Ch11.§4-16 · City of Nowthen public records

A. In all districts, the placing of vehicles, boats, trailers, fish houses, sheds, equipment, construction materials, firewood, debris of any kind, or other such items within five (5) feet of the side or rear property lines is prohibited.   B. Piles of trash, construction waste, debris or brush, which may harbor rodents or other pests, or which may otherwise be considered a health or safety hazard, are prohibited. C. Storage of vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles, or other such items not belonging to the property owners, for monetary purposes constitutes a storage lot, and requires an interim use permit. (Ordinance #3, adopted November 9, 2010) D. Vehicle Storage in Residential Districts: 1\. Truck and trailer storage: Except as provided below, it shall be illegal to park or store, or permit to be parked or stored on residential property a truck or commercial vehicle licensed for more than twenty thousand (20,000) pounds gross vehicle weight, a truck-tractor, a semi-trailer, dumpsters or special mobile equipment. This section shall not apply to the following: a. Major recreational equipment as defined in Section 11-2-2 of this Chapter. b. Any motor vehicle which is being actively loaded or unloaded. C. Any vehicle being utilized to render a service. d. Properties which have been issued an Interim Use Permit to park or store such vehicles, in compliance with the following: (1) The property fronts on an improved County or State Road which is determined by the City Engineer to be capable of carrying the vehicles in question without undue damage; (2) The type of vehicle to be parked does not create an unreasonable safety hazard to neighboring residents or the public utilizing the street(s) serving the property; (3) The site upon which the vehicle is parked has adequate space to allow turning movements and parking which does not result in the backing of vehicles from or onto the public street; (4) The parking of such vehicles does not adversely affect neighboring property owners as it relates to noise; (5) The parking of such vehicles is screened from neighboring properties and the public right-of-way to the extent as determined necessary by the City Council;   (6) Engine brakes or compression release brakes, frequently called jake brakes, may not be used to slow vehicles within residential areas. (Ordinance 2013-04 adopted April 9, 2013) e. Currently licensed and operable trucks, trailers, and storage containers which are being used for temporary storage, (such as to facilitate a move), for a period of time not to exceed six (6) months. 2\. Major recreational equipment: Major recreational equipment in a residential district shall conform to the following standards: a. No major recreational vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes on the premises, except that one (1) major recreational vehicle shall be allowed for occasional living purposes to accommodate visitors. b. No major recreational equipment shall be stored on a public street right-of-way. C. Major recreational equipment stored outside shall be in a condition for the safe and effective performance of its intended function or it shall be repaired to put such equipment in such condition. Equipment being repaired shall not be stored longer than twenty (20) days. d. There shall be no more than three (3) major recreational vehicles per residential dwelling unit. ### 3. Number of vehicles. a. The number of vehicles on a residential parcel may exceed by only two (2) the number of persons with valid drivers licenses residing on the premises. The following vehicles shall be exempted from this requirement: (1) Temporary visitor parking. (2) Major recreational vehicles. (3) Collector vehicles stored in fully enclosed buildings and registered as pioneer, classic, collector or street rod vehicles. The collector plates must be displayed on the vehicle. (4) Trailers, trucks, and other vehicles used in loading,   unloading, maintenance, or construction on the premises. (5) Two- (2) or three- (3) or four- (4) wheeled recreational vehicles. b. Park or Store Vehicles. It shall be illegal to park or store or permit to be parked or stored any vehicle on undeveloped residential property. This provision shall not apply to vehicles used in conjunction with City approved projects. ### 4. Junk Vehicles: a. Residential Property: (1) The parking, storage, repairing, dismantling, demolition, or abandonment of junk vehicles or part thereof on a residential property is prohibited, except that a resident of the premises may repair one (1) vehicle on the property if the vehicle is owned by a resident and such repair does not exceed twenty (20) days. (2) On residentially zoned property the parking or storage of unlicensed vehicles outside, other than major recreational equipment, is limited to two (2). The property around the vehicle must be kept mowed and free of debris. Such vehicles shall be included in the number of permitted vehicles under Section 11-4-14 of this Chapter. b. Other Property. For other property, the parking, storage, or maintenance of junk vehicles is allowed only if incidental to a permitted use and if the vehicles are being actively repaired. Such vehicles shall be stored within an enclosed building or be so screened that they are not visible from public streets or adjoining properties. 5\. The regulations of this Section include the streets within and adjacent to such subdivisions. (Ordinance #5, October 12, 1993) 11-4-17: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL USES: All permitted uses within the Commercial or Industrial Districts shall comply with the following standards. A. All structures shall have permanent concrete or treated wood foundations which will anchor the structure, which comply with the building code as adopted by the   State of Minnesota and which is solid for the complete circumference of the structure. B. No structure shall have a width of less than twenty-four (24) feet at its narrowest point. Width measurements shall not take into account overhangs or other projections beyond the principal exterior walls. C. All structures must be built in conformance with Minnesota Statute 327.31 to 327.35, and the Building Code as adopted by the State of Minnesota. D. All commercial or light manufacturing principal structures shall have a minimum of two thousand (2,000) square foot ground floor area. E. The size of structures on any lot shall not exceed twenty (20%) percent of the total lot area. The maximum area of impervious land coverage, to include the building and all paved or impervious surfaces, shall not exceed seventy (70%) percent of the total lot area. (Ordinance #3, adopted November 9, 2010) F. Off-street access and parking shall be provided in accordance with Section 6 of this Chapter. (Ordinance #38, adopted October 11, 2011) G. No commercial or light manufacturing use shall be approved unless that use is accessed from a paved street with a total pavement structure sufficient for commercial traffic. All pavements within commercial industrial areas shall be designed minimum nine (9) ton standards in accordance with Mn/DOT bituminous street design procedures. (Ordinance #3, adopted November 9, 2010) H. Signs shall be allowed in accordance with Section 7 of this Chapter. (Ordinance #38, adopted October 11, 2011) I. Any new commercial or light manufacturing uses shall be allowed only after review and approval of site plans including water supply, proper waste disposal and appropriate surface water management. J. All Commercial or Light Manufacturing Uses are required to have a screened/fenced trash enclosure area for dumpsters or waste receptacles. K. All outside storage shall be screened from view and in an area enclosed with opaque fencing, with a minimum height of six (6) feet as measured from finished grade. All fences over 6 feet in height require a building permit and approval by the Architectural Review Committee. Fencing material must be new, un-used durable material in sound condition and properly installed and maintained. Permitted materials include: 1\. Chain-link with vinyl or metal slats.   2\. Naturally decay resistant or chemically treated wood. 3\. Decorative masonry or concrete. 4\. Low or maintenance-free vinyl. 5\. Other materials may be approved by the Nowthen Architectural Review Committee. 6\. Fabric Fencing or screening material is prohibited. L. All storage lots must maintain a minimum of thirty (30) feet front set back to the fencing and such area shall be landscaped. M. Screening and buffers: Any commercial or industrial development that abuts any existing residential development or abuts any parcel planned or zoned for housing shall be screened from view from the housing site using a combination of fencing, plantings and/or berming to the satisfaction of the City: 1\. Landscape terms: a. Bufferyard: Landscaped area between land uses of different intensities sharing a lot line. b. Screening: Methods used to obscure or block unsightly views. 2\. Screening and Buffering: a. A minimum of one hundred (100) feet of bufferyard is required along property lines which separate commercial or industrial and residential uses which may consist of either natural, wetland, woods open space, man-made ponding or a combination thereof. b. The following uses shall be screened or buffered in accordance with the requirements of this Section. (1) Principal buildings and structures and any accessory structures located in any business district containing non- residential uses shall be screened and buffered from lots used for any residential purpose. (2) Off-street parking spaces shall be screened and buffered from lots which are zoned residential. (3) Loading docks, trash and recycling storage facilities shall be screened from all lot lines and public streets.   (4) Outside storage in business districts that is allowed by other provisions of this ordinance shall be screened from all public views C. Required screening or buffering may be achieved with fences, walls, earth berms, hedges, or other landscape materials. (1) All walls and fences shall be architecturally harmonious with the principal building. (2) Earth berms shall not exceed a slope of 4:1, with a minimum height of 6 feet and must include the planting of two (2) or more rows of trees on top of the berm. Trees must consist of approximately fifty (50%) percent evergreen and fifty (50%) percent deciduous with a minimal height of six (6) feet. (3) The screen shall be designed to employ materials that provide an effective visual barrier during all seasons. d. All required screening or buffering shall be located on the lot occupied by the use, building, facility, or structure to be screened. No screening or buffering shall be located on any public right-of-way. e. Screening or buffering required by this subdivision shall be of a height needed to accomplish the goals of this Chapter. Height of plantings required under this section shall be measured at the time of installation. (Ordinance #3, adopted November 9, 2010) N. Exterior walls: 1\. The use of architectural features, such as gables, eyebrows, overhangs, porches, shutters, window grids and other trim is strongly encouraged. Alternatives may be considered and must be submitted to the Nowthen Architectural Review Committee for approval. 2\. Exterior materials shall comply with the requirements of Section 6 of this Chapter. (Ordinance #38, adopted October 11, 2011) O. Landscape: A landscape plan is required for all commercial, industrial and non- residential primary uses in non-residential zoning districts. 1\. Minimum Landscaping Requirements: For commercial, industrial and non- residential primary uses in the non-residential zoning district:   a. One (1) overstory deciduous shade tree or one (1) coniferous tree for every two thousand (2,000) square feet of total building floor area. b. One (1) understory shrub for every 300 square feet of total building floor area. C. The City may require additional landscaping as necessary to provide adequate screening or to provide a complete quality landscape treatment of the site. d. All new overstory trees shall be balled and burlapped or removed from the growing site by a tree spade. e. Size: (1) Deciduous trees shall have a minimum caliper of two and one- half (2 1/2 ) inches. (2) Coniferous trees shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height. (3) Ornamental trees shall have a minimum caliper of one and one-half (1 1/2 ) inches. (4) Shrubs shall be consistent in size to what a twenty-four (24) inch pot would normally contain. f. All site areas not covered by buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, patios, or similar hard surface materials shall be covered with sod or an equivalent groundcover approved by the City. This requirement shall not apply to site areas preserved in a natural state. g. No more than fifty (50) percent of the required number of trees shall be composed of one (1) species. Due to various ecological and maintenance related concerns, no required tree shall be any of the following: (1) A species of the genus (elm), except those bred to be immune to Dutch Elm Disease. (2) Common Buckthorn. (3) Russian Olive . (4) Black Locust. (5) Box-elder.   (6) Additional trees may be restricted from specific locations due to ecological and maintenance related issues. It is the responsibility of the landowner and/or applicant to confirm with the City whether or not a specific tree species is appropriate. #### 2. Maintenance of Landscaping: a. The owner and their respective agents shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance of all landscaping in a condition presenting a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance, and free from refuse and debris. b. Plants and groundcover which are required by an approved site or landscape plan and which are diseased or have died shall be replaced with like kind and size within three (3) months of notification by the City. However, the time for compliance may be extended up to nine (9) months by the City in order to allow for seasonal or weather conditions. C. Plantings placed upon public right-of-way or major easements are subject to removal by the City or utility company if required for maintenance or improvement of the utility. Trees on utility easements containing overhead wires shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height and shall be the property owner's responsibility to maintain. (Ordinance #3, adopted November 9, 2010)

Ch.11 § 4-16

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