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<br /> <br /> <br />Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br />requirement from 20 feet to 50 feet. Staff also recommended removing the requirement that at least <br />50 percent of the largest building on each site be constructed at the front setback line of 20 feet. <br /> <br />Finally, staff recommended the following parking location requirements be deleted: <br />• Placing parking between the street right-of-way and a building shall be discouraged <br />• No more than 50 percent of the parking on a site may be between buildings or in the side <br />yards <br /> <br />The Council agreed with the recommended changes in setbacks; however, the Council did have <br />some concerns about changes to the building façade requirements. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />Façade Transparency <br />The B-2 and B-3 District design standards include façade transparency requirements for <br />commercial and residential developments. The current requirements state, <br /> <br />F. Window and Door Openings <br />1. Commercial Façade Transparency. <br />a) Fifty percent (50%) of all first level building façades that front a public street shall be <br />comprised of transparent windows or doors in order to allow views of interior uses <br />and activities. Transparency requirement may be waived by the City where privacy <br />concerns warrant. <br />b) Twenty percent (20%) of all other first level building facades that are reasonably <br />visible from the public right of way shall be comprised of window or door <br />openings. Simulated or opaque windows may be used on service areas. <br />c) If the building is a one-story design and the first floor elevation exceeds twelve (12) <br />feet, then only the first twelve (12) feet shall be included in calculating the façade <br />area. <br />d) The City may consider a proportional reduction in the transparent window and door <br />requirement on the public street façade if additional transparent glass is used on the <br />remaining sides. <br /> <br />In the B-2 and B-3 Districts is, because of the current building and parking setback requirements, <br />some buildings have been oriented so the back side faces the public street. This has presented <br />challenges for developers meeting the 50 percent façade transparency requirement since the back <br />side of the building is typically where storage, mechanical, and service uses are located. If the City <br />Council decides to change the building and parking setback requirements, staff expects there to be <br />fewer issues with this design challenge. <br /> <br />The staff reviewed ordinances for other cities. A summary of those ordinances is included in <br />Attachment A. Arden Hills requires more first floor transparency on all building facades <br />compared to other cities reviewed. Most of the other cities offer greater flexibility in the <br />transparency of commercial façade openings or offer other acceptable design alternatives when <br />privacy is a concern.