Definitions.
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances § PB15-3
in effectPB15-3. - Definitions.
The following terms whenever used in this article shall have the following respective meanings:
Affordable housing units means:
(1) Residential dwelling units financed in whole or in part by a local, state, or federal government entity for the purpose of creating housing affordable to and occupied by households earning sixty (60) percent or less of the median family income for the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan statistical area, as adjusted for family size;
(2) Residential dwelling units in a project financed in whole or in part by a local, state, or federal government entity for the purpose of creating affordable housing where one hundred (100) percent of the housing project meets the requirements for income averaging under Section 42(g)(1)(c) of the Internal Revenue Code resulting in an average rent for all units in the project that does not exceed sixty (60) percent of Metropolitan Median Income (MMI); or
(3) Residential dwelling units in a project that are affordable to and occupied by households earning sixty (60) percent or less of the MMI as a result of compliance with Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Article XIV, Inclusionary Housing.
City means the City of Minneapolis.
City staff means the appropriate department head or person designated by that department head to carry out a specific duty or function designated by this ordinance.
Community park means a public park that is a minimum of six (6) acres in size serving the community that may include more specialized or unique features that are not typically provided in a neighborhood park.
Comprehensive plan means the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Minneapolis.
Developer means any person, firm, corporation, sole proprietorship or partnership who seeks to improve property in a manner that would result in a net increase in the number of residential dwelling units on the property or create or expand a commercial or industrial use on the property, and includes any property owner or subdivider of the land. This definition does not include governmental units.
Development employees refers to the approximate number of new or additional employees that will result from the proposed commercial or industrial development or expansion and is equal to the product of (1) the number of square feet of floor area of the new structural improvements in the proposed commercial or industrial development or expansion divided by one thousand (1,000) (or for hotels, the number of hotel rooms) and (2) the average number of employees per one thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area of the proposed type of development (or for hotels, the average number of employees per hotel room) based on data maintained by the department of community planning and economic development. Any conversion of existing commercial or industrial space from one (1) type of use to another that does not result in any additional square footage of usable space shall not result in any new development employees.
Development site refers to a plot of land that is intended or suitable for a proposed servicing of unimproved land or the improvement of previously developed land and for which there is the proposed construction of new buildings or renovation or significant change of existing buildings to accommodate a new land use or increased density of a land use and for which planning approvals are required. Development site does not include an expansion to an existing commercial or industrial building that is less than five thousand (5,000) square feet or the construction of a new commercial or industrial building that is less than five thousand (5,000) square feet.
Downtown area means the geographic area of the city bounded by Interstate 35W, Interstate 94, Plymouth Avenue, and the Mississippi River.
Dwelling unit means one (1) or more rooms, designed, occupied or intended for occupancy as a separate living quarter, with a single complete kitchen facility, sleeping area and bathroom provided within the unit for the exclusive use of a single household.
Neighborhood means one (1) of the eighty-one (81) areas within the City of Minneapolis officially designated as neighborhoods by the Minneapolis Planning Department.
Neighborhood park means a public park that is six (6) acres or less in size that is designed to serve a single neighborhood.
Open space means land that is owned in fee or used through an easement with acreage that does not primarily consist of structures or facilities and can include natural areas that have not been subject to development or contain unique ecological or wildlife habitat features.
Park means public parks operated by the City of Minneapolis or park board, including all park buildings, trails, parkways, and related facilities.
Park board means the Park and Recreation Board of the City of Minneapolis.
Park system plan means the system-wide comprehensive plan adopted by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for the acquisition, development, or redevelopment of parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities, wetlands, trails, or open space areas.
Playground means an area especially designed for children to play which may or may not include play structures, playground equipment such as swings and see-saws, and may also have facilities for playing informal games of youth and adult sports such as a baseball diamond, hockey rink, tennis court, or basketball court.
Recreational facility means recreational improvements that are not typically provided in either a neighborhood park or a community park, such as a community garden, that are designed to facilitate recreational activities. Recreational facilities shall also include recreational improvements, such as community centers or sports fields, that are not located in either a neighborhood park or a community park.
Trail means a linear corridor with other site amenities such as landscaping, benches, and lighting, which provides a separated right-of-way with cross flows by motorists minimized and which is designed for recreational purposes such as walking, running, and bicycling.
Wetland means a lowland area, such as a marsh, that is saturated with moisture, as defined in Section 404, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1987, or the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act of 1991. (2009-Or-030, § 1, 4-10-09; 2010-Or-081, § 3, 9-24-10; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2013-103, § 1, 12-18-13; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2016-103, § 1, 9-21-16; Pk. Bd. Ord. No. 2020-102, § 1, 3-4-20)
Source: City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/minneapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PAREBOCOOR_CH15PADE_.15-3DEFetched: 11/1/2026