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Tracy Davis

From: Clifford E. Clark, Jr. [cclark@carleton.edu]

Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 9:34 PM
To: Tracy Davis
Cc: Mike Meehan; bbuckheit@charter.net; Erik Hong; Daniel Jones; Darin Pavek; William Ostrem; Lynn
Bruns; Jay Jasnoch; Leota Goodney; Steven Pahs; Steve Schmidt; William (Pepe) Kryzda; David
Van Wylen; Bruce Anderson; Peter Schmelzer; ythoma078@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Interesting link, and info for Friday's LUAG meeting

Hello everyone:
Following up on Tracy's suggestion, here's a copy of the note that I sent to Dan earlier on typos and
other inconsistencies.
Cliff

April 21, 2009

Mr. Dan Olsen

City Planning Office
Northfield City Hall
Northfield, Mn 55057

Dear Dan:

Given the fact that the Advisory Committee has a limited time to review the 272 pages of the draft of
the Northfield, Minnesota, Land Development Code, I am sending my comments on places where the
code is unclear and on typos in this letter. Please circulate it to the other members of the committee.
My comments are listed by code section:

2.4.2, A 2 The sentence refers to the “framework map” but it should be changed to the actual map title
which should read “Official Zoning Map”.

2.4.2.B, 1 ( b) To be consistent and clear, in the first sentence which reads “For the purpose of this
section, the Perimeter Transition Area (PTA) shall be defined as a 300-foot wide area at the boundaries
of the CD-S zone district that are not adjacent to the CD-S district” would be clearer if it read “… shall
be defined as any place within the CDS district that is within 300 feet of any boundary.”
In the third section in this section, the term “the area” at the end of the sentence would be clearer if
the area were specified. I would suggest that it read “the area owned by the college adjacent to the right
of way” “may develop consistent with the IDA standards.”

2.4.2 B (2)(d)
Additional Design Standards, (d) Athletic field lighting. The phrases “not be exempt” and “may not
utilize the exemption” do not make sense. How can the college not utilize the exemption if it is not
exempt in the first place? So the intention of this sentence is not clear.

2.4.2 C (4) typo? This sentence does not make sense unless the phrase “is required” is deleted. The

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sentence, as corrected, should read: “If a traffic and stormwater management plan is not completed
during the rezoning process, such plans shall be required as part of any future site plan approval for a
new structure.”

2.11.4, G Temporary Structures, What does the word “institutional” mean in the phrase “temporary
structures serving public or institutional uses . . .” ?

3.1.5,A (2) The term “other projections” in the phrase “Eaves and other projections” is not clear. Does
it mean eves and other “roof” projections?

3.5.2 (A) Applicability To be consistent here, since these standards apply to R1-B districts, they should
also apply to proposed infill development or redevelopment in the PTA of the CD-S (in the Perimeter
Transition Area of the College Development Zone).

4.8.2 Violations and Penalties. This section is not clear. The penalty for a first violation is “a fourth
degree misdemeanor” and the penalty for subsequent violations is the same. Shouldn’t someone who
violates the code multiple times be subject to stronger penalties if he or she continues to do so? If
repeated abuse brings no harsher penalties, scofflaws with continue to violate the code.

5.3.5 Neighborhood meetings This section places the reporting responsibility on the
applicant. Should the applicant not notify the neighbors, the city planner should have the
responsibility to notify them so that they can learn about the intended development project.

5.4.5 (B) This section refers to “any city recognized neighborhood associations”. Is the any place in the
code that specifies how a neighborhood association get recognized by the city?

5.5.3 (i) “Multi-family buildings with eight or more units.” Wouldn’t this phrase be more accurate if it
read “residential buildings with eight or more units” because the building could house no families and
only single persons?

5.5.9 (D) (2) This sentence would be clearer if it read “The following standards shall be ‘applied’ …
rather than “shall be considered” since the former meaning seems to be what is intended.

5.5.9 (D) (2) (j) To be consistent, this should read “In residential districts ‘and in Perimeter Transition
Areas of College Development Zones’” , “the use of a similar height, building orientation . . . .” The
PTA and CD-S need to be referenced here as well.

In the last section on definitions, it would be helpful in “Build to Line” definition to clarify the
relationship of build to lines and setbacks. It seems that ‘Build to lines’ refer to the relationship of the
building to the front and back lot lines while the setbacks can also reference the distance of the building
from the side lot lines. Or is that not accurate?

Typo (FAA) is the Federal Aviation Administration, not the Federal Aeronautical Administration.

Sincerely,
Cliff Clark

--
Clifford E. Clark, Jr.
Professor of History &
M.A. & A.D. Hulings Professor of American Studies

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Carleton College
One North College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

5/7/2009