The purpose of the MR-3 District is to provide for multifamily development that is diverse and attractive, and to facilitate context-sensitive infill and redevelopment, by allowing a variety of buildings with multiple units. Characteristics of such buildings include primary entrances and windows facing onto the street, with secondary windows facing to the side and adjoining properties, human scaled architectural elements, and green space that allows for tree canopy, water filtration, and relaxation. Examples of such building types include multiplexes, townhomes, courtyard apartments, rowhomes, mid-rise apartments and multi-building developments. The district is not intended to allow slot homes. (Amended Bill No. 2025-10)

Subdivision 1. The uses listed in this subsection are permitted uses in the MR-3 District.

Subd. 2. Multifamily dwellings and multi-building developments with 32 or fewer units, with administrative site plan approval; and between 33 and 100 units with full site plan approval. (Amended Bill No. 2025-10)

Subd. 3. State-licensed day care facility serving 14 or fewer children. Care facilities located within the MR-3 District shall be subject to the same zoning regulations as multifamily dwellings in the MR-3 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-3 District shall be subject to the same zoning regulations as multifamily dwellings in the MR-3 District.

Subdivision 1. The uses permitted in this subsection are allowable accessory uses in the MR-3 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-3 District:

a)

The maximum height for accessory buildings shall be 15 feet;

b)

For non-garage 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, including garages:

(i)

Shall not be located in the front or street side yard;

(ii)

Must be set back 15 feet from the street side property line when in the rear yard;

(iii)

Must be set back a minimum of five (5) 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; and

(iv)

Shall adhere to the same access requirements as for parking lots required by Subd. 3.b, below.

Subd. 3. Open parking as approved through site plan review.

a)

Location of parking.

(i)

Parking is not permitted in the front and street side yards.

(ii)

Parking is permitted in interior side yards only if the width of the parking and access drive together does not exceed the width of the principal building or 60 feet, whichever is less.

(iii)

Parking is permitted in rear yards and underground locations.

(iv)

Individual stalls are permitted head-in off an alley.

b)

Access to parking.

(i)

If the parcel is adjacent to an alley, access shall be off the alley.

(ii)

If the parcel is not adjacent to an alley, but is a corner lot or a through lot, then driveway access shall be off the side street with the lower functional class as defined by the comprehensive plan. If both roadways are the same functional class, access may be off of either, subject to approval of the jurisdictional agency.

(iii)

If the parcel is not adjacent to an alley nor a corner lot, driveway access may be from the street.

(iv)

A driveway existing as of September 9, 2025, that does not meet the above lot access standards can continue in the same location until the property is redeveloped. Such driveway may be expanded if it is in conformance with the City Code.

(v)

Shared access is highly encouraged but requires a written recorded agreement with the neighboring property owner.

c)

Parking lot setbacks and screening.

(i)

Parking lots must be set back 15 feet from the street side property line and eight (8) feet from all other rights-of-way.

(ii)

Parking lots must be set back five (5) feet from the side and rear property lines.

(iii)

The perimeter planting requirements of 544.03, Subd. 7 shall apply to parking stalls located in interior side yards.

(iv)

All parking lots adjacent to Low-Density Residential, (R) and Single-Family Residential (R-1), Districts must be screened along the side and rear property lines with a four (4) foot-tall privacy fence, solid evergreen hedge, architecturally compatible opaque wall, or a combination of these, unless an alley is present, or the adjacent property owner provides a written waiver. (Amended Bill No. 2025-10)

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. One (1) leasing, sales, or management office per development, provided it is used solely for leasing, sales, or management of units within the development, does not exceed 2,000 square feet of floor area, and is an integral part of the development.

Subd. 7. Home occupations that are operated in accordance with Section 509 of this Code.

Subd. 8. Roof-mounted television antennas

Subd. 9. Minor public utilities.

Subd. 10. Sacred communities as an accessory use to an approved religious institution (conditional use permit amendment not required). (Added, Bill No. 2023-18, § 4, 12-12-2023)

Subdivision 1. The uses listed in this subsection are conditional uses in the MR-3 District, and are subject to the conditional use permit provisions outlined in Section 547.09 of this Code.

Subd. 2. Multifamily dwellings and multi-building developments with more than 100 units. (Amended Bill No. 2025-10)

Subd. 3. Accessory state-licensed foster family homes serving more than three (3) children, or otherwise permitted by law.

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.

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 (1) 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 seven (7) to 16 persons. Care facilities located within the MR-3 District shall be subject to the same zoning regulations as multifamily dwellings in the MR-3 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-3 District unless the use is found to be substantially similar to a use listed, as determined by Subsection 509.23 of this Code.

Subdivision 1. The standards set out in this subsection apply in the MR-3 District.

^* One (1) block refers to the distance to the next north-south street, or to the point where the next street would intersect if it were extended through (as depicted on the "Residential Parking Reduction Areas" map on file with the Community Development Department).

¹ Unit-specific open spaces, such as balconies and porches, may not count for more than 50% of the overall usable open space requirement.

² Impervious surface coverages, such as rooftop amenities and patios, may not count for more than 25% of the usable open space requirement. Shared rooftop amenities that are a green roof may be exempt from this limit, subject to review and approval by the City Engineer and Sustainability Coordinator.

(Amended Bill No. 2025-10)

Subd. 2. Minimum parking.

a.

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. 2011-19; Bill No. 2024-08)

b.

A minimum of half (0.5) an off-street parking stall shall be provided per unit for residential buildings that are 40 units or less and are located within one block ^* along either side of a High Frequency Transit Line.

^* One (1) block refers to the distance to the next north-south street, or to the point where the next street would intersect if it were extended through (as depicted on the "Residential Parking Reduction Areas" map on file with the Community Development Department). (Amended Bill No. 2025-10)

Subdivision 1. The standards set out in this subsection apply to nonresidential uses in the MR-3 District.

(Added, Bill No. 1998-10)

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

Subd. 2. Sidewalks are required along all sides of a lot that abut a public street, design subject to Subsection 500.21, Subd .6.

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, unless they conflict with the standards in this section, then this section shall prevail.

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. When in conflict herewith, the overlay district shall prevail. (Amended Bill No. 2025-10)