08-22-2007 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JULY 25, 2007 AMEND ZONING CODE — DY NA.MIC SIGN-AGE Mayor Blesener opened the Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Zoning Code relative to the regulation of electronic and digital sign technology. The Planning Commission passed their comments on to the Council without a specific recommendation. The City Planner reviewed his report dated July 5, 2007 in detail. Blesener indicated that the biggest issue with dynamic signage is how often the message is allowed to change. The Planner indicated that in addition to the dynamic sign issue, he is proposing changes to the City's broader sign ordinance that would minimize challenges on content -based grounds. He noted that this was the issue that precipitated the City's signage moratorium. The Planner noted that once the signage moratorium was put in place, the electronic billboard issue came to the forefront. The Planner indicated that the City of Minnetonka and the League of Minnesota Cities did an in -depth study of the issue of electronic billboards. The Planner utilized this infoimation in drafting a proposed ordinance for Little Canada. The Planner reviewed the proposed changes to the City's sign ordinance as outlined in his report. Points 1 through 3 are fairly general in nature. Point 4 requires a minimum letter size of 1.0 inches. The Planner noted that Minnetonka's ordinance proposed a scaled size based on speed of the adjoining roadway. The Planner felt that over time this methodology can be problematic since speeds on roadways can change and roadways in primary commercial areas front on County, State, or Federal highways where speed limits are not subject to City input. The Planner reviewed point 5 which requires message changes to be instantaneous, rather than animated. The Planner indicated that Minnetonka study notes indicated that animated message changes are responsible for a great amount of driver distraction. Point 6 prohibits dynamic displays in residential districts. ICeis questioned this noting that in Vadnais Heights along County Road D there are apartment buildings abutting the freeway. Allan pointed out The Lodge in Little Canada which is a mixed residential and commercial use. The Planner pointed out that the sign location has to be in other than a residential zone; however, the sign may still be visible from residential properties. He also noted that The Lodge is in a PUD zone, and dynamic signage would not necessarily be prohibited in that zone. Allan expressed concern about the potential amount of dynamic signage along Rice Street. It was noted that most signage is already lit. The difference with the dynamic signage is that the message will change. Montour noted that sign sizes are remaining the same. The Planner 11