Best Practice Action Detail

The City completed the Guiding Plan for the B-2 District in 2008 and subsequently adopted zoning regulations to implement the plan. The Guiding Plan identifies the B-2 District as a distinct, identifiable, and special place in Arden Hills that functions like a downtown. The purpose of the B-2 Zoning District is to create a place in which people can live, work and play, and that is compact, architecturally diverse, and pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.
The TCAAP Redevelopment Code includes a Town Center Zoning District that is meant to create a vibrant commercial and residential environment that maximizes the potential for an outdoor experience. The Town Center District promotes walkability through allowing for housing, office, retail, restaurant and civic use, all within close proximity of each other.

Subdivision 2 of Ordinance 270 provides for permitted uses of apartment and residential living in the downtown central business district.

The City of Belle Plaine allows many commercial uses with in the Central Business District Zone. The CBD also allows residential uses within the same building as a commercial use as a conditional use.

Downtown Zoning District Zoning Ordinances, Page 66 of doc. in hyperlink.

Urban Renaissance(UR): Provide areas for retail, recreational,
and governmental functions in a high
amenity setting, accessible by
automobile but conducive to
pedestrians and bicyclists.

Vertical mixed-use is very common in downtown Bemidji. Typically retail land uses with residential units on the upper level.

The City of Big Lake adopted the Downtown Design Standards in Section 1063 of the zoning code. This created a downtown overlay district. The goals are summarized in the plan,"Downtown development should be appropriate for a traditional downtown area, with mixed use buildings combining retail, commercial, and residential uses; two and three story buildings are encouraged. Destination retail, restaurant and entertainment uses, particularly mixed with compatible, complementary, or other synergistic uses, are encouraged."

Burnsville's downtown district, Heart of the City (HOC), predates the Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development. HOC is a downtown overlay district. HOC, Public Utilities District, and MIX all allow mixed use of office, retail, educational, civic, and residential units within the same building.

Cologne's downtown is zoned to allow for mixed use of buildings. Buildings generally have commercial uses on the main floor with living quarters above that are mostly used as rental property.

The Central Business District is a zoning district that is designed to provide for the development and redevelopment of the established downtown core, including a mix of retail, financial, office, service, civic, and educational uses with residential units allowed above a first floor commercial use.

Office, retail, educational, civic, and residential units are all permitted within the same building in Duluth's downtown zoning district.

Faribault's central business district zoning allow for both commercial and residential development.

Mixed use zoning – The Downtown Waterfront district and the Commercial-Residential Mixed Use District provide a clear walkable and pedestrian scale commercial core and a mixed use transition area to the residential areas.

Purpose Statement - The Core Downtown Waterfront district is intended to promote a mix of shops, restaurants and professional services that serve both the year round and seasonal or visitor populations. The emphasis in this district is on commercial services as a primary function, where residential uses can fit as a secondary function and can add to the liveliness and viability of the downtown. There is an emphasis on creating an attractive pedestrian environment that makes the Core Downtown and Waterfront of the City a destination in and of itself. New uses in this district should not detract from other existing uses.

The Downtown Waterfront district limits large (more than 10,000 sq ft) commercial stores, and includes design standards to create visual consistency and pedestrian-friendly elements.
Purpose Statement - The Commercial-Residential Mixed Use district can be characterized as a transition zone from the downtown and Highway 61 commercial areas to the residential parts of Grand Marais, and an expansion area for the downtown commercial uses. The MU district is intended to promote the current character of a neighborhood that includes a mix of residential, lodging, professional and small scale retail uses that are compatible with this character. Site design standards for new development, redevelopment and expansion should reflect the mixed use character and reflect the current lot coverage and setback characteristics found within the concept area.

The Hopkins downtown overlay district was adopted in order to meet the following goals: preserve the small-town, unique character of Mainstreet Hopkins; complement the existing historic architecture; enhance the pedestrian orientation of downtown Hopkins and encourage streetscape design that is inviting and on a human scale; and communicate the community's vision for the Mainstreet area. The boundaries for the overlay district are from the south side of 1st St. N to the north side of 1st St. S and the west side of 6th Ave to the east side of 13th Ave. Guidelines are intended to convey desirable elements. All guidelines are outlined in the downtown report which can be found at http://www.hopkinsmn.com/development/downtown.php. The attached report provides planning guidelines for mixed-use around the LRT.

Hutchinson allows for vertical mixed-use with retail on the lower and residential on the upper portions. This is frequent throughout the downtown area.

Hutchinson recently rezoned the downtown zone to conditional use with conditions set forth by city staff, planning commission, and city council. This allows for expansion of light industrial, as well as other categories, to be integrated into the downtown zone, if conditions are met. This will allow for the use of an empty box store lot to be used for a local light industrial company to expand in the community.

The cities downtown zoning allows for mixed use. Residential (Apartments above businesses) office, commercial, civic, educational etc.

The city has a B3-Downtown Business District that encourages mixed use development. As stated in the Zoning Code, "the primary goals of Mahtomedi's B3 District and the corresponding District in Willernie are to encourage compact, pedestrian oriented development, and to respect existing land uses and development patterns". The B3 District permits most small scale businesses, public or semi-public facilities, and apartments located above the street level.

In addition, the City has a Village Mixed Use District that is intended to provide greater flexibility in design and relaxation of strict application of the zoning ordinance in exchange for greater creativity and neighborhood sensitivity. The VMU District is intended to recognize the economic and cultural advantages that will accrue to the residents and businesses within the planned development, while encouraging a more creative and efficient approach to the use of land. The VMU District is similar to the B3 District in terms of uses except that it allows for standalone multi-family housing, as well as a mixed use with other commercial uses. The VMU District requires residential densities of 10-30 dwelling units per acre.

Downtown zoning districts, including CBD-C (Central Business Distric-Core) and CBD-F (Central Business District - Fringe) allow for residential development above the ground floor, with approval of Conditional Use Permit. This layout retains commercial/retail uses on the ground floors while retaining option for dwelling units above. This layout is environmetally friendly and promotes a vibrant mixed-use downtown atmoshpere, and promotes "live/work" opportunities for those that work in the City Center area. Additionally, nearby OR-Office Residential zoning district encourages live/work arrangmeent for building owners with low-intensity business uses, such as lawyers, accountants, and salons.

The MU-1 downtown mixed use district promotes a variety of uses aimed at building and maintaining a pedestrian friendly, sustainable downtown environment. Uses that provide a diversity of jobs, residential opportunities, entertainment venues, civic functions, commercial services and shopping are encouraged in the downtown mixed use district. (Ord. 2004-40, 1-3-2005)

Moorhead Renaissance Zone (MRZ) and the Downtown Moorhead Master Plan (In Progress) guide Moorhead's visions and policies for a mixed-use downtown zoning district. Applicable projects are eligible for building improvement tax exemptions.

In 2009 Rochester created an Urban Village Overlay Zone district. The area is intended to have buildings around 4-5 stories tall. The idea of the village is to have a mixed use of office, retail, and residential units all located within the same building. The Village would promote walk ability and a convenience for shopping. It is located downtown so it would get a lot of use from mayo clinic and other downtown employees.

Rogers' downtown area has a special "Downtown Mixed Use" zoning classification. The core downtown area along Main Street and the main east west cross street are intended to have multi-story mixed-use buildings with retail and service uses at street level and residential or office uses above.

The City's Comp Plan also creates zones for mixed use regional and mixed use neighborhood areas.

The city has a Mixed Use zoning district, which allows for a variety of different uses, including commercial, residential, and institutional within the same building. See section 74, Division 7 of the city's zoning ordinance.

The updated 2016 Comprehensive Plan has a new Zoning designation titled: Town Square. The new Zoning classification (once Zoning ordinances are amended) will allow mixed-use development with residential on top and commercial/retail on bottom. See page 13 in the link.

The city's C-1 (retail business district) allows for office, retail, educational, civic, and residential units all located within the same building. The city's downtown business district is primarily zoned C-1. The city's C-1 district regulations may be found in Section 118-126 at this link: https://www2.municode.com/library/mn/south_st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADERE_CH118ZO_ARTIVDIRE_DIV1GE_S118-126REBUDI

The Land Use Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan
designates the Downtown area as “Mixed Use”,
which accurately reflects the mix of commercial and residential uses currently in place in Downtown Stillwater. The city has undertaken various projects over the last few years to allow for apartments to be integrated into the district. A great example of this Stillwater Mills, which is a mix of apartments and offices within the Downtown Commercial Business District.

The City's Central Business District allows for mixed use of all buildings within the downtown. The zoning for the district allows for a variety of uses both permitted and conditional uses.

The City has a specific downtown zoning district, so there is no need to create a special overlay district. In this downtown district, mixed use of office, retail, educational, civic, and residential use is allowed within the same building.

Mixed use is allowed in the Central Business District in Downtown Willmar MN.

Downtown Albert Lea is zoned as a B3 Central Business District allowing for commercial, light industrial, and multi-family residential.

Included in the 2009 Zoning Ordinance rewrite. The purpose of this district is to encourage the continuation of a viable, traditional downtown area by allowing retail, service, office and entertainment facilities and public and semi-public uses as well as the allowance of second-story dwelling units located above such uses.

Crookston has horizontal mixed use downtown where apartments exist above businesses. The city also modified a zoning ordinance to allow the construction of an apartment building downtown. Abandoned downtown buildings are
being renovated to contain businesses below with apartments above.

Crookston's downtown is zoned as the Central Business District. The purpose is defined to allow retail, service, office, and entertainment facilities as well as public and semi-public uses.

The City of Delano has a Central Business District that is zoned so as to allow for commercial activity as well as siting of residential units. The Central Business District is also home to civic buildings including City Hall, a fire station and a public library. Delano's Comprehensive Plan calls for the promotion of medium and high desnity residential redevelopment on sites at the periphery of the commercial core to increase the local customer base. Additionally, the CBD currently allows, and the comprehensive plan guides the City to continue to allow second story apartments above commercial buildings in the downtown district, further promoting density and mixing of uses in the same building.

Central Business Zoning District allows residential units located above commercial establishments.

Planned Commercial Developments or PCDs serve as Edina's 'downtown' zoning districts. PCD-1 and PCD-2 allow and contain existing residential (conditional uses) and commercial uses (principal) located within the same district to allow mixed-use and pedestrian accessible and convenient facilities and commercial destinations to residents and visitors.

The B-2 Downtown Business District identifies a variety of general commercial and higher density residential uses for the downtown area in order to expand and strengthen the downtown as the primary commercial district for the city, create a pedestrian friendly downtown, and promote the city as a cultural center. Objectives of this district are to preserve historical buildings, require high design standards, and provide a diverse mix of community oriented commercial and cultural activities that are pedestrian oriented and accessible to area residents. This district conditionally allows residential uses.

The downtown core is also part of the Downtown Commerical Overlay District that emphasizes designs standards that promote connectivity between residential and commercial spaces.

Completed DC and RMU Zoning Districts exist and have been implemented within Downtown.

The Hermantown Marketplace is a zone meant to provide an identifiable commercial district, that incorporates aspects of mixed use. This includes everything from multiple family dwellings to light industrial uses.

In 2007, the City of Hugo developed a Downtown Plan & Design Guidelines, which shares many of the guiding principles of the MN Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development’s Town Center District Model. The Downtown Plan dictates that new development shall provide for pedestrian as well as vehicular circulation, and auto-dominated commercial development is discouraged. Architectural design of new development in the downtown area is guided to respect existing historical buildings and seek compatibility with downtown Hugo’s character. Key principles of the Downtown Plan include preserving and celebrating Hugo’s small-town character, enhancing the public realm and expanding civic space, maintaining a pedestrian-oriented downtown, and drawing unique small businesses which support downtown neighborhoods. Horizontal mixed use is permitted in the central business district, and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan notes that mixed use is desirable in the downtown area.

A number of businesses within Isanti’s downtown district contain apartments on the upper floor and office or retail on the main floor. The amount of required parking is reduced in order to promote compact development. Isanti’s downtown also allows for a certain amount of light industrial uses near the fringe of the downtown.

The Comprehensive Plan outlines the creation of a Downtown Zoning District and its principles of allowing compatible residential and commercial use in the area. This district will support vertical mixed use up to 3 stories and create an efficient and lively downtown within Kasson. (see Comprehensive Plan under 6.1) Reference the R-C Residential Commercial Mixed-Use District – Section 154.095 (F) of the zoning code; and the C-1 Central Business district which explicitly allows second floor apartments in downtown buildings. That is 154.095 G

The City of Maple Grove implemented the Gravel Mining Area Special Area Plan as a subplan in our overall Comprehensive Plan. As part of this, a Town Center area was identified and developed along Main Street in the early 2000's as a Planned Unit Development called Arbor Lakes.

This Planned Unit Development created a mixture of retail, office, residential and civic uses. Retail and office have been vertically mixed while the other uses have been horizontally mixed due to market forces.

While currently we have no vertical mixing of residential and other uses, the Gravel Mining Area Plan and PUD process does allow and encourage such mixing.

New Brighton’s B-4, Downtown Business district allows, as a permitted use, residential and commercial uses recognizing the downtown commercial area originally developed with unique character and circumstances. The B-4 zoning district standards include requirements that facilitate the unique development patterns under which the area originally prospered and provides for harmonious and attractive development patterns that benefit downtown New Brighton residents and businesses.

Our Central Business District zoning, Section 608, is made up of smaller business types, and allows for residential to be mixed into the same buildings as commercial uses.

The downtown is zoned primarily for PUDs (PC-2 Planned General Commercial, and PMR Planned Multifamily) and C-2 General Commercial. The commercial PUDs allow non-commercial land uses to occupy up to 25% of the gross floor area in the PUD, and the residential PUDs allow non-residential uses to occupy up to 25% of the gross floor area. These districts provide enough mixed-use flexibility without the need for an overlay district. The C-2 General Commercial District does not allow residential uses.

Richfield's downtown in the vicinity of Lyndale Ave. and 66th St. is zoned primarily for commercial and medium-to-high density residential.

Lakes at Lyndale Connectivity Plan was completed, approved, and is being implemented.

Downtown zoning districts, including B-2 (Service Business District) and B-3 (General Business District), allow for residential development above the ground floor, with approval of a Special Use Permit. The ground floors are used for business and commercial uses and allows for the space above and below the main level to be used for residential use.

The City of Savage is home to a unique and historic downtown in the northeast part of the City. The C-3 Downtown Development District is designed to accommodate both residential and commercial uses. Details of the C-3 district are in City Code 152.225-152.230. The Code specifically lists uses allowed in commercial districts (which the C-3 is designated as) in City Code 152.171 (uses allowed in Commercial Districts).

Currently permitted in zoning ordinance

Sec 30  1026 of the municipal code allows for multiple-family dwellings provided that business commercial uses at street level occupy the floor. Traditional and single family dwellings are also permitted provided that they have appropriate exterior building finishes and follow architectural standards and guidelines set for the downtown area.

City is redeveloping commercial 2 district to allow for residential and commercial development. Also redeveloping downtown zoning district to encourage mixed use development.

The City of Fergus Falls has had a B-3 zone since 1965.

The downtown central business district (C-2) allows commercial development with residential living above with a CUP (154.141).

The City has rezoned the downtown district to allow commercial and residential units within the same parcel.

The Gladstone redevelopment area planning is being finalized soon in 2015. This area will be a mixed use with a mix of residential and commercial areas.

There is as downtown zoning district which allows for mixed uses of buildings (ie apartments on top of businesses). The district is outlined in the comprehensive plan.

Section 4-17 of the City Code addresses the city's City Center District, which was adopted in 2011. The purpose of the City Center district is to encourage a mixture of residential, commercial, office, and civic uses in the City Center area to enhance its function as the heart of the community.

The City of Newport has five Mixed-Use Districts throughout the City. The purpose of the Mixed-Use Districts are to encourage a mixture of residential, commercial, office and retail development within the downtown area and near the transit station. The regulations for the Mixed-Use Districts can be found in Chapter 36 of the City Code.

Current City's zoning code addresses such development. In 2019 City is working towards updating its entire zoning code.

Red Wing's CBD zoning allows for residential mixed use development and Red Wing recently ammended the ordinance to make parking requirements more flexible.

Completed. DD-1 Zone.

Rosemount's DT - Downtown District can be found in Section 11-4-11 of the City Code. The purpose of this district is to encourage a viable downtown area. Rosemount's downtown is intended to serve the entire city and be a diversified commercial, civic, and lifestyle center that offers the full range of comparison goods, sales and services, cultural, civic, and entertainment opportunities, financial and professional offices, attached and multiple-family housing, and public uses. Although this district relies on automobile traffic, the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists are deemed equally important. Pedestrian and bicycle linkages, landscaping, and appropriate amenities are important components of this district. The pedestrian orientation of buildings adjacent to sidewalks encourages parking in the rear yards and enhances the traditional character exemplified by historical central business districts. Zoning standards are intended to promote compatibility in form, function and style.

The C-3 Central Business Zoning District is designed to reflect central location and ease of access of being the hub of a system of radial thoroughfares. A prime characteristic of this district is the historic core of intense pedestrian activity. The C-3 District allows a myriad of residential uses including dwelling units above the ground floor, assisted living facilities, convalescent homes, dormitories and independent living facilities. The C-3 District allows many of the permitted uses of the Downtown Mixed-Use District as identified in the 2009 Minnesota Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development including, but not limited to, retail space, personal services, hotels, theaters, health clubs, restaurants, taverns, offices, day care centers and churches. In addition, the C-3 District established bulk and setback regulations that mirror those identified in the 2009 Minnesota Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development including zero minimum lot width, depth, and area requirements, zero front side and rear yard setbacks, and no maximum lot coverage requirement. The C-3 District does not require any off-street parking.

The city of Saint Peter owns an approximately 30, 360 square foot, commercially zoned parcel of land on Highway 169 corridor in historic downtown of the city.

Office, retail, educational, civic, and residential units are all permitted in the same building in our Central Business (B-3) District.

The Urban Residential District described in section 24-134 of the municipal code allows residential and compatible commercial in areas designated “urban mixed residential” in the comprehensive plan. Section 24-146 describes a Mixed Use Overlay District. The Urban Village mixed use area is in R1.