The City of Shakopee is initiating a zoning text amendment regarding the design standards relating to commercial, industrial, and multi-family development within the city.

The current materials standards regulations is in sentence and list form and only distinguishes between commercial and residential zones. The requirements for a building in the core of downtown are the identical requirements for a building in Valley Green Industrial Park, or a retail building in Southbridge. Staff believes that different zoning districts or areas of the community should have different standards based on their unique character and environment.  The proposed text amendment creates a table for allowed materials, designs, and specific minimum  requirements based on the zoning district, or similar groups of zones.

The proposed amendment includes sections from the Downtown Shakopee Design Guidelines. The guidelines are suggestions that were developed by the Downtown / First Avenue Revitalization Committee in 1999. The Downtown Design Guidelines have been used when considering façade loans in the downtown area. Staff believes that in order to maintain the historic character of the downtown, some of the guidelines should be codified, such as not permitting brick to be painted over or covered with stucco, or windows to be covered by brick, the use of bright / fluorescent colors, or vinyl siding in the downtown.  

The proposed amendment includes allowances for modern materials that have become commonplace since this ordinance was drafted, such as: metal insulated panel systems, fiber cement panels and siding, and engineered wood products. The proposed amendment also adjusts screening requirements for mechanical units. Currently, regardless of size, rooftop mechanical units on a building may be painted to match the building materials around them. The proposed amendment adds a requirement for large mechanical units on the ground or on a roof by requiring screening in other ways for units taller than 3.5'. The proposed table would replace the lists and paragraphs on materials. Parts of the existing language of the chapter would remain as it is today.  

The Planning Commission reviewed the request at the October 3rd meeting. At the October 3rd meeting, concerns by a developer were raised regarding some of the proposed requirements. Staff has adjusted the proposed ordinance language regarding several of the developer's concerns related to window coverage and building design.