7.1. PCSR 06-25-2019
Request for Action
To Item Number
Planning Commission 7.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work Session June 25, 2019 Zack Carlton, Planning Manager
Item Description Reviewed by
Concept Review: Ordinance Amendment for Elk Chris Leeseberg, Senior Planner
River Baptist Church, Case No. CR 19-04
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Discuss an ordinance amendment regarding potential changes to the sign ordinance.
Background/Discussion
The applicant, Elk River Baptist Church, requests consideration of an ordinance amendment to allow
religious uses to place signs on vacant lots. Ordinance currently classifies these types of signs as off-
premises advertising signs, billboards, and they are only permitted in the C-3 (Highway Commercial), and
I-1 and I-2 (Light and Medium Industrial) zoning districts.
Council Work Session
The City Council discussed this item during their June 17, 2019, regular meeting and directed staff to
evaluate how the request could be accommodated with an ordinance amendment. One of the topics
discussed was creation of a definition for a “zoning lot” which would allow certain uses to include
adjacent lots under the same ownership:
Lot, Zoning: A parcel of land that is designated by its owner at the time of applying for a building
permit as one lot, all of which is to be used, developed, or built upon as a unit under single
ownership. Such lot may consist of a single recorded lot or a combination of complete recorded lots.
A zoning lot may cross a city street, but may not cross county or state maintained roads or highways.
As an example, the change would allow a freestanding sign for a church to be placed on an adjacent,
vacant lot, under the same ownership. No additional signs would be allowed, but it provides more
flexibility when placing a new sign.
Staff suggests limiting size and height to the current standards for non-residential uses, and classifying
them as a principal use – the same way billboards are currently regulated. That means if the lot was
dedicated to another use, single-family home for example, the sign must be removed.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
City Council packet dated June 17, 2019
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
RequestforAction
To ItemNumber
Mayorand CityCouncil 9.2
AgendaSection MeetingDate Prepared by
WorkSession June17, 2019 Zack Carlton, PlanningManager
ItemDescription Reviewedby
ConceptReview: Off-PremisesReligious Signage CalPortner, CityAdministrator
Reviewedby
ActionRequested
Providetheapplicantwithinformal non-bindingfeedback regardingtherequested ordinance amendment.
Background/Discussion
Case No. CR19-04
Theapplicant, ElkRiver BaptistChurch, is requesting consideration ofan ordinanceamendment toallow
religious usestoplacesigns onvacant lots. Ordinancecurrently classifies thesetypesofsignsasoff-
premisesadvertising signs, billboards, andthey areonly permittedintheC-3 (HighwayCommercial), and
I-1andI-2 (Light andMedium Industrial) zoning districts.
Thesuggestedlanguage would limitplacement toadjacentlotsownedbythesamereligious use. If
Councilsupports therequest, staffsuggests limiting sizeandheightto thecurrent standards forreligious
uses, andclassifyingthemasaprincipal use – thesame waybillboardsarecurrently regulated. Thatmeans
ifthelotwas dedicated toanotheruse, single-family homefor example, thesignwouldneedtobe
removed.
FinancialImpact
None
Attachments
Location Map
Applicant’sNarrative
ProposedSignInformation
Existing SignOrdinances
TheElkRiver Vision
Awelcomingcommunity withrevolutionary andspirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, andcommunity engagementthatencourages andinspires prosperity