20/20 Cold Spring Vision Team

Minutes of the Meeting
Design Standards Committee
January 27, 2005

Minutes of the Meeting
Design Standards Committee
January 27, 2005

Members Present: John Frischmann, Melissa Kolbjornsen, Nichole Matuska, Brigetta Klemek, Steve Penick, Ann Harren, Larry Lahr

Guests: Karin Tank, Joann Faust, Dave Olson, Doug Schmitz, Ken Hollerud, Mike Kathman

1. Review Municipal Development Group (MDG) suggestions for Downtown Commercial Zone.

Committee members went through MDG’s proposed downtown commercial district draft that consisted of 10 subdivisions. Subdivision 1 established a purpose statement of the downtown commercial district, its goals, and general accepted activities.

Subdivision 2 listed a proposed 66 acceptable businesses for the downtown commercial district. Committee members discussed each business that the committee had previously drafted and also ones that MDG deemed a recommended use for this zone.

The following businesses were deleted from the list: Bus stations, Laboratories, Medical supply stores, Mortuaries, Motel/hotel, Newspaper distribution agencies, Printing or publishing shops, Retail greenhouses, Skating rinks, Veterinary hospital.

The following businesses were added: Antique shop, Art gallery, Bed and Breakfast, Bar/Grill on/off liquor, Garden store, Medical clinics also includes dental, medical, chiropractic, Recording studios also includes digitization studios, Salon/spa

Subdivision 3 pertained to Accessory Uses, or separate structures, that business may need for their operation. Members discussed both current uses and potential needs for those businesses accepted in Subdivision 2. The group determined only one current use in downtown and decided future zoning accessory uses should comply with a Special Use Permit (SUP). MDG also recommended updating the sign ordinance.

Subdivision 4 dealt specifically with the Special Use Permit. Section A deleted: Plumbing showrooms and shops, Printing or publishing shops, Retail greenhouses, nurseries or garden store, veterinary hospital.

Added to the list: Bed and Breakfast, Daycare

Subdivision 5 pertained to Height, Yard, and Lot coverage regulations.
1. Buildings are limited to 3 stories for fire safety regulations. Members discussed minimum height regulations, as some commercial buildings are only a single story. It was decided to only implement a minimum height requirement, a figure to be determined at a later date.
2. Yard regulations developed into a major discussion point for committee members and their vision of this district.
In a., it was generally agreed upon that building up to sidewalk was acceptable. Some committee members were concerned about a side-to-side requirement that will be addressed in point 3. MDG added an iii that addressed city council and planning commission approval to conform to adjacent buildings on the same block.
b. Covered the buffer from residential districts. MDG suggested a lot line measurement for a buffer as noted in point i.
3. Lot Area Coverage Regulations produced vision questions about what downtown should look like and what may be reality for the community. This section will be revisited for the next meeting.

Karin and Joann also provided a brief PowerPoint that illustrated a photographic tour of area zoning requirements for some local communities. They suggested a more in-depth look at these photos, perhaps even by the next meeting, to provide examples of the committee’s requirements, examples of potential concerns, and some suggestions for what works well.