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Estherville City Council Discusses Commercial Building Standards

March 05, 2024 Steve Schwaller

(Estherville)– The city of Estherville is looking at establishing minimum requirements for commercial buildings. Code Enforcement Officer Greg Van Langen told the council the measure is intended to address some buildings in the downtown area and other parts of town that have fallen into disrepair. He says it’s modeled after the city’s minimum housing standards…

“So basically we took those standards, which also apply to, you know, the commercial structures, basically it’s the outside of the property so windows, doors, fascia. We’re looking for rottage, we’re looking for areas that aren’t weather proof, boarded up windows, and then it also helps us control utility circulation.”

Van Langen adds the change would give the city additional latitude in enforcement.

City Administrator Penny Clayton adds the city already offers incentive programs to assist owners of commercial buildings in making repairs to the exterior and interior of their structures…

“We do have a commercial building facade program, so if they want to make an exterior improvement that qualifies, they can apply for that and it can provide up to $10,000 in matching funds to a $20,000 project. If they want to re-do the interior and bring a new tenant or attract a new business in there they can do the same thing on the inside. So there are some grant funds that can help offset some of those costs, or at least match what they’re doing to make their dollar go further.”

The council voted Monday evening to approve the first reading of the ordinance revision. It will come back to the council for further consideration at future meetings as a motion to waive the second and third readings was voted down.

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