Area residents will have another chance to voice their opinions about the proposed B-2 Community Business District design standards on Tuesday during a public hearing in front of the Albert Lea Planning Commission.

According to the proposed draft — most recently amended at a Planning Commission workshop Oct. 24 — the intent of the standards amendment is to establish a series of attractive entrances and main thoroughfares within the city.

If approved, the ordinance amendment would 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.

“I think it’s important that if people have either positive or not so positive responses to this ordinance that they come and share their opinions with the commission,” said Randy Kehr, executive director of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. “City commissions work for the citizens, so it’s important for citizens to tell them if they’re on the right track or not.”

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.

The ordinance amendment had previously passed the Planning Commission in August, but the Albert Lea City Council sent it back to the commission for further review and input from the public.

At that time, councilors concluded that while design standards are important to develop in the city, they needed to be reviewed more before being passed into the ordinance.

Since, business leaders in the community have voiced their concerns with the ordinance. The Albert Lea Economic Development Agency posted an online survey, which also asked for input about the design standards.

The business community and the Planning Commission informally agreed on the most recent draft of the amendment during the Oct. 24 workshop.

The Planning Commission meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m.