The Albert Lea Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously recommended the approval of the revised B-2 Community Business District design standards ordinance to the Albert Lea City Council.

With minimal discussion during a public hearing for the amendment, the commissioners approved a few small word changes to the ordinance and then voted to move it forward.

The ordinance will next come before the council for approval on Monday.

“I appreciate the fact that the commission took the time to listen and make some changes that I think are flexible and yet do set a tone for what we want to see in the city,” said Randy Kehr, executive director of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, who was the only member of the public to speak at the hearing.

Kehr, who spoke for just a brief moment, said no business owner had asked him to come speak against the revisions.

That was a major difference from the first public hearing on the ordinance back in August. As the document got revised, Kehr said he thought many of the issues of concern had been addressed.

Now, according to the proposed draft, the intent of the standards amendment is to establish a series of attractive entrances and main thoroughfares within the city.

If approved by the council, the ordinance amendment will apply mainly to new construction on Albert Lea’s major entrances, specifically East and West Main Street, Blake Avenue, parts of North Bridge Avenue, South Broadway Avenue between Front and Seventh streets and then the east side of Southeast Broadway Avenue to the Elks Lodge. Albert Lea’s historic downtown is in a separate district.

Businesses that expand by more than 50 percent of their existing floorspace would also be affected, while businesses that expand by less than 50 percent will simply be encouraged to follow the guidelines, under the proposal.

The draft addresses what materials buildings should be made of, whether the standards should apply to the front, sides and back of buildings and what percentage of the vertical surface should be made of windows, among other guidelines.

Community Development Director Bob Graham said from visiting other cities, both large and small, he doesn’t think the standards are out of line.

They put developers on notice that the city has expectations. Usually developers ask if a city has a design ordinance.

At the end of the meeting, commissioners indicated they need to come back to the issue 12 months after it becomes effective to review its strong and weak points.