The Minneapolis City Council has proposed measures that would limit the size of new houses in the city -- a move targeting oversized 'McMansion' homes that already account for about 1% of the housing stock.
"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."
FULL STORY: Minneapolis taking a bite out of McMansions?
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