CITY OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA
CHAPTER 11-200
DEFINITIONS

11-201 Definitions. For the purpose of this Title the following definitions apply:
(1) Above-roof Sign. A sign which is attached to a building and projects above the roof line.
(2) Accessory Use. A subordinate use which is clearly and customarily incidental to the principal use of a building or premises and which is located on the same lot as the principal building or use.
(3) Agricultural Uses. The growing of produce on farms, including, but not limited to, field crop farming, fruit growing, nurseries without building, truck gardening, or one (1) roadside stand for the sale of products grown on the premises.
(4) Alley. A public or private right-of-way of at least 18 feet in width which is primarily designed to provide a secondary access to abutting property.
(5) Architecturally-treated. The use of complimentary and aesthetically-pleasing materials or forms of materials.
(6) Area Identification Sign. A ground sign that identifies a commercial, residential, institutional or industrial complex, unified development or shopping center. An area identification sign shall include the name of the complex development or center and/or its major tenant(s). If the area identification signs do not include the name of the complex or center, they shall be identical in copy. Revised 4/10/90, Ordinance 1333][Revised 11/07/90, Ordinance 1355]
(7) Arterial. A street designed primarily for intercommunication between large land use units. Such streets shall be designated on the City Thoroughfare Plan as Class I-III Roadways.
(8) Automobile and Truck Service Uses. Those uses catering to the motorist traveling along the highways, such as car washes, eating establishments, motels, refreshment drive-ins, repair garages, service stations, and other similar facilities.
(9) Automobile Rental Facility. A business whose primary purpose is the rental of automobiles, trucks of one ton or less, or passenger vans, to include associated office activities, parking and storage of rental vehicles, and minor service of those vehicles. “Minor service” for this purpose is limited to activities such as fluid top-off, tire inflation, cleaning, and bulb and fuse replacement, but does not include oil changes, mechanical work, or body work. [Revised 5/15/07, Ordinance 1949]
(10) Basement. That portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is partly below and partly above grade, but so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is less than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.
(11) Block. A tract of land bounded by streets, public parks, cemeteries, railroad right-of-ways, shorelines, or boundary lines of the City.
(12) Boarding Home (Rooming or Lodging Home). A building containing lodging rooms and accommodating three (3) or more persons, but not exceeding 12, who are not of the property owner’s family.
(13) Building. Any structure having a roof built for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, or chattels.
(14) Business. Any establishment, occupation, employment, or enterprise wherein merchandise is manufactured, exhibited, stored, sold, or where services are offered for compensation.
(15) Cellar. That portion of a building between floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade and so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor below is equal to or greater than the vertical distance from grade to ceiling.
(16) Channel. That portion of the watercourse normally occupied by a stream under average annual flow conditions, having a natural depression of perceptible extent, with definite bed and banks to confine and conduct flowing water.
(17) Church. A building, together with its accessory buildings and uses, where persons regularly assemble for religious worship and which is maintained and controlled by a religious body organized to sustain public worship.
(18) City Plans. All plans approved by the City Council.
(19) Club or Lodge. A nonprofit association of persons, who are bona fide members paying annual dues.
(20) Collector Street. A street designed to carry traffic from local streets to the system of major streets, arterials, and highways. Collector streets shall include the principal entrance and circulation streets within a development. Such streets shall be designed on the City Thoroughfare Plan as Class IV Roadways.
(21) Commercial Speech. Speech advertising a business, profession, commodity, service or entertainment. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(22) Common Open Space. Land, water, or a combination of land and water within a planned residential development which is designed and intended for the use and enjoyment of residents of the development. Common open space includes all land within a development, except for individual building lots and land accepted for public dedication.
(23) Community Correctional Facility. A facility where one or more persons reside on a 24 hours basis under the care and supervision of a program licensed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, excluding prisons and jails. [Revised 9/5/95, Ordinance 1537]
(24) Community Residential Facility. A facility where one or more persons reside on a 24 hours basis under the care and supervision of a program licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. [Revised 9/5/95, Ordinance 1537]
(25) Compatible. Any uses that do not cause a:

(a) Likeness to a degree to cause monotony.
(b) Difference to a degree to cause incongruity.
(c) Lower value so as to cause depreciation of neighborhood values.
(d) Nuisance; compared to existing or other proposed structures or uses. Types of nuisance characteristics include: noise, dust, odors, glare, unsightly building exterior, unsightly exterior storage, traffic generation signs, refuse, or lack of landscaping.

(26) Contour Map. A map on which irregularities of land surface are shown by lines connecting points of equal elevations. Contour interval is the vertical height between contour lines.
(27) Corner Lot. A lot within a plat which is bounded on two (2) sides by intersecting streets.
(28) Crawl Space. The portion of a building between the underside of the lowest finished floor and the ground under the building. This area may or may not be enclosed. [Revised 04/28/92, Ordinance 1409]
(29) Cul-de-sac. A local street with only one (1) outlet and having an appropriate terminal for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
(30) Curtain Wall. An exterior non-load bearing wall made up of panels of stone, glass, concrete, or masonry.
(31) Day Care Facility. Any facility, public or private, which for gain or otherwise, regularly provides one (1) or more persons with care, training, supervision, habilitation, rehabilitation, or developmental guidance on a regular basis, for periods of less than twenty-four (24) hours per day, in a place other than the persons own home. Day care facilities include, but are not limited to: family day care homes, group family day care homes, day care centers, day nurseries, nursery schools, developmental achievement centers, day treatment programs, adult day care centers and day services. (32) Design Standards. The specifications required in this Title for landowners or subdividers.
(33) Developer. Any person who owns or controls land which is to be developed.
(34) Development District. That part of the City lying within the Limit of Development designated on the City’s Official Zoning Map. (35) Directory. A ground sign which provides space for the names of all tenants of a building. [Revised 03/26/91, Ordinance 1371] (36) Double Frontage or Through Lot. A lot which has opposite lot lines on two (2) substantially parallel streets. A corner lot shall not be considered as a double frontage lot. Both street lines shall be considered as front lot lines.
(37) Dwellings. A residential building or portion thereof, but not including hotels, motels, boarding or rooming houses, nursing homes, tourist homes, recreational vehicles, or tents.
(38) Dynamic Display. Any portion of a sign that contains alphanumeric characters, graphics or symbols defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination device within the display area, including computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic displays or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or display. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(39) Easement. A grant by a property owner of the use of land for a specific purpose.
(40) Equal Degree of Encroachment. A method of determining the location of floodway boundaries so that floodplain lands of both sides of a stream are capable of conveying a proportionate share of flood flows. This is determined by considering the effect of encroachment on the hydraulic efficiency of the floodplain along both sides of a stream for a significant distance. [Revised 04/28/92, Ordinance 1409]
(41) Family. A family is: (a) An individual, or a group of persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, including foster children, living together as a single housekeeping unit. [Revised 9/5/95, Ordinance 1537] (b) A group of not more than six (6) persons who need not be related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living together as a single housekeeping unit.
(42) Fast Food Establishment. An establishment whose principal business is the sale of food and/or beverages in a ready-to-consume state for consumption either on the premises or off the premises as carry-out or delivered orders, but not including delicatessens within grocery stores or catering businesses.
(43) Feedlots. The breeding or confining of animals, except domestic household pets.
(44) Final Plat. The map or plan of record of a subdivision, and any accompanying material required by the City Council.
(45) Financial Institution. An institution established for the receiving, keeping, lending, or sometimes issuing of money and making easier the exchange of funds by checks, notes, etc. These include, but are not limited to, banks, mortgage bankers, savings and loan associations, and similar lending or banking institutions. (46) Finished Floor Area. Those portions of a dwelling or dwelling unit which have the walls and ceiling completely covered with plaster, paneling, dry-wall, tile, or similar materials and floors completely covered with hardwood, carpeting, tiles, or some similar material. All dry-wall material shall be completely taped and painted. No portion of finished floor area shall consist of exposed concrete, concrete blocks, studs, or joists, whether painted or not. Finished floor area may include bedrooms, family rooms, dens, and similar areas, but shall not include areas devoted to uses accessory to the operation of the dwelling including, but not limited to, furnace rooms, laundry rooms, storage rooms, and workshops.
(47) Flood Fringe. That portion of the floodplain outside the floodway.
(48) Flood Protection Elevation. A point 24 inches above the limit of the regional flood. [Revised 4/17/07, Ordinance 1944]
(49) Floodplain. The beds proper and the areas adjoining a wetland, lake or a watercourse which have been or hereafter may be covered by the regional flood. [Revised 4/28/92, Ordinance 1409] (50) Floodway. The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplain which are reasonably required to carry and discharge the regional flood.
(51) Floor Area. The sum of the gross horizontal area of the floors of a building measured to the centers of all partitions.
(52) Floor Area Ratio. The total square footage of the structure divided by the total square footage of the lot.
(53) Foster Child. A child placed in a private home for care and maintenance by a parent, guardian or a duly accredited and established public or private welfare agency. A child shall mean anyone seventeen years of age or under, or a person eighteen years of age or older if for reasons of mental or physical disability they still require the care and protection needed by person seventeen years of age or under. [Revised 9/5/95, Ordinance 1537] (54) Frontage. A property line of a lot or tract of land that abuts a public right-of-way. [Revised 02/26/91, Ordinance 1368]
(55) Frontage, Business. An exterior building wall that faces a public street or contains a public entrance. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(56) Frontage, Street. The linear length in feet of the property line adjacent to public street(s). An interior lot has one street frontage and a corner lot has two or more street frontages. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(57) Functionally Impaired. For the purposes of residential facilities and day care facilities, means having a condition that includes having substantial difficulty in carrying out one or more of the essential major activities of daily living, such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, or having a disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life and requiring support to maintain independence in the community.
(58) Garage--Repair. A building for the repair or maintenance of motor vehicles, but not including factory assembly of such vehicles, auto wrecking yards, or junk yards.
(59) Garage/Storage Structure--Private. An accessory structure or accessory portion of the principal structure which is used by a resident of the property to store motor vehicles, major recreational equipment, or other personal property. [Revised 2/4/97, Ordinance 1597]
(60) Grade. The slope of a road, street, or other public way, specified in percent of the feet of vertical change in elevation for each 100 feet horizontally.
(61) Grade--Landing. The grade required on all streets intersecting with collector or arterial streets.
(62) Ground Sign. A free-standing sign, including whatever structure is needed to support such sign.
(63) Ground Sign, Monument. A ground sign that contains a solid or enclosed base and where the sign support brace(s) is/are not visible. The monument sign base must be constructed of materials similar in appearance to those of the principal structure and consist of brick, natural stone, stucco, textured cast stone, or integrally colored concrete masonry units. The structure surrounding the face of the sign from the base to the top of the sign must be solid, continuous, and consist of the base materials or complementary materials that match the appearance and color of the principal building.[Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(64) Ground Sign, Pylon. A ground sign supported by visible upright braces placed in the ground. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972] (65) Highway Corridor. That strip of land 175 feet in width as measured on a line perpendicular to the rights-of-way for U.S. Highway 10, Trunk Highway 610 and Trunk Highway 47. “Highway corridor” excludes the following areas:

(a.) any land within the Mississippi River Corridor as described in Section 11-2404;
(b) Trunk Highway 610 between its Coon Rapids Boulevard interchange and its terminus in the City;
(c) U.S. Highway 10 between its University Avenue interchange and its Foley Boulevard interchange; and
(d.) Trunk Highway 47 between its Coon Rapids Boulevard interchange and its Foley Boulevard interchange. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]

(66) Home Based Retail Sale. The incidental selling at retail of new and used goods and products from a residential unit, a structure accessory to a residential unit, or outside on the same property as the residential unit including, but not limited to, a garage sale, yard sale, sample sale, estate sale, moving sale, craft sale, or boutique, as those terms are commonly understood. Home Based Retail Sale shall not include the incidental and occasional sale of an individual item from a residential unit unless the item is displayed for sale outside of a structure.[Revised 8/4/98, Ordinance 1640]
(67) Home Occupation. A gainful occupation engaged in on residential property by a resident of that property. Home Based Retail Sales shall not be considered a home occupation. Neither shall the activities of a foster parent, a live-in child care provider, a live-in domestic worker or attendant, or similar caregiver be considered a home occupation.[Revised 8/4/98, Ordinance 1640] (68) Homeowners’ Association. An organization made up of all the property owners within a residential planned unit development.
(69) Interchange. That area where a roadway or highway intersects with the highway corridor and includes any portion of an interchange located within the City of Coon Rapids. An “interchange” is measured from the beginning of the highway exit ramp to the end of the entrance ramp, or, in the event of designated exit and entrance lanes, from the point of divergency through convergence with the main lanes of travel.[Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(70) Junkyard. An open area where waste and used materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, packed, disassembled, or handled, including, but not limited to, scrap iron and other metals, paper, rags, rubber, wires, and bottles. A junkyard includes an auto wrecking yard, but does not include uses that are entirely within enclosed buildings or City Council-approved recycling centers.
(71) Kennel. A business where three (3) or more dogs, cats, or any combination thereof, are kept, boarded, bred, or offered for sale.  The term kennel does not include animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, or pet stores.
(72) Local Street. A street of limited continuity used primarily for access to the abutting properties and higher order streets. Local streets shall be designated on the City Thoroughfare Plan as a Class V Roadway.
(73) Lodging Room. A room rented as sleeping and living quarters, but without cooking facilities. In a suite of rooms without cooking facilities, each room which provides sleeping accommodation shall be counted as one (1) lodging room.
(74) Lot. A parcel of land intended for transfer of ownership or for building development.
(75) Lot Depth. The shortest distance between the front and rear lot lines, measured at the side yard setback line of the shortest side lot line.
(76) Lot Line. The lines bounding a lot.
(77) Lot Line--Front. The boundary of a lot abutting a public street right-of-way. In the case of a corner lot, the front shall be the lot side having the shortest dimension on a public street. If the dimensions of a corner lot are within ten percent (10%) of being equal, the owner may select either street lot line as the front lot line.
(78) Lot Line--Rear. Any boundary of a lot which is opposite the front lot line. If the rear lot line is less than ten (10) feet in length, or if the lot forms a point at the rear, the rear lot line shall be a line ten (10) feet in length within the lot, connecting the side lot lines and parallel to the front lot line.
(79) Lot Line--Side. Any boundary of a lot which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
(80) Lot Split. A subdivision of a parcel of land into two (2) lots along an existing public street not involving the opening, widening, or extension of any public street.
(81) Lot Width. The shortest distance between the side lot lines, measured within the first 30 feet of lot depth, commencing at the front yard setback line.
(82) Manufacturing Uses. All manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, treatment, or assembly of products and materials.
(83) Marginal Access Street. A service drive or local street that is parallel and adjacent to a thoroughfare and which provides access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
(84) Marquee, Awning, and Canopy Signs. Any message or identification which is affixed to or part of a marquee, awning, or canopy.
(85) Measured Distances. All measured distances shall be to the nearest integral foot. If a fraction is one-half (1/2) foot or less, the integral foot next below shall be used. Measurements between or up to buildings shall be taken to the nearest point of the vertical building wall.
(86) Medical and Dental Clinics. Those activities that are of, or connected with, the art of diagnosing, treating, curing, and preventing of disease, relieving pain, and improving or preserving the health of human beings.
(87) Metes and Bounds. A method of property description whereby properties are described by means of their direction and distance from an easily identifiable location.
(88) Mobile Home. A factory-built structure equipped with the necessary service connections and made so as to be readily movable as a unit on its own running gear and designed to be a relocatable structure used for any occupancy without a permanent foundation, but shall not include motor vehicles as defined in Minnesota Statutes 1971, Section 169.01, Subdivision 3, or recreational camping vehicles as defined in Minnesota Statutes 1971, Section 327.14, Subdivision 7. The phrase "without a permanent foundation" indicates that the support system is constructed with the intent that the mobile home placed thereon will be moved from time to time at the convenience of the owner. (89) Mobile Home Lot. A parcel of land for the placement of a single mobile home and the exclusive use of its occupants.
(90) Mobile Home Park. Any site or tract of land upon which two or more occupied mobile homes are set.
(91) Multiple Pet Location.  A place not constituting a kennel where three or more dogs, cats, or any combination thereof over six months of age are kept.
(92) Multiple Tenant Building. A building that has more than one tenant, and each tenant has a separate ground level exterior public entrance. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(93) Municipal Entry Monuments. Signs or monuments located at street or highway entry points to the City which indicate, exclusive of any commercial message, that one is entering the City.
(94) Non-commercial Speech. Dissemination of messages not classified as Commercial Speech which include, but are not limited to, messages concerning political, religious, social, ideological, public service and informational topics. [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]
(95) Nonconforming Use. Any building, structure, or land lawfully occupied by an actual and active use established at the time of the passage of this Title or amendments thereto which does not conform, after the passage of this Title or amendments thereto, with the use regulations therefor.
(96) Nursing Home. A nursing home shall mean a State-licensed facility used to provide care for aged or infirm persons who require nursing care and related services in accordance with these regulations. Examples of nursing care: bedside care, including administration of medications, irrigations, and catheterizations; applications of dressings or bandages; rehabilitative nursing techniques; and other treatments prescribed by a physician which require technical knowledge, skill, and judgment as possessed by a registered nurse.
(97) Office Uses. Those commercial activities that take place in office buildings, where goods are not produced, sold, or repaired. These include, but are not limited to: general offices; governmental offices; insurance offices; personal loan agencies; professional offices; real estate offices; travel agency or transportation ticket offices; or telephone exchange offices.
(98) Off-Premises Sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, commodity, service or entertainment which is conducted, offered, sold or manufactured elsewhere than on the premises upon which the sign is placed. “Off-premises sign” does not include the following:

(a) municipal entry monuments as described in 11-2112; and
(b) area identification signs for unified developments as described in 11-2107(2)(a). [Revised 12/18/07, Ordinance 1972]