HomeMy Public PortalAbout684 Ordinance Amending City Code Pertaining to Height of Rooftop ElementsOrdinance No. 684 1
March 1, 2022
CITY OF MEDINA
ORDINANCE NO. 684
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CITY CODE
PERTAINING TO HEIGHT OF ROOFTOP ELEMENTS
The City Council of the City of Medina ordains as follows:
SECTION I. A new Section 825.22 is hereby added to the code of ordinances of the City of
Medina as follows:
Section 825.22. Height Limitations for Rooftop Elements. The building height limitation
established in each zoning district shall not apply to the objects and features described in this
section. The height of such objects and features shall be regulated as described herein.
Subd. 1. Rooftop Architectural Elements
(a) The following architectural elements and similar elements located on a structure shall be
subject to the regulations described in Subd. 1(b):
(i) Belfries
(ii) Spires or steeples
(iii) Weathervanes
(iv) Flags and flagpoles, if attached to a structure
(v) Cupolas and domes which do not contain useable space
(vi) Parapet walls
(vii) Other architectural elements
(b) No rooftop architectural element, as described in Subd. 1(a), shall extend above the greater
of the following:
(i) ten feet above the highest point of the roof on which it is located;
(ii) a horizontal line five feet greater than the maximum building height allowed in
the respective zoning district in which it is located, as measured from the average
grade around the building; or
(iii) in non-residential districts, a vertical distance of 50 feet as measured from the
average grade around the building to the top of the architectural element.
Subd. 2. Rooftop Equipment
(a) The following rooftop equipment and similar equipment, when located on a structure,
shall be subject to the regulations described in Subd. 2(b):
(i) Chimneys or flues
(ii) Smokestacks
(iii) Cooling towers
(iv) Elevator penthouses
(v) Necessary mechanical and electrical appurtenances and related screening apparatus
(vi) Poles, towers, and other structures for essential services
Ordinance No. 684 2
March 1, 2022
(vii) Television, radio, or telecommunication antennas, excluding antennae regulated by
Section 828.75 et. seq.
(b) No rooftop equipment, as described in Subd. 2(a), shall extend greater than twelve feet
above the highest point of the roof on which it is located, except by conditional use
permit that shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) The applicant shall establish, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that the
equipment is necessary for the function of the building and utilizing shorter
equipment is impractical or less advantageous.
(ii) The equipment shall not limit solar access to adjacent and/or neighboring
properties.
(iii) The city may require additional landscaping, screening and architectural
elements to minimize the impact of the taller mechanical elements.
(iv) The provisions of Section 825.39 are satisfied.
Subd. 3. Rooftop Solar Equipment shall be subject to the limitations described in Section
828.09.
SECTION II. Clause (f) of Section 815.05, Subd. 2 of the code of ordinances of the City of
Medina is amended by deleting the stricken language and adding the underlined language as
follows:
(f) Flags. No flag on a flagpole shall exceed 40 square feet in area. No single property shall
fly more than three flags at one time. Flagpoles shall not exceed extend more than 40
feet in heightabove grade, except if attached to a structure, in which case they shall be
regulated by Section 825.22. If the total area of the flags exceeds 72 square feet, the
excess area shall be included in any Sign Area calculations for the property. Wall-
mounted flags shall be limited to one flag per property and shall not exceed 20 square
feet in area;
SECTION III. Section 825.19, Subd. 2 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is
amended by deleting the stricken language as follows:
Subd. 2. No accessory building shall exceed 30 feet in height, with the exception of
buildings where agricultural use or farming is at the discretion of the City the primary use
of the property. Building projections or features, such as chimneys, cupolas, and similar
decorations that do not exceed 35 feet in height are permitted in residential districts.
Accessory building height shall be measured as set forth in section 825.07, subdivision
12 of the city code.
Ordinance No. 684 3
March 1, 2022
SECTION IV. Clauses (f) of Section 834.07, Subd. 1 of the code of ordinances of the City of
Medina regulating the Architectural Standards of the Uptown Hamel District is amended by
deleting the stricken language as follows:
(f) Height. New building heights shall not exceed three stories, except as
described herein. Along all street frontages and park property lines, building
heights exceeding two stories shall have the third story set back at least six feet
from the front line of the building, and the fourth story shall be set back 12 feet
from the front line of the building. Basement levels shall not be considered a
story, so long as more than 50 percent of the basement structure is below grade at
the average of all areas around the building. Total building height shall not exceed
50 feet., except structures such as belfries, chimneys, flues, monuments, cupolas
and domes which do not contain living space, are permitted, provided they are not
higher than 10 feet above the height of the building. In the case that the distance
from grade to the eave (or top corner of a flat roof) of a structure exceeds 30 feet,
additional fire suppression apparatuses may be required by the city. A fourth story
may be allowed if ten percent of residential units are dedicated affordable housing
units.
SECTION V. Clause (i) of Section 834.07, Subd. 1 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina
regulating the Architectural Standards of the Uptown Hamel District is amended by deleting the
stricken language and adding the underlined language as follows:
(i) Equipment. Equipment shall not be mounted on the roof unless it can be
demonstrated that there is no other reasonable alternative. If allowed, rRooftop
equipment shall be screened using the architectural elements and material from
the building, provided they are consistent with these design standards, and shall
otherwise adhere to all requirements contained in Section 825.22.
SECTION VI. Subclause (s)(iv) of Section 831.07, Subd. 1 of the code of ordinances of the City
of Medina regulating the Design and Development Standards for the Urban Commercial district is
amended by deleting the stricken language and adding the underlined language as follows:
(s) Building Materials and Building Appearance –
(iv) Screening of Rooftop Equipment – All rooftop equipment shall be
designed to minimize undesirable views and forms when viewing rooftops
from higher elevations and abutting property. Equipment shall be screened
through the use of architectural elements and materials, which are
consistent with the design and architecture of the building. Wooden boards
or similar material constructed or assembled in a fence-type method or
design shall not be used to screen rooftop equipment. All requirements in
Section 825.22 shall also be adhered to. Screening elements should not
exceed 8 feet in height.
Ordinance No. 684 4
March 1, 2022
SECTION VII. Subclause (u)(v) of Section 833.07, Subd. 1 of the code of ordinances of the City
of Medina regulating the Design and Development Standards for the Industrial Park District is
amended by deleting the stricken language and adding the underlined language as follows:
(v) Screening of Rooftop Equipment – All rooftop equipment shall be
designed to minimize undesirable views and forms when viewing rooftops
from higher elevations or abutting property. Equipment shall be screened
through the use of architectural elements and materials, which are
consistent with the design and architecture of the building. Wooden boards
or similar material constructed or assembled in a fence-type method or
design shall not be used to screen rooftop equipment. All requirements in
Section 825.22 shall also be adhered to. Rooftop equipment and screening
elements shall not exceed 8 feet in height.
SECTION VIII. Upon the effective date of this ordinance, Ordinance No. 677, the interim
ordinance adopted by the city council on November 3, 2021, establishing a moratorium on
certain rooftop elements, as that term is defined therein, shall be repealed and be of no further
force or effect.
SECTION IX. This ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption and publication.
Adopted by the Medina city council this 1st day of March, 2022.
______________________________
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
_________________________________________
Caitlyn Walker, City Clerk
Published in the Crow River News on the 10th day of March, 2022.