6.1. SR 08-11-2008REQUEST FOR ACTION
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To Item Number
Ci Council 6.1.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Worksession August 11, 2008 Jeff Gongoll, Community
Develo ment Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Request Authorization fox Ordinance Change fox City Entrance exem Barnhart, Plannin Mana ex
Signs Reviewed by
Action Requested
Staff is looking for the City Council to give direction to amend and/or create portions of the city
ordinance to address "Welcome to the City" types of signs.
Background/Discussion
An Elk River Citizens Sign Committee is leading an effort to construct a "Welcome to Elk River" sign
along Highway 10 near the eastern city limits. The sign will be similar to the west entrance sign by Lake
Orono.
The issue is that corporate/municipality signs are not addressed in the city ordinance. The closest thing
to defining this type of sign is an advertising signs (bill boards) which as defined does not really pertain to
city entrance signs. The ordinance defines Advertising Signs as:
A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service, or entertainment which is not sold, produced,
manufactured, or furnished at the properly on which the sign is located.
Although the closest definition might be an advertising sign, the proposed property, in which the sign
would be located, is zoned Commercial Reserve Transition (CRT) and does not allow advertising signs.
The CRT zoning district does not address signage of any type.
The difficulty will be to draft an ordinance that will allow signage, which promotes the City as an
organization, while not opening it up for unforeseen uses. Staff does not have a solution, but requests
authorization to research solutions, for review by the Planning Commission and City Council at an
upcoming meeting.
Attachments
• Letter from Elk River Citizens Sign Committee
• Aerial with Proposed Sign Location
Case File:
Page 2
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
S:APL~"~~TSCI y11I\\(:;ti~cPil~~\C) 1'~,( it}' l:r~irao~c Si~nra~;cl4<Yno.d~x:
June 17, 2008
Mr. Jeremy Barnhart
Planner
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway ,lUN 2 0 Z00~
Elk River, MN 55330
Re: East City Entrance Sign
Dear Jeremy:
I am writing on behalf of a citizens committee which is leading an effort to construct a
"Welcome to Elk River" sign along Highway 10 near the east side of town. The
proposed sign will be very similar to the west entrance sign by Lake Orono.
We have selected a site and been in contact with the property owner to acquire land for
the sign. Upon review of the City's sign ordinance, there does not seem to be any portion
which applies to this type of sign. We need to know which setbacks will apply and what
size parcel or easement we need to acquire. Does the sign ordinance need to be modified
for the sign or variances requested? If the sign ordinance needs to be modified please
consider this a request for the modification.
Please let us know what the process is and what we can do to help expedite it. If there
are any questions please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Elk River Citizens Sign Committee
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Debra Urista, Chair
231 Main Street
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 241-0155
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