6.1. SR 12-20-1999
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ITEM # 6. 1 .
MEMORANDUM
River TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Stephen Wensman, PlannerSN/
DATE:
December 20, 1999
SUBJECT:
Temporary Sign Permit Enforcement
Overview
The use of temporary signs by business owners appears to be increasing in
the City. Since last summer, staff has stepped up its efforts to inspect and
regulate temporary signs to ensure that the signs are out of the public rights-
of-way, that the property line setbacks are met and to control the size of
signs. In the past, enforcement of the temporary sign ordinance has been
somewhat sketchy due to limited staff and resources.
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City staff has made an effort to educate temporary sign users and temporary
sign suppliers of the ordinance and has gotten most to conform to the
ordinance and to follow proper procedures. Staff has been trying to enforce
the ordinance consistently and fairly throughout the City. Enforcement
becomes difficult and arbitrary if the rules don't apply to everyone equally.
This has created some friction with those property owners who have used
temporary signs for many years without any interference from the City. In
some cases, these signs have been illegally displayed for years at a time. The
owner of Dairy Queen, Scott Mitchell is one of the disgruntled property
owners. For many years during the winter months, Mr. Mitchell has used a
temporary sign at his store along Highway 10. Staff asked Mr. Mitchell to
obtain a permit and to conform to the setback and time period requirements.
Mr. Mitchell may be in attendance at the December 20, 1999 Council meeting
to discuss his use of a temporary sign.
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13065 Orono Parkway. P.O. Box 490. Elk River, MN 55330. TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420. Fax: (612) 441-7425
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Memo to the City Council/signs
December 20, 1999
Page 2
Temporary Sien Permit Reeulations
Temporary signs are allowed for two 15 day periods per year and must be
remove within 5 days after the period ends. Temporary signs are required to
be setback 10 feet from property lines and must be no greater than 32 square
feet in size. Sign permits require a $50.00 deposit that is refundable once
the sign is removed. An applicant must supply a site plan of the property
with the proposed sign and the time period that the sign will be on the
property (See attached temporary sign regulations).
Enforcement
Staff has been calling the property owners who have illegal signs and have
asked them to obtain a sign permit. If the owners cannot be reached, a letter
is written informing them of the process. If this brings no results, a
uniformed police officer will visit the property and issue a warning with a
specific date for compliance with the ordinance. If the property owner does
not comply, a citation will be issued. To date, most property owners have
complied with the ordinance and no citations have been issued.
Request
Staff requests that the City Council direct staff to continue its enforcement
efforts or provide to staff suggestions for an amendment to the sign
ordinance.
\ \elkriver\sys\shrdoc\p lanning\stevewen \ccmmo \signs. doc
TEMPORARY SIGN REGULATIONS
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v. Political signs are permitted in any zone. Such
signs shall be consistent with State Statute.
Political signs may be placed only on private property
and only with the permission of the property owner.
Such signs shall not be illuminated.
vi. On-premise Directional/Informational signs not to
exceed four (4) square feet per sign in sign area.
vii. One (1) on-premise temporary or portable sign
and/or decoration per premise, as allowed by the
Building and Zoning Administrator for special events,
grand openings or holidays. Such signs and
decorations may be erected fifteen (15) days prior to
a special event or holiday and shall be removed five
(5) days following the event or holiday.
Special event signs and/or decorations are also subject to
the following:
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Limited to two (2) times per year. SIGNAGE can be a maximum
of thirty-two (32) square feet Must not be unsafe or
dangerous. Must be securely anchored. Must be located on
property of business with special event and advertising
message must only relate to business conducted on that
premise, except that nonprofit or charitable organizations
as defined by Internal Revenue Code 501 (C3) may have
off-premise signs for their fund raising activities provided
that they obtain permission from the property owner.
Nonprofit organizations shall be limited to eight (8) signs
per event. Must not be placed in the right-of-way and must
meet sign setbacks. Only one business per premise at a time
can have said special event sign. A fifty dollar ($50.00)
deposit is required that is refundable if the sign meets all
requirements herein and is removed on time.
B. Signs per.mitted in Agricultural A-l and Residential
R-l, R-2, R-3, and R-4 Zones
i. All signs as permitted in paragraph 4 (a) of this
section.
11. One (1) permanent area identification sign per
neighborhood, subdivision, or development, not to
exceed sixteen (16) square feet in sign area. The
area identification sign shall be placed on the same
premise as the development which it identifies.
iii. One (1) on-premise permanent identification sign
per apartment or condominium complex, not to exceed
sixteen (16) square feet in sign area.
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iv. For permitted nonresidential uses, such as
churches, synagogues, and schools, one (1) on-premise
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