The purpose of the B-2 district is to provide a district for low intensity, service oriented commercial uses in areas designated as neighborhood or community centers in the comprehensive plan. Since these areas are often near residential areas, limitations are placed on the type, size and intensity of commercial uses in the district.

Within the B-2 district no structure or land shall be used except for one or more of the following uses:

a)   administrative, executive or professional offices;

b)   general retail, including cannabis retail businesses subject to City Code 650, and service commercial uses occurring within an enclosed building, except as provided for in subdivision 4; or

c)   cabinets no larger than 150 cubic feet that hold utility equipment and for which a landscape plan has been approved by the city planner; overhead utility poles and lines for a distribution line up to a maximum height of 60 feet as measured from the ground upon which it is located, except that utility poles and lines for a distribution line may be taller than 60 feet, but not taller than 80 feet, when needed to cross a major roadway such as a freeway.

(Amended by Ord. No. 2024-17, effective November 18, 2024)

Within the B-2 district the following uses shall be permitted provided they are subordinate to and associated with a permitted use:

a)   storage, assembly or servicing related to a permitted use and occupying no more than 10 percent of the gross floor area of the principal structure;

b)   receive-only satellite dish antennas and other antenna devices up to a maximum height of 60 feet as measured from the ground upon which it is located subject to the requirements found in section 300.28, subd. 13; and radio devices no larger than one cubic foot in size that are attached to utility poles, if there is no more than one per pole;

c)   sidewalk sales may be authorized by the city planner, at his or her discretion, up to three times per calendar year so long as they will be held on sidewalks located adjacent to the principal structure, will not block pedestrian or handicapped access, will not block any required parking or drive aisle, will not be located in any required setback area, will be limited to a maximum duration of two days, will use signage no larger than 4 feet by 4 feet per sign at the sale location with all other signage in compliance with city ordinances and upon completion of the sale that the site will be restored and cleaned as necessary. If a permitted sale does not comply with these standards, the city planner may require that it be immediately removed. Decisions of the city planner may be appealed to the planning commission. Cash deposits or other financial security acceptable to the city may be required if deemed necessary based upon the proposal or prior actions concerning the site;

d)   evergreen material sales if in compliance with the standards specified in section 300.15, subd. 13, and the city planner has given approval;

e)   solar energy systems; and

f)   other uses customarily associated with but subordinate to a permitted use, as determined by the city.

(Amended by Ord. 2011-02, adopted April 18, 2011; amended by Ord. No. 2022-18, effective November 14, 2022)

Within the B-2 district, no structure or land shall be used for the following except by conditional use permit and in conformance with the standards specified in section 300.21 of this ordinance:

a)   outside storage, display, sales or servicing;

b)   service stations and other automobile related uses having service bays except auto body repair and painting;

c)   non-service station retail facilities having gasoline pumps;

d)   uses having a drive-up window;

e)   storage, assembly or servicing related to a permitted use occupying between 10 and 25 percent of the gross floor area of the principal structure;

f)   fast food restaurants with or without drive-up facilities, except those located in community or regional shopping centers;

g)   automobile, truck, trailer or boat sales or rentals that are accessory to another use;

h)   theaters;

i)   restaurants having on-sale intoxicating liquor or dance hall licenses;

j)   licensed day care facilities;

k)   hospitals and medical clinics;

l)   cemeteries;

m)   marinas;

n)   public buildings or facilities and cabinets larger than 150 cubic feet that hold utility equipment;

o)   telecommunication facilities as defined in Section 300.34;

p)   accessory sidewalk cafes and outdoor eating areas;

q)   utility poles and appurtenances (such as wires) that are over 60 feet in height and freestanding upon the ground, and all transmission lines which are not subject to state review under the Minnesota power plant siting act;

r)   microbreweries;

s)   residential dwelling units; or

t)   other uses similar to those permitted in this section, as determined by the city.

(Amended by Ord. 2014-07; adopted March 24, 2014; amended by Ord. 2011-19, adopted August 22, 2011)

No building or land in the B-2 district shall be used except in conformance with the following:

a)   building height: maximum of 35 feet or two stories, whichever is less;

b)   front yard setback: minimum of 50 feet;

c)   side and rear yard setback: minimum of 35 feet;

d)   floor area ratio: maximum of 0.8;

e)   lot coverage: maximum lot coverage shall be 85 percent and shall be calculated to include building footprints; parking areas; driveways; loading, storage and trash areas and other areas covered by any impervious surface;

f)   access: by permit from a public body with principal access from a collector or arterial roadway as designated in the comprehensive plan or a street specifically designed to accommodate commercial traffic; and

g)   trash enclosures or accessory buildings not to exceed 600 square feet in size shall be located behind the front building line of the principal building. Setbacks shall be equal to the parking setback as specified in section 300.28, subd. 12(b)(4).

a)   All developments shall be subject to site and building plan review pursuant to section 300.27 of this ordinance.

b)   All developments must be in compliance with city code sections 300.23 wetland protection; 300.24 floodplain protection; 300.25 shoreland district; 300.28 Subd.20 performance standards regulating steep slopes; and 314.01 tree protection.

c)   Parking shall be regulated pursuant to section 300.28 of this ordinance.

d)   All developments shall comply with the city's water resources management plan.

e)   Signs shall be regulated pursuant to section 325 of the code of city ordinances.

(Amended by Ord. 2016-08, effective May 23, 2016; Amended by Ord. 2002-03, adopted January 7, 2002; amended by Ord. 2000-19, adopted October 16, 2000; amended by Ord. No. 2023-02, effective February 27, 2023)

The following uses are allowed in the B-2 district only pursuant to an approved interim use permit and in conformance with the standards specified in section 300.05 of this ordinance and the additional standards specified below:

a)   Any use authorized as a conditional use or other similar uses as determined by the city planner. These uses must meet the standards and conditions outlined for the corresponding conditional use unless waived by the city council, given the temporary nature of the use.

b)   transient sales;

   1)   must be located in a suitable off-street location and shall not extend into adjacent right-of-way or other public property;

   2)   must not interrupt vehicular circulation on the site or obstruct parking spaces needed by permanent business established on the site;

   3)   must have written authorization from property owner;

   4)   business operator must secure all applicable licenses and approvals from the city, Hennepin county or other appropriate jurisdictions;

   5)   sight visibility clearances at street intersections and access points must be provided in accordance with section 300.15, subd. 9(e) of this ordinance or as determined by the city to protect public safety;

   6)   no portion of the use may take place within 100 feet of any developed property zoned for residential use;

   7)   signs are subject to the following:

      a.   no more than four signs are allowed, which do not exceed 32 square feet in aggregate;

       b.   incidental product or pricing signs must be placed directly next to the appropriate product;

      c.   product advertising is permitted, but must be included in the maximum allowed sign area;

      d.   the signs must have a professional appearance and must be securely mounted or erected in a safe location; and

       e.   these limitations apply to all signs associated with the use, including those affixed to vehicles;

   8)   any display of items must be limited to representative samples and be arranged in as compact a manner as reasonably practicable;

   9)   the interim use permit will be issued in the name of the person requesting the permit and will be for the purpose of selling a particular item or range of items at a specific location. Any change in the person, location or items sold will render the permit invalid; and

   10)   violation of the above standards or other conditions placed upon the interim use permit will result in immediate revocation of the interim use permit;

c)   outside sales and display of plant materials except those associated with a commercial nursery;

   1)   is allowed only for nursery type merchandise that is normally associated with the principal use and sold outdoors;

   2)   must be located in compliance with building setback requirements except side or rear yard setbacks when the city determines that locations in those areas will not impact adjacent properties or public views;

   3)   is not permitted where there is a shortage of parking spaces or where it would cause in excess of 10 percent of parking spaces to be removed from service;

   4)   must be located in a controlled or cordoned area which does not obstruct vehicular circulation;

   5)   must be kept in a neat and orderly fashion;

   6)   must not include a public address system;

   7)   must not include the display of banners, stringers or advertising items except as permitted in section 325; and

   8)   is not permitted within 200 feet of the nearest existing or potential residential structure (a potential location is measured from the closest setback line on a residentially zoned property) and must be screened from views of residential and office business property; the city may determine that outdoor display and sales is becoming a permanent site feature and require that permanent facilities attached and complimentary to the principal building be constructed;

d)   sidewalk sales exceeding allowable standards described for accessory uses and carnivals:

   1)   permits will only be granted if the applicant can demonstrate that the operation is located in an area that is removed from residential parcels and that adequate buffering is provided to minimize adverse impacts on residential property from the operation. Buffering adequate to comply with this standard may include substantial physical separation supplemented by one or more of the following: a landscaped buffer, natural vegetation, or location of a building between the operation and property line as determined by the city;

   2)   the use of outdoor speaker systems is prohibited;

   3)   a loss of the use of parking stalls determined by the city to be required to accommodate both normal parking demand and demands associated with the proposed operation is not allowed;

   4)   hours of operation will be imposed by the city dependant on the level of activity and adverse impacts on adjacent properties;

   5)   compliance with sign limitations imposed by the ordinance for temporary signs is required;

   6)   pedestrian access in and around the site cannot be blocked or impaired;

   7)   the retention of an off-duty police officer(s) may be required if deemed necessary by the chief of police to control large crowds and direct traffic if there is interference with normal traffic flow;

   8)   evidence of liability coverage of at least $300,000, with the city identified as an additional insured, must be provided for carnivals, in a form acceptable to the city attorney;

   9)   financial security acceptable to the city to insure compliance with the stipulations of approval and maintenance of the site must be posted. The minimum amount of the financial security is $5,000. Higher amounts may be required by the city if deemed appropriate based upon the size of the event and potential for problems in these areas;

   10)   compliance with applicable health, public safety and building code regulations as imposed by the city is required;

   11)   traffic flow must not unreasonably interfere with traffic on adjacent streets, intersections and curb cuts; events will not be approved when roads and intersections serving the site are under construction or repair to the extent that traffic capacities and flows are impaired;

   12)   only one event per site per calendar year will be allowed;

   13)   an acceptable plan must be submitted detailing the boarding and hygiene facilities to be used by the employees associated with the carnival operations and sale. Such employees are not permitted to be boarded overnight in temporary or mobile structures placed on the site; and

   14)   if a promotional carnival places an undue burden on the city or adjacent properties as evidenced by police responses or complaints, the city may deny future promotional carnival conditional use permits at that location.

e)   outdoor entertainment;

    1)   must be located:

      a.   at least 100 feet from any residential property as measured from the closest property lines of the properties. The city may modify this distance based on physical characteristics of the commercial and residential properties such as: existing sight lines, existing or proposed physical barriers, existing natural resources, and proposed landscaping;

      b.   in proximity to a collector or arterial roadway as identified in the comprehensive plan or otherwise located so that access can be provided without conducting significant traffic on local residential streets;

      c.   in a controlled or cordoned area; and

      d.   to not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular circulation;

   2)   must not use public address systems, speakers, or other audio equipment which is audible anywhere on a residential lot that is within 400 feet, and must not create noise that is unreasonably disturbing to a reasonable person of ordinary sensitivity anywhere on a residential lot that is within 400 feet. The distance will be measured from the property lines of the source and receiving properties that are closest to each other. Whether the sound is unreasonably disturbing to a reasonable person will be determined under section 850.005;

   3)   Must not occur between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; and

   4)   Must be in compliance with applicable health, public safety, and building code regulations as imposed by the city or other pertinent agency.

(Amended by Ord. 2016-08, effective May 23, 2016; Amended by Ord. 2014-07, adopted March 24, 2014; amended by Ord. 2012-13, adopted September 18, 2012; added by Ord. 2012-07, adopted June 25, 2012; Ord. 2011-19, adopted August 22, 2011; amended by Ord. No. 2025-07, effective June 23, 2025)