In an attempt to stimulate conversation about what types of buildings are appropriate in the city’s B-2 Community Business District, the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency has created a survey to give people the chance to rate building designs.

The survey, which can be found on the agency’s Web site www.growalbertlea.com, comes as the city is considering adding a design-standards ordinance to the zoning of the district. The district includes 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.

In August, the Albert Lea Planning Commission recommended a draft ordinance to the Albert Lea City Council, but the council sent this plan back to the commission for review and additional input.

Most recently, the Planning Commission hosted a public hearing, where business leaders voiced their opinions of the drafted ordinance. Between now and the commission’s next meeting, Oct. 20, members of the public and business community can submit wordage recommendations for the ordinance.

The results of the survey will be provided to the Planning Commission and City Council.

The survey shows a series of existing businesses both inside and outside Albert Lea and asks for opinions on how appropriate each building is to the district.

“We are not suggesting that the buildings are ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but examples of design standards which should be applied to new buildings,” states an introduction to the survey.

People have the ability to rate the buildings shown on a scale of one to five, with one being a low impression and five being a high impression. If a person picks a one that means the building does not meet his or her design standards; if a five is picked that means the building greatly exceeds his or her design standards.

Albert Lea Economic Development Agency Executive Director Dan Dorman said he chose to make the survey using pictures of buildings because it’s an a format that is easy for people to understand what they like and dislike.

He also made a point to include some existing chains such as Culver’s and Kohl’s.

Dorman said 40 people responded to the survey on Tuesday and so far there seems to be a consensus in responses.

The survey will be online for a week from today.

The direct link to the survey can be found at www.zoomerang.com.