Twin Cities Suburbs Planning for Transit Oriented Development

Local governments along the route Southwest Light Rail line in the suburbs of the Twin Cities are anticipating the route by studying and creating plans to accommodate transit oriented development.

1 minute read

November 12, 2014, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Eden Prairie is drafting a new zoning ordinance to encourage transit-oriented development at its five Southwest Light Rail Transit stations," reports Cali Owings.

"The city ordinance aims for walkable, high-density, mixed-use developments within a 10-minute walking distance of its stations, according to Regina Rojas, senior planner for the Eden Prairie Community Development Department. Eden Prairie received a $60,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council at the end of 2012 to develop a TOD zoning district for its stations."

Eden Prairie isn’t the only city along the line to win grants to study new zoning codes for their place along the forthcoming light rail line: "Minnetonka and Hopkins are teaming up for a zoning study for the Shady Oak station area to set a cohesive vision and reduce red tape for potential developers."

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