Two Harbors City Zoning Code
ARTICLE TWO
ZONE DISTRICTS
SEC. 11.20. DISTRICT ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.
Subd. 1. For the purpose of this Chapter, the City is hereby divided into districts. The use, height and area regulations are uniform in each class of district and the districts shall be known. Each district and its corresponding purpose are listed below:
B-1 - Highway Business District.
The purpose of the Highway Business District is to provide for and regulate commercial uses along major streets and highways. As the gateway to the community, the Highway Business District will provide for adequate off-street parking and safe road access. As the gateway to the community, site planning will consider the interaction between the development and the public space.
B-2 - Downtown Waterfront Business District.
The purpose of the Downtown Waterfront Business District is to enhance and preserve the vitality of the city’s downtown waterfront business district. The development and redevelopment of properties is encouraged as is a mix of retail, leisure and hospitality, entertainment, civic, residential and office uses. Parking, except for residential uses, will be primarily provided on streets and in shared parking areas. Alleys will provide service and parking access. Mixed use development is encouraged.
MUW - Mixed-Use Waterfront.
The Two Harbors Waterfront is a unique community resource serving as a link to the City’s maritime history and Lake Superior, and affording the community with diverse economic development and recreation opportunities. The purpose of this district is to encourage the establishment of a mixture of residential and commercial uses that reflect a range of uses and blend harmoniously with the scenic and natural amenities citizens value along Lake Superior.
PR - Parks and Recreation.
The purpose of this district is the establishment and preservation of publicly and quasi-publicly owned lands and facilities for purposes of recreation and public accessible open spaces.
PP - Park Preserve.
The purpose of this district is the establishment and preservation of publicly and quasi-publicly owned lands and facilities for passive recreation and protection of green space.
R-2 - Low to Medium Residence District.
The purpose of this district is the establishment and preservation of traditional residential neighborhoods that are primarily single- and two-family homes and lower-density, multiple-family homes. Nonresidential uses permitted will support the primary uses of the neighborhood.
R-3 - High Density Residence District.
The purpose of this district is the establishment and preservation of residential neighborhoods that feature a mix of all housing types and a higher concentration of nonresidential uses supporting the neighborhood and the City as a whole. Mixed use development providing additional services to the district and surrounding neighborhoods may be achieved through the planned unit development process.
I-1 - Light Industrial District.
The purpose of the "I-1" Light Industrial District is to permit modern, high-performance, lower-impact light industrial uses with co-mingling of production and non-production activities, technology and information uses, and scientific, technical and professional service uses, while also permitting the continued development of compatible non-industrial uses.
I-2 - General Industrial District.
The purpose of the "I-2" General Industrial District is to permit industrial activities that are not compatible with light industrial areas due to more intensive use of land and infrastructure, traffic generation, and/or require greater use of site and facility design and devices necessary to mitigate objectionable influences, and industrial uses requiring harbor access.
I-1A - Light Industrial/Adult Use District.
the purpose of the "I-1A" Light Industrial/Adult Use District is to permit modern, high-performance, lower-impact light industrial uses with co-mingling of production and non-production activities, technology and information uses, and scientific, technical and professional service uses, while also permitting the continued development of compatible non-industrial uses. In the interest of general health and welfare, residential and certain institutional uses are not permitted within this district. It is also the purpose of this district to allow "Adult Use, Principal" businesses that are regulated by Section 4.50 of the City Code.
PUD - Planned Unit Development District.
The purpose of the Planned Unit Development ("PUD") Overlay District is to implement the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan by providing comprehensive procedures and standards intended to allow flexibility in the development of residential, commercial and mixed residential/commercial development by incorporating design modifications and/or mixture of uses. By allowing deviation from the strict district and performance standards, the PUD process is intended to encourage:
A. Variety. Innovations in development to the extent that the growing demands for all styles of economic development expansion may be met by greater variety in type, design and placement of structures, and by the conservation and more efficient use of land in such developments.
B. Sensitivity. By departing from the strict application of required performance standards associated with traditional zoning, a PUD can maximize the development potential of land while remaining sensitive to its unique and valuable natural and scenic characteristics.
C. Efficiency. The consolidation of areas for recreation and reduction in street lengths and other utility-related expenses.
D. Density Transfer. The project density may be clustered, basing density on the number of units per acre instead of specific lot dimensions.
E. District Integration. The combination of uses that are allowed in separate zoning districts such as:
1. Mixed residential allows both densities and unit types to be varied within the PUD.
2. Mixed commercial, residential or institutional land use with the integration of compatible land uses within the PUD.
F. Infill. Encourage infill within areas of the City characterized by existing development.
S-O - Shoreland Overlay Zone District.
The purpose of the Shoreland Overlay Zone District is to promote, preserve and enhance the water resources of Lake Superior and environment within the city, and to protect them from adverse effects caused by poorly sited or incompatible development.
Source: Ordinance No. 123
Effective Date: 07-16-2021