St Paul Wants More Duplexes

When the St Paul city council convenes Wednesday, in all likelihood it will pass a new zoning ordinance that will allow duplexes and triplexes to be built on almost any lot, and fourplexes on lots that are big enough.

This is a substantial change to the city’s zoning code, much as the city of Minneapolis’ 2040 plan was. However, while Minneapolis’ plan was and continues to be mired in controversy, St Paul’s has managed to rather quietly clear multiple hurdles to reach this point.

The proposed zoning change would basically create two housing zones. The first, H1 residential, would encompass those properties currently zones for single-family homes and allow for duplexes and triplexes to be built on those lots. If the lot is big enough, the zoning would also allow for the construction of a four-unit building.

H2 residential zoning would be any property within one-eighth of a mile of a major transit corridor. Depending again on the size of the lot, up to a five unit building may be built. And, if the builder commits to building affordable units, convert an existiting residential structure, or have three bedrooms in each unit, they would be eligible to earn something called a “density bonus. This would allow them up to two extra units on a lot, so long as they do not exceed a total of six units.

So why haven’t we heard much about this?

Maybe because after all the fear around Minneapolis’ zoning variances in their 2040 plan, very few small multifamily properties were actually built.

Greater urban housing density is widely considered an effective strategy against climate change, as well as a boost to local businesses.

We’ll keep you updated on what the council decides.