Minneapolis zoning panel opens door to 'granny flats'

Minneapolis is a step closer to expanding housing options in the city. The city council's zoning committee Thursday voted to legalize small apartments above garages in residential neighborhoods.

Committee members expect relatively few homeowners will actually add so-called "granny flats," because they can cost as much as $100,000 to build. That's one reason Council Member Lisa Goodman says she's willing to support the change.

• June: Should Minneapolis allow 'granny flats' city wide?

"This is going to happen in affluent parts of town where they can command much higher rents ... and they will not be affordable," Goodman said. "So let's not fool ourselves that this is some big affordable housing effort as much as it is a way for people to accommodate changes in family and how we define family."

The units are often called "granny flats" because they provide separate living quarters for aging relatives.

The city started allowing granny flats in a small area south of downtown more than a decade ago. Only one was ever built legally, although council members say they know of illegal structures in their wards.

The proposed ordinance would cap the total space at 1,000 square feet, including the area where cars are parked.

It goes to the full council on Dec. 5.

Council President Barbara Johnson has said she'll vote no on the matter. In her north Minneapolis ward, she said she's seen one granny flat built illegally for unseemly purposes.

"It was being used for prostitution. We had 13 unrelated people, some people living in the house, some people living in the accessory dwelling unit, and no rental license," she said.

Rather than loosening the city's zoning restrictions, Johnson said the city should do a better job enforcing the rules it already has.