2026.07.06 ORD 2026-549 Replace Zoning and Land Use Ordinance

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Created: 2025-05-22 16:40:50 [EST] (Supp. No. 36) Page 21 of 198 Significant historic site means a building, structure, archaeological site, or other place that is listed on the national or state register of historic places, or meets the requirements for listing on the national or state historic registers, or is designated as a significant historic site by the city council. All unplatted cemeteries meeting the provisions of Minn. Stat. § 307.08 are significant historic sites. Small above ground swimming pool means a swimming pool with a capacity of less than 5,000 gallons and wall height 24 inches to 42 inches. Solar access means unobstructed access to the solar resource on a lot or building, including access across adjacent parcel air rights, for the purpose of capturing direct sunlight to operate a solar energy system. Solar array means a group of solar panels wired together. Solar energy easement means an easement that limits the height or location, or both, of permissible development on the burdened land in terms of a structure or vegetation, or both, for the purpose of providing access for the benefited land to wind or sunlight passing over the burdened land. Solar energy system means a system whose primary purpose is to harvest energy by transforming solar energy into another form of energy or transferring heat from a collector to another medium using mechanical, electrical, or chemical means. Solar farm means a solar energy system that is composed of multiple solar panels where the primary land use, whether by footprint or visual impact or both, of the parcel is for a solar array. A solar farm produces energy for wholesale to subscribers, or is capable of producing, or is otherwise intended to, produce energy beyond that which is necessary solely for on-site use. Solar hot water system means a system that heats or preheats water for building heating systems or other hot water needs, including residential domestic hot water and hot water for commercial processes. Solar panel means a panel designed to absorb the sun's rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating. Solar resource means a view of the sun from a specific point on a lot or building that is not obscured by any vegetation, building, or object for a minimum of four hours between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Standard time on any day of the year. Steep slope means land having an average slope exceeding 12 percent over a horizontal distance of 50 feet or more in a shoreland area, or 30 percent or more over a horizontal distance of 50 feet in all other areas. Structure means any building or appurtenance, including decks, porches, sheds, foundations, or similar edifices that are artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner. Substantial improvement means within any consecutive 365-day period, any reconstruction, rehabilitation (including normal maintenance and repair), repair after damage, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction" of the improvements. Exceptions to this provision are as follows: (1) Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions. (2) Any alteration of an historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as an historic structure. Substantial pipeline means a pipe with a nominal diameter of six inches or more used to transport hazardous liquids, and any pipe carrying gas at a pressure exceeding 275 pounds per square inch. Pipes used to transport hazardous liquid by gravity, or within a refining, storage, or manufacturing facility, are not included in this definition.