Subd. 1. Purpose. By adoption of the architectural standards contained in this section, the City intends to promote high quality development through aesthetics and functionality. This section applies to all building facades and exterior walls that are or planned to be visible to neighboring properties or the public. The standards are intended to encourage creativity and diversity of design and construction so that structures a) endure over time; b) provide visual enhancement to the City; c) use environmentally sustainable materials and patterns; and d) incorporate design characteristics that enhance the site at the human scale. The City's Design Guidelines provide further reference to the intent of the architectural standards.

Subd. 2. Design Standards. All structures within all districts, except Rural, R1-44, R1-22, R1-13.5, R1-9.5, RM-6.5, and Park and Open Space, must be developed in accordance with the following design standards contained in this section. Architectural plans must be prepared by a registered architect and must include:

A.

Elevations of all sides of the building;

B.

Type and color of exterior building materials;

C.

A typical floor plan and dimensions of all structures;

D.

Location of trash containers, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems; and

E.

Proposed screening of trash containers, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems.

Subd. 3. Exterior Building Materials - N-Com, C-Com, C-Reg, C-Reg-Ser, C-Hwy, Ofc, Pub A-C, A-OFC, TC-C, TC-R, TC-MU, MU, RM-2.5, TOD-R, TOD-E, TOD-MU, and GC.

A.

In Districts N-Com, C-Com, C-Reg, C-Reg-Ser, C-Hwy, Ofc, Pub A-C, A-OFC, TC-C, TC-R, TC-MU, MU, RM-2.5, TOD-R, TOD-E, TOD-MU, and GC, a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of each façade of the exterior building finish must consist of at least three (3) contrasting yet complementary materials, with at least one (1) color variation therein, materials comparable in grade and quality to the following Class I materials:

1.

Face brick;

2.

Natural stone;

3.

Glass;

4.

Cast stone;

5.

Cultured stone;

6.

Architectural precast;

7.

Precast concrete panel with an exposed aggregate of granite, marble, limestone, or other natural stone material with at least two architectural reveals per panel; and

8.

Fiber cement is allowed as a Class I material only in multi-family buildings in the RM-2.5, TC, C, and TOD districts that allow multi-family dwellings as a permitted use. In such instances, fiber cement must not be the most predominant building material used on a façade; or

9.

Other materials equal to or better than these listed above, submitted with specifications for installation and maintenance per industry standard and as approved by the City Planner.

B.

Fewer than three (3) materials may be used if three (3) or more color variations are included in those materials.

C.

Use of brick, natural stone and glass may be considered as one of several grounds upon which the City Council may grant waivers from exterior building requirements through the PUD process.

D.

Thin brick may be used in place of full brick only when it is integrally cast or connected to the substrate with mortar or grout, and not applied post-casting. Thin brick is excluded from the waiver opportunity in Subsection C above.

(Source: Ordinance No. 04-2025, § 16, 3-4-2025)

Subd. 4. Exterior Building Materials - C, OFC, TC, TOD, and PUB. In the C, OFC, TC, TOD, and PUB districts, only Class I materials may be used on the base of multi-story buildings, as visualized in the City's Design Guidelines.

Subd. 5. Exterior Building Materials - Industrial Districts.

A.

In Districts I-2, I-5, and I-Gen, a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of each façade of the exterior building finish must consist of at least two (2) contrasting yet complementary materials, with at least one (1) color variation therein, comparable in grade and quality to the following Class I materials:

1.

Face brick;

2.

Natural stone;

3.

Glass;

4.

Specially designed precast concrete units if the surfaces have been integrally treated with an applied decorative material or texture and smooth concrete block if scored at least twice;

5.

Rock face;

6.

Cast stone;

7.

Cultured stone;

8.

Architectural precast;

9.

Precast concrete panel with an exposed aggregate of granite, marble, limestone, or other natural stone material with at least two (2) architectural reveals per panel; or

10.

Other materials equal to or better than these listed above, submitted with specifications for installation and maintenance per industry standard and as approved by the City Planner.

B.

If glass is included as one (1) of the two (2) materials, the other material is required to have no less than two (2) distinct color variations.

C.

Use of brick, natural stone and glass may be considered as one of several grounds upon which the City Council may grant waivers from exterior building requirements through the PUD process.

D.

Thin brick may be used in place of full brick only when it is integrally cast or connected to the substrate with mortar or grout, and not applied post-casting. Thin brick is excluded from the waiver opportunity in Subsection C.

E.

In the Industrial (I) districts, only Class I materials may be used on the base of multi-story buildings, as visualized in the City's Design Guidelines.

Subd. 6. Remaining Façade. In all districts except Rural, R1-44, R1-22, R1-13.5, R1-9.5, and RM-6.5, a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of each façade of the exterior building finish may include the following:

A.

Stucco;

B.

Metal;

C.

Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS);

D.

Wood as trim or edging material only;

E.

Plastic as trim or edging material only;

F.

Vinyl as trim or edging material only; and

G.

Other materials equal to or better than these listed above submitted with specifications for installation and maintenance per industry standards and as approved by the City Planner.

Subd. 7. Exterior Building Materials - FS District. The following provisions apply in the FS district.

A.

A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of each façade of the exterior building finish fronting on an arterial roadway must consist of at least three (3) contrasting yet complementary materials, with at least one (1) color variation therein, comparable in grade and quality to the following Class I materials:

1.

Face brick;

2.

Natural stone;

3.

Glass;

4.

Cast stone;

5.

Cultured stone;

6.

Architectural precast

7.

Precast concrete panel with an exposed aggregate of granite, marble, limestone, or other natural stone material with at least two (2) architectural reveals per panel; and

8.

Other materials equal to or better than these listed above, submitted with specifications for installation and maintenance per industry standard and as approved by the City Planner.

B.

If glass is included as one (1) of the two (2) materials, the other material is required to have no less than two (2) distinct color variations.

C.

Use of brick, natural stone, and glass may be considered as one of several grounds upon which the City Council may grant waivers from exterior building requirements through the PUD process.

D.

Thin brick may be used in place of full brick only when it is integrally cast or connected to the substrate with mortar or grout, and not applied post-casting. Thin brick is excluded from the waiver opportunity in Subsection C above.

E.

Building façades with street frontage along roadways classified as anything other than arterial may also use the following as Class I materials towards the required seventy five percent (75%) with two (2) contrasting materials with one (1) color variation therein:

1.

Specially designed precast concrete units if the surfaces have been integrally treated with an applied decorative material or texture and smooth concrete block if scored at least twice; or

2.

Rock face.

F.

Building façades not fronting any street must have a minimum of sixty percent (60%) Class I materials comprised of any combination of the above listed Class I materials with two (2) contrasting materials with one (1) color variation therein.

Subd. 8. Building Articulation. In addition to the materials requirements as listed in this section, architectural design elements will be required in the review of building and site plans.

A.

Façade Articulation. Any building façade exceeding forty (40) feet (80 feet in I-2, I-5, I-Gen, and FS) in length must be designed with: recesses or projections of a minimum of four (4) inches in depth in the building façade; material changes; or other methods of building articulation that break down the perceived scale of the building or create visual interest. Rear yard dock walls are exempt from this provision.

B.

Distinct Ground Level(s). The ground level of any three-story structure (or a structure over thirty-two (32) feet in height) must be visually distinct from the upper stories. The first two stories of structures four (4) stories and taller must be visually distinct from the upper stories. The distinction must be articulated by at least one (1) of the following: an intermediate cornice line; an awning arcade or portico; a change in building materials, texture or detailing; a change in window shape or treatment; or other elements which meet the objective.

C.

Façade Transparency. In districts N-Com and C-Com, fifty percent (50%) of the first floor façade that is viewed by the public must be designed to include windows and/or doors to minimize expanses of blank walls. Windows must be designed to allow transparency between the interior of the building and exterior environment. If the building is a one-story design and the first floor elevation exceeds twelve (12) feet, then only the first twelve (12) feet in building height will be included in calculating the façade area. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the first floor façade that is viewed by the public must be designed to include any or all of the following: landscape materials (plant material, vertical trellis with vines, planter boxes, etc.); and/or architectural detailing and articulation that provides texture on the façade and/or parking structure openings. Buildings located more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from a public right-of-way are exempt from these requirements. Facades that provide interior storage areas are also exempt from these requirements.

D.

Building Entrances. Primary building entrances must be clearly defined and highly visible utilizing design features such as protruding or recessed entryways, awnings, canopies, pillars, unique building materials, exterior lighting, and/or architectural details.

E.

Roofline Variation. Rooflines add visual interest to the streetscape, reduce the mass of the structure, and create continuity between structures. Roofline variation must be achieved using one (1) or more of the following methods:

1.

Vertical off-set of parapet, cap, or cornice line;

2.

Horizontal off-set of parapet, cap or cornice line;

3.

Variations of roof pitch;

4.

Gables, dormers, hips, sheds, vaults, or other similar roof forms; or

5.

Any other technique approved by the City that achieves the intent of this section.

(Source: Ordinance No. 20-2023, 12-14-2023)