The purpose and intent of the Business/Industrial Transitional District (BIT) is to not only strengthen and expand upon the uses normally found within the General Business District, but to allow for Industrial Businesses along the HWY 65 corridor to grow and thrive in their current locations and promote a high-quality mix of office, commercial, service and industrial uses that are consistent with the unique and diverse elements already found within the outreaches of the corridor. Future development within this area must be compatible with the existing elements found within the General Business District.
The district supports highway-oriented businesses as well as commercial businesses that provide basic shopping and service needs to the community. When designing a commercial site within the Business/Industrial Transitional District, compatibility with adjacent uses and buildings is required within the district, as site design, building size and materials, and screening/landscaping are important when creating and maintaining a thriving commercial base.
The district is also designed for industrial uses in locations that have adequate and convenient access to HWY 65, without compromising the value and appeal of the most valuable parcels at the center of the General Business District at the crossroads of HWY 65 and County Road 5. While the City is predominately residential in character, industrial uses are an important part of the City's land use pattern. Regulations encourage the development of industrial uses that are compatible with surrounding and abutting land uses. In order to accomplish this compatibility, development within the district is intended for administrative, wholesaling, manufacturing, warehousing, office, and related uses which can maintain high standards of appearance, through building design, site design, and landscaping/screening, and not require a high level of public services. With proper guidance, these areas should be compatible with the neighboring commercial areas.
[12-17-2024 by Ord. No. 828]
The following are considered permitted uses within the "BIT" Business/Industrial Transitional District:
A. 
Agricultural sales and services.
B. 
Artist studios.
C. 
Bakery.
D. 
Broadcasting and recording studio.
E. 
Building maintenance service.
F. 
Business service.
G. 
Cannabis event, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
H. 
Cannabis event organizer, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
I. 
Cannabis delivery services, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
J. 
Cannabis retail, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
K. 
Cannabis testing facility, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
L. 
Cannabis transportation business, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
M. 
Cannabis wholesale business subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
N. 
Catering establishments.
O. 
Coffee house.
P. 
Community shopping centers (medium-scale).
Q. 
Contractor's shop.
R. 
Convenience store (not accessory to a gas station).
S. 
Day care center.
T. 
Dry cleaning and Laundromats.
U. 
Essential services.
V. 
Financial institutions.
W. 
Funeral home.
X. 
General office.
Y. 
General retail establishments.
Z. 
Government office.
AA. 
Health care clinic.
BB. 
Health club.
CC. 
Hospital.
DD. 
Hotel or motel.
EE. 
Instruction/learning center.
FF. 
Light manufacturing.
GG. 
Locksmith.
HH. 
Massage therapy (not adult use).
II. 
Personal service establishments.
JJ. 
Lower-potency hemp edible retailer, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
KK. 
Mobile food unit, providing that such use meets the requirements as provided within Chapter 245 of the Isanti Code of Ordinances.
LL. 
Motor vehicle repair facility, subject to those standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
MM. 
Print shop.
NN. 
Research and development facilities.
OO. 
Restaurants (Carry-out, Drive-in, Fast food, or Sit-down).
PP. 
Showroom.
QQ. 
Theaters, indoor (not adult use).
RR. 
Thrift store.
SS. 
Tool/equipment rental facility (indoor only).
TT. 
Warehouse.
UU. 
Wholesale establishment, indoor.
The following are conditional uses within the "BIT" Business/Industrial Transitional District and shall require a Conditional Use Permit based upon the procedures set forth and regulated by Article 21 of this chapter. Additional specific standards and criteria may be cited for respective conditional uses and a request shall be evaluated based upon those additional standards and criteria.
A. 
Ambulance or medical carrier services.
B. 
Automobile car wash establishment, subject to those standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
C. 
Automobile sales and service, with accessory open sales lot, subject to those standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
D. 
Brewpub.
E. 
Brewer tap room.
F. 
Commercial recreation.
G. 
Community centers.
H. 
Contractor's yard
I. 
Distillery.
J. 
Drive-thru facilities.
K. 
Farm implement.
L. 
Gas stations, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
M. 
Garden center.
N. 
Ground transportation service.
O. 
Heavy manufacturing.
P. 
Helipad or helistop in conjunction with a hospital.
Q. 
Home improvement center.
R. 
Hospice.
S. 
Household maintenance and small engine repair facilities, subject to those standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
T. 
Meat markets and meat processing facilities to include slaughtering, providing that the following requirements are met:
1. 
Meat processing facilities may be allowed by a conditional use permit only as an accessory use to a meat market. The meat processing facility shall be located in the same building as a meat market and the floor area of the slaughter area shall not exceed the floor area of the processing area and meat market.
2. 
The applicant shall submit a plan showing all staging areas for the temporary storage of carcasses and disposal of animal remains, as outside storage is a Conditional Use within the Business Industrial Transitional District.
3. 
The applicant shall demonstrate that the general standards and requirements for meat processing facilities as outlined within Article 13 of this chapter can be met.
U. 
Medium manufacturing.
V. 
Medical research laboratory.
W. 
Medical support facilities.
X. 
Microbrewery.
Y. 
Micro distillery.
Z. 
Micro distillery cocktail room.
AA. 
Motor Vehicle Sales, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
BB. 
Nursery, retail.
CC. 
Outside storage (permanent), subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
DD. 
Parking facilities, when not accessory to a principal use.
EE. 
Private clubs.
FF. 
Public buildings.
GG. 
Religious institutions.
HH. 
Scrap operations (indoor only).
II. 
Senior residential care facilities, as defined within Article 2 of this chapter.
JJ. 
Social service facility.
KK. 
Temporary patient/family housing.
LL. 
Tool/equipment rental facility (with accessory open sales lot), subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
MM. 
Trade/business school.
NN. 
Truck freight terminal.
OO. 
Wind energy conversion systems, as an accessory use, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
A. 
Animal sales and services.
B. 
Bars.
C. 
Commercial kennel, as defined in Article 2 of this chapter, meeting the registration and licensing requirements as provided within Chapter 87, Article II Dogs of the Isanti City Code.
D. 
Farming.
E. 
Farmers market, subject to the standards as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
F. 
Farming.
G. 
Flea markets.
H. 
Gunsmith.
I. 
Liquor store.
J. 
Pawn shops.
K. 
Secondhand store.
L. 
Tattoo parlor/body piercing studio (non-adult use), subject to the standards and licensing requirements as provided within the Isanti City Code of Ordinances.
M. 
Temporary motor vehicle sales, accessory to a financial institution, in which such sales event is permitted two times per calendar year and shall not exceed three days per event. No more than the number of events identified shall be permitted for the same property in any given calendar year.
A. 
Outdoor Sales, Temporary (General Retail Establishments and Civic Organizations), providing that such uses meet the requirements as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
B. 
A. Temporary Outdoor Storage, subject to the following criteria:
1. 
Storage areas shall be located within the rear yard; however, outdoor storage may be located within the side yard, providing the side yard is not adjacent to or across the street from a residentially zoned property.
2. 
Storage area shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner.
3. 
Storage areas shall not be located upon sodded areas.
4. 
Outside storage of items shall be for a maximum of 15 consecutive days, up to four times a year.
5. 
If outside storage is placed within parking areas, said storage areas shall not consume more than 15% of the required parking spaces.
C. 
Transient merchants, providing that such uses meet the requirements as provided within Article 13 of this chapter and Chapter 245 of the Isanti City Code of Ordinances.
A. 
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to any of the permitted uses. Accessory buildings are subject to the regulations as provided within Article 13 of this chapter.
B. 
Off-street parking and loading, in accordance with Article 17 of this chapter.
C. 
Outdoor patios and decks, as an accessory use to a bar, restaurant, club, or other assembly use with liquor or food sales, providing the requirements as listed in Article 13 are met.
D. 
Outdoor smoking shelters, as an accessory use to a bar, restaurant, club, or other assembly use with liquor or food sales, providing the requirements as listed in Article 13 are met.
E. 
Recreation support facilities may be permitted only as an accessory use to commercial recreation facilities.
F. 
Signs, in accordance with Article 16 of this chapter.
G. 
Supporting retail and service uses associated and located within a hospital or health care clinic, to include: cafeteria, employee exercise facilities, shops for medical equipment, pharmaceutical supplies, gift shops, bookstores, florists, banking facilities, laundry/dry cleaning, community rooms, and chapels.
H. 
Trash receptacle enclosures, in accordance with the provisions within § 350-14-3 of this chapter.
A. 
Every individual lot, site, or tract shall have an area of not less than one-half acres.
B. 
Every lot or tract shall have a width of not less than 100 feet abutting a public right-of-way.
C. 
All planned unit developments shall require a minimum area of at least two acres.
D. 
There shall be a required minimum of 25% reservation of the total lot area for landscaping use. A landscaping plan must be submitted to and be approved by the Planning Commission or its designee.
The following minimum requirements shall be observed in the Business/Industrial Transitional District, subject to additional requirements, exceptions, and modifications as set forth within this chapter:
A. 
Setbacks and Height Restrictions – Principal Building.
Minimum Front Yard Setback
30 feet
Minimum Side Yard Setback
15 feet
Minimum Street Side Yard Setback
20 feet
Minimum Rear Yard Setback
30 feet
Maximum Building Height
3 stories or 45 feet, whichever is less.
B. 
Impervious Surface Coverage. 25% of the total lot area shall consist of green space. 5% of the total lot area shall be green space within the parking perimeter. The applicant must prove to the City, the ability to meet or exceed City, County, and/or State stormwater holding requirements as part of their project and/or site plan approval.
When any lot line coincided with a lot line of an adjacent residential district, a minimum 30-foot landscape buffer zone shall be provided with landscaping and screening in accordance with the provisions as provided within Article 15 of this chapter.
Prior to the construction of any building within the Business/Industrial Transitional District, Site Plan Approval and Building Appearance Review shall be required in accordance with Article 18 of this chapter.
A. 
The exterior wall finishes on any building shall be comprised of one or more of the following materials:
1. 
Face brick.
2. 
Natural stone.
3. 
Glass.
4. 
Decorative concrete block as approved by the City Council.
5. 
Specifically designed pre-cast concrete units, if the surfaces have been integrally treated with an applied decorative material or texture.
6. 
Masonry stucco.
7. 
Factory fabricated, finished 26 Ga. Metal panel.
8. 
Architectural metal accent panels, generally with a value greater than pre-cast concrete units, and as specifically approved by the City Council.
9. 
When material noted in Subsection A5 above is used, there shall be a wainscot of material noted in Subsection A1, 2 or 6 above, Wainscot shall be located across a minimum of 50% of the linear perimeter of the building and shall be located where most visible from streets and as specifically approved by the City Council. Minimum wainscot height shall be one-third of the sidewalk height and/or specifically approved by the City Council.
10. 
Other comparable or superior material as recommended by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council.
B. 
All subsequent additions and accessory buildings constructed after the erection of the original building or buildings shall be constructed with exterior finishes comprised of the same materials as the original structure(s).
Parking, driveways, and driving areas shall meet the requirements of Article 17 of this chapter, subject to the following additional requirements, exceptions, and modifications as set forth:
A. 
Parking lots and drive aisles shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from front, rear, and side yards.
B. 
When abutting a residentially zoned district, parking and drive aisles shall be setback a minimum of 20 feet.
Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas, signage, or buildings shall be directed away from residential properties and shall meet the standards as stipulated within Article 14 of this chapter.
A. 
Fencing, Screening and Landscaping within the Business Industrial Transitional District shall be provided in accordance with the requirements as stipulated within Article 15 of this chapter. On lots adjacent to a residential district, a minimum 30-foot landscaped buffer strip shall be planted.
B. 
Fencing and Screening for industrial uses shall be accomplished through the use of either a screening fencing or planting screen, which meets the requirements as stipulated within Article 15 of this chapter. The Planning Commission shall review and make a recommendation with final approval granted by the City Council.