7.2. SR 07-03-2017 EGty1� ,.,�� Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 7.2
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Public Hearings July 3, 2017 Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner
Item Description Reviewed by
Ordinance Amendment: Downtown Signage Zack Carlton,Planning Manager
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Adopt,by motion, an ordinance amending Section 30-873 of the city code to permit wall signs above the
stringcourse of the building.
Background/Discussion
City ordinances currently prohibit the placement of wall signs above the stringcourse of buildings within
the downtown zoning district. The standard was intended to place signage in the downtown at a
pedestrian scale,readable on the street level rather than the nearby highway.
During the work session on May 15, 2017, the City Council discussed the possibility of amending the sign
ordinance to permit wall signs in the downtown district above the stringcourse. Staff and Council
reviewed amendment options, and Council directed staff to amend the ordinance to permit signage above
the stringcourse in the downtown zoning district.
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed amendment during their regular meeting on May 23,
2017, and directed staff to take an ordinance amendment to the City Council amending the sign
ordinance, and permitting signage above the stringcourse in the downtown district.
The Heritage Preservation Commission reviewed the amendment on May 25, 2017, as it relates to the
character of the downtown area. The commission was comfortable with signage above the stringcourse of
the buildings, but some members expressed concerns with digital changeable copy signs.
Staff recommends amending the ordinance to remove the language prohibiting signage above the
stringcourse. Digital changeable copy signs up to 30 square feet will be permitted according to the size
Emits described in the ordinance,but larger digital signs require a Conditional Use Permit. This is
consistent with how digital signs are treated elsewhere in the ordinance.
Attachments
■ Zoning Area Exhibit
■ Ordinance
POWERED 6T
AR
ZONING LOCATION
Case # OA 17-07
N
L
Al
Agricultural Conservation
AR
Agricultural Research
R1a
Single Family Residential
R1b
Single Family Residential
Rlc
Single Family Residential
R1d
Single Family Residential
R2a
Two Family Residential
R2b
Two Family Residential
R3
Townhouse/Multiple Family Res.
R4
Multiple Family Residential
N
4t
n
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
PUD
Planned Unit Developement
BP
Business Park
DD
Downtown District
MU -ERP
Mixed Use - Elk River Plaza
CRT
Commercial Reserve Transition
C1
Central Business District
C2
Office District
C3
Highway Commercial
C4
Community Commercial
11
Light Industrial
,lob
1w
12
Medium Industrial
13
General Industrial
FAST
FAST (subzones A-1)
Extreme Commercial Recreation
SWF
Solid Waste Facility
AT
Antenna Overlay District (Tower)
=
Open Space Preservation (cluster)
ME
Mineral Excavation Overlay District
Urban Service Area
- - - - - Wild and Scenic River District
WAStfikethfoughs to be removed
Underlines to be added
City of
Elk -�-�
River
Ordinance 17 -
An Ordinance Amending Section, 30-873, DD Downtown District,
of the City of Elk River, Minnesota, City Code
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That§ 30-873 (b) (1),DD downtown district, of the City of Elk River Code of
Ordinances shall be amended to read as follows:
(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 roofline of an adjoining building��
than the bottom of the stfffigeottrse.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 3rd day of July, 2017.
John J. Dietz,Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Paw € REO 8
AUR
Last Updated March 2014 INI