9.2. SR 05-15-2017City of
Elk —
River
Request for Action
To
Item Number
Mayor and City Council
9.2
Agenda Section
Meeting Date
Prepared by
Work Session
May 15, 2017
Zack Carlton, Planning Manager
Item Description
Reviewed by
Concept Review, Downtown Sign Ordinance
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Amendment
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Receive information regarding downtown signage and provide nonbinding feedback about the requested
amendment to the sign ordinance.
Background/Discussion
Staff and the applicant began discussing a potential sign on the Granite Shores building in downtown Elk
River in late January. Our current ordinance permits one wall sign on each primary and secondary facade.
The signs are limited to one square foot per linear foot of leased space. A location on the side of the
building was discussed, and a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for a digital changeable copy sign
on the side of the building was later submitted.
After submittal, staff reviewed the CUP application and it was noted that an additional requirement
specific to the downtown district prohibited the previously discussed location. The ordinance states wall
signs may not be located above the stringcourse. Staff spoke with the applicant to discuss the ordinance
and available options.
The applicant is requesting to allow wall signs above the stringcourse of a building and to amend the
definition of stringcourse.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
■ Applicant narrative received May 3, 2017
P a w E A E U a r
NaA f RE]
NARRATIVE*
After working with staff since January'17 on a proposed wall sign (electronic message board)
for Granite Shores, per staff's direction, we submitted a CUP application for a digital wall sign
on April 17, 2017.
Upon submitting the CUP, staff returned the application to us, indicating that per City Code,
wall signs were not permitted above the "stringcourse" in the Downtown Zoning District (DD)
and provided the option to submit an ordinance amendment to accommodate our request.
Current code is below:
Elk River City Code
Sec. 30-873. - DD downtown district.
(a) Temporary signs as permitted in section 30-851 et seq.
(b) Permanent signs. Signs should be designed to fit with the character, proportions and scale of
the individual building and should complement, rather than compete with, the character of
downtown.
(1) One wall sign shall be allowed on each primary facade and on one secondary facade. One
square foot of wall sign per one linear foot of unit width shall be allowed, and shall not project
out more than eight inches.
a. Wall signs shall not extend above the roof fine of an adjoining building or be
higher than the bottom of the stringcourse.
Further, the Elk River City Code defines stringcourse as:
Stringcourse means an area/band that is located at the second floor line separating the lower facade from
the upper facade. It shall be created with a reveal and/or change in the brick pattern (i.e. a soldier course).
The image provided to depict stringcourse in the City's Code appears to be an older, one -
tenant, 2 -story, "historic looking building", identifying the stringcourse as the area between the
1s' and 2nd floor of a structure.
Upon observance of the current downtown buildings, we noticed that there were numerous 2 -
story buildings which already had an existing wall sign above the stringcourse as currently
defined in Elk River City Code. Granite Shores, is the only newer 2+ story building that doesn't
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
have a wall sign above the city -defined stringcourse. Looking at surrounding cities, it is
common practice for newer 2+ story buildings to exhibit wall signs above the VY floor, especially
when the building has visibility to roads with higher traffic counts (i.e.: HWY 101, HWY 10, etc.)
Additionally, the universal definition of stringcourse does not depict which floors the
architectural element is between, simply describes the appearance of the architectural
element.
We are kindly asking staff, Planning Commission and Elk River City Council to consider
amending the current, outdated definition of stringcourse, as well as amending the code to
reflect and permit signage necessary for Granite Shores, existing and future 2+story buildings
downtown to thrive.
Should all parties be supportive of a staff -led ordinance amendment, we would like this process
to run in conjunction with the review of Granite Shores' CUP that was initially submitted in April
to avoid further delays in the project.
Attached you will find images of existing wall signs in Elk River, located above the city -defined
stringcourse, examples from surrounding cities, and a variety of universal definitions for
stringcourse.
We appreciate your time and consideration of this matter.
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
ELK RIVER
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
All above images are located in the Downtown District zoning, with the exception of Spikes
(located in the 'downtown' per the EDA downtown Microloan policy and Mississippi
Connections plan).
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
ARBOR LAKES, MAPLE GROVE
3let Wil 14=:UiTYIffito]
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
ROGERS - HWY 101- DAVANNI'S PIZZA
DOWNTOWN ST. CLOUD
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
Finally, after researching numerous definitions of stringcourse, we found the universal
definition does not depict its location as related to specific floors of a building, but simply
touches on the appearance and/or building material.
Based upon existing signage placement in downtown Elk River, surrounding communities, and
the universal definition of stringcourse, we are proposing the following changes to Section 30-
873 of the Elk River City Code:
Sec. 30-873. - DD downtown district.
(a) Temporary signs as permitted in section 30-851 et seq.
(b) Permanent signs. Signs should be designed to fit with the character, proportions
and scale of the individual building and should complement, rather than compete
with, the character of downtown.
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
(1) One wall sign shall be allowed on each primary facade and on one secondary
fagade. One square foot of wall sign per one linear foot of unit width shall be
allowed, and shall not project out more than eight inches.
a. Wall signs shall not extend above the roofline of an adjoining building.
er behigber %haR the-F-m-n-eM of %he stFiRgea se.
Furthermore, we'd ask staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council to re -define
stringcourse as:
A horizontal band or course, as of stone, projecting beyond or flush withthe face of a building
, often molded and sometimes richly carved.
Below are a variety of definitions per Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia, Dictionary.com and
Glossary of Medieval Art & Architecture for comparison purposes:
stringcourse I architecture I Britannica.com
https://www.britannica.com/technology/stringcourse
Jul 20, 1998 - Stringcourse, in architecture, decorative horizontal band on the exterior wall of a building. Such
a band, either plain or molded, is usually formed of brick or stone.
Course (architecture) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Course_(architecture)
A string course or band course is a thin continuous projecting course of brickwork or stone (typically of
complementary or where near -white, of matching color) that runs horizontally around a building, typically to
emphasize ceiling height and thus the junction between floors.
Stringcourse
www.dictionary.com
[string-kawrs, -kohrs]
Word Origin
noun, Architecture.
1.a horizontal band or course, as of stone, projecting beyond or flush withthe face of a building, often molded
and sometimes richly carved.
Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture
stringcourse: A continuous projecting horizontal band set in the surface of a wall and usually molded.
*Please note, while this OA is proposed for the entire downtown district, we also want to ensure our proposed wall -
sign for Granite Shores fits within the current code; should staff become aware of another portion of the code
which prohibits the sign as proposed, we ask staff work with us to update the code for relevance throughout this
process.
5/6/2015 Elk Rivet, MN Code of Ordinances
Sec. 30-873, - DID downtown district.
(a) Temporary signs as permitted in section 30-851 et sea,
M Permanent signs. Signs should be designed to fit with the character, proportions and scale of the
individual building and should complement, rather than compete with, the character of downtown,
(1) One wall sign shall be allowed on each primary facade and on one secondary facade. One square
foot of wall sign per one linear foot of unit width shall be allowed, and shall not project out more
than eight inches.
a. Wall signs shall not extend above the roofline of an adjoining building or be higher than the
bottom of the stiringcourse.
(2) One monument sign is permitted for each multi -tenant facility,
a. Sign height shall be limited to one-half the average height of the primary structure, not to
exceed 20 feet.
b. Sign area, as measured in square feet, shall be limited to one-third of primary structure
width, measured at the widest point parallel to the building address street, and shall not
exceed 80 square feet.
(3) One projecting sign shall be allowed on each primary facade, provided that:
a. The sign does not exceed six square feet in area, shall not project perpendicularly more than
four feet from facade and shall not be thicker than six inches.
b. The projecting sign projects out perpendicular from facade.
c. Projecting sign and structural elements are not lower than eight feet from the sidewalk, nor
higher than the bottom of the sill of the second floor windows.
d. The brackets and structure for projecting signs shall be ornamentally designed.
(4) One portable sign is permitted per public entrance, and only one Sign may be displayed per
facade.
a. Two-sided portable signs (sandwich boards) may not exceed five feet in height, and six
square feet in area. Such signs are only permitted during business hours, must be located in
front of the business it identifies, and shall not obstruct pedestrian traffic nor impede
vehicular traffic,
b. Portable signs (sandwich boards) shall beset back a minimum of two feet from the back of
curb of parking areas, public streets, or private drive aisles.
(5) With the exception of individual letters and digital changeable copy signs, only externally
illuminated signs are allowed.
(6) Aside from a date and name stone not exceeding three square feet, no signage shall bePIJed
within the parapet panel area.
(c) Changeable copy signs as permitted in section 30-864
(d) Prohibited signs: Back -lit signs (excluding individual letters), molded plastic cabinet signs, smooth/flat
plastic signs and signs with strobe lights, flashing elements or distracting actions.
(Ord. No, 09-06, § 2, 7-20-2009; Ord. No. 13-19, § 2, 12-16-2013)
Editor's note— Section 2 of Ord. No. 13-19, adopted Dec. 16, 2013, renumbered and amended former §
30-872 as § 30-873
abouttlank 1/2
Downtown Sign Ordinance AmendmentConcept Review
BackgroundThe downtown sign ordinance permits wall signage at on visibility/function for a pedestrian rather than cars.Intent was to keep signage at a pedestrian scale Prohibits
wall signs above stringcourse and rooflineone SF per LF of street frontageRoof sign prohibition consistent throughout citybusinesses. Downtown as a place rather than series of individual
Stringcourse language specific to DT-focus
Current ConditionsApplicant provided numerous examples of wall signs ordinance, others may not have stringcourse. Some are legal nonabove stringcourse within the downtown area.-conforming
as they existed prior to
Applicant Proposal/RequestRemove requirement of signage to be below Amend definition of stringcoursestringcourse.