2.0. SR 08-25-2004Rdver
MEMORANDUM
Item # _2
TO:
FROM:
Mayor and City Council
Michele McPhersc~irector of Planning
DATE:
August 25, 2004
SUBJECT:
Case No. OA 04-02
Request by the City of Elk River for an Ordinance Amendment
to Land Use Regulations regarding Signs
Attached please find the Planning Commission staff report for this issue. Staff will provide a
verbal update regarding the Planning Commission action as part of the presentation at the
Council meeting.
ITEM ~ 5.7.
HEHORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Planning Commission
Chris Leeseberg, Planner ~C~
August 24, 2004
Case No. OA 04-02
Request by the City of Elk River for an Ordinance Amendment
to Land Use Regulations regarding Signs
Request
The Planning Commission is asked to consider an Ordinance Amendment to the Land Use
Regulations regarding signs - Sections 30-866, 30-991 thru 30-995 (KX Districts), 30-1562 (Al
District), and 30-1565 (AR District)
Attachments
· Proposed Language
Overview
Per the City Council's direction, the City of Elk River is proposing changes to the ordinance to allow
an additional sign at each neighborhood, subdivision, or development entrance, which is accessed
from an arterial and/or collector road. Each sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.
Also per the City Council's direction, allowing greater square footage of signage where a zoning lot
has an excess of 1000 linear feet of combined street frontage. This would affect permitted
nonresidential uses, such as churches, synagogues, and schools. This change would increase the
allowed combined square footage of signage to 192, with no more than 96 square feet per sign. Only
one wall sign and one freestanding sign would still be allowed.
There are also some general "house cleaning" items that are proposed to make the language
pertaining to signage be more consistent. Also under consideration is the elimination of a specific
permit/refund amount which would need to be updated each time the amount is adjusted.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the request.
PROPOSED LANGUAGE
Sec. 30-866. District Regulations
(7) One on-premises temporary or portable sign per premises, as allowed by the director
of planning or his designee for special events, grand openings or holidays. Temporary or
portable signs are also subject to the following:
a. Signs may not be displayed for more than 90 days per calendar year.
b. Signs may not be displayed without a permit. Up to six permits per year may be
issued to a business; not to exceed the number of days allowed in subsection (7)a
of this section. Each permit must indicate the number of days the sign is to be
displayed. For premises with multiple businesses, signs must be located a
minimum of 100 feet apart.
.... v ...... ~ ......a ~,.,~_~,.~,, A fee and deposit at
a level established by ordinance adopted by the Elk River City. Council is
required. --~'b~icL The deposit is refundable if the sign meets all requirements in
this section and is removed on time.
c. Maximum sign size shall be limited to:
1. Thirty-two square feet if the adjacent roadway has a posted speed of 44 miles
per hour or less; or
2. Sixty-four square feet if the adjacent roadway has a posted speed of 45 miles
per hour or more.
d. Signs must be located on property of the business with the special event and the
advertising message must only relate to business conducted on that premises,
except that nonprofit or charitable organizations as defined by Internal Revenue
Code section 501(C)(3) may have off-premises signs for their fundraising
activities, provided that they obtain permission from the property owner. Signs
from nonprofit organizations shall not be counted as one of the six permits
allowed to the property owner. Nonprofit organizations shall be limited to eight
signs per event.
e. Signs may not be placed in the right-of-way and must meet sign setbacks.
f. Signs must not be unsafe or dangerous and must be securely anchored.
g. On-premises construction signs having a sign area of 64 square feet or less are
permitted.
(8) One permanent area identification sign per neighborhood, subdivision, or
development, not to exceed 16 square feet in sign area. Unless approved as part of a PUD,
up to two permanent area identification signs may be allowed at the entrance of a
neighborhood, subdivision, or development if the entrance is located adjacent to an arterial
and/or collector road. Each sign shall not to exceed 16 square feet in sign area. The area
identification sign shall be placed on the same premises as the development which it
identifies.
(9) One on-premises permanent identification sign per apartment or condominium
complex, not to exceed 16 square feet in sign area.
(10) For permitted nonresidential uses, such as churches, synagogues, and schools, one
on-premises freestanding sign and one wall business sign, not to exceed 96 square feet in
total sign area. Where a zoning lot has in excess of 1000 linear feet of combined street
frontage, the total signage area shall not exceed 192 square feet with no more than 96 square
feet per sign. Freestanding signage shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
RI, R2, 1t3 & R4 Districts
¢)
Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the R-X dismcts are as follows:
Sigmas as permitted m section 30-851 et seq.
Sec. 30-1562 A1 District
(c)
Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the A-1 district are as follows:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Accessory farm structures.
Public shelters and essential services.
Garages and sheds, including metal-skinned buildings.
Private recreational facilities.
Private kennels.
Signs as permitted in section 30-851 et seq.
Sec. 30-1565 AR District
¢)
Accessory uses. Accessory uses in the AR district are as follows:
(1) Garages and sheds as accessory to a single-family dwelling.
(2) Public shelters and essential services.
(3) Private recreational facilities.
(?) Signs as permitted in section 30-851 et seq.