(1) Purpose. The purpose of the LI, Light Industrial district is to provide for the establishment of light industrial, high-tech business and professional services. These areas have the prerequisites for industrial development, but because of proximity to residential areas, the visibility from the Interstate, and the need to protect certain areas or uses from adverse influences, high development standards will be necessary. LI uses include service industries and industries which manufacture, fabricate, assemble or store, where the process is not likely to create offensive noise, vibrations, dust, heat, smoke, odor, glare, or other objectionable influences. Generally, these include wholesale, service and light industries which are dependent upon raw materials refined elsewhere. Land to be zoned LI shall be served with public sanitary sewer and water and shall be in an Industrial land use category according to the comprehensive plan.
(2) Lot and setback requirements.
(a) Minimum lot size.
1. Sewered lot. One acre.
(b) Minimum lot width. 100 feet.
(c) Setbacks.
1. From street right-of-way.
a. Local or minor collector street. 30 feet.
b. Major collector or arterial street. 50 feet.
c. I-35W or I-35E. 15 feet.
d. Parking lot. 15 feet.
2. Rear lot line.
a. Principal building. 15 feet.
b. Accessory building. 10 feet.
c. Parking lot. 5 feet.
3. Side lot line.
a. Principal building. 10 feet.
b. Accessory building. 10 feet.
c. Parking lot. 5 feet.
4. From property guided by the comprehensive plan for residential use. 75 feet.
(3) Buffer. Where a side or rear lot line in an LI District abuts property guided by the comprehensive plan for residential or commercial development, a landscape buffer area shall be provided along such side or rear lot line not less than 40 feet wide and shall contain landscaping, planting, berming, or other effective screening suitable to provide an effective screen in compliance with § 1007.049(6).
(5) Maximum impervious surface coverage. 75% of the lot area.
(6) Building requirements. All newly constructed industrial buildings shall meet the exterior building standards of § 1007.043(2)(d).
(7) Permitted uses. The following are permitted uses in the LI District:
(a) Beverage production and bottling, including public tours of the facilities and gift shops containing merchandise directly related to the facility.
(b) Building material sales.
(c) Carpet and rug cleaning.
(d) Community gardens operated by the city.
(e) Construction-related businesses, including contractor storage of equipment and building materials if enclosed within a building, but not storage yards.
(f) Data centers.
(g) Feed and seed sales.
(h) Greenhouses, nurseries.
(i) Indoor self-storage.
(j) Laundry, dry cleaning, or dying plant.
(k) Manufacturing or assembly of a wide variety of products that produces no exterior noise, glare, fumes, noxious products, by-products, or wastes, or creates other objectionable impact on the environment, including the generation of large volumes of traffic.
(l) Mass transit terminals.
(m) Office business-clinic and general.
(n) Radio and television stations.
(o) Recreational business contained entirely within the principal building.
(p) Research laboratories
(q) Trade or business schools.
(r) Warehousing and distribution facilities, but not including trucking terminal or mini self-storage facilities per § 1007.001(2).
(s) Wholesale businesses/showrooms.
(8) Accessory uses. The following are permitted accessory uses in the LI District:
(a) Accessory buildings and structures in compliance with § 1007.044(11).
(b) Accessory indoor retail, rental, or service activities other than that allowed as a permitted or conditional use within the Light Industrial zoning district, provided such use is related and accessory to a principal use allowed within the Light Industrial zoning district.
(c) Fences in compliance with § 1007.050.
(d) Off-street loading in compliance with § 1007.053.
(e) Off-street parking in compliance with § 1007.052.
(f) Radio and television receiving antennas, satellite dishes, TVROs three meters or less in diameter, short-wave dispatching antennas, or those necessary for the operation of electronic equipment including radio receivers, ham radio transmitters and television receivers in compliance with § 1007.062.
(h) Brewer taprooms accessory to a malt liquor beverage production and bottling facility.
(i) Tasting room accessory to a distilled spirits beverage production and bottling facility.
(j) Tasting room accessory to a wine beverage production and bottling facility.
(k) Liquor sales, on sale through brewer taprooms and off sale pursuant to M.S. § 340A.301, subd. 10, all accessory to a malt liquor beverage production and bottling facility.
(9) Conditional uses. The following uses require a conditional use permit in compliance with § 1007.016:
(a) Automobile repair-major and minor provided that:
1. All painting must be conducted in an approved paint booth per § 1007.047(2).
2. All flammable materials, including liquids and rags, shall conform with the applicable provisions of the Minnesota Uniform Fire Code.
3. All outdoor storage shall be prohibited except the storage of customer vehicles waiting for repair.
(b) Bus garage provided that:
1. When abutting a residential use or residential district, the property shall be screened and landscaped in compliance with § 1007.049.
2. The architectural appearance and functional plan of the building and site shall not be so dissimilar to the existing buildings or areas as to cause impairment in property values or constitute a blighting influence.
3. The entire area other than occupied by the building or planting shall be surfaced with blacktop or concrete which will control dust and drainage which is subject to the approval of the City Engineer.
4. The entire area shall have a drainage system which is subject to the approval of the City Engineer.
5. Vehicular access points shall be limited, shall create a minimum of conflict with through traffic movement and shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer.
6. Provisions are made to control and reduce noise.
7. An internal site pedestrian circulation system shall be defined and appropriate provisions made to protect such areas from encroachments by parked motor vehicles or moving vehicles.
8. Motor fuel activities associated with the bus service shall be installed in compliance with state and city standards. Additionally, adequate space shall be provided to access gas pumps and allow maneuverability around the pumps. Underground fuel storage tanks are to be positioned to allow adequate access by motor fuel transports and unloading operations do not conflict with circulation, access and other activities on the site. Fuel pumps shall be installed on pump islands.
(c) Commercial and public radio and television transmitting antennas, and public utility microwave antennas greater than 45 feet in height and less than 200 feet in height in compliance with § 1007.062.
(d) Commercial kennels, provided that:
1. The applicable provisions of City Code Chapter 503 are determined to be satisfied.
2. Cages, enclosures, and housing facilities shall be at least 500 feet from any residential lot line.
3. An enclosed indoor or exterior exercise area shall be provided to accommodate the periodic exercising of animals boarded at the kennel. Exterior exercise areas shall be enclosed by an eight-foot high solid fence.
4. All animals shall be housed indoors for overnight boarding.
(e) Outdoor storage (not outdoor sales lots) as an accessory use provided that:
1. The designated storage area shall comply with all building setback requirements for the district. Outdoor storage is prohibited between the principal structure and any public right-of-way.
2. The storage area is landscaped and screened from view of adjacent uses and public rights-of-way via a fence and greenbelt planting strip, in compliance with § 1007.049(6).
3. The entire storage area is fenced and secured in an appropriate manner.
4. The storage area is blacktopped or concrete surfaced.
5. The storage area does not take up parking space or loading space as required for conformity to this chapter and is not located in the front yard.
6. The property shall not abut I-35W or I-35E.
7. The ratio of storage area to building footprint shall not exceed 1:1.
8. All parking, loading and truck staging activities shall occur on site. On-street parking and loading associated with the use is prohibited.
9. Storage shall not include material considered hazardous under federal or state environmental law.
10. The outdoor storage items or materials shall be directly related to the principal industrial user. No off-site user storage shall be allowed.
(f) Veterinary hospitals provided that:
1. All areas in which animals are confined are located indoors and are properly soundproofed from adjacent properties.
2. Animal carcasses are properly disposed of in a manner not utilizing on-site garbage facilities or incineration and the carcasses are properly refrigerated during periods prior to disposal.
3. An indoor animal kennel is permitted as a use accessory to the veterinary hospital provided that:
a. The number of animals boarded shall not exceed 40.
b. An enclosed indoor or exterior exercise area shall be provided to accommodate the periodic exercising of animals boarded at the kennel. Exterior exercise areas shall be limited to a maximum of 25% of the gross floor area of the principal use.
c. A ventilation system shall be designed so that no odors or organisms will spread between wards or to the outside air and will be capable of completely exchanging internal air at a rate of at least twice per hour. Air temperature must be maintained between 60ºF. and 75ºF.
d. A room separate from the kennel area shall be provided of sufficient size to adequately separate animals that are sick or injured from healthy animals.
e. Indoor animal kennel floors and walls shall be made of non-porous materials or sealed concrete to make it non-porous.
f. Animal wastes shall be flushed down an existing sanitary sewer system or enclosed in a container of sufficient construction to eliminate odors and organisms and shall be properly disposed of at least once a day.
4. The appropriate license is obtained from the city and the conditions of City Code Chapter 503 relating to the keeping of animals are met.
5. All State Health Department and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency requirements for such facilities are met.
(g) Two or more principal buildings on same lot provided such buildings relate to a permitted or conditional use that is operated as a single business or enterprise.
(10) Uses by administrative permit. The following uses require an administrative permit in compliance with § 1007.019:
(a) Personal wireless service antennas as secondary uses in compliance with § 1007.062.
(b) Telecommunication towers in compliance with § 1007.062.
(c) Temporary mobile towers in compliance with § 1007.062.
(d) Essential services.
(e) Open air markets.
(f) Temporary structures in compliance with § 1007.071.
(g) Transient merchants.
(h) Accessory outdoor dining areas intended for consumption of food or beverages purchased on site in compliance with § 1007.063.
(a) Earth moving and land reclamation in compliance with § 1007.059.
(b) Batch plants.
(Am. Ord. 13-23, passed 9-11-2023)