Minneapolis Looks To Crack Down On McMansions

"The action responds to increasing concern among some residents, especially in southwest Minneapolis, over lot-filling homes that tower over their neighbors."

"The zoning code change generally would lower the height limit from 35 to 30 feet or 2½ stories, whichever is lower."

In addition, the proposed changes would require that the footprint of new homes not exceed 50% of the lot size, and that hard surfaces be limited to 65% of the lot.

"City staff estimated that 727 existing homes, or about 1 percent of the housing stock, already exceed the floor-to-lot-size ratio. But the proposal would allow additions to those houses of up to 500 square feet every 15 years."