The purposes of the MR-2 District regulations are to reserve appropriately located areas for multifamily dwellings; preserve as many as possible of the desirable characteristics of the single-family residential district while permitting higher population densities; provide opportunities for infill cluster housing development, thereby allowing greater intensities and a wider variety of housing types; minimize traffic congestion and avoid the overloading of utilities by preventing the construction of buildings of excessive size (or density) in relation to the surrounding land, buildings, or infrastructure; and to provide multifamily residential areas that are safe and attractive.

Subdivision 1. The uses listed in this subsection are permitted uses in the MR-2 District.

Subd. 2. Multifamily dwellings (excluding cluster home developments) with eight (8) or fewer units. (Amended, Bill No. 1996-22)

Subd. 3. State-licensed day care facility serving 14 or fewer children. Care facilities located within the MR-2 District shall be subject to the same zoning regulations as multifamily dwellings in the MR-2 District except that one nonresident employee shall be permitted in accordance with State requirements. (Amended, Bill No. 2016-3)

Subd. 4. State-licensed residential care facilities serving up to six (6) persons or a housing with services establishment registered under M.S. 144D serving up to six (6) persons. Care facilities located in the MR-2 District shall be subject to the same zoning regulations as multifamily dwellings in the MR-2 District.

Subdivision 1. The uses permitted in this subsection are allowable accessory uses in the MR-2 District.

Subd. 2. In addition to the general accessory building provisions of Subsection 509.09, the following rules apply to accessory buildings in the MR-2 District.

a)

The maximum height for accessory buildings shall be 15 feet;

b)

For nongarage accessory structures, height is measured from the ground level to the highest point of the roof. For garages, that measurement is taken on the side of the building with the vehicle door; and

c)

Accessory buildings shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any rear or interior side lot line, except that if a vehicle access door faces a rear or interior side lot line, such rear or interior side setback requirement shall be not less than 20 feet;

Subd. 3. Open parking or garages as approved through Site Plan Review.

Subd. 4. Swimming pools subject to Section 420 of the city code, tennis courts, and similar recreational facilities.

Subd. 5. Storage buildings designed for common use by residents or members of the homeowners association or similar organization, or for use by the maintenance staff for storage or as a workshop associated with normal upkeep of the property.

Subd. 6. Home occupations that are operated in accordance with Section 509 of this Code.

Subd. 7. Roof-mounted television antennas.

Subd. 8. Minor public utilities.

Subd. 9. Sacred communities as an accessory use to an approved religious institution (conditional use permit amendment not required). (Added, Bill No. 2023-18, § 3, 12-12-2023)

Subdivision 1. The uses listed in this subsection are conditional uses in the MR-2 District, and are subject to the conditional use permit provisions outlined in Section 547.09 of this Code.

Subd. 2. Multifamily dwellings with 9 to 25 units.

Subd. 3. Cluster home developments, provided that the following conditions are met:

a)

The design of the development shall be in harmony with the surrounding neighborhood in terms of building materials, architectural design, scale and mass of the structure, or other similar urban design characteristics;

b)

Two off-street parking spaces, at least one of which must be enclosed in a garage, shall be provided for each dwelling unit; (Added, Bill No. 2002-11)

c)

The number and location of driveways and curb cuts shall minimize conflict with vehicular traffic and should not adversely impact adjacent land uses;

d)

The density of the development shall not exceed the density recommended in the comprehensive plan. (Added, Bill No. 1996-22)

Subd. 4. Public or private elementary and high schools, and other similar learning institutions, provided the following conditions are met:

a)

The use site shall abut a collector or arterial street or be located such that significant traffic will not be generated on local residential streets;

b)

Pick-up and drop-off areas shall be designed to enhance vehicular and pedestrian safety;

c)

Outdoor recreational facilities designed for group activities shall be set back at least 40 feet from any lot line;

d)

Buffering shall be provided to mitigate noise and adverse visual impacts on adjacent properties; and

e)

Lighted playing fields shall be permitted only upon demonstration that off-site impacts can be substantially mitigated. (Added, Bill No. 1998-10)

Subd. 5. Religious institutions and related convents or parsonages, provided the following conditions are met:

a)

The use site shall abut a collector or arterial street or be located such that significant traffic will not be generated on local residential streets;

b)

Outdoor facilities designed for group activities shall be set back at least 40 feet from any lot line; and

c)

Buffering shall be provided to mitigate noise and adverse visual impacts on adjacent properties. (Added, Bill No. 1998-10)

Subd. 6. Governmental buildings and public libraries.

Subd. 7. Emergency shelters within nonresidential buildings (e.g., schools or churches) provided the following conditions are met:

a)

The shelter shall serve no more than 16 persons at one time; and

b)

Meals for those served by the shelter shall be prepared in a kitchen approved for commercial use.

Subd. 8. School-based health centers as accessory uses within currently operating schools provide the following conditions are met:

a)

The health center must primarily serve students;

b)

Hours of operation may not extend beyond the regular operational hours of the school by more than one (1) hour in the morning or 6:00 p.m. in the evening;

c)

Total square footage of the health center may not exceed 3,000 square feet or ten (10) percent of the total building square footage, whichever is less;

d)

Designated parking equal to staff plus one (1) per exam room must be provided and designated for clinic use;

e)

Because of the focus on students and the associated sharing of parking, advertising shall be limited to directional and identification signs. The maximum sign area and height shall not exceed the limits set for residential uses in the MR-2 and MR-3 Zoning Districts per Subsection 549.23. The total square footage of all freestanding signage for the property shall remain limited to 100 square feet in accordance with the established rules for nonresidential uses in the residential districts. (Added, Bill No. 2015-7)

Subd. 9. State-licensed day care facilities located in common areas of multifamily buildings serving up to 16 persons provided that designated pick-up and drop-off areas shall be located on the site.

Subd. 10. State-licensed residential care facility serving from 7 to 16 persons. Care facilities located within the MR-2 District shall be subject to the same zoning regulations as multifamily dwellings in the MR-2 District.

Subd. 11. Telecommunications towers. Towers shall be allowed only in the following residentially zoned areas:

a)

Towers supporting amateur radio antennas and conforming to all applicable provisions of Section 544.25 of this Code shall be allowed only in the rear yard of residentially zoned parcels.

b)

Towers supporting commercial antennas and conforming to all applicable provisions of Section 544.25 this Code shall be allowed only in the following residentially zoned locations:

(i)

Church sites, when camouflaged as steeples or bell towers;

(ii)

Park sites, when compatible with the nature of the park; and,

(iii)

Government, school, utility, and institutional sites, not including the public right-of-way.

Subd. 12. Major public utilities. (Amended, Bill No. 1998-10)

Any land use not listed as permitted, accessory or conditional in this Section or subsection 512.05 is prohibited in the MR-2 District unless the use is found to be substantially similar to a use listed, as determined by the city in accordance with Subsection 509.23 of this Code.

Subdivision 1. The standards set out in this subsection apply in the MR-2 District.

Subd. 2. Minimum parking for multifamily structures (excluding cluster home developments). A minimum of 1.25 off-street parking spaces shall be provided for each dwelling unit. The Council may reduce the parking requirement for senior housing complexes, or other similarly low-driving populations, including but not limited to, households earning below 60 percent AMI, people who are neuro-diverse, and/or people with disabilities.

(Amended Bill No. 2024-12)

Subdivision 1. The standards set out in this subsection apply to cluster home developments in the MR-2 District.

Subd. 2.

Setback requirements for cluster home developments (in feet).

(Amended, Bill No. 2002-11)

Subd. 3.Setback reductions. the setback requirements for cluster home developments may be reduced to 25 feet in the front, 5 feet for the side interior and 12 feet in the rear if the following criteria are met:

a)

The applicant can demonstrate that a superior design is achieved through the reduced setback. Evidence of a superior design may include but is not limited to the preservation of a natural feature, creation of an amenity, creation of public open space, or incorporation of special features to meet the needs of the target population;

b)

The reduced setback does not adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood in terms of a decrease in privacy, noise, overcrowding, or other similar impacts;

c)

The impact of the reduced setback is minimized through the presence of features such as landscaping or other means of buffering, a limited number of building openings in the portion of the structure that infringes upon the setback, building orientation, minimized garage door dominance, or other similar features.

Subd. 4.Minimum parking for cluster home developments. Two off-street parking spaces, at least one of which shall be in a garage, shall be provided for each dwelling unit. The Council, at its discretion, may reduce the minimum required parking to not less than 1.5 parking spaces per unit after consideration of factors including but not limited to the present or future availability of transit services, shared parking, pedestrian orientation, and occupancy characteristics. In addition, the Council may further reduce the parking requirement for projects designed to serve seniors. (Amended, Bill No. 1996-22)

Subdivision 1.Standards. The standards set out in this subsection apply to nonresidential uses in the MR-2 District.

Subdivision 1.[Generally.] Developments shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the standards set out in this subsection.

Subd. 2.Limit to number of efficiency units. No more than 20 percent of the dwelling units in any one building shall be efficiency dwelling units.

Subd. 3.Performance standards of Section 544. Developments shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the applicable performance standards set out in Section 544 of this Code.

Subd. 4.Design or overlay districts. All property located within a design district or corridor overlay district shall be subject to such district's additional requirements and/or modifications.