Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9 § 9.16.05
OPEN SPACE REDUCTION (Bloomington Housing Opportunity and Preservation Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) To incentivize the creation of opportunity housing units, a residential development that includes at least 9% of its total dwelling or co-living units affordable to households at or below 60% of AMI may reduce the required minimum usable open space as follows unless the City Council determines that the reduction is likely to create a specific adverse public health, safety, or welfare impact or would otherwise conflict with local, state or federal regulations, rules, or laws: (1) A development with at least 9% of its units qualifying as extremely low income affordable housing may reduce minimum usable open space requirements by up to 50%; (2) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as very low income affordable housing may reduce minimum usable open space requirements by up to 25%; or (3) A development with 9% of its units qualifying as low income affordable housing may reduce minimum usable open space requirements by up to 10%. (b) The minimum usable open space reductions provided in this section are not cumulative. Each qualifying development is eligible for only one minimum usable open space reduction of 10%, 25%, or 50% depending on the level of affordability provided. (Ord. 2021-1 , passed 3-8-2021; Ord. 2025-07 , passed 4-28-2025)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 9.16.05 establishes a tiered incentive that allows residential developments to reduce their required minimum usable open space when a portion of units are made affordable. Developments where at least 9% of units serve households at or below 60% of AMI may qualify for reductions of 10%, 25%, or 50%, depending on whether those units are classified as low income, very low income, or extremely low income affordable housing. Only one reduction tier applies per development — the reductions are not stackable — and the City Council retains authority to deny a reduction if it would likely cause a specific adverse public health, safety, or welfare impact or conflict with applicable regulations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property owners in Bloomington considering a residential project under § 9.16.05 generally structure their affordability commitments early in the planning process to determine which open space reduction tier, if any, the project qualifies for. A project dedicating at least 9% of units to extremely low income households may be eligible for up to a 50% reduction in minimum usable open space, while very low income and low income thresholds yield up to 25% and 10% reductions, respectively. Operators should be aware that only one tier applies per development and that City Council review can result in denial of the reduction if specific adverse impacts or regulatory conflicts are identified.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants living in or considering a development subject to § 9.16.05, this provision shapes how much usable open space a qualifying affordable housing development is required to provide. Residents in a development that received an open space reduction under this section should understand that the reduction was conditioned on a minimum share of units being designated as affordable at a specific income level. Tenants who have questions about whether a development's affordability commitments or open space conditions are being honored may contact the City of Bloomington's planning or housing department, or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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