Coon Rapids Approves New LDR-3 Zoning to Allow Smaller Single-Family Lots

Coon Rapids Approves New LDR-3 Zoning to Allow Smaller Single-Family Lots

Coon Rapids is opening the door to a new kind of single-family neighborhood. On September 15, the City Council approved creation of LDR-3 (Low Density Residential-3), a zoning district designed to allow single-family homes on smaller lots.

The move adds a third option to the city’s low-density residential framework, joining LDR-1 (larger lots, often along the river) and LDR-2 (the city’s most common lot type). City leaders say the new district will provide flexibility for redeveloping smaller or unusually shaped parcels while maintaining the character of single-family neighborhoods.

A New Option for Smaller Lots

The newly adopted LDR-3 standards mirror LDR-2 in many respects but lower several dimensional thresholds to allow more efficient use of land:

• Minimum lot size reduced from 10,800 to 7,200 square feet
• Lot width narrowed from 80 to 60 feet
• Lot depth shortened from 135 to 120 feet
• Maximum lot coverage increased from 30% to 50%

Senior Planner Max Pattsner emphasized that LDR-3 remains exclusively for detached single-family homes and is not intended as a steppingstone toward moderate-density housing types such as townhomes or duplexes.

“This district is meant to optimize single-family development on smaller parcels,” Pattsner explained, noting that the change will help the city unlock development potential without sacrificing neighborhood consistency.

Fire Station 3: First Site to Use LDR-3

The clearest application of the new zoning is the vacant Fire Station 3 site, a two-acre city-owned property at 2831 113th Ave. NW. Although the surrounding neighborhood is single-family, the site is currently zoned a mix of Moderate Density Residential (MDR) and LDR-2, which has made redevelopment challenging.

Pattsner said the property’s irregular shape and size make it difficult to reuse under existing rules without costly variances. Under the LDR-3 standards, however, the site could accommodate six to seven single-family homes without exceptions—an outcome city officials believe will make the parcel more marketable to developers.

The Planning Commission launched the rezoning process for the site on September 18. Once the City Council gives final approval, the city plans to market the parcel to private developers.

Limited Application—For Now

While the Fire Station 3 property is expected to be the first site rezoned under LDR-3, Pattsner said no other properties in Coon Rapids are currently slated for the new designation. City leaders describe the measure as a strategic tool, created to solve site-specific challenges rather than broadly reshape single-family zoning citywide.

The city has released a video tour of the new Fire Station 3 on its media channel, highlighting why the old station site has been opened for redevelopment.

MinneapoliMedia