Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
6120.3800 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
Subpart 1.
Scope of planned unit development provisions.
Local governments must consider incorporating, with approval of the commissioner, provisions into shoreland management controls to allow planned unit developments. The provisions may allow planned unit developments for new projects on undeveloped land, redevelopment of previously built sites, or conversions of existing buildings and land. The provisions must be consistent with standards in this part. During the period between adoption of parts 6120.2500 to 6120.3900 and adoption of local government official controls meeting the planned unit development standards in part 6120.3800, preliminary plans for each planned unit development must be reviewed for consistency with part 6120.3800 and approved by the commissioner before final local government approval.
Subp. 2.
Land use district designation.
If local governments allow planned unit developments, the land use districts in which they are an allowable conditional use must be identified in their official controls and on a zoning map. Designation of the districts must be based on consideration of the criteria in part 6120.3200 and the following criteria:
A.
existing recreational use of the surface waters and likely increases in use associated with planned unit developments;
E.
amounts and types of ownership of undeveloped lands.
Expansions to existing commercial planned unit developments involving up to six dwelling units or sites, unless the density determined under subpart 6, item A is exceeded, may be allowed as permitted uses under standards developed by local units of government. The date of effect of official controls adopted by each local government under this part must be the base date for determination of expansions. Expansions exceeding these limits must be processed as conditional uses and meet the standards in this part.
Subp. 3.
Information requirements.
Provisions for submission of adequate information by project proponents must be included in official controls. The provisions must include at least the following:
A.
a site plan for the project showing property boundaries, surface water features, existing and proposed structures, sewage treatment systems, topographic contours at ten-foot intervals or less, and other facilities; and
B.
documents that explain how the project is designed and will function. These ordinarily include covenants that require membership in a property owners association, various easements, a concept statement describing the project, floor plans for structures, and various other drawings or plans.
Subp. 4.
Dwelling unit or site density evaluation.
Proposed new or expansions to existing planned unit developments must be evaluated using the following procedures and standards:
A.
The project parcel must be divided into tiers by locating one or more lines approximately parallel to a line that identifies the ordinary high water level at the following intervals, proceeding landward:
Shoreland Tier Dimensions
| Unsewered (feet) | Sewered (feet) | |
| General development lakes - first tier | 200 | 200 |
| General development lakes - second and additional tiers | 267 | 200 |
| Recreational development lakes | 267 | 267 |
| Natural environment lakes | 400 | 320 |
| All river classes | 300 | 300 |
B.
The area within each tier is next calculated, excluding all wetlands, bluffs, or land below the ordinary high water level of public waters. This area is then subjected to either the residential (subpart 5) or commercial (subpart 6) planned unit development density evaluation steps to arrive at an allowable number of dwelling units or sites.
Subp. 5.
Residential planned unit development density evaluation steps and design criteria.
The density evaluation steps and design criteria for residential planned unit developments are contained in items A to D.
A.
The area within each tier is divided by the single residential lot size standard for lakes or, for rivers, the single residential lot width standard times the tier depth unless the local unit of government has specified an alternative minimum lot size for rivers which shall then be used to yield a base density of dwelling units or sites for each tier. Proposed locations and numbers of dwelling units or sites for the residential planned unit development are then compared with these data and map of the evaluation. Local governments may allow some dwelling unit or site density increases for residential planned unit developments above the densities determined in the evaluation if all dimensional standards in part 6120.3300 are met or exceeded. Maximum density increases may only be allowed if all design criteria in subpart 5, item B, are also met or exceeded. Increases in dwelling unit or site densities must not exceed the maximums in the following table. Allowable densities may be transferred from any tier to any other tier further from the shoreland water body or watercourse, but must not be transferred to any other tier closer.
Maximum Allowable Dwelling Unit Or Site Density Increases
For Residential Planned Unit Developments
| Density evaluation tiers | Maximum density increase within each tier (percent) |
| First | 50 |
| Second | 100 |
| Third | 200 |
| Fourth | 200 |
| Fifth | 200 |
B.
The design criteria are:
(2)
Residential planned unit developments must contain open space meeting all of the following criteria:
(b)
Dwelling units or sites, road rights-of-way, or land covered by road surfaces, parking areas, or structures, except water-oriented accessory structures or facilities, are developed areas and should not be included in the computation of minimum open space.
(c)
Open space must include areas with physical characteristics unsuitable for development in their natural state, and areas containing significant historic sites or unplatted cemeteries.
(d)
Open space may include outdoor recreational facilities for use by owners of the dwelling units or sites, or the public.
(e)
The shore impact zone, based on normal structure setbacks, must be included as open space. At least 50 percent of the shore impact zone area of existing developments or at least 70 percent of the shore impact zone area of new developments must be preserved in their natural or existing state.
(f)
Open space must not include commercial facilities or uses, but may contain water-oriented accessory structures or facilities.
(g)
The appearance of open space areas, including topography, vegetation, and allowable uses, must be preserved by use of restrictive deed covenants, permanent easements, public dedication and acceptance, or other equally effective and permanent means.
(h)
Open space may include subsurface sewage treatment systems if the use of the space is restricted to avoid adverse impacts on the systems.
(3)
Centralization and design of facilities and structures must be done according to the following standards:
(a)
Residential planned unit developments must be connected to publicly owned water supply and sewer systems, if available. On-site water supply and sewage treatment systems must be centralized and designed and installed to meet or exceed applicable standards or rules of the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. On-site sewage treatment systems must be located on the most suitable areas of the development, and sufficient lawn area free of limiting factors must be provided for a replacement soil treatment system for each sewage system.
(b)
Dwelling units or sites must be clustered into one or more groups and located on suitable areas of the development. They must be designed and located to meet or exceed the following dimensional standards for the relevant shoreland classification: setback from the ordinary high water level, elevation above the surface water features, and maximum height. Setbacks from the ordinary high water level must be increased for developments with density increases. Maximum density increases may only be allowed if structure setbacks from the ordinary high water level are increased to at least 50 percent greater than the minimum setback, or the impact on the waterbody is reduced an equivalent amount through vegetative management, topography, or additional means acceptable to the local unit of government and the setback is at least 25 percent greater than the minimum setback.
(c)
Shore recreation facilities, including but not limited to swimming areas, docks, and watercraft mooring areas and launching ramps must be centralized and located in areas suitable for them. Evaluation of suitability must include consideration of land slope, water depth, vegetation, soils, depth to groundwater and bedrock, or other relevant factors. The number of spaces provided for continuous beaching, mooring, or docking of watercraft must not exceed one for each allowable dwelling unit or site in the first tier. Launching ramp facilities, including a small dock for loading and unloading equipment, may be provided for use by occupants of dwelling units or sites located in other tiers.
(d)
Structures, parking areas, and other facilities must be treated to reduce visibility as viewed from public waters and adjacent shorelands by vegetation, topography, increased setbacks, color, or other means acceptable to the local unit of government, assuming summer, leaf-on conditions.
(4)
Erosion control and stormwater management for residential planned unit developments must:
(a)
Be designed, and their construction managed, to minimize the likelihood of serious erosion occurring either during or after construction. This must be accomplished by limiting the amount and length of time of bare ground exposure. Temporary ground covers, sediment entrapment facilities, vegetated buffer strips, or other appropriate techniques must be used to minimize erosion impacts on surface water features. Erosion control plans approved by a soil and water conservation district may be required if project size and site physical characteristics warrant.
(b)
Be designed and constructed to effectively manage reasonably expected quantities and qualities of stormwater runoff.
C.
Administration and maintenance requirements. Before final approval of all residential planned unit developments, local governments must ensure adequate provisions have been developed for preservation and maintenance in perpetuity of open spaces and for the continued existence and functioning of the development as a community.
(1)
Open space preservation. Deed restrictions, covenants, permanent easements, public dedication and acceptance, or other equally effective and permanent means must be provided to ensure long-term preservation and maintenance of open space. The instruments must include all of the following protections:
(c)
construction of additional buildings or storage of vehicles and other materials prohibited; and
(2)
Development organization and functioning. Unless an equally effective alternative community framework is established, when applicable, all residential planned unit developments must use an owners association with the following features:
(a)
Membership must be mandatory for each dwelling unit or site purchaser and any successive purchasers.
(b)
Each member must pay a pro rata share of the association's expenses, and unpaid assessments can become liens on units or sites.
(d)
The association must be responsible for insurance, taxes, and maintenance of all commonly owned property and facilities.
D.
Conversions. Local governments may allow existing resorts or other land uses and facilities to be converted to residential planned unit developments if all of the following standards are met:
(1)
Proposed conversions must be initially evaluated using the same procedures and standards presented in this part for developments involving all new construction. Inconsistencies between existing features of the development and these standards must be identified.
(2)
Deficiencies involving water supply and sewage treatment, structure color, impervious coverage, open space, and shore recreation facilities must be corrected as part of the conversion or as specified in the conditional use permit.
(3)
Shore and bluff impact zone deficiencies must be evaluated and reasonable improvements made as part of the conversion. These improvements must include, where applicable, the following:
(a)
removal of extraneous buildings, docks, or other facilities that no longer need to be located in shore or bluff impact zones;
(b)
remedial measures to correct erosion sites and improve vegetative cover and screening of buildings and other facilities as viewed from the water; and
(c)
if existing dwelling units are located in shore or bluff impact zones, conditions are attached to approvals of conversions that preclude exterior expansions in any dimension or substantial alterations. The conditions must also provide for future relocation of dwelling units, where feasible, to other locations, meeting all setback and elevation requirements when they are rebuilt or replaced.
(4)
Existing dwelling unit or dwelling site densities that exceed standards in this part may be allowed to continue but must not be allowed to be increased, either at the time of conversion or in the future. Efforts must be made during the conversion to limit impacts of high densities by requiring seasonal use, improving vegetative screening, centralizing shore recreation facilities, installing new sewage treatment systems, or other means.
Subp. 6.
Commercial planned unit development density evaluation steps and design criteria.
The density evaluation steps and design criteria for commercial planned unit developments are contained in items A and B:
A.
Density evaluation steps:
(1)
Determine the average inside living area size of dwelling units or sites within each tier, including both existing and proposed units and sites. Computation of inside living area sizes need not include decks, patios, stoops, steps, garages, or porches and basements, unless they are habitable space.
(2)
Select the appropriate floor area ratio from the following table:
Commercial Planned Unit Development
Floor Area Ratios*
Public waters classes
| Average unit floor area (sq. ft.) | Sewered general development lakes; first tier on unsewered general development lakes; urban, agricultural, tributary river segments | Second and additional tiers on unsewered general development lakes; recreational development lakes; transition and forested river segments | Natural environment lakes; remote river segments |
| 200 | .040 | .020 | .010 |
| 300 | .048 | .024 | .012 |
| 400 | .056 | .028 | .014 |
| 500 | .065 | .032 | .016 |
| 600 | .072 | .038 | .019 |
| 700 | .082 | .042 | .021 |
| 800 | .091 | .046 | .023 |
| 900 | .099 | .050 | .025 |
| 1,000 | .108 | .054 | .027 |
| 1,100 | .116 | .058 | .029 |
| 1,200 | .125 | .064 | .032 |
| 1,300 | .133 | .068 | .034 |
| 1,400 | .142 | .072 | .036 |
| 1,500 | .150 | .075 | .038 |
*For average unit floor areas less than shown, use the floor area ratios listed for 200 square feet. For areas greater than shown, use the ratios listed for 1,500 square feet. For recreational camping areas, use the ratios listed at 400 square feet. Manufactured home sites in recreational camping areas shall use a ratio equal to the size of the manufactured home, or if unknown, the ratio listed for 1,000 square feet.
(3)
Multiply the useable area within each tier by the floor area ratio to yield total floor area for each tier allowed to be used for dwelling units or sites.
(4)
Divide the area computed in subitem (3) by the average determined in subitem (1). This yields a base number of dwelling units and sites for each tier.
(5)
Determine whether the project is eligible for any additional density increases. To be eligible, projects must meet all of the design standards in item B, and exceed one or more of them. The local unit of government may decide how much, if any, increase in density to allow for each tier, but must not exceed the maximum allowable density increases listed in the following table:
Maximum Allowable Dwelling Unit Or Site
Density Increases For Commercial
Planned Unit Developments
| Tier | Maximum density increase within each tier (percent) |
| First | 50 |
| Second | 100 |
| Third | 200 |
| Fourth | 200 |
| Fifth | 200 |
(6)
Allowable densities may be transferred from any tier to any other tier further from the shoreland lake or river, but must not be transferred to any other tier closer.
B.
The design criteria are:
(1)
Open space. Commercial planned unit developments must contain open space meeting all of the following criteria:
(b)
Dwelling units or sites, road rights-of-way, or land covered by road surfaces, or parking areas, except water-oriented accessory structures or facilities, are developed areas and should not be included in the computation of open space.
(c)
Open space must include areas with physical characteristics unsuitable for development in their natural state, and areas containing significant historic sites or unplatted cemeteries.
(d)
All shore impact zones within commercial planned unit developments must be included as open space, and at least 50 percent of these areas must be preserved in their natural or existing state.
(e)
Open space may include outdoor recreation facilities for use by guests staying in dwelling units or sites, or the public.
(f)
Open space may include subsurface sewage treatment systems if use of the space is restricted to avoid adverse impacts on the systems.
(2)
Design of structures and facilities must be done according to the following standards:
(a)
Commercial planned unit developments must be connected to publicly owned water supply and sewer systems, if available. On-site water supply and sewage treatment systems must be designed and installed to meet or exceed applicable rules of the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. On-site sewage treatment systems must be located on the most suitable areas of the development, and sufficient lawn area free of limiting factors must be provided for a replacement soil treatment system for each sewage system.
(b)
Dwelling units or sites must be located on suitable areas of the development. They must be designed and located to meet or exceed the following dimensional standards for the relevant shoreland classification: setback from the ordinary high water level, elevation above surface water features, and maximum height. Maximum density increases may only be allowed if structure setbacks from the ordinary high water level are increased to at least 50 percent greater than the minimum setback, or the impact on the waterbody is reduced an equivalent amount through vegetative management, topography, or other means acceptable to the local unit of government and the setback is at least 25 percent greater than the minimum setback.
(c)
Structures, parking areas, and other facilities must be designed and located in a manner that minimizes their visibility from surface water features, assuming summer, leaf-on conditions. The structure, dwelling unit, accessory structure, or parking area must be treated to reduce visibility as viewed from public waters and adjacent shorelands by vegetation, topography, increased setbacks, color, or other means acceptable to the local unit of government assuming summer, leaf-on conditions. Vegetative and topographic screening must be preserved, if existing, or may be required to be provided.
(d)
Water-oriented accessory structures and facilities may be located within shore impact zones if they meet or exceed design standards contained in part 6120.3300, subpart 3, item H.
(e)
Shore recreation facilities, including but not limited to swimming areas, docks, and watercraft mooring areas and launching ramps, must be centralized and located in areas suitable for them. Evaluation of suitability must include consideration of land slope, water depth, vegetation, soils, depth to groundwater and bedrock, or other relevant factors. The number of watercraft allowed to be continuously beached, moored, or docked must not exceed one for each allowable dwelling unit or site in the first tier, notwithstanding existing mooring sites in an existing harbor. Launching ramp facilities, including a small dock for loading and unloading equipment, may be provided for use by occupants of dwelling units or sites located in other tiers.
(3)
Erosion control and stormwater management for commercial planned unit developments must:
(a)
Be designed, and their construction managed, to minimize the likelihood of serious erosion occurring either during or after construction. This must be accomplished by limiting the amount and length of time of bare ground exposure. Temporary ground covers, sediment entrapment facilities, vegetated buffer strips, or other appropriate techniques must be used to minimize erosion impacts on surface water features. Erosion control plans approved by a soil and water conservation district may be required if project size and site physical characteristics warrant.
(b)
Be designed and constructed to effectively manage reasonably expected quantities and qualities of stormwater runoff. Impervious surface coverage within any tier must not exceed 25 percent of the tier area, except 35 percent impervious surface coverage may be allowed in the first tier of general development lakes with an approved stormwater management plan and consistency with part 6120.3300, subpart 4.
Statutory Authority:
MS s 105.485
History:
13 SR 3029
Published Electronically:
January 30, 2024
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes