For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context specifically indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABUTTING. Having a common border or property line or separated only by streets, railroad tracks or a public utility right-of-way.
ACCESS. A means of vehicular approach or entry to or exit from property.
ACCESSORY USE, STRUCTURE OR BUILDING. A use, structure or building or portion of a structure subordinate to and serving the principal use or structure on the same lot and clearly and customarily incidental thereto.
AGRICULTURE. The use of land for growing and producing field crops. Keeping or producing of livestock and poultry and all activities incident thereto. The term shall not include feedlots, the raising of fur-bearing animals, nor the operations of riding academies, commercial stables and kennels.
ALTERATION. Any change or rearrangement, other than incidental repairs, in the supporting members of an existing building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or interior partitions, as well as any change in doors or windows, or any enlargement to or diminution of a building or structure, whether horizontally or vertically, or the moving of a building or structure from one location to another, which would prolong the building's life.
ANIMAL HOSPITAL. A place where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment and the boarding of animals is limited to short-term care incidental to the hospital use.
ANTENNA. Any structure or device used for the purpose of collecting or radiating electromagnetic waves, including but not limited to directional antennas, such as panels, microwave dishes and satellite dishes, and omni-directional antennas, such as whip antennas.
APARTMENT. A room or suite of rooms in a multiple-family dwelling structure which is arranged, designed, used or intended to be used as a dwelling unit for a single family.
APPLICANT. The owner of land proposed to be subdivided or rezoned, or his or her legal representative.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR–MAJOR. General repair, rebuilding or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles or trailers, including body work, frame work, welding and major painting surface.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR–MINOR. The replacement of any part or repair of any part which does not require the removal of the engine head or pan, engine transmission or differential; incidental body and fender work, minor painting and upholstering service when the service above stated is applied to passenger automobiles and trucks, not in excess of 7,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE STATION. A retail place of business engaged primarily in the sale of motor vehicle fuels, but also may be engaged in supplying goods and services generally required in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles. These may include sale of petroleum products, sale and servicing of tires, batteries, automotive accessories and replacement items, washing and lubrication services and the performance of automotive maintenance and repair.
BANNERS and PENNANTS. Attention-getting devices which resemble flags and are of a paper, cloth or plastic-like material.
BASEMENT. A portion of a building located entirely or partially underground, but having half or less than its floor to ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story, except that a basement, the ceiling of which does not extend more than five feet above the curb level or above the highest level of the adjoining ground, shall not be counted as a story.
BERM. A mound of earth, or the act of pushing earth into a mound.
BLOCK. An area of land bounded by streets, or by a combination of streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, boundaries of a subdivision or boundaries of the municipality.
BOND. Any form of security including cash deposit, surety bond or letter of credit in an amount and form satisfactory to the Council and filed with the office of City Treasurer.
BOULEVARD. The portion of the street right-of-way between the curb line or surfaced roadway and the property line.
BUFFER. The use of land, topography, difference in elevation, space, fences or landscape planting to screen or partially screen a use or property from division of another use or property, and thus reduce undesirable influences, such as site, glare, noise, dust and other external effects.
BUILDING. Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind. In addition, when the structure is divided by party walls without opening, each portion of the building so separated shall be deemed a separate building.
BUILDING, COMPLETELY ENCLOSED. A building separated on all sides from the adjacent open space from other buildings or structure by a permanent roof and by exterior walls or party walls, pierced only by windows and normal entrance and exit doors.
BUILDING COVERAGE. The horizontal area measured within the outside of the exterior walls of the ground floor of all principal and accessory buildings on a lot.
BUILDING, DETACHED. A building surrounded by an open space on the same lot.
BUILDING, HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the average ground elevation adjoining the front walls of the building to the highest point of the roof surface of a flat roof, to the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the average height between the eaves and ridge of a gable, hip or gambrel roof.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE. A line on a lot, generally parallel to a lot line or road right-of-way line, located a sufficient distance therefrom to provide the minimum yards required by this chapter. The building setback lines delimit the area in which buildings are permitted subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter.
BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL. A building which is arranged, designed, used or intended to be used for residential occupancy by one or more families, and which includes, but is not limited to, the following types:
(1) Single-family dwellings;
(2) Two-family dwellings;
(3) Multiple-family dwellings;
(4) Townhouses.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL. A building in which is conducted, or in which is intended to be conducted, the main or principal use of the lot on which it is located.
BUSINESS. Any establishment, occupation, employment or enterprises wherein merchandise is manufactured, exhibited or sold, or where services are offered for compensation.
CALIPER. A measurement of the size of the tree equal to the diameter of its trunk measured four and one-half feet above natural grade.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM. A proposed city schedule of future projects or capital purchases listed in order of priority together with cost estimates and the anticipated means of financing each project.
CENTRAL WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. A system serving a group of buildings, lots or a defined area of the city.
CHURCH. A building or edifice consecrated to religious worship, where people join together in some form of public worship under the aegis and direction of a person who is authorized under the laws of the State of Minnesota to solemnize marriages. Camp meeting grounds, mikvahs, coffee houses, recreational complexes, retreat houses, sleeping quarters for persons during spiritual retreats extending for periods of more than one day, Bible camps with live-in quarters, ritual slaughter houses, radio or television towers and transmission facilities, theological seminaries, day care centers, hospitals and drug treatment centers are not churches. A CHURCH as defined above may include living quarters for persons employed on the premises of the church.
CLINIC (MEDICAL). A building in which a group of physicians, dentists and/or allied professional assistants are associated for carrying on their profession. The clinic may include a dental or medical laboratory, but shall not include in-patient care or operating rooms for major surgery.
CLUB OR LODGE, PRIVATE. An association of persons who are bona fide members paying annual dues, which owns, hires or leases the building, property or a portion thereof; the use of the premises being restricted to members and their guests. It shall be permissible to serve food and meals on the premises, provided adequate facilities are available.
COMMERCIAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE. Licensed commercial wireless telecommunications service includes cellular, personal communications services (PCS), specialized mobilized radio (SMR), enhanced specialized mobilized radio (ESMR), paging and similar services that are marketed to the general public.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR POLICIES. A computation of goals, policy statements, standards, programs and maps for guiding the physical, social and economic development, both public and private, as defined in the Minnesota Municipal Planning Act, and includes any part of the plan separately adopted and any amendment to the plan or parts thereof.
CONDITIONAL USE. A use permitted in a particular zoning district only upon showing that the use in a specified location will comply with all the restrictions and standards for that location or operation of the use as specified by this chapter and authorized by the city.
CONDOMINIUM. A form of individual ownership within a building which entails joint ownership and responsibility for maintenance and repairs of the land and other common property of the building.
CONSTRUCTION PLAN. The map or drawing accompanying a subdivision plat and illustrating the specific location and design of improvements to be installed in the subdivision in accordance with city engineering and city code requirements and as conditioned in the approval of the plat.
CONTOUR MAP. A map on which irregularities of land surface are shown by lines connecting points of equal elevation. Contour interval is the vertical height between contour lines.
CONTRACTOR'S YARD. An area where vehicles, equipment and/or construction materials and supplies commonly used by building, excavation, roadway construction and similar contractors are stored or serviced. The CONTRACTOR'S YARD includes both areas of outdoor storage and areas confined within a completely enclosed building used in conjunction with a contractor's business.
CONVALESCENT, NURSING AND REST HOME. A home for aged, chronically ill or convalescent persons in which two or more persons not of the immediate family are received, kept or provided with food, shelter and care of compensation, but not including hospitals, clinics or similar institutions devoted primarily to the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury, maternity cases or mental illness.
COOPERATIVE. A multi-unit development operated for and owned by its occupants. Individual occupants do not own their specific housing unit outright as in a condominium, but they own shares in the enterprise.
CORNER LOT. See LOT, CORNER.
COUNTY. Rice County, Minnesota as appropriate.
COUNTY RECORDER. The County Recorder when referring to abstract or registered property under the Torrens system in Rice County.
COVENANT. A contract between two individuals which constitutes a restriction of a particular parcel of land.
COVERAGE. See LOT COVERAGE.
CUL-DE-SAC. See STREETS AND ALLEYS.
DEFLECTION. The angle between a line and the prolongation of the preceding line.
DENSITY. A number expressing the relationship of the number of dwellings to an acre of land.
DEVELOPER. The owner of land proposed to be subdivided or his or her legal representative.
DEVELOPMENT. The division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels; the construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration, relocation or enlargement of any structure; any mining, excavation, landfill or land disturbance, and any use or extension of the use of land.
DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A permanent ground low profile sign which identifies a specific residential, industrial, commercial or office development and which is located on the premises of the development which it identifies.
DISTRICT. See ZONING DISTRICT.
DRIVE-IN USE. An establishment which by design, physical facilities, service or by packaging procedures encourages or permits customers to receive services, obtain goods or be entertained while remaining in their motor vehicle.
DWELLING. A building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively for human habitation, including single-family, two-family, multiple-family and townhouse dwellings, but not including hotels or motels.
DWELLING, ATTACHED. An attached dwelling is one which is joined to another dwelling or building at one or more sides by a party wall or walls.
DWELLING, DETACHED. A detached dwelling is one which is entirely surrounded by open space on the same lot.
DWELLING UNIT. One room, or rooms, located in a dwelling which are connected together constituting a complete, separate and independent housekeeping unit for owner occupancy, rental or lease, physically separated from any other room or dwelling unit which may be in the same structure,
and containing independent cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities, but not including hotels, motels, boarding or rooming houses, tourist homes, mobile homes, travel trailers or tents.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A detached building containing one dwelling unit designed for occupancy by one family.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A detached dwelling containing two dwelling units, designed for occupancy by not more than two families.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY or APARTMENT BUILDING. A detached building containing three or more dwelling units, with the number of families in residence not exceeding the number of dwelling units provided. Condominiums and cooperatively-owned multiple residential dwellings are multiple-family dwellings for purposes of this chapter.
EASEMENT. A limited ownership interest in land enabling the construction and maintenance of public services and utilities thereon including, but not limited to, sanitary sewers, water mains, electrical lines, telephone lines, storm sewer or storm drainage facilities, gas lines, and conservation and pedestrian trails.
EFFICIENCY UNIT. A dwelling unit consisting of one principal room, exclusive of bathroom, kitchen, hallway, closets or dining alcove directly off the principal room.
ESCROW. A deposit of cash with the local government in lieu of an amount required and still in force on a performance or maintenance bond.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance of underground, surface or overhead services such as but not limited to electrical, communications, gas, steam, water and sewerage transmission and collection systems, and the equipment and appurtenances necessary for the systems to furnish an adequate level of public service.
EXTERIOR STORAGE. The storage of goods, materials, equipment, manufactured products and similar items not fully enclosed by a building.
EXTRACTION. The removal, filling with, or storage of rock, sand, gravel, clay, silt or other like material.
EXTRACTION PERMIT. A permit approved by and issued by the city, to remove, excavate, fill with or store rock, sand, gravel, clay, silt or other like material.
FACADE. That portion of any exterior elevation of a building exposed to public view extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation.
FAMILY. Any number of individuals generally but not necessarily related by blood and marriage, living together at one location as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boarding or rooming house, tourist home, hotel or motel.
FENCE. An artificially constructed barrier of any material or combination of materials erected to enclose or screen areas of land.
FENCE, SOLID. A solid fence is a fence which provides a visual barrier between adjacent property and the area enclosed.
FILL. Sand, gravel, earth or other material of any composition whatsoever placed or deposited by humans.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. A financial institution is a commercial banking establishment or savings and loan association chartered by the State of Minnesota or the United States.
FLOOR AREA. The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of the building measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the centerline of walls separating two buildings. The floor area of a building shall include basement floor area, elevator shafts and stairwells at each floor, penthouses, attic space having headroom of 7 feet or more, interior balconies and mezzanines, enclosed porches and floor-area devoted to accessory uses. However, any space devoted to mechanical equipment, parking or loading shall not be included in the floor area. The floor area for enclosed space having a floor to ceiling height in excess of 20 feet shall be computed on the basis that each 15 feet of height shall be equal to one floor for the purposes of computation.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (F.A.R.). The numerical value obtained by dividing the floor area of a building by the total size of the lot.
FRONT LOT LINE. See LOT LINE, FRONT.
FRONT YARD. See YARD, FRONT.
FRONTAGE. That boundary of a lot which abuts an existing or dedicated public street.
GARAGE, PRIVATE. A detached accessory building or portion of the principal building, including a car port, which is used primarily for storing passenger vehicles.
GARAGE, PUBLIC. A building used for the storage or care of power driven vehicles, or where the vehicles are equipped for operation, repair, or kept for storage, hire or sale.
GARDEN CENTER. A place of business where retail and wholesale products and produce are sold to the retail consumer. These centers, which may include a nursery and/or greenhouses, import most of the items sold. These items may include plants, handicrafts, nursery products and stock, fertilizers, potting soil, hardware, lawn and garden power equipment and machinery, hoes, rakes, shovels and other garden and farm tools and utensils.
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. A report in text and in map form with the map drawn to scale depicting the general location and relationship of structures, streets, driveways, recreation areas, parking areas, utilities and the like, as related to a proposed development.
GRADE. Grade is an average level of the finished surface of the ground adjacent to the exterior walls of the building or structure, or the slope of a street, specified in percentage terms.
GREENHOUSE. A structure used for the cultivation or protection of flowers, vegetables and nursery stock.
GROUP HOME, RESIDENTIAL. A building or structure where persons reside for purposes of rehabilitation, treatment or special care. Such persons may be orphaned, suffer chemical or emotional impairment, or suffer social maladjustment or dependency.
HOME OCCUPATION. Any occupation or profession carried on by a member of the immediate family residing on the premises in connection with which there is no display that will indicate from the exterior that the building is being utilized in whole or in part for any purpose other than that of a dwelling. There shall be no commodities sold upon the premises and no person employed therein other than a member of the immediate family residing on the premises or domestic servants; and no mechanical or electrical equipment shall be used except such as is normally used for purely domestic or professional purposes. No accessory buildings, other than existing agricultural accessory structures on the effective date of this chapter, shall be used for home occupations. Clinics, hospitals, barbershops, beauty parlors and animal hospitals are not home occupations.
HORTICULTURE USE. The use of land for the growing or production for income of fruits, vegetables, flowers, nursery stock including plants and trees, and cultured sod.
HOSPITAL. An institution providing persons with intensive medical or surgical care and devoted primarily to the diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury, maternity cases or mental illness.
HOTEL. A building containing guest rooms in which lodging is provided with or without meals for compensation and which is open to transient or permanent guests or both, and where no provision is made for cooking in any guest room, and which ingress and egress to and from all rooms is made through an inside lobby or office supervised by a person in charge.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE. Impervious surfaces are those which do not absorb water. They consist of all buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks and any areas of concrete or asphalt. In the case of lumberyards, areas of stored lumber constitute impervious surfaces.
INFORMATION/SALES CENTER. A building or model home which shall be used solely for selling purposes of residential lots and/or homes within the subdivision in which it is located or a nearby associated neighborhood. Such buildings/homes may include temporary real estate offices. INFORMATION/SALES CENTERS differ from model homes in that such centers typically:
(1) Are open for business more often;
(2) Require a greater number of staff; and
(3) Generate more vehicle traffic.
JUNKYARD. An area where used, waste, discarded or salvaged materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, cleaned, packed, disassembled or handled, including but not limited to scrap iron and other metals, paper, rags, rubber products, bottles and lumber. A JUNKYARD includes an automobile wrecking or dismantling yard, but does not include uses established in conjunction with a permitted manufacturing process when within an enclosed area or building. The storage of unlicensed and/or inoperable motor vehicles for a period in excess of 30 days shall also be considered a junkyard.
KENNEL, COMMERCIAL. Any place where a person, firm, or corporation accepts dogs, cats, or other common household pets from the general public and where animals are kept for the purpose of selling, boarding, breeding, training, treating or grooming.
KENNEL, PRIVATE. Any place where more than two dogs or cats over six months of age are kept or harbored, the animals being owned by the owner or lessee of the premises wherein or whereupon the animals are kept or harbored.
KEY MAP. A map drawn to comparatively small scale which definitely shows the area proposed to be platted or developed and the areas surrounding it to a given distance.
LOADING SPACE. That portion of a lot designed to serve the purpose of loading or unloading all types of vehicles.
LOT. A separate parcel, tract or area of land undivided by any public street or private road, which has been established by plat, metes and bounds subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, and which is occupied by or intended to be developed for and occupied by a principal building or group of buildings and accessory buildings, or utilized for a principal use and uses accessory thereto, including such open spaces and yards as are designed and arranged or required by this chapter for the building, use or development.
LOT, AREA. The area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side or rear lot lines, but not including any area occupied by the public rights-of-way.
LOT, CORNER. A lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection, or upon two parts of the same street, the streets or parts of the same street forming an interior angle of less than 135 degrees.
LOT COVERAGE. That portion or percentage of a lot which may be covered by impervious surfaces.
LOT DEPTH. The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line of a lot, measured within the lot lines. The greater frontage of a corner lot is its depth, and its lesser frontage is its width.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE. An interior lot having frontage on two streets.
LOT FRONTAGE. Lot width measured at the front lot line.
LOT, INTERIOR. A lot other than a corner lot.
LOT LINE. A line of record bounding a lot which divides one lot from another lot or from a right- of-way or any other public space.
LOT LINE, FRONT. The lot line separating a lot from a street right-of-way. In the case of a corner lot it shall be the boundary with the shortest dimension on the street. In the case of lots with more than two street frontages, the front lot line shall be the lot line having the legal street address.
LOT LINE, REAR. The lot line which is parallel to and most distant from the front lot line; or in the case of triangular or otherwise irregularly shaped lots, a line 20 feet in length, entirely within lots, parallel to and at the maximum possible distance from the front lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE. Any lot line other than a front or rear lot line. A side lot line separating a lot from a street is called a side street lot line. A side lot line separating a lot from another lot or lots is called an interior side lot line.
LOT OF RECORD. Any legally recorded lot which at the time of its recording complied with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations.
LOT, THROUGH. A lot which fronts upon two parallel streets, or which fronts upon two streets which do not intersect at the boundaries of the lot. On a through lot, both street lot lines shall be deemed front lot lines.
LOT WIDTH. The horizontal distance between the side lines of a lot measured at right angles to its depth along a straight line parallel to the front lot line at the minimum required building setback line.
LOT, ZONING. A zoning lot is a single tract of land which, at the time of filing for a building permit, is designated by its owner or developer as a tract to be used, developed or built upon as a unit under single ownership or control. A zoning lot or lots may or may not coincide with a lot of record.
MANUFACTURED HOME. Manufactured home means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which in the traveling mode, is 8 body feet or more in width or 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is 320 or more square feet, and which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein; except that the term includes any structure which meets all the requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or the head of any successor agency with responsibility for enforcement of federal laws relating to manufactured homes and complies with the standards established pursuant to M.S. §§ 327.31 and 327.35, as they may be amended from time to time. A manufactured home is a dwelling.
MANUFACTURING, HEAVY. All manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, treatment or assembly of products and materials that may emit objectionable and offensive influences beyond the lot on which the use is located. Such uses include, but are not limited to the following: sawmill, refineries, commercial feedlots, acid, cement, explosives, flour, seed and grain milling or storage, meat packing, slaughter houses, coal or tar asphalt distillation, rendering of fat, grease, lard or tallow, alcoholic beverages, poisons, exterminating agents, glue or size, lime, gypsum, plaster of parts, tanneries, automobile parts, paper and paper products, glass, chemicals, plastics, crude oil and petroleum products, including storage, electric power generation facilities, vinegar works, junkyard, auto reduction yard, foundry, forge, casting of metal products, rock stone, cement products.
MANUFACTURING, LIGHT. Fabrication, processing or assembly employing only electric or other substantially noiseless and inoffensive power sources, utilizing hand labor or quiet machinery and processes, and free from neighborhood disturbing agents, such as odors, gas, fumes, smoke, cinders, flashing or excessively bright lights, refuse matter, electromagnetic radiation, heat or vibration.
METES AND BOUNDS DESCRIPTION. A description of real property which is not described by reference to a lot or block shown on a map, but is described by starting at a known point and describing the bearings and distances of the lines forming the boundaries of the property, or delineates a fractional portion of a section, lot or area by described lines or portions thereof.
MINERALS. The nonmetallic materials found in the earth including, but not limited to, rock, sand, gravel, clay, silt and soil which may be covered by overburden.
MINI-WAREHOUSE. A building or group of buildings in a controlled access and fenced compound that contains varying sizes of individual, compartmentalized, and controlled-access stalls or lockers for the dead storage of a customer’s goods or wares. No sales, service or repair activities other than the rental of dead storage units are permitted on the premises, and outdoor storage must be fully screened from public view at street level.
MODEL HOME. A home which is similar to others in a residential development and which is open to public inspection for the purpose of selling said other homes. Such homes may include temporary real estate offices and shall be used solely for selling purposes of residential lots and/or other homes within the subdivision in which it is located or a nearby associated neighborhood.
MOTEL, MOTOR COURT, MOTOR HOTEL. An establishment consisting of a group of attached or detached living or sleeping accommodations with bathroom, located on a single zoning lot and designed for use by transient automobile tourists, and furnishing customary hotel services.
MOTOR FREIGHT TERMINAL. A building or area in which trucks, including tractor or trailer units, are parked, stored, or serviced, including the transfer, loading or unloading of goods. A terminal may include facilities for the temporary storage of loads prior to trans-shipment.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Any passenger vehicle, truck, truck-trailer, trailer or semi-trailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power.
NONCONFORMING LOT. Any lot of record which does not comply with the minimum lot area, frontage or depth requirements of the district in which it is located, as required by this chapter.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign which lawfully existed on the effective date of this chapter, or any amendments thereto, which does not conform to all the applicable sign standards and regulations contained in this chapter.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE. Any building or structure which lawfully existed on the effective date of this chapter, or any amendments thereto, which does not comply with the bulk, placement, land use intensity or height regulations of the district in which it is located, as required by this chapter.
NONCONFORMING USE. Any use of land, buildings or structures lawfully existing at the time of adoption of this chapter which use does not comply with all the regulations of this chapter or any amendment hereto governing the zoning district in which the use is located.
NOXIOUS WATER OR MATERIAL. Material which is capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical reaction, or is capable of causing detrimental effects on the physical or economic well-being of individuals.
ODOROUS MATTER. Any material or matter that yields an odor which is offensive in any way.
OFFICE USES. Those commercial activities that take place in office buildings, where goods are not produced, sold, or repaired. These include: banks, general offices, professional offices, governmental offices, insurance office, real estate office, travel agency or transportation ticket office, telephone exchange, utility office, radio broadcasting and similar uses.
OFFICIAL ZONING MAP. The map or maps which are a part of this chapter and delineate the boundaries of the zoning districts.
ON-SITE. Located on the lot in question, except in the context of on-site detention, when the term means within the boundaries of the development site as a whole.
ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEM. A sewage treatment system or part thereof, as described in Minnesota Regulations, Chapter 7080, or as amended.
OPEN SPACE. Any open area not covered by structure or paving.
OUTDOOR STORAGE. The storage of any goods, junk, equipment, wood, trailers, material, merchandise, supplies or vehicles not fully enclosed in a building for more than 24 hours.
OUTLOT. A platted lot to be developed for a use which will not involve a building or to be reserved for future replatting before development.
OVERBURDEN. Those materials which lie between the surface of the earth and the material to be excavated.
OWNER. The person or persons having the right of legal title to, beneficial interest in, or a contractual right to purchase a lot or parcel of land.
PARKING SPACE. A suitable surfaced and permanently maintained area on privately owned property either within or outside of a building of sufficient size to store one standard automobile.
PEDESTRIAN WAY. A public pedestrian walkway provided between lots where required by the city to allow for pedestrian accessibility to streets or public service areas. This may also be referred to as a RAILWAY.
PERFORMANCE BOND. A bond granted by the person platting property to the city to guarantee the installation of improvements required in this chapter.
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE. A financial guarantee to insure that all improvements, facilities or work required by this chapter will be completed in compliance with the ordinance, regulations and the approved plans and specifications of a development.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD. A criterion established to control noise, odor, toxic or noxious matter, vibration, fire and explosive hazards, glare or heat, or other nuisance elements which a particular use, property or process may not exceed.
PERMITTED USE. Any use allowed in a zoning district, subject to the minimum requirements and restrictions established in this chapter for that zoning district.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association or body politic including any trustee, receiver, assignee or other similar representative thereof.
PLAT. A map or drawing which graphically delineates the boundary of and layout for streets, lots and easements for a subdivision prepared for filing of record pursuant to M.S. Ch. 505, as it may be amended from time to time
PLAT, PRELIMINARY. The preliminary map, drawing or plan indicating the proposed layout of the subdivision to be submitted to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration.
PLAT, FINAL. The final map, drawing or plan on which the subdivider’s plan of subdivision is presented to the City Council for approval and which, if approved, will be submitted to the County Recorder.
PLATTING AUTHORITY. The City Council.
PREMISES. A lot, parcel, tract or plot of land together with the building and structures thereon.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING. See BUILDING, PRINCIPAL.
PRINCIPAL USE. See USE, PRINCIPAL.
PROHIBITED USE. A use that is not permitted in a zoning district under any circumstances.
PROPERTY LINE. See LOT LINE.
PROCESSING. The crushing, washing, compounding or treating of rock, sand, gravel, clay, silt or other like material.
PROTECTIVE COVENANTS. Contracts entered into between private parties that constitute a restriction on the use of all private property within the platted area, and provide mutual protection against undesirable aspects of development which would tend to impair stability of values.
PUBLIC LAND OR BUILDING. Land or building owned and/or operated by a governmental unit.
PUBLIC UTILITY. Persons, corporations or governments supplying gas, electric, transportation, water, sewer, or land line telephone service to the general public. For the purpose of this chapter, COMMERCIAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES shall not be considered a public utility use and is defined separately (see COMMERCIAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE).
PUBLICATION. An official notice as prescribed by state statutes in a newspaper so designated for this purpose by the Council.
REAR LOT LINE. See LOT LINE, REAR.
REAR YARD. See YARD, REAR.
RECREATION, COMMERCIAL. Includes all uses such as bowling alleys, driving ranges and movie theaters that are privately-owned and operated with the intention of earning a profit by providing entertainment for the public.
RECREATION, PUBLIC. Includes all uses such as tennis courts, ballfield, picnic areas and the like that are commonly provided for the public at parks, playgrounds, community centers and other sites, owned and operated by a unit of government for the purpose of providing recreation.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A vehicle or vehicular unit which can be driven or which can be towed or hauled, and which is primarily designed as a temporary living accommodations for recreational camping and travel use. Recreational vehicles include travel trailers, camping trailers, truck campers and self-propelled motor homes.
REGISTERED LAND SURVEY. A survey map of registered land designed to simplify a complicated metes and bounds description, designating the same into tract or tracts of registered land survey number.
REHABILITATION. To renew the land to a self-sustaining, long-term use which is compatible with contiguous land uses in accordance with the standards set forth in this chapter.
REPLAT. The platting of an area that was previously platted.
RESEARCH LABORATORY. A research laboratory building, or group of buildings, in which are located facilities for scientific research, investigation, testing or experimentation, but not facilities for the manufacture or sale of products, except as incidental to the main purpose of the laboratory.
RESTAURANT, FAST FOOD. An establishment whose principal business is the sale of food and/or beverages in a ready-to-consume state for consumption (1) within restaurant building , (2) within
a motor vehicle parked on the premises, or (3) off the premises as carry-out orders; and whose principal method of operation includes the following characteristics (a) food and/or beverages are usually served in edible containers or in paper, plastic or other disposable containers; (b) the customer is not served food at his or her table by an employee, but receives it at a counter, window or similar facility and carries it to another location on or off the premises for consumption.
RESTAURANT, STANDARD. An establishment whose principal business is the sale of food and/or beverages to customers in a ready-to-consume state, and whose principal method of operation includes one or both of the following characteristics: (1) customers, normally provided with an individual menu, are served their foods and beverages by a restaurant employee at the same table or counter at which food and beverages are consumed; (2) a cafeteria-type operation where food and beverages generally are consumed within the restaurant building.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, forced dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied or presently occupied by a road, pedestrian walkway, railroad, electric transmission lines, oil or gas pipeline, sewer and water lines and other similar uses.
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINES. The lines that form the boundaries of a right-of-way.
SALVAGE YARD. See JUNKYARD.
SETBACK. The minimum horizontal distance between a structure and the nearest property line or roadway easement line.
SEWAGE. Any water-carried domestic wastes, exclusive of footing and roof drainage, from any industrial, agricultural or commercial establishment, or any dwelling or other structure. Domestic waste includes, but is not limited to, liquid waste produced by bathing, laundry, culinary operations and liquid wastes from toilets and floor drains. Domestic waste specifically excludes animal waste and commercial process wastes.
SHOPPING CENTER. An integrated group of commercial establishments planned, developed and managed as a unit, with off-street parking facilities provided on-site.
SIDE LOT LINE. See LOT LINE, SIDE.
SIDE YARD. See YARD, SIDE.
SIGN. Any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or visible through a window or door, which is used to advertise, announce, identify, display, direct or attract attention to
a object, person, institution, organization, business, commodity, product, service, event or location, by means including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, pictures, illumination or projected images.
SIGN, ADDRESS. A sign which identifies the property number or numerical address of the premises on which the sign is located.
SIGN, ADVERTISING. Any sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, activity or entertainment not necessarily conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where such a sign is located.
SIGN ALTERATION. Any change, reconstruction, relocation or enlargement of a sign, or of any of its component parts. Routine maintenance, the changing of movable parts of signs which are designed for such changes, and the repainting of sign copy and display matter shall not be deemed to be an alteration within the context of this chapter.
SIGN, AREA IDENTIFICATION. A free standing sign which identifies a specific residential subdivision development, whether single-family or multi-family, or an office and industrial park. Area identification signs shall be located on the same premises as the development which it identifies.
SIGN, BILLBOARD. See SIGN, ADVERTISING.
SIGN, BULLETIN BOARD. A sign which identifies an institution or organization on the premises of which it is located and which contains the name of the institution or organization, the names of individuals connected with it, and general announcements of events or activities occurring at the institution or similar messages.
SIGN, BUSINESS. A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted, or to a commodity or service sold, offered or manufactured, or to an entertainment offered on the premises where the sign is located.
SIGN, BUSINESS DIRECTORY. A sign which identifies the names of specific businesses located in a shopping center and which is located on the premises of the shopping center so identified.
SIGN, CAMPAIGN. A temporary sign announcing, promoting or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election.
SIGN, CANOPY OR MARQUEE. A sign which is mounted, painted on, or attached to any projection or extension of a building that is designed in a manner as to provide shelter or cover over the approach to any entrance of the building.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION. A temporary sign erected on the premises on which construction is taking place, during the period of construction, indicating the names of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors or similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors and similar individuals or firms having a role or interest with respect to the situation or project.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL. A sign erected on private property for the purpose of directing pedestrian or vehicular traffic onto or about the property upon which the sign is located, including signs marking entrances and exits, circulation direction, parking areas, and pickup and delivery areas.
SIGN, FLASHING. Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.
SIGN, FREE STANDING. Any nonmovable sign not affixed to a building.
SIGN, GOVERNMENTAL. A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental functions, or required by law, ordinance or other governmental regulation.
SIGN, GROUND. Any sign, other than a pole sign, placed upon or supported by the ground independent of any other structure.
SIGN, GROUND LOW PROFILE BUSINESS. A business sign affixed directly to the ground, with the sign display area not greater than two feet above the ground.
SIGN HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the ground surface at the base of the sign to the top of the sign.
SIGN, HOLIDAY DECORATION. Temporary signs, in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday.
SIGN, HOME OCCUPATION. A sign containing only the name and occupation of a permitted home occupation.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED. A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed towards the sign.
SIGN, INSTITUTIONAL. A sign which identifies the name and other characteristics of a public or private institution of the site where the sign is located.
SIGN, MOTION. Any sign or part of a sign which changes physical position by any movement or rotation or which gives the visual impression of the movement or rotation.
SIGN, NAMEPLATE. A sign, located on the premises, which bears the name and/or address of the occupant of the building or premises.
SIGN, NONCONFORMING. Any sign which lawfully existed prior to the adoption of this chapter, but does not conform to the newly enacted requirements of this chapter.
SIGN, POLE OR PYLON. A free-standing sign erected upon a pole, post of other similar support so that the bottom edge of the sign display area is eight feet or more above the ground elevation at the base of the sign
SIGN, PORTABLE. A sign designed so as to be movable from one location to another, and that is not permanently affixed to a building, structure or the ground.
SIGN, PRIVATE SALE OR EVENT. A temporary sign advertising private sales or personal property such as house sales, garage sales and the like or private not-for-profit events such as picnics, carnivals, bazaars, game nights, art fairs, craft shows and Christmas tree sales.
SIGN, PROJECTING. A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from the building.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE. A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of the premises, or a portion of the premises, on which the sign is located.
SIGN, ROOF. A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or which is wholly dependent upon a building for support and which projects above the roof line of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel, gable or hip roof or the deck line of a building with a mansard roof.
SIGN, ROTATING. A sign which revolves or rotates on its axis by mechanical means.
SIGN, SURFACE AREA OF. The entire area with a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the actual sign surface, not including any structural elements outside the limits of the sign and not forming an integral part of the display. Only one side of a double-faced or V-type sign structure shall be used in computing total surface area.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. A sign or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, plywood or other light material and designed or intended to be displayed for a short period of time.
SIGN, WALL. A sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the face of the wall, and which does not project more than 12 inches from the building or structure.
SITE. Any lot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots of parcels of land.
SITE PLAN. The development plan, drawn to scale, for one or more lots on which is shown the existing and proposed conditions of the lot.
SKETCH PLAN. An informal layout of the proposed subdivision including preliminary topographic data, location of existing structures, requested zoning changes, relationship to existing community facilities and relationship to existing surrounding land use.
SPECIALTY FOOD STORE. A retail store specializing in a specific type of class of foods such as an appetizer store, bakery, butcher, delicatessen, fish, gourmet and similar foods.
STORY. That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it.
STREETS and ALLEYS.
(1) STREET. A public right-of-way accepted or a private right-of-way approved pursuant to the requirements of the city, by public authority which provides a legal primary means of public access to abutting property. The term STREET shall include a highway, thoroughfare, arterial, parkway, collector, avenue, drive, circle, road, boulevard or any other similar term describing an entity complying with the preceding requirements.
(2) COLLECTOR STREET. A street which carries traffic from minor streets to arterials.
(3) CUL-DE-SAC. A minor street with only one outlet and having an appropriate turn- around for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
(4) MARGINAL ACCESS STREET. A minor street which is parallel and adjacent to an arterial street and which provides access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
(5) MINOR STREET. A street of limited continuity which is used primarily for access to abutting properties.
(6) ALLEY. A public right-of-way which is used primarily for secondary vehicular service access to the back or the side of properties abutting on a street.
(7) PRIVATE STREET. A street serving as vehicular access to two or more parcels of land which is not dedicated to the public but is owned by one or more private parties.
(8) ARTERIAL STREET. A street or highway with access restrictions designed to carry large volumes of traffic between various sectors of the city or county and beyond.
STREET FRONTAGE. That portion of a parcel of land abutting one or more public streets. An interior lot has one street frontage and a corner lot has two street frontages.
STREET WIDTH. The shortest distance between the lines delineating the right-of-way of a street.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground. When a structure is divided into separate parts by an unpierced wall, each part shall be deemed a separate structure.
SUBDIVIDER. Any person commencing proceedings under this chapter to effect a subdivision of land hereunder for himself, herself or for another.
SUBDIVISION. The separation of an area, parcel, or tract of land under single ownership into two or more parcels, tracts, lots, or long-term leasehold interests where the creation of the leasehold interest necessitates the creation of streets, roads, or alleys, for residential, commercial, industrial or other use or any combination thereof, except those separations
(1) Where all the resulting parcels, tracts, lots, or interests will be 20 acres or larger in size and 500 feet in width for residential uses and five acres or larger in size for commercial and industrial uses;
(2) Creating cemetery lots;
(3) Resulting from court orders, or the adjustment of a lot line by the relocation of a common boundary.
SUBDIVISION, MAJOR. A subdivision involving the creation of four or more parcels, tracts or lots.
SUBDIVISION, MINOR. A subdivision involving the creation of not more than three parcels, tracts or lots and the dedication of public utility and street easements is not involved.
TANGENT. A straight line; also a straight line projected from the end of a curve, which is perpendicular to a line in the curve drawn from the radius point to the end of the curve.
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE. A structure without any foundation or footings and which shall be removed when the designated time period, activity or use for which temporary structure was erected has ceased.
TEMPORARY USE. A use established for a fixed period of time with the intent to discontinue use upon the expiration of the time period.
TOPSOIL. That portion of the overburden which lies closest to the surface of the earth and which supports the growth of vegetation.
TOWER. Any ground or roof mounted pole, spire, structure or combination thereof taller than 25 feet, including supporting lines, cables, wires, braces and masts, built for the purpose of mounting an antenna, meteorological device or similar apparatus above grade.
TOWNHOUSE. A single-family attached residence building consisting of three or more dwelling units having the first story at the ground level with no separate dwelling units directly above or below and with each dwelling unit separated from the adjoining unit by a fire resistant wall or walls with no openings and extending from the basement to the roof.
TOXIC MATTER OR MATERIAL. Those materials which are capable of causing injury to living organisms by chemical means when present in relatively small amounts.
TRAILER, TEMPORARY. A trailer or mobile home used for no more than six months as an office for the display or sale of real estate, or major durable goods or as a temporary form of residential dwelling on lot on which a house is being constructed. Temporary trailers may be used in any district only following the receipt of a conditional use permit.
TRAILER, TRAVEL. A vehicle or movable structure which is designed, intended or used for temporary human habitation during recreational or vacation activities. The term includes, without limitation, recreational vehicles, campers, camper trailers and tents, and house travel and tent trailers, but does not include mobile homes.
TRAVEL TRAILER COURT. A park, court, campsite or lot, tract, or parcel of land maintained or intended for the purpose of providing temporary location or accommodation for travel trailers, provided that parcels or lots used for the inspection and sale of trailers are not trailer courts.
TRUCK TERMINAL. Any use, area or building where cargo, trucks, truck parts, loading equipment and the like, is stored and/or where trucks load and unload on a regular basis.
USE. The purpose or activity for which land, buildings, or structures are designed, arranged or intended, or for which land, buildings or structures are occupied or maintained.
USE, PERMITTED. See PERMITTED USE.
USE, PRINCIPAL. The primary or predominant use of any lot.
VARIANCE. A modification or variation of the provisions of this chapter as applied to a specific piece of property, except that modification on the allowable uses within a district shall not be considered a variance.
WAREHOUSING. Warehousing is the commercial storage of merchandise and personal property.
WETLAND. Land which is annually subject to periodic or continuing inundation by water and commonly referred to as a bog, swamp or marsh.
WHOLESALE TRADE. Establishments or places of business primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional, or professional business users, or to other wholesalers; or acting as agents or brokers and buying merchandise for, or selling merchandise to, individuals or companies.
YARD. Any open space that lies between the principal or accessory building or buildings and the nearest lot line. Such yard is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward except as may be specifically provided in this chapter.
YARD, FRONT. A yard extending across the full width of the lot between any building and the front lot line, and measured perpendicular to the building from the closest point of the building to the front lot line.
YARD, REAR. A yard extending across the full width of the lot between the principal building and the rear lot line, and measured perpendicular to the building from the closest point of the building to the rear lot line.
YARD, SIDE. A yard extending from the front yard to the rear yard between the principal building and the side lot line, measured perpendicular to the building from the closest point of the building to the side lot line.
ZERO LOT LINE. A property line forming a common boundary of two dwelling units not required to provide building setbacks along the boundary.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR. The officer charged with the administration enforcement of this chapter.
ZONING AMENDMENT. A change authorized by the city, either in the allowed use within a district, or in the boundaries of a district.
ZONING DISTRICT. An area or areas within the limits of the city for which the regulations and requirements governing use are uniform.
ZONING MAP. The map or maps incorporated into this chapter as a part thereof, designating the zoning districts.
(Ord. passed 2-29-1996; Am. Ord. 2018-287, passed 5-10-2018)