RIVER FALLS — A series of amendments to housing code ordinances were approved by the River Falls City Council with the intention to avoid developers applying for exceptions when building in River Falls at the Feb. 24 meeting.

At a previous Plan Commission meeting, Senior Planner Harley Mehlhorn said developers frequently receive the same exceptions to housing codes, and after reviewing those exceptions, city staff proposed code amendments that would codify the frequently passed exceptions.

The Comprehensive Plan that was approved in 2023 set the process into motion, and city staff has been working on the amendments since.

“I appreciate the work staff put into these amendments. Our Comprehensive Plan stresses the efficient use of infrastructure, a diversity of housing types including Accessory Dwelling Units and missing middle housing, which we’re looking at today,” Alderperson Sean Downing said. “These amendments are needed to help meet these goals for our community.”

The lone item that was sent back to the Plan Commission was an update to driveway width requirements, with five other proposals being approved. The approved proposals were removal of minimum lot sizes for certain housing types (also adjusting how setbacks are measured), opening the door for accessory dwelling units, clarification on shade structures, parking standards based on unit size rather than the two spaces per unit requirement and an open space overhaul to feature amenity amounts based on unit totals and the quality of those amenities.

“The Plan Commission has considered these at length. As Administrator Simpson pointed out, this has been something that’s been in the works for years,” Alderperson Diane Odeen said. “We do have a responsibility to consider how our zoning affects housing costs. High costs of living, especially high costs of housing, is one of the barriers to living in River Falls, and I think that we should do what we can to keep our community inclusive.”

Alderperson Jeff Bjork voted against each of the measures which passed 6-1 with the exception of a 5-2 approval for the lot size proposal that was also denied by Alderperson Scott Morrissette.

“I think this really needs to go back to Planning Commission to be reevaluated. It’s really changing the character and image of our city, and people have not moved to the City of River Falls to be in a compact environment,” Bjork said. “[Planned Unit Developments] are one thing, but those are supposed to be exceptions, and now this will become the standard.”

Bjork said the city has held public forums for similar approvals in the Kinni Corridor Project, asking to do the same for the housing code amendments.

Odeen countered Bjork, saying residents are still allowed to far exceed the minimum requirements if that is the character of the home they would like, but approving the proposals addresses housing availability issues in the city.

“If people want to build big houses with big setbacks, they are more than welcomed to do that,” Odeen said.

Morrissette, who voted against the lot size amendments, citing the character of the city and trends of housing sizes and setbacks constantly changing.

“I’m having a hard time with this one,” Morrissette said. “I just don’t know that bringing lot sizes down to the 50 feet, or wherever we propose on some of these, is something I can get behind.”

Other business

• Held first readings and public hearings for bicycle and ATV/off-highway motorcycle usage ordinance amendments. Included in the amendments would be restrictions on bike usage on downtown sidewalks and regulation of off-highway motorcycle, ATV and UTV use on all public property.
• Heard the first reading to rezone a portion of Jerry’s Automotive’s property from industrial to highway commercial to allow for the expansion of the existing auto repair facility.
• Heard the first reading of amendments to the towing of parked vehicles policy to align with state requirements. Amendments include vehicle owner notification prior to towing and consistency for contested citations.
• Awarded a $168,453 contract to Olson and Nesvold Associates for Swinging Bridge rehabilitation design. Awarded a $41,150 contract to MSA for a traffic signal system study.
• Approved a $63,753 purchase for a wood chipper.
• Approved a final plat and planned unit development of 45-unit Wildflower Meadows off Powell Avenue that features single family and twin homes.
• Approved purchase and developer’s agreements with Stellerie Bop to bring an automotive, motorsport and RV product manufacturer to Sterling Ponds Corporate Park.
• Accepted a temporary no parking designation on Elm Street for the completion of the fire station remodel project.
• Approved the purchase of 28 desktop computers, 33 laptops and four printers.
• Heard a pair of public comments. The first, from Dana Linscott, was to encourage meeting minutes from closed sessions to come to the public eye after the reason for secrecy is no longer needed. The second comment came from William Hansen, stating residents in River Falls and the surrounding communities should not have to pay higher electric bills because of usage from AI datacenters.