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BUILT ENVIRONMENTS, INC. <br />651-439-9396 (P) • 651-204-2247 (F) • WWW.BUILT-ENVIRONMENTS.COM <br />680 HALE AVENUE N. SUITE 140 • OAKDALE, MINNESOTA 55128 <br />June 27, 2023 <br />Todd A. Larson <br />Planning Manager <br />City of Ramsey <br />7550 Sunwood Drive NW <br />Ramsey, MN 55303 <br />Re: Draft Zoning Code Update <br />Dear Mr. Larson, <br />I am responding to your request for draft guidance articulating the city's preferences for enhanced and architecturally <br />interesting building facades. <br />As you know, the current draft code prohibits the use of Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) on townhomes, <br />rowhomes, and multi -family buildings. It also limits EIFS to accent material on commercial buildings. These restrictions <br />are based solely on perceptions of EIFS as a monotonous, expressionless material. In actuality, the diversity and richness <br />of contemporary EIFS is in stark contrast to its past use in the City of Ramsey. Furthermore, the act of singling out EIFS on <br />the basis of unimaginative design is both arbitrary and undeserved. <br />On behalf of the local EIFS industry, I request that explicit restrictions contained in Section 480 (B) (1) (a) and Section 580 <br />(B) (2) be removed. In lieu of these restrictions, please consider the attached outline as a framework for achieving the <br />city's intent. I have included the city's preferred exterior materials with addition of EIFS as a primary material. I also <br />included draft guidance used by other jurisdictions to convey the city's desire for enhanced, architecturally interesting <br />facades. The provided language serves merely as an example. It may be truncated or modified as necessary. <br />Thank you for your consideration. <br />Sincerely, <br />M. Steven Doggett, Ph.D. <br />Senior Building Scientist <br />Built Environments, Inc. <br />City of Ramsey: Proposed Zoning Code Page 1 of 3 <br />