The design and performance standards are established to encourage a high standard of development by providing assurance that land uses will be compatible. The performance standards are designed to prevent and eliminate those conditions which depreciate property values that cause blight or are detrimental to the environment. Before any building permit is approved, the Zoning Administrator shall determine whether the proposed use will conform to the design and performance standards. The applicant or owner shall supply data necessary to demonstrate such conformance.
(A) Noise. It is unlawful to make, continue or cause to be made or continued, any noise in excess of the noise levels set forth in MN Administrative Rules 7030.0040, which includes standards for activities by the noise area classification (NAC) system, established in part by MN Rules 7030.0050, unless such noise be reasonably necessary to the preservation of life, health, safety or property. Sounds in excess of these limitations are violations of this section whether the sound originates in a residential district or any other district.
(B) Fences. Fences are permitted in the yard setback area only under the following conditions:
(1) The fence shall have a clearance of 2 inches from pre existing grade to bottom of fence and shall not exceed 6 feet in height.
(2) The property owner shall sign a fence agreement with the City of Jordan.
(3) The fence shall not restrict or obstruct the flow of water.
(4) The fence shall be 20 feet away from the high water level (HWL) or outside of the drainage and utility easement whichever is closer to the property line.
(5) A fence shall not be located within a drainage and utility easement that has been identified as an emergency over flow easement (EOF) or access easement.
(6) No fence shall cause a visual obstruction to traffic.
(7) Fences are structures and shall require a permit with an approved property survey by a registered land surveyor.
(8) Fences shall meet all International Building Code requirements for such structures.
(9) Fences not exceeding 3½ feet in height may be constructed in any front yard setback area. No fences are allowed in the front yard setback area unless the fence is 3½ feet tall or less.
(C) Retaining walls are allowed under the following conditions:
(1) Retaining walls are located at least 1-foot outside the drainage and/or utility easement.
(2) Retaining walls shall meet all International Building Code requirements for such structures.
(3) No retaining wall shall cause a visual obstruction to traffic.
(4) All retaining wall locations shall be reviewed by the City of Jordan.
(D) Traffic visibility. No wall, fence, structure, tree, shrub, vegetation or other obstruction shall be permitted in any yard or setback which poses a danger to traffic by obscuring the view from any street or roadway. Visibility from any street or roadway shall be unobstructed above the height of 2 feet to a height of 5 feet within the triangle described as beginning at the intersection of the projected curb lines of 2 intersecting streets, thence 30 feet along 1 curb, thence diagonally to a point 30 feet from the point of beginning of the other curb line, thence to the point of beginning.
(E) Required yards and setback areas, except driveways and areas used as a garage or accessory building, shall be graded to final elevations and sodded or seeded and landscaped with trees and shrubs. Said grading and landscaping shall be completed within 180 days after first occupancy of the building. Any fence, wall or other similar work must be completed within 180 days after construction commences. All property developed and property for which construction has commenced or a building permit issued prior to December 31, 1991 shall conform to this requirement on or before June 30, 1992.
(F) Storage prohibited in front yard. There shall be no front yard storage of trash or trash containers except in the 24-hour period prior to a scheduled pickup.
(G) Communication structures. Satellite dishes, antennae, and similar devices shall not be allowed in the required front yard nor within 12 feet of the side lot line or rear lot line.
(H) Boulevards, sidewalks and street trees. In projects involving new construction, the plans and improvements must include construction of a sidewalk where one is included in the city's sidewalk plan and boulevard sod and street trees shall be provided consistent with city requirements.
(I) Usable open space. Each lot shall contain at least 400 square feet of usable open space for each dwelling unit contained thereon. Each lot shall contain 150 square feet of usable open space for each person accommodated in group living quarters.
(J) Concrete curb. All parking lots for more than 8 vehicles shall have at their perimeters a poured-in-place concrete curb measuring at least 6 inches above and below grade.
(K) Surfacing. All driveways and required parking provided outdoors shall be improved with concrete, brick pavers or bituminous pavement.
(L) Lighting. All outdoor lighting, except globe lighting and lantern type lighting shall be directed perpendicular to the ground and shall not be higher than 25 feet above the ground.
(M) Dwelling grade. All dwelling units shall be at or above the grade of all land abutting the structure within a distance of 25 feet from all faces of the building.
(N) Utilities screened. All outdoor utility equipment, transformers and trash containers shall be screened from view.
(O) Grades. Private roads, driveways (other than single-family), parking lots, and loading docks exposed to the elements shall have grades of not less than 0.5% nor more than 5% in order to provide adequate drainage and maneuverability of vehicles. Grades in excess of 5% will be reviewed for their acceptance based on: the amount by which the grade exceeds 5%, number of slopes, length of slopes, starting and stopping areas and their grades, angles and curvatures, traffic volumes, parking turn-over, turning and intersection factors, roadway width, lineal feet and/or number of spaces with grades over 5%, sight distance and obstructions and alternative routes.
(P) Screening of rooftop equipment. All rooftop equipment shall be designed to minimize undesirable views and forms when viewing rooftops from higher elevations or abutting property. Screening shall be accomplished through the use of architectural elements and materials which are consistent with the building design and architectural control provisions.
(Q) Buildings. Buildings shall be designed and oriented so as to take advantage of the sun and views, to minimize adverse impacts to other buildings and to not unduly restrict views to open spaces.
(R) Bicycle storage. At least 1 secured bicycle storage space per dwelling unit shall be provided in a storage room in the building.
(S) Building separation. When more than 1 principal building is located on the site, no building shall be nearer to another building than ½ the sum of the building heights of the 2 buildings. No building shall be nearer than its building height to the rear or side property line when such line abuts an RR, R-l, or R-2 district.
(T) Roads. Private roadways within the site shall have an improved surface to 20 feet or more width and shall be so designed as to permit the city fire trucks to provide protection to each building.
(U) Roads not parking area. No portion of the required 20 foot wide road system may be used in calculating required off-street parking space.
(V) Townhouses. A maximum of 10 dwellings may be physically tied together provided; however, that no building face shall be longer than 120 feet. The minimum setback for townhouses shall be 20 feet from the back of the curb line along those roadways which are part of the internal street pattern.
(W) Underground utilities. All utilities serving any new construction shall be placed underground except for single-family housing where overhead utilities exist.
(X) Noise reduction. Residential development adjacent to a freeway or expressway shall have noise attenuation as appropriate.
(Y) Front yard. Where the depth of at least 2 existing front yards for buildings within 150 feet of the lot in question and within the same block-front is less or greater than the minimum front yard depth required for the district, the required front yard shall not be less than the average depth of such existing front yards; however, the depth of a front yard shall not be less than 10 feet nor be required to exceed 50 feet.
(Z) Yards and parking. No front yard shall be used for storage or display of merchandise in any district, nor required off-street parking. No side yard shall be used for off-street parking unless a landscaped strip measuring at least 6 feet wide is provided along the property line and adjacent to the entire length of the parking.
(AA) Trash - townhouse and apartments. There shall be no storage of trash or trash containers in the front yard. All trash stored outdoors shall be stored in trash containers which shall be screened from view by fencing and/or landscaping and berms and shall not be located within 10 feet of a side or a rear lot line.
(Ord. 2013-05, passed 5-20-2013; Am. Ord. 2020-01, passed 2-3-2020)