Subd. 1. Purposes. The purposes of the Park and Open Space District are to:

A.

Promote, preserve, and protect publicly owned parks and open space through conservation and appropriate and compatible development;

B.

Provide opportunities for active and passive indoor and outdoor recreation and leisure activities integral to the overall quality of life;

C.

Protect natural resources including grassland, forest, wetlands and other features; and

D.

Enhance property values and further the purposes of the City's Park and Open Space System Plan.

Subd. 2. Definitions. The following terms, as used in this section, shall have the following meanings stated:

Front yard, perimeter means the area between the perimeter front lot line and the required front setback extending across that portion of a park property adjacent to the exterior streets.

Historical Property means a Historic Preservation Site as designated in this chapter and/or a district, site, building, structure or object on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lot Line, perimeter means the boundary that encompasses the entire park property which may include multiple parcels that function as a single site.

Park Property means a single parcel or multiple parcels that function as a single site. When a street crosses a park property, the park property is still considered a single site.

Public Recreation means any use commonly provided for and open to the public at parks, playgrounds, community centers, or other similar sites owned or operated by a unit of government for the purpose of providing recreation.

Rear yard, perimeter means the area lying between the perimeter rear lot line and the required rear setback line extending from the perimeter side lot lines.

Side yard, perimeter means the area between the perimeter side lot line and the required side setback extending from the perimeter front lot line to the perimeter rear lot line.

Subd. 3. Permitted Uses. Refer to the table in Section 11.07.

Subd. 4. Lots and Accessory Structures and Uses.

A.

Lots/Parcels. Park property may consist of one (1) or more lots or parcels that for the purposes of this section function as one (1) site. Setbacks for parking lots, buildings, and accessory structures and use shall be measured from the perimeter lot line that encompasses the park property.

B.

Accessory Structures and Uses. Accessory structures and uses in the Park and Open Space District may be located on the same lot as the principal use or structure or on another lot within the park property. An accessory structure or use may occur without a primary structure and may be allowed in the perimeter front yard setback up to fifteen (15) feet from the property line.

Subd. 5. Parking Lot Design. The following parking lot screening and parking setbacks are applicable to new or enlarged parking areas developed after September 28, 2017:

A.

Parking Lot Location. Off-street parking facilities shall be on the same parcel or parcels of land that contain the structure or use that the parking is intended to serve.

B.

Parking Setbacks. Parking areas shall be at least twenty (20) feet from any front lot line, ten (10) feet from any side lot line and fifty (50) feet from any rear lot line and shall be at least five (5) feet from a building.

C.

Parking Lot Screening. Off-street parking areas shall be screened from adjacent differing land uses and the public right-of-way as required in Section 11.42.

D.

Parking Surface. All parking lots shall be surfaced in accordance with Section 11.43.

E.

Parking Lot Islands. Parking lot islands shall be included at the ends of parking aisles rows and shall include planting material. Each island shall be a minimum of one hundred sixty (160) square feet and no dimension shall be less than five (5) feet.

F.

Shared Use Parking. Shared use parking is allowed between a park and an adjacent public district when it can be demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the City Planner that the uses have different peak hour parking demands. If shared parking is allowed the parties shall enter into a shared parking agreement in form and substance as approved by the City Planner. Overflow parking is allowed between two (2) park properties.

Subd. 6. Building Bulk and Dimension Standards.

A.

Building setbacks shall be measured from the perimeter lot line.

B.

The following minimum standards apply in the Park and Open Space District, unless otherwise noted:

C.

The following minimum standards apply for all accessory structures in the Park and Open Space District, unless otherwise noted:

(Source: Ordinance No. 04-2025, § 10, 3-4-2025)

Subd. 7. Fencing.

A.

Fencing associated with athletic fields, ball diamonds, courts and similar uses may exceed seven (7) feet in height. Fencing not associated with athletic fields, diamonds, courts or similar use shall be limited to seven (7) feet in height and may occupy any perimeter yard.

B.

No fence, hedge or other planting exceeding thirty (30) inches in height or trees pruned even to a height less than eight (8) feet shall be permitted where there will be interference with traffic sight distance.

Subd. 8. Landscaping. Landscaping required after September 28, 2017 must comply with the requirements of Section 11.42 and with the following:

A.

Mechanical equipment must be screened in accordance with this chapter.

B.

General screening in this chapter.

C.

Native plant material is encouraged consistent with this chapter.

D.

Landscaping shall include a combination of trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses to create a diverse and balanced design.

Subd. 9. Architectural Standards. All new buildings, including storage and equipment buildings, in the Park and Open Space District that require a building permit, are visible from the public right-of-way, street, and/or an adjacent differing land use and constructed after September 28, 2017 must comply with the City's Design Guidelines, which will be used as the standards for the architectural design of the buildings in the Park and Open Space District. The architectural design should be compatible with the built environment surrounding the park, fit the context of the site and further the intent and goals of the Design Guidelines including the development of high quality projects balanced with aesthetics, function, surrounding environment, and economics.

Subd. 10. Lighting Standards. All new lighting fixtures and poles installed in the Park and Open Space District after September 28, 2017 must comply with the following:

A.

Lighting may not exceed a maximum of 0.5 foot candles as measured at the perimeter property line demonstrated with a photometric plan.

B.

Glare, whether direct or reflected, such as from spotlights or high temperature processes, and as differentiated from general illumination, must not be visible beyond the limits of the immediate site from which it originates.

C.

Parking Lot Lighting Fixtures: Light poles may be a maximum height of twenty (25) feet as measured from grade with downcast and cut off lens. Full cutoff lighting fixtures must be used in order to minimize ambient light pollution and side glare. Parking lot lighting fixtures in the interior portions of the parking lot are not required to be located in islands.

D.

Athletic Field Lighting Fixtures: Light poles (not including base) may be a maximum height of one hundred (100) feet with downcast and cut off lens. Lighting must be directed toward the athletic field.

Subd. 11. Requirements and Conditions. Except as specified in this Section, all other provisions in this Chapter that are applicable to all zoning districts or specifically apply to the Park and Open Space apply to the Parks and Open Space District.

Subd. 12. General Provisions. Refer to Section 11.08 for provisions that apply to all zoning districts.

Subd. 13. Parking. Refer to Section 11.43 for parking standards.

Subd. 14. Signs. Refer to Section 11.70 for sign regulations.

Subd. 15. Shoreland Management. Refer to Section 11.50 for shoreland management standards.

Subd. 16. Wetlands. Refer to Section 11.51 for wetland protection standards.

Subd. 17. Land Alteration, Tree Preservation, and Stormwater Management. Refer to Section 11.55 for regulations regarding land alteration, tree preservation, and stormwater management.

Subd. 18. Sloped Ground Development and Regulations. Refer to Section 11.60 for sloped ground development regulations.

Subd. 19. Floodplain. Refer to Section 11.45 for floodplain regulations.

(Source: Ordinance No. 20-2023, 12-14-2023; Ordinance No. 17-2017, 9-28-2017)