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City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission Workshop Notes -January 27, 2004 Present: Commissioners Lageson, DeLeo, Harris, Heideman, Tracy, Ziebarth, Council Member Lindstrom, Staff Liaison Jones. The workshop commenced at approximately 7:20 p.m. Summary: Commissioners are reading and discussing the City's zoning code in preparation for a revision expected this year. This evening's discussion revolved around the sign code, in particular the maximum sign area allowed in business zones. There was also discussion on the issue of bus benches, prompted by the placement of a number of advertising benches on right-of- ways (without City or, apparently, County) permits. Discussion: A discussion on the sign ordinance (Chapter 9, Sections 13.01 to 13.04) was requested by Staff, prompted by some lengthy negotiations with Dino's about the signs for their new restaurant. Falcon Heights City Code places restrictions on the number, types and sizes of signs in each zone. However, only the sign codes for business zones are given in Section 13; residential sign codes are contained in the code for each particular zone. The Commission began with a general discussion on signage related to community esthetics, in particular how the size and number of signs impacts the perception of a city's character and quality. There was a consensus that restraint in size and number, as well as some uniformity of . design, tend to give a more attractive, "high end" impression, while a streetscape of "nothing but signs" can look "trashy". The University of Minnesota was given as an example of the former and Tucson, Arizona, as an example of the latter. Staff Liaison Jones explained how, in Falcon Heights, the allowable area of signage is calculated based on linear feet of building frontage. Commissioners suggested some other factors that could be used, such as the size of the lot and the height of the building. Ziebarth suggested that we might do it by streets instead of zones, because all our commercial zones are on Snelling, Larpenteur, Hamline or Prior. For example, the farther from Snelling/Larpenteur, the smaller the signs should be. The Commissioners requested some sign ordinance models from other cities. The organization of the sign section also came under discussion. Commissioner Ziebarth pointed out that it is not very logical to group B-1 and B-3 zones together. There may be some historical reason behind this; in any case the City has used the same rules for both zones since this section was written (1989). It also seems odd to have the residential and business sign codes in different parts of the chapter. Why not either group all the sign rules together or separate all into the sections for the various zones? The rules that are common to all zones could be put into the "universal" sign code section. The limitations specific to each zone could be put into that zone's section, with cross-referencing. The discussion then moved to bus bench advertising. Resident complaints have been received about these benches appearing where there are no bus stops. On the other hand, people do need places to sit while they are waiting for the bus, and we only have a few bus shelters so far. Jones said that the City Administrator Worthington is considering dealing with the benches • administratively since the ordinance against advertising signs clearly covers the benches. Falcon Heights Planning Commission Workshop, January 27, 2004 Page 1 of 2