6.13. SR 07-16-2007
REQUEST FOR ACTION
To
Ci Council
Agenda Section
Community Development
Meeting Date
July 16, 2007
Item Number
6.13.
Prepared by
Sheila Cartney, Senior Planner
Item Description
Ordinance Amendment regarding sign moratorium - Public
Hearing
Action Requested
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance.
Background/Discussion
On February 20,2007, the City Council adopted a Resolution for a sign moratorium that prohibits the
issuance of a building permit for a new or existing advertising signs and electronic changeable copy sign.
The issues that were identified are as follows: safety related to bright, often changing text, changeable
copy signs change too often and are evolving into animated signs, concerns of billboards turning into
huge television screens and lack of clarity in defining animated signs and/or flashing signs.
Attachments
-Ordinance
Overview/Analysis
Based on the direction received thus far on this topic, staff recommends the following ordinance. New
text proposed to the existing ordinance is underlined, and text from an existing ordinance to be deleted
would be would be struck through.
Proposed Ordnance amendments:
Sec 30-1, Definitions
Animated Sign any siga "Whieh uses mOVeffi.eftt or dutfi~es of lighting to depict aetioft ~ Cfeate a
speeUl effee:t or seefte a sign which contains rotating. flashing. or intermittent lights. animation. or
exhibits noticeable changes in color. intensity. texture. shape. pattern. or light intensity. Any sign that
flashes on or off. winks or blinks with va1;ying light intensity.
(This definition combines flashing signs and animated signs into one definition).
Flashing siga meafts a sigft whieh eo~s aft intefmitteat Of sequeatiftl ftilshing light sotlfee used
prinwily to aM:ftet attefttioa, other !haft ehaageable eoI" sigfts.
Case File: OA 07-09
Page 2
Changeable Copy Sign (atttomatte) meMis a:Hgtl -w-hieh the eopy eMnges 8:tlt6matteaYJ, sue:h as time,
temperature, Mid sreek mafloct indexes, inK does ftot iadude message sigas Oft a lamp bank ~
through mechMl:ieaJ. meMis. A sign or portion thereof with characters. letters or illusions that can be
changed or rearranged mechanically without altering the face of the surface of the sign.
Sec. 30-864 Changeable copy.
Unless otherwise specified by this subdivision, a Changeable Copy Sign or Animated Sign larger
than 30 square feet will require a Conditional Use Permit. All other Changeable Copy Signs or
Animated Signs are allowed.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this item at the July 10,2007 meeting. Two
people spoke. Steve Anderson with Franklin Advertising commented that allowing 30 square feet
for electronic signs may be a bit small. Peter Masterson with Greater MN Credit Union read some
excerpts from a Small Business Association 1980 study, relating to traffic and signage. Chair Stevens
commented that this amendment would allow a sign larger than 30 square feet through the
conditional use permit process and that the city's concern with these types of signs is not only
related to traffic. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the Ordinance Amendment as
presented.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance amendment as presented.
Respectfully Submitted
~~
Sheila Cartney
Senior Planner
Action
Motion by _
Second by _
Vote
Follow Up
ORDINANCE 07 -
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER AMENDING
SECTION 30-1 "DEFINITIONS" AND SECTION 30-864 CHANGEABLE COPY
OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Case No. OA 07-09
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Section 30-1 titled "Definitions" and Section 30-864 titled "Changeable Copy" of the
City of Elk River Code of Ordinances shall be amended by amending the following:
Animated Sign any siga which uses mov-eftlret or ehaBges of lighrifig to depiet actioa or
efeate a speeUl effee:t ~ seeae a sign which contains rotating.. flashing. or intermittent lights.
animation. or exhibits noticeable changes in color. intensity. texture. shape. pattern. or light
intensity. Any sign that flashes on or off. winks or blinks with varying light intensity.
(This definition combines flashing signs and animated signs into one definition).
Pkshi.ng sigft means a sigft whieh eoatftifl.s aa ifttermitteat or seqt1eatiftl ftilshi.ng light somce
used pfimMilJ to attraet Mteatioa, other thMi e:hMigeable eopy signs.
Changeable Copy Sign (a1:1toft'.l:fttit:) meaas a siga whieh the copy ehaages 8:'utomatieaRy, sue:h
as time, tempefttMe, aad stoek mMkd iadexes, b1:1t does Bot include message signs on a
lftmp bank ~ thro1:1gh mechanit:al meaas. A sign or portion thereof with characters. letters
or illusions that can be changed or rearranged mechanically without altering the face of the
surface of the sign.
Sec. 30-864 Changeable copy.
Unless otherwise specified by this subdivision, a Changeable Copy Sign or Animated Sign
larger than 30 square feet. will require a Conditional Use Permit. All other Changeable Copy
Signs or Animated Signs are allowed.
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect upon publication as provided by law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 16th day of
July, 2007.
Attest:
Stephanie Klinzing
Mayor
Tina Allard
City Clerk