Fridley City Zoning Code

1. Purpose. Recognizing that most buildings will have several owners over the course of their usable life, the City establishes minimum architectural standards to provide, preserve and enhance the character of buildings and property values within the community. By preventing the physical deterioration of buildings and promoting durable and aesthetically pleasing designs, the general community welfare is maintained.

2. Applicability. Architectural standards apply to three-or-more-unit multi-family residential and all non-residential principal structures, in any of the following situations:

(a) Any new development or redevelopment;

(b) Façade replacement 50% or more; and

(c) Building expansions greater than 50% of the floor area.

3. In general. all exterior materials must be of a durable finish, good aesthetic and architectural quality to not adversely impact the community’s public health, safety and general welfare.

4. Material classes. Exterior materials shall be divided into Class I, Class II, Class III and a Prohibited category as follows:

(a) Class I are considered high-quality building materials that are durable to withstand climate conditions, wear and tear with a typical life expectancy of 40 years or more. Class I materials include but are not limited to:

(1) Unpainted full or thin veneer fired clay brick;

(2) Unpainted full or thin natural, manufactured or cast stone;

(3) Architectural ceramic panel rainscreen systems;

(4) Architectural cementitious panel rainscreen systems;

(5) Glass, including bird-friendly glass, glass curtain walls and glass cladding systems;

(6) Materials specified as part of a building’s certification under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

(b) Class II are considered standard building materials with a typical life expectancy of 20 years or more, but less than 40 years. Class II materials include but are not limited to:

(1) Masonry stucco, provided that the material is not allowed within 24 inches from grade;

(2) Metal wall panel systems (this does not include metal siding and corrugated or ribbed metal sheets);

(3) Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS);

(4) Fiber cement lap siding or trim;

(5) Integrally colored textural concrete panels; and

(6) Integrally colored specialty concrete block.

(c) Class III are considered lower-cost and trim grade materials more prone to damage or degradation from weatherization with a typical life expectancy of 20 years or less. Class III materials include but are not limited to:

(1) Vinyl siding or panels;

(2) Painted wood or masonry; and

(3) Translucent wall panel systems.

(d) Prohibited exterior materials are restricted on all applicable principal structures and accessory buildings except those accessory buildings not visible from public view due to location, screening or as determined by the Community Development Director or their designee. Prohibited materials include:

((a)) Unadorned or pre-stressed concrete panels;

((b)) Non-decorative concrete block; and

((c)) Sheet, corrugated, or unfinished metal wall panels.

5. Minimum material requirements.

(a) Front façades and façades facing a public right-of-way must be composed of at least 50% Class I materials and no more than 10% Class III materials.

(b) Side and rear façades must be composed of at least 40% Class I materials and no more than 20% Class III materials.

(c) Each façade must utilize a minimum of two types of Class I materials.

6. All buildings must be designed with elements that incorporate varying articulation and textured façade, with at least two of the following elements on any façade that can be viewed from a public street:

(a) Change in materials, change in color, and other significant visual relief provided in a manner or at intervals in keeping with the size, mass and scale of the wall.

(b) Architectural detailing such as arches, clerestories, columns, corbeling, pilasters, portals, quoins, tiling and towers. Additional architectural elements may include the use of awnings, canopies, embrasures, lunettes, plant boxes and recesses.

(c) Primary entrance clearly defined through the use of awnings, canopies, pillars, peaked roof form, entryway or architectural tilework, moldings or similar features integrated into the building design.

7. Building façade transparency. On the ground floor front facade, the following minimum standards apply:

(a) Amounts of transparency which can provide unobstructed views into and out of the building:

(1) Multi-unit dwellings must have a minimum of 20% transparency in the area occupied by dwelling units.

(2) Non-residential uses must provide a minimum of 30% transparency. Industrial uses are exempt from this requirement, but uses accessory to industrial (e.g., office or retail portions of mixed-use buildings) are not exempt.

(b) Transparency must not be permanently blocked by storage, shelving, mechanical equipment or other visual barriers.

(c) Darkly tinted windows, reflective glass or window signs that block two-way visibility are prohibited. Tinted windows must be no darker than 20% tint.

8. For any project required to meet architectural standards, the applicant must submit building elevations, materials diagrams, and associated drawings in color that illustrate the construction techniques to be used in the installation of the materials as part of required plan submittals identified in the Procedures Chapter. At least one elevation must be provided to show nighttime conditions.

9. Substitution of materials. The Community Development Director or their designee may approve alternative building materials on a case-by-case basis, provided that such materials exhibit the durability and structural integrity desired, with sufficient architectural relief, and do not detract from the desired aesthetic character of the building or the surrounding area.

10. The Community Development Director or their designee may determine that the substitution of materials requires further review by the Planning Commission and City Council.

11. Construction must follow the approved architectural plans. At the discretion of the Community Development Director or their designee, a request to change up to five percent of the originally approved building materials can be reviewed administratively. Requests for more significant changes, or as determined by the Community Development Director or their designee to need additional review, must follow the site plan process identified in the Procedures Chapter.