5. Land ordinances for sustainabilityVILLAGE MIXED -USE DISTRICT
From Policy to Reality
Updated - - -
Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development
2000
Environmental
Quality Board
2008
Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency
Funded by a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Sustainable Communities Grant
Primary Author:
_ Suzanne Rhees
III
CUNINGHAM
G R O U P
Project Coordinator:
Planning, Inc.
Community
Resources
INTRODUCTION
This ordinance would be appropriate for a community with a small center, typically unincorporated; sometimes
called a townsite, village or hamlet. Many such centers have grown up around a church, school, manufacturing
enterprise or crossroads tavern, usually surrounded by a cluster of predominantly single-family homes on small
lots. Many county zoning ordinances recognize the existence of several such communities through a Village or
Rural Townsite district. The ordinance could also be tailored to meet the needs of a small downtown or com-
mercial node within an incorporated city. Most centers of this type lack central utilities, but some have commu-
nity systems for water or wastewater service. Therefore, this ordinance includes dimensional standards for uses
with or without central utilities.
I. Purposes - The Village Mixed Use District is designed to recognize and enhance the vitality of Model
Community's village center by allowing and encouraging retail, service, residential and civic uses that are
compatible with the scale and character of the village center. The VMU District regulations specifically
implement the following goals from the Comprehensive Plan:
A. Goal — Maintain and enhance Model Community's village center as an activity center and community
gathering place.
B. Goal — Encourage the concentration of convenience retail and services and employment opportuni-
ties in the village center.
C. Goal — Encourage the development of compatible new housing in the village center as opposed to
scattered site development in agricultural protection areas.
D. Goal — Encourage provision of community wastewater treatment and water services to serve the
village center and allow it to expand.
Village Mixed -Use District
The nature and intensity of agricultural user
allowed in a village center will depend on local
context and preferences. Typically, feedlot opera-
tions would be restricted.
Village Mixed -Use District
II.
rJ
Use Regulations - The following table indicates allowed land uses with the following abbreviations:
P for Permitted Use, C for Conditional Use, N for Not Permitted.
VMU
Agricultural Uses
Agricultural operations, not including animal agriculture
P
Expansion of existing animal agricultural operations
C
Seasonal farm stand
P
Residential Uses
Single-family dwelling
P
Two-family dwelling
C
Townhouse, rowhouse
C
Dwelling unit located at ground floor
C
Dwelling unit located above ground floor
P
Secondary dwelling
C
Community residential facility
P
Live -work space
P
Civic and Semi -Public Uses
Libraries, museums, community centers
P
Religious assemblies
P
Schools, public and private
P
Day care centers
P
Parks and recreation facilities
P
Clinics, nursing homes
C
Bed and breakfast
C
Commercial Uses
Retail sales and service establishments
C
Services such as beauty shops, barbershops, and dry-cleaning
establishments.
p
VMU
Professional business and general offices such as banks, offices,
clinics, medical, dental and doctor's offices, government and
P
public utility office buildings, post offices, opticians' offices and
similar uses.
Restaurants including open air or sidewalk cafes
P
Food and beverage sales
P
Taverns, lodges or private clubs
P
Art and craft galleries and studios
P
Farmers' markets
P
Agriculturally -oriented business
P
Mixed -use developments or multi -use developments containing
C
more than one permitted use
Drive -through facilities in conjunction with a permitted use
C
Automotive service stations, including convenience stores with
C
fuel sales
Automobile sales and service
C
Outdoor sales and storage in conjunction with a permitted use
C
Existing industrial or manufacturing uses; except that additions
P
or expansions of such uses shall be treated as a conditional use.
Any use of land which is consistent with the purpose of the
VW district and not expressly prohibited, and which, by its
C
nature, does not constitute a public or private nuisance.
A. Maximum Floorplate - Commercial uses listed as "permitted" in Table _ shall not exceed 5,000
square feet of gross floor area on the ground floor, except by conditional use permit. The maxi-
mum size and floorplate of conditional nonresidential uses shall be as determined by conditional
use permit.
B. Nonresidential Use Locations - New nonresidential or mixed uses shall be restricted to lots
adjacent to existing commercial or industrial uses or lots at corner locations.
Village Mixed -Use District
This ordinance allows additional land uses to
be considered as conditional uses. This level of
flexibility may be appropriate in a small rural
community.
Placement of nonresidential uses is restricted in
order to reinforce the existing pattern of land
uses. If a masterplan far the area has been de-
veloped, thatplan would 0picalyestablisb loca-
tions for nonresidential uses.
Village Mixed -Use District
III. Dimensional Standards
Minimum Lot Area
On -site utilities
Centralized Utilities
Single -Family Dwelling
1 acre[1]
10,000 sf
Attached Dwelling
n/a
7,500 sf/unit
Nonresidential or mixed use
1 acre[1]
10,000 sf
Minimum Lot Width
Single -Family Dwelling
75 feet or based on block context
50 feet or based on block context
Attached Dwelling
n/a
25 feet
Nonresidential or mixed use
75 feet or as determined by CUP
75 feet or as determined by CUP
Maximum Impervious
Coverage
Single -Family Dwelling
40%
Attached, nonresidential,
mixed -use
50%
Minimum Front Yard Setback
Residential
20 feet or based on block context
Nonresidential, mixed -use
None[2]
Minimum Side Yard Setback
Residential
10 feet
Nonresidential, mixed -use
6 feet, except for commercial
buildings that share a party wall
Minimum Rear Yard Setback
40% of lot depth
Maximum Height
35 feet
[1] Minimum lot area must be adequate for on -site wastewater treatment and may need to be increased
to meet this requirement.
[2] Establishing a build -to line that places building facades within a specified distance from the sidewalk,
is also an option (similar to the Downtown Mixed -Use District).
IV. Design Standards
A. Scale of Construction - The scale of new construction shall be consistent with that of surround-
ing buildings. Specifically, buildings shall not exceed the average facade length or area (height times
length) of buildings within 200 feet by more than 50%, except by conditional use. Building orienta-
tion, height to width ratio, and placement of door and window openings should be proportional to
those of surrounding storefront buildings, where present.
B. Design Standards for Dwellings - New dwellings shall be designed with similar or compatible
materials, roof forms, orientation and scale to existing residential buildings on the same block face.
Off-street parking shall not be located within the front yard, except for driveways leading to an at-
tached or detached garage. Front -loaded garage doors shall be located no closer to the street than the
dwelling's front facade. Side -loaded garages, or detached garages in rear yards, are encouraged.
C. Accessory Buildings - Detached accessory buildings must utilize similar or compatible materials to
the principal structure.
D. Street Connectivity - New or extended streets within the district shall connect to at least two other
streets unless physical barriers or sensitive natural resources preclude such connection. Cul-de-sac
streets are not permitted except as temporary street -ends.
E. Sidewalks Required - Sidewalks shall be provided along both sides of all streets, except where
streets abut a park or other public space with entrances and pathways in other locations.
E Parking Location - Off-street parking is not permitted between the front facade of a building and
the primary street. Parking may be located to the rear or side of a building, provided that no more
than 35 percent of the lot frontage along the primary street is devoted to parking or drives.
Village Mixed -Use District
Another option would be to reference some or all
of the Pedestrian -Oriented Design Standards
in this section.