissioner Banks praised the flexibility, noting the changes respond to how people actually live and work today: "This gives our residents and our businesses a lot of good options to adapt to the way people are living and working today."
The proposal also includes a significant shift in decision-making power. Currently, the City Council makes final decisions on Conditional Use Permits—approvals for specific land uses that meet certain conditions. Under the new ordinance, the Planning Commission would make these decisions, with the City Council serving as an appeal body. Staff suggested this streamlines the process, noting appeals occur only about 20% of the time.
Commissioners offered positive feedback on the modernization efforts. Commissioner Johnson said he was "very much in favor of making local laws understandable to the general public" and appreciated the expanded opportunities for property owners and the sustainability focus.
The meeting was informational only—no official action was taken on the zoning changes. Community members can review the draft zoning code and provide feedback at minnotonkamatters.com. The city has also distributed information about the update to 24,000 households through the Minnetonka Memo.
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Votes (2)
Consent Agenda: Wii Rock Spectrum Sensory Friendly Children's Gym (10925 Bren Road East)
Dissent: None
Moved by Johnson [0:10:49] · Seconded by Abdi [0:11:03]
The Planning Commission considered the consent agenda, which included a recommendation for the Wii Rock Spectrum Sensory Friendly Children's Gym. No commissioners or audience members requested to pull the item for separate discussion. The commission proceeded with a single vote to approve all items on the consent agenda.
Zoning Ordinance Update Presentation
Dissent: None
Moved by null · Seconded by null
Staff provided a detailed update on the proposed changes to the city's zoning ordinance, outlining the rationale, engagement process, and major proposed revisions across residential, commercial, and environmental categories. Key topics included new 'village center' designations, updated lot size standards, reduced setbacks, the allowance of twin homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) administratively, new impervious surface limits, and sustainability/trail-oriented design requirements. The presentation also introduced a proposal to shift final decision-making authority for Conditional Use Permits and Interim Use Permits to the Planning Commission. Commissioners offered positive feedback on the clarity and modernization efforts, discussing implications of the proposed authority shift and the broad community engagement.
Notable Quotes (7)
The whole point of this exercise was to get kind of the alignment of the comprehensive plan, the long range vision of the community to match with what was actually in ordinance in terms of the implementation of the zoning ordinance.
The proposed ordinance really looks at those different what we call village centers, which again are already in our comprehensive guide plan. it looks at those and establishes standards that reflect those different um places.
Think about an 18,000t lot and if you put a twin home that's 9,000 per lot. So even though you don't have an R2 zoned property anymore, you have a low density, there's opportunity to do more units.
What we are suggesting is that this body would actually have authority to, as you do now, for variances and expansion permits, you will actually then have authority for conditional use permits and expansion permits, which are again a application of the rule. Oh, and interim uh use permits.
I am very much in favor of making local laws understandable to the general public and this is a big step for that. I think it opens possibilities for property owners too. Um there's more opportunity to do things and build things and I particularly like the sustainability design and the points and all of that. I think that's that's that's what Menitaka is about.
I think it's maybe because it's only the 20% of the time that we see that appeal that we're thinking it might be kind of an extra step for people that's not necessary, but I don't know. That's something to think about.
The way people um are engaged nowadays, the the with the remote work um and you know the multi-generational families that we're seeing more of and the the increase in uh ADUs um in the way that office spaces are seem like they're now downsizing more and and more efficient use of space but just don't need as the much space um as before. that this gives, you know, our residents and our businesses a lot of um good options to to adapt to the way people are living and and working today.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
A guiding document that serves as a blueprint for the city's long-term growth and development, establishing a community vision and setting goals over the next 20 years. The zoning ordinance update aims to align with this plan.
A set of rules that govern what can and cannot be built in the city, currently undergoing a significant update to modernize regulations and align with community goals.
Rules governing the division of land, mentioned as part of the commission's recommendation scope.
The city's next comprehensive plan update, which is a required process every 10 years.
The current working version of the updated zoning regulations, available on the Minnetonka Matters website for public comment.
A city publication distributed to 24,000 households, featuring information about the zoning ordinance update to raise public awareness.
A section of the proposed zoning code draft outlining menu-based sustainability and resilient points requirements for new multi-family and commercial construction.
A section of the proposed zoning code draft outlining menu-based design requirements for redevelopment or new construction along planned trails.
A permit type for specific land uses. The proposed ordinance would shift final decision-making authority for routine CUPs from the City Council to the Planning Commission, with Council serving as the appeal body.
A permit type for temporary uses, proposed to shift final decision-making authority to the Planning Commission.
A request for a deviation from zoning ordinance standards, for which the Planning Commission currently makes final decisions.
A permit type for expanding structures, for which the Planning Commission currently makes final decisions.
A plan detailing the layout and design of a development site, for which the Planning Commission currently makes final decisions.
A request for approval of new or modified signage, for which the Planning Commission currently makes final decisions.
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Consent Agenda Items
City Council Actions on Planning Commission Recommendations
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