The business based zoning districts established in this Chapter are intended to:

1. Provide appropriately located properties for the full range of business uses needed by City residents, businesses and workers, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan;
2. Strengthen the City’s economic base, and provide employment opportunities close to home for residents of the City;
3. Attract new investment in desired locations;
4. Create suitable environments for various types of business uses, and protect them from the adverse effects of incompatible uses;
5. Create suitable environments for various types of mixed use development, where business, office, retail and residential uses are designed and integrated in compatible ways;
6. Establish a sense of place along the City’s business corridors, with attractive shop fronts and streetscapes;
7. Minimize the impact of business development on residential districts and uses; and
8. Facilitate the adaptive reuse of existing business buildings.
   

The purpose of the B-1, Limited Business District, is to provide for higher density residential and office related uses adjoining residential, business or industrial districts. These locations may be near other public or public-related facilities and are served by major roadways.

Typical B-1 Buildings

The purpose of the B-2, General Business District, is to provide for a wide range of vehicle-oriented business and service uses as well as limited industrial activities adjacent to major roadways that provide access and exposure.

Typical B-2 Buildings

The purpose of the B-3, Community Business District, is to provide for the establishment of major retail and service centers in the City, where both adequate land area and transportation access can be provided. Such district shall allow for a concentration of business uses that draw customers from both within and outside the community.

Typical B-3 Buildings

The purpose of the B-4, Central Business District, is to provide for the development and redevelopment of the established downtown core, including a mix of retail, financial, office, service, entertainment, public activities and appropriately located residential uses.

Typical B-4 Buildings

“I” = Interim Permitted ^*

The Community Development Department may, in its discretion, recommend to the applicant, the Planning Commission and City Council that any use designated in the Table as “C”= Conditionally Permitted be instead considered as an Interim Permitted Use.

1. Zero Side Lot Line Development. Appropriate Business lots may be subdivided along the common wall in a “zero lot line” arrangement, provided:
   1. The combined area of the base lot and individual unit lots contains the required amount of lot area per unit as prescribed elsewhere in this Ordinance;
   2. Unit lots shall meet all required setbacks from the boundaries of the base lot;
   3. Any shared wall facing on a zero-side lot line is a structural wall capable of providing protection from fire, noise and visual encroachment.
2. Common Interest Community (Condominiums). Business lots of multiple-ownership structures may be divided for the purpose of common interest community ownership provided that the principal structure containing the units shall meet the setback distances of the applicable zoning district.
3. Maximum Height.
   1. The height limitations of principal structures located in business districts may be increased by Conditional Use Permit subject to the general Conditional Use Permit review criteria listed in Section 2.4(D). Additionally, the Planning Commission and City Council, shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors when determining the maximum height:
      1. The building shall be at least 200 feet from any parcel that is zoned residential or has an occupied institutional building including but not limited to schools, places of public assembly, and public buildings.
      2. The building shall not cast a shadow on residential structures between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
      3. The building or structure shall match the scale and character of surrounding uses.
      4. The building shall preserve views of landmark buildings, significant open spaces or water bodies.
      5. The maximum height of all principal structures located in a business zoning district shall be as specified within each business district. Parapets not exceeding three (3) feet in height shall be exempt from such limitations.
4. Building Design and Construction.
   1. All buildings and structures shall meet applicable Minnesota Building Code requirements. Additionally, the following standards are established to encourage architectural creativity and diversity, to create a lessened visual impact upon surrounding land uses, and to establish uniformity in acceptable exterior construction materials for business development.
      1. All building masonry must be designed with an architectural finish. The primary building materials being limited to the following:
         1. Modular masonry materials such as brick, block and stone.
         2. Precast concrete or aggregate panels.
         3. Stucco and stucco-like materials.
         4. Glass.
         5. Prefinished metal architectural panels, subject to the provisions indicated below:
            1. Exposed, untextured, uncolored, unaugmented concrete building types are expressly prohibited in a business zoning district.
   2. All subsequent additions and outbuildings constructed after the erection of an original building or buildings shall be constructed of materials comparable to those used in the original construction and shall be designed in a manner conforming to the original architectural design and general appearance.
5. Additional Requirements.
   
   

   TABLE 5-6
   Standard	Applicable Business Zoning District
   	B-1	B-2	B-3	B-4
   1. Canopies or marquees may extend over the public right of way for a distance not to exceed 36 inches. Such structures shall not be less than eight (8’) feet in height from the sidewalk or ground grade line. A fully retractable awning supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building may extend over public property not more than eight (8’) feet from the face of a supporting building nor within two (2’) feet of the curb line, measured horizontally. Structural portions of such awning shall be at least eight (8’) feet above the public sidewalk.		X	X	X
   2. Any building exceeding three stories in height shall set back from all facing yard lines an additional one foot for each one foot that the building exceeds the height of 30 feet.	X
   3. In every lot that is located adjacent to or across the street from an R-1 or R-2 residence district, no building shall hereafter be erected or structurally altered to exceed 35 feet in height.		X
   4. When a lot is located on two intersecting streets, the required front yard depth shall apply only to the frontage along the narrower dimension of the lot. The frontage on the wider dimension of the lot shall be subject to the side yard regulation rather than the front yard regulation.		X
   5. Any lot with equal lengths on two intersecting streets with shall use as its front yard the segment so designated by the Community Development Department.		X	X
   6. Any block of property containing two or more zoning districts shall utilize the maximum setback requirements for the zoning districts in the block.	X	X	X	X
   7. A lot located on two intersecting streets will maintain two front yard setbacks on the street sides and two interior side setbacks.	X		X