The purpose of the B-3 district is to provide a district for general commercial development in areas so designated in the comprehensive plan and which are removed from residential areas. The intensity of development permitted in this district shall be determined by the city's assessment of the quality of the site and building plan and upon the ability to mitigate off-site impacts.

Within the B-3 district no structure or land shall be used except for one or more of the following uses:

a)   retail, including cannabis retail businesses subject to City Code 650, business, office or service uses occurring within an enclosed building, except as provided for in subdivision 4; or

b)   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-3 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 25 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 signs at the location in compliance with city ordinances and will restore and clean up the site to its prior condition upon completion of the sale. 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-3 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 and occupying between 25 and 50 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;

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-3 district shall be used except in conformance with the following:

a)   building height: building height to be regulated by setbacks and floor area ratio requirements;

b)   front yard setback: minimum of 50 feet;

c)   side and rear yard setback: side and rear yard setbacks shall comply with the following formula: setback = (1.5 times building height) - 10 feet up to a maximum of 100 feet but in no case shall the setbacks be less than the following when measured from land designated accordingly in the comprehensive plan:

   1)   50 feet from low density residential;

   2)   40 feet from medium and high density residential; and

   3)   20 feet from commercial, office, industrial, institutional and public park.

d)   floor area ratio: maximum of 1.5;

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-3 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 for the interim use in section 300.18, subd. 7:

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;

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

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

e)   outdoor entertainment.

(Amended by Ord. 2012-13, adopted September 18, 2012; added by Ord. 2011-19, adopted August 22, 2011; amended by Ord. No. 2025-07, effective June 23, 2025)