1. Building Design And Materials: All buildings shall be designed to accomplish the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Building materials shall be attractive in appearance, of a durable finish, and be of a quality that is compatible and harmonious with adjacent structures. All buildings shall be of good aesthetic and architectural quality, to ensure they will maintain and enhance the property values of neighboring properties and not adversely impact the community's public health, safety and general welfare.
   1. Design Elements: All new building fronts and refacing of an existing building shall include a minimum of three (3) of the following elements:
      1. Accent materials;
      2. A visually pleasing front entry that, in addition to doors, shall be accented a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) square feet around the door entrance for single occupancy buildings and a minimum of three hundred (300) square feet total for the front of multi-tenant buildings (this area shall be counted as 1 element);
      3. Twenty five percent (25%) window coverage on each front that faces a street;
      4. Contrasting, yet complementary material colors;
      5. A combination of horizontal and vertical design features;
      6. Irregular building shapes; or
      7. Other architectural features in the overall architectural concept.
      If the building configuration is placed on the lot in such a way that the main entrances are facing the side yard street, or interior side yard, they shall also meet the minimum of three (3) elements.
      
      If the applicant and the Development Review Committee (DRC) cannot agree on the proposed building exterior elevations, the applicant shall be required to make an application for a conditional use permit to prove compatibility.
   2. Accent Materials: Accent materials shall be wrapped around walls visible from public view. Painting accent bands on a major exterior material shall not be allowed as or substituted for visual relief, accenting, or a required element. Use of fiber cement trim, soffit and fascia shall be allowed as accent materials.
      
   3. Major Exterior Materials: Major exterior materials of all walls including face brick, stone, glass, stucco, synthetic stucco, fiber cement vertical panel siding, architectural concrete and precast and cast in place panels shall be acceptable as the major exterior wall material when they are incorporated into an overall design of the building. Use of rain screens, panelized systems, or curtain walls are encouraged and will be verified for high quality design and materials through the Development Review Committee. Fiber cement seam lines shall be architecturally integrated into the building design so that they are not visible. Seam lines can be filled, covered by other accent material or other method thereby making the seam lines invisible. Color impregnated decorative block shall also be allowed as a major exterior wall surface, and shall be required to be sealed. All materials shall be color impregnated, with the exception of allowing architectural concrete precast panel systems and fiber cement siding to be painted. Painting shall be permitted on color impregnated major exterior materials. If the architectural precast panel systems are painted, they shall be properly prepared and maintained regularly to prevent peeling, stripping, shading or any other form of deterioration or discoloration. Proof of manufacturer's painting specifications shall be supplied prior to issuance of a building permit. All exterior materials, including painted exterior materials, shall comply with section 304.2 Protective Treatment of the International Property Maintenance Code. This subsection (A)3 shall also apply to all exterior repairs, remodeling, or expansion of existing buildings that require a building permit.
   4. Limited Exterior Materials: No more than fifty percent (50%) of any exterior wall on a building shall be wood or 24-gauge or thicker metal accent material. All exterior materials, including painted exterior materials, shall comply with section 304.2 Protective Treatment of the International Property Maintenance Code. This fifty percent (50%) limit may be exceeded when used in a panelized system that consists of prefabricated, or factory manufactured, panels that form a structural envelope, and significantly simplify on site framing, and request for approval shall be through a conditional use permit or planned unit development. This standard applies only to facades facing a street.
   5. Prohibited Exterior Materials: Unadorned prestressed concrete panels, whether smooth or raked, nondecorative concrete block, sheet metal, 25-gauge or thinner corrugated metal or unfinished metal shall not be used as exterior materials. This restriction shall apply to all principal structures and to all accessory buildings.
   6. Visual Relief: No wall shall exceed one hundred feet (100') in length without visual relief. "Visual relief" may be defined as a varying design of the building by incorporating design features such as windows, horizontal and vertical patterns, contrasting material colors or varying wall depths.
   7. Roofs: Roofs which are exposed or an integral part of the building aesthetics shall be constructed only of commercial grade asphalt shingles, wood shingles, standing seam metal, slate, tile, or copper. Flat roofs which are generally parallel with the first floor elevation are not subject to these material limitations.
   8. Building And Roofing Materials: All building and roofing materials shall meet current accepted industry standards and tolerances, and shall be subject to review and approval by the Development Review Committee for quality, durability, and aesthetic appeal. For all new buildings and building exterior renovations, the applicant shall submit to the City product samples, color building elevations, and associated drawings which illustrate the construction techniques to be used in the installation of such materials. Building and roofing materials not specifically approved in this section may be allowed by a conditional use permit or planned unit development only after it is demonstrated that the proposed material is equal to or better than approved materials. The long range maintenance of the proposed material shall be incorporated as a condition of the approval and filed on the property.
   9. Parapets: Renovation or refacing of an existing commercial building that includes increasing the height of the parapet walls, as defined in section 10-4-2 of this title, shall be part of a comprehensive building upgrade that meets the following standards:
      1. The parapet wall finish materials shall match the major exterior materials provided on an exterior wall as specified in subsection (A)3 of this section.
      2. The parapet walls shall be provided along all perimeter walls.
      3. Parapet walls may vary in height but shall not exceed the building height of the respective district.
      4. The back of the parapet wall and/or its supports shall be screened from view from adjoining properties and public streets.
      5. Parapet wall extensions shall not be permitted as flat wall features on the building facade. All facades proposed to support a taller parapet wall shall be designed to provide variation in facade depth in conjunction with increased height. The following features may be required to provide facade depth in conjunction with the taller parapet walls:
         1. Recessed or projected windows, awnings, or canopies.
         2. Entryway treatments, awnings, canopies, marquees, porticoes, and arches.
         3. Vertical wall treatments that extend from the facade creating a variation in facade depth, columns, corner treatments, and changes in building materials.
         4. Horizontal wall treatments, cornices, lintels, and color bands that provide some facade depth and divide the building height.
2. Private Trash And Recyclable Materials: All private trash, recyclable materials, trash and recyclable materials handling equipment and compactors shall be screened pursuant to section 10-7-18 of this title.
3. Off Street Parking: Design and maintenance of off street parking areas shall be in accordance with section 10-7-26 of this title.
4. Accessory Structures: Garages, accessory structures excluding trash enclosures, screen walls and exposed area of retaining walls shall be of a similar type, quality and appearance as the principal structure.
5. Utilities: The view of all rooftop equipment and related piping, ducting, electrical and mechanical utilities abutting a street on buildings constructed after January 1, 2006, shall be screened from the ground level view. Screening may include parapet walls, penthouses, or other architecturally integrated elements. Wood fencing or chainlink with slats shall not be used for screening. The term "ground level view" shall be defined as the view of the building from the farthest point of the width of the right-of-way from the property line(s) that abuts a street. A cross sectional drawing shall be provided that illustrates the sightlines from the ground level view. For buildings constructed prior to January 1, 2006, for replacement of existing units, remodeling, and building expansions, the ground level view of all rooftop equipment and related piping, ducting, electrical and mechanical utilities shall be painted to match the building, designed to be compatible with the architectural treatment of the principal structure or screened by the use of parapet walls. Wood fencing shall not be used for screening.
6. Private Ground Mechanical Equipment: Private ground mechanical equipment shall be one hundred percent (100%) screened pursuant to section 10-7-18 of this title, or a screen wall shall be provided compatible with the architectural treatment of the principal structure.
7. Outdoor Storage: Outdoor storage of materials or products may be authorized by conditional use permit.
8. External Loading And Service Areas: All external loading and service areas accessory to industrial buildings must be one hundred percent (100%) screened pursuant to section 10-7-18 of this title, except at access points.
   1. Whenever an Industrial District abuts an R-1 District, there shall be no loading docks on any building elevation that is either directly facing or oriented toward a residential use.
9. Height Limit: There shall be no limit placed on the height of buildings in I Industrial Districts, except that any building in excess of forty five feet (45') shall be by conditional use permit.
   1. Buildings within the Minnesota River Quadrant as identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan shall have no height limitations, except where Environmental Overlay Districts and floodplain regulations may apply.
10. Compatibility: All structures shall be compatible with other structures in the area. (Ord. 1196, 4-6-2010; Ord. 1232, 4-5-2011; Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; Ord. 1438, 10-17-2017; Ord. 1491, 6-4-2019; Ord. 1499, 10-22-2019)

1. Retail sales of products stored or manufactured on the site shall be allowed as an accessory use. A maximum of twenty percent (20%) of the floor area of the space occupied by the particular business may be used for retail sales purposes. A single structure leased to more than five (5) tenants under separate leases shall have no more than ten percent (10%) of the total building area devoted to retail space as an accessory use.
2. Parking as required for retail in this title shall be provided in addition to that required for the principal use.
3. No sign or display in excess of four (4) square feet shall be placed on or off the property advertising the existence of the retail sales facility.
4. If excessive on street parking of vehicles occurs, the sales shall cease or be reduced to the level that the off street parking can accommodate. (Ord. 653, 3-3-1997; Ord. 1454, 4-17-2018)

In I-1 and I-2 districts, no outdoor merchandise display shall be allowed except by conditional use permit when such outdoor display is specifically intended to be accessory to the primary use(s) of the premises. A conditional use permit may be issued for accessory outdoor merchandise display in I-1 and I-2 districts, provided the following standards are considered and satisfactorily met on a continuous basis: (Ord. 1132, 8-19-2008; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)

1. The outdoor merchandise display area shall be limited to one surface area per building. The display area shall be limited in size to fifteen percent (15%) of the gross floor area of the principal structure. The maximum dimension of a display area shall be thirty feet (30'), and in no case shall the larger dimension of the display area be more than two (2) times the lesser dimension. In no case shall the outdoor merchandise display area exceed a total of six hundred (600) square feet per site. For the purpose of these standards, the term "site" shall be defined as a lot or group of lots contained within a unified development project.
2. The outdoor display area shall be clearly identified upon an approved site plan for the property. The display area shall meet the required side and rear yard setbacks for the district in which it is located, and shall be set back no less than ten feet (10') from the front property line. No outdoor display activities shall occur in a traffic visibility triangle as provided for by section 10-7-6 of this title. The display area surface may be elevated up to three feet (3') above the adjacent ground surface. The appropriate height of the display area shall be determined by considering the size of the item(s) to be displayed, the proportion of the display area to the building, and the location of the display area on the site.
3. No displayed merchandise shall exceed a maximum height of twelve feet (12') above the display surface. (Ord. 421, 8-19-1991; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
4. Outdoor display areas, when located adjacent to and/or across the street from residential uses, shall be one hundred percent (100%) screened pursuant to section 10-7-18 of this title. (Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
5. No additional lighting shall be installed to illuminate the display area.
6. The display area shall be surfaced with concrete or an approved equivalent to control dust and erosion. The surface shall be properly maintained to prevent deterioration. The display area shall be architecturally compatible with the principal structure of the site through the use of similar building materials or fencing around the perimeter of the display area. The display area shall be enhanced with appropriate, year round landscaping.
7. The display area shall not take up required parking spaces or landscaping areas. No outdoor display shall be permitted upon a sidewalk.
8. The square footage of outdoor display areas shall be included in the calculation of required off street parking for the principal use of the property.
9. All display of merchandise shall occur in a neat and orderly fashion without signage. The display of wearing apparel, highly flammable materials, and merchandise with wind movable parts and appendages shall be prohibited.
10. Any power equipment and vehicles that are displayed shall be disabled to prevent them from being started and operated while they are on display.
11. The provisions of section 10-5-5 of this title shall be considered and satisfactorily met. (Ord. 421, 8-19-1991; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
12. Warehouse, wholesale showroom and multi-tenant warehouse facilities shall be subject to the requirements of section 10-7-44 of this title. (Ord. 1316, 4-8-2014; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
13. Open storage lots shall be subject to the requirements of section 10-7-45 of this title.
14. Open sales/rental lots shall be subject to the requirements of section 10-7-46 of this title. (Ord. 1132, 8-19-2008; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
    

1. Sheet aluminum, corrugated aluminum, asbestos, iron, plain or painted plain concrete blocks shall not be deemed acceptable as major exterior wall materials on buildings within I-2 general industry districts, except as permitted by a conditional use permit issued by the city council pursuant to section 10-5-5 of this title. The following standards apply to conditional use permits under this subsection:
   1. The building shall be an accessory structure.
   2. The building shall not be occupied by personnel.
   3. The building shall be used to house material, parts or equipment which would otherwise constitute open storage.
   4. The building shall be generally not visible from major arterial roadway corridors.
   5. The landscaping of the area surrounding the location shall provide natural visual barriers to the building.
   6. The building shall be constructed of long term maintenance free materials. A manufacturer's warranty shall be prima facie evidence of compliance with this standard.
2. The applicant shall have the burden of establishing that these standards and the standards of section 10-5-5 of this title have been met. The planning commission and the city council may attach conditions they deem necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan. (Ord. 597, 12-4-1995; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
   

1. Aggregate processing and related businesses shall be designed, operated and maintained to appear and function in a manner that is consistent with and comparable to other permitted uses within the GIH gateway industrial heavy districts. Processing, storage, receiving and shipping activities shall be located within or behind the principal structure, in the portions of lots that are opposite the railroad tracks, and will thereby be substantially screened from view from the TH 13 corridor and adjacent streets. Every reasonable effort shall be made to house these activities and uses within buildings. Those activities and uses that cannot reasonably be located within buildings shall be located behind structures, and/or screened by one or a combination of berms, landscaping, approved walls or fences.
2. These businesses shall at all times be operated in strict compliance with the Minnesota pollution control agency's regulations covering noise, dust emissions, air quality, odor, and surface and ground water quality protection. (Ord. 862A, 11-18-2002; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
   

1. Properties that become nonconforming in terms of green area, setbacks or parking requirements as a direct result of a public improvement project resulting in loss of land (taking) for public roadway right of way or easements shall be considered in their pretaking condition when proposing any building or parking expansion affected by the land taking.
2. The setbacks, green area and parking requirements shall be as follows:
   1. Minimum setbacks for principal and accessory structures or parking shall only be considered on the side of the structure(s) or parking lot where the public taking resulted in the nonconformity.
   2. Minimum setbacks shall be the existing setback before the taking less the amount of the taking. Principal and accessory structures shall be set back no less than ten feet (10'). Parking shall be set back no less than five feet (5').
   3. Green area for the total land area shall be the percent required by section 10-30A-10 of this title at the time of the taking, less the percent removed as a result of the taking. Green area shall not be less than ten percent (10%) of the total lot area after taking.
   4. Required parking spaces shall be those required by section 10-7-26 of this title less the spaces eliminated as a direct result of the taking. If a property has an approved proof of parking plan with spaces not yet utilized as parking at the time of the taking, the owner shall install such spaces to replace those eliminated by the taking. (Ord. 1226, 1-18-2011; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)
      

1. Sports Performance Training Centers; Special Requirements:
   1. All off street parking and loading shall be provided as required for sports performance training centers in this title.
   2. Parking for special events must be accommodated with off street parking on the building site or via a joint parking agreement.
   3. All signage must meet the requirements of chapter 30 of this title.
   4. If the sports performance training center is located in an existing multi-tenant building the following additional standards apply:
      1. Off street parking and loading must be provided for all tenant uses as required by this title.
      2. Customer parking and pedestrian access to the building must not interfere with off street loading or large truck maneuvering on the site.
      3. The building inspector must determine if the change of use requires alterations to the building to ensure health and safety. The applicant shall be responsible for all required changes. (Ord. 1314, 3-18-2014; amd. Ord. 1322, 6-3-2014)