Robbinsdale Approves New EV Charging Station Requirements

The Robbinsdale City Council is moving ahead with plans for new electric vehicle charging requirements.

The council approved the first reading of the city code amendments at its Sept. 16 meeting.

If the council approves the second reading, developers building new housing or retail projects with more than 50 parking spots will be required to provide electric vehicle charging stations.

Likewise, any new gas stations would be required to install at least one charging station.

Developers will be able to ask the city for a reduction in the EV requirements if the installation costs would exceed five percent of the total project costs.

Robbinsdale Mayor Brad Sutton cast the lone vote against the amendments, saying he’s heard pushback from developers.

“I want to be the city that developers feel like we’re easy to work with and not more difficult,” he said. “And I feel like we’re mandating something that the market — well, we are. We are mandating something — let me be clear — that the market is doing anyway.”

He noted that he owns an electric vehicle.

The council also approved code amendments that add language relating to solar energy systems, defining solar systems as a permitted use in residential and business districts.

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