(a)

The purpose of the Downtown Commercial (DC) district is to provide for a mixture of commercial service, commercial retail, entertainment, civic, institutional, and related public facilities (including parking) in a pedestrian-oriented atmosphere. Standards are set forth in order to minimize negative impacts upon surrounding residential neighborhoods by limiting the uses permitted; provide adequate and conveniently located parking in public lots; minimize congestion within the district and surrounding neighborhoods; and promote high standards of building and site design which will foster compact commercial developments with pedestrian convenience and human scale to preserve and strengthen historic character.

(b)

The purpose of the Cottage Commercial (CC) district is to preserve areas adjacent to the downtown in which single family residences have been converted into commercial businesses.

(c)

The purpose of the General Commercial (GC) district is to accommodate numerous types of commercial, retail, service and office uses to allow for varying scale and intensities.

(d)

The purpose of the Mixed-Use (MU) district is to provide a vibrant, safe, attractive, and "walkable" pedestrian environment. Uses on the ground level are limited to those that produce pedestrian traffic, such as retail, entertainment, and dining, while those on the upper level are limited to residential, education, medical and/or office uses. The goal of this district is to develop with a minimum of 50 percent residential use with a density of 8-19 units per acre on average.

(Ord. No. 625, § 2, 3-7-2022)

Table 50.1 lists the Permitted, Conditional, Interim and Accessory uses for the Commercial Districts.

[1]

Use cannot be located at street level on Water Street or at street level in structures that have frontage on both Water Street and one of the following: Lake Street, 2 ^nd Street, or 3 ^rd Street; use must be located on the upper level.

[2]

Use cannot be located at street level; must be located on the upper level.

[3]

Principal accessory uses are permit in the General Commercial District only within the following boundary as described in section 10-433, in the area beginning from the northernmost point of intersection of Morse Avenue and the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority right-of-way, heading due east to a point of junction with State Highway 7, then heading generally southwest along State Highway 7 to a point of junction with Morse Avenue, then heading generally northeast along Morse Avenue to the point of beginning; and less than 250 feet from one or more property lines of a residentially zoned property, a church site, a school site, a day care facility, or a park.

[4]

At least 75 percent of the footprint of the building at street level must consist of the principal allowed use. Any allowed accessory use must be located behind the principal use away from street level.

[5]

Use must be in a dwelling unit located above the ground floor.

(Ord. No. 625, § 2, 3-7-2022; Ord. No. 638, § 3, 8-1-2022; Ord. No. 660, § 4, 5-6-2024; Ord. No. 682, § 1, 4-21-2025)

The following minimum requirements shall be observed subject to the following additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this Appendix E:

[1]

Building height exceptions are found in section 14-1 of this Appendix E.

[2]

Setback as specified unless off-street loading facilities are provided other than from an alley in accordance with article 20 of this Appendix E.

[3]

Setback as specified unless adjacent to a Residential District, in which case the setback shall be the same as the Residential District. In the case there are two different required side yard setbacks, the greatest required side yard setback shall be required.

[4]

Setback as specified unless adjacent to a Residential District, in which case the setback shall be the same as the Residential District, or a public alley, in which case it shall be 12 feet.

[5]

Flat-roofed structures shall be measured from average grade at front of the lot, to the highest point of the building excluding chimneys and other building accessories as specified in subsection 14-1(b). Pitched-roof structures shall be measured from average grade at front of the lot to the mean distance of the highest gable.

(Ord. No. 625, § 2, 3-7-2022 Ord. No. 638, § 1, 8-1-2022)

Cottage Commercial uses including all new construction and remodeling shall meet the following design standards:

(a)

Buildings shall have the physical characteristics of a residential cottage, such as a pitched roof or a front stoop or porch.

(b)

Setbacks shall be landscaped as reasonably as possible with sufficient screening between uses.

(c)

Parking is permitted in the rear yard or side aisle only.

(d)

Screening, landscaping buffers, and trees are to be retained as much as possible.

(Ord. No. 625, § 2, 3-7-2022)

The following design standards shall apply in the Downtown Commercial District:

(1)

Except for public parking lots, no parking areas shall be located within 50 feet of Water Street unless screened by a building.

(2)

Drive-in, drive-up, or drive-through facilities shall be prohibited unless otherwise provided for in this Appendix E.

(Ord. No. 685, § 1, 8-18-2025)