2025 08-19 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Consolidated Land Use Ordinance No. 131 Update Gem Lake City Council 8/19/25 August 13, 2025 Page 4 Appendix A Proposed Additions Appendix A to Ordinance 131 contains all of the relevant definitions. Below is a table describing the proposed additions to the Appendix. Word Definition Agricultural Structure Structures in which farm animals or fowl are to be housed, including but not limited to barns, stables, kennels, bird structures, apiaries, and the like. Conservatory A room, typically with glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side and used as a greenhouse. Domestic Worker A person who works within a private residence, providing services of a household nature, such as a home care worker, house cleaners, and nannies. Greenhouse A climate-controlled structure enclosed by glass or multiple layers of plastic in which plants are grown that need protection from cold weather. Market Garden An area of land used for small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers to be sold, usually directly to consumers through on-farm stands, local markets, and local business. Office, Supplemental Retail A building in which at least twenty (20%) percent of the floor space is devoted to selling products or services that are secondary to the primary product or service, not including automotive repair services. Office, Related Repair A building in which at least twenty (20%) percent of the floor space is devoted to providing repair services, related to the primary use of the building, not including automotive repair services. Roomer A renter of a room in another person’s home. Conditional Use A land use or development which because of its unique characteristics, cannot be appropriately classified as a permitted use in a specific zoning district. Its approval is subject to special conditions to ensure compatibility with the public welfare, health, safety, and the City's Comprehensive Plan, considering the public need for the use at the proposed location. Interim Use A temporary use of land or structures, permitted for a limited period, which is not the ultimate intended use for the zoning district. The use is personal to the user or occupant and does not run with the land. Interim uses are allowed under specific conditions and are intended to be discontinued upon a predetermined event or timeframe. FUTURE ORDINANCE UPDATES AND THE 2050 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN This proposed update to Ordinance 131 focuses on enhancing clarity surrounding the permitted, accessory, conditional, and interim uses in each residential district. Additional changes proposed go hand-in-hand with this focus, such as structure setbacks. Staff recommends that additional desired Ordinance 131 updates be done concurrently with the upcoming Imagine 2050 Comprehensive Planning process. Updating the Comprehensive Plan and Ordinance 131 at the same time will ensure consistency between the two documents and ensure the City’s mission and goals are being accurately and effectively carried out. If additional and substantial changes to Ordinance 131 are desired, Staff will begin making note of those sections. The Metropolitan Council adopted the Imagine 2050 regional development guide. The City of Gem Lake will need to begin their comprehensive planning process at the start of the new year. A comprehensive plan update often requires updating the zoning ordinance to reflect any changes in future land use designations, allowable uses, etc. To view the current City of Gem Lake Comprehensive Plan, you may find a copy on the