(A) Purpose. The purpose of the Rural Residential and Agriculture District is to allow suitable areas of the city to be retained and utilized in open space and/or agricultural uses.
(B) Permitted uses. The following are permitted uses in the Rural Residential and Agriculture District:
(1) Agriculture, including farm dwellings and agricultural related buildings and structures subject to state pollution control standards, but not including commercial feedlots or other commercial operations.
(2) One-family dwelling units.
(3) Public, government owned parks, playgrounds, wild life areas and game refuges, athletic fields and other public recreational uses.
(4) Churches and places of religious assembly, public and private schools and government-owned buildings and facilities.
(5) Manufactured homes which meet the standards set forth in § 151.24.
(6) As required by M.S. § 462.357, Subd. 7, as it may be amended from time to time, a state licensed residential facility or a housing with services establishment registered under M.S. Ch. 144D, as it may be amended from time to time, serving six or fewer persons, a licensed day care facility serving 12 or fewer persons, and a group family day care facility licensed under Minn. Rules, parts 9502.0315 to 9502.0445, as it may be amended from time to time, to serve 14 or fewer children shall be considered a permitted single-family residential use of property for the purposes of zoning, except that a residential facility whose primary purpose is to treat juveniles who have violated criminal statutes relating to sex offenses or have been adjudicated delinquent on the basis of conduct in violation of criminal statutes relating to sex offenses shall not be considered a permitted use.
(C) Accessory uses. The following are permitted accessory uses in the Rural Residential and Agriculture District:
(1) Operation and storage of such vehicles, equipment and machinery which are incidental to permitted or conditional uses allowed in this district.
(2) Boat houses, piers and docks serving a single-family residence.
(3) Private garages, screen porches, play equipment, solar panel equipment, satellite dishes and antennae.
(4) The renting of rooms by a resident family for lodging purposes only, and for not more than two rooms in a one-family dwelling.
(D) Conditional uses. Within the Rural Residential and Agriculture District no structure or land shall be used for the following except by conditional use permit and in conformance with the standards specified in division (I) of this chapter.
(1) Bed and breakfast inns.
(2) Wind energy conversion systems or windmills.
(3) Home occupations.
(E) Lot requirements and setbacks. The following minimum requirements shall be observed in the Rural Residential and Agriculture District, subject to additional requirements, exceptions and modifications set forth in this chapter:
(1) Lot area. A minimum of two and one-half acres of upland area, upland being land above the 100-year flood elevation or non-wetland.
(2) Lot width. A minimum of 200 feet.
(3) Lot depth. A minimum of 300 feet.
(4) Setbacks.
(a) Front yard. A minimum of 40 feet.
(b) Side yards. A minimum of 10 feet.
(c) Side yards, corner lots. A minimum of 30 feet on side adjacent to street, but in no case less than the setback of an adjacent lot which has its front yard on the same street.
(d) Rear yard. A minimum of 30 feet.
(e) Rear yard, corner lots. A minimum of 15 on side adjacent to street, but in no case less than the setback of an adjacent lot which has its rear yard on the same street.
(5) Detached accessory building setback requirements. Not less than five feet from rear yard line and not less than four feet from the side yard lines in the rear yard. On corner lots not less than 25 feet from the adjacent street, but in no case less than the setback of an adjacent lot which has its front yard on the same street.
(6) Access. All lots shall front on and have ingress and egress by means of a public right-of-way.
(F) Building requirements; height. No structure shall exceed two stories or 35 feet, whichever is less.
(G) Parking. Refer to §§ 151.35 through 151.39.
(H) Height limitations shall not apply to water towers, chimneys, flag poles, antennae, wind energy conversion systems, church spires, church belfries or church domes not containing habitable space and support towers permitted by § 150.04.
(I) Conditional use permit standards for the Rural Residential and Agriculture Single-Family Residential District.
(1) Purpose. It is the intent of the city in establishing general and specific criteria for conditional uses that such uses be subject to careful evaluation to ensure that their location, size and design are consistent with the standards, purposes and procedures of this chapter and the comprehensive plan, if one exists. The Planning Commission, if one exists, may recommend and the City Council may impose conditions on such uses in order to effect the purpose of this chapter.
(2) General standards. No conditional use permit shall be granted unless the City Council determines that all of the following standards will be met:
(a) The use is consistent with the intent of this chapter;
(b) The use is consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the comprehensive plan, if one exists;
(c) The use does not have an undue adverse impact on governmental facilities, utilities, services or existing or proposed improvements; and
(d) The use does not have an undue adverse impact on the public health, safety or welfare.
(3) Specific standards. In addition to the standards specified in division (2), no conditional use permit shall be granted unless the City Council determines that all of the specific standards contained in this division will be met.
(a) Home occupations.
1. Such occupation shall be carried on in the main building;
2. Not more than 25% of the floor space of the residence is used for this purpose;
3. No articles for sale be displayed so as to be visible from the street;
4. The conduct of the home occupation shall result in no change in the outside appearance of the building or land, or other visible evidence of the conduct of the home occupation, other than one sign, not exceeding one square foot in area, non-illuminated and mounted flat against the wall of the dwelling.
5. No traffic shall be generated by such home occupation in greater volume than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood.
6. Only limited retail sales activity;
7. Maximum of one outside employee;
8. Adequate off-street parking based on number of employees and customers per day;
9. Parking area screened from offsite views;
10. No outside storage;
11. Shall not result in significant levels of noise, air or other pollution;
12. Business hours restricted to no more than 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and
13. Outside parking of no more than one commercial type vehicle or vehicle identified for business purposes not to exceed one ton capacity which is used for both personal and business transportation. The vehicle is to be owned and registered by an occupant of the property and parked in a screened location.
(b) Wind energy conversion systems (WECS).
1. Set back from the nearest property line a distance equal to the height of the tower plus one-half the diameter of the rotor;
2. Certified by a professional engineer as being of a design adequate for the atmospheric conditions of the area;
3. Equipped with over-speed or similar controls designed to prevent disintegration of the rotor in high winds;
4. Compliance with all building and electrical code requirements of the city, the noise regulations of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration;
5. If the WECS has not been operated for a period of one year or fails to meet the conditions of this chapter, the City Council may order it dismantled and the site restored to its original condition;
6. If the owner or person responsible for the WECS does not maintain it or comply with all requirements of this chapter, the city may take such steps as are necessary to achieve compliance. The cost of such work, including administrative costs, shall be a lien against the property and may be collected as a special assessment. The city may sell salvaged and valuable materials at public auction on ten days' notice; and
7. The WECS shall meet the performance standards of § 151.30.
(c) Bed and breakfast inns.
1. The conduct of the bed and breakfast inn shall result in no change in the outside appearance of the building or land, or other visible evidence of the conduct of the bed and breakfast inn,
other than one sign, not exceeding one square foot in area, non-illuminated and mounted flat against the wall of the dwelling.
2. No traffic shall be generated by such bed and-breakfast inn in greater volume than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood.