No matter what is done with the proposed design ordinance for the areas of Albert Lea zoned as B-2 Community Business District, two things are for certain:

City officials must proceed slowly, and they should work with business leaders in crafting the ordinance.

City Council member Larry Baker was right Tuesday when he said, “You hear both sides of the fence, and there’s got to be a common ground somewhere in between.”

The Planning Commission made an incorrect choice Tuesday by pushing the ordinance to a workshop.

The right way to find that common ground is through a task force of selected city and business leaders.

Sure, a task force will take longer and will need multiple meetings, but the result will be a well-written, common-ground ordinance.

Indeed, business leaders oppose the ordinance as it is written, but they do not oppose the idea of a design ordinance. If an entrepreneur builds a nice-looking building, he or she probably doesn’t want a pole barn erected right next door. The ordinance protects the investment.

To be sure, Community Development Director Bob Graham notes the proposed ordinance was a starting point.

And we thank most of the people in this debate for approaching the controversial subject with civility. Some could have acted more professionally on Tuesday.

Still, it’s clear the proposal is too restrictive and rules out what many business owners would be happy to have next door. For instance, steel siding should be allowed, particularly because of the harsh winters Albert Lea endures.

So answer this: Why is it in Albert Lea politics everything needs to be crafted with such a rush?

Drop the December deadline for this proposed ordinance, and let the community consensus rise to the top. The only way to get that is by approaching the matter slowly.