07-12-07 Planning Comm. Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 12, 2007 The Planner noted that item 6 prohibits dynamic displays in residential districts. This is related to the impact that glare and brightness could have on residential properties. It also keeps apartment complexes from putting up electronic displays. The City's cun•ent code limits signage in residential areas. Item 7 specifies a change period of once every 24 hours. The Planner noted that the Minnetonka ordinance allows a 20-minute interval, but negotiated an allowance for billboard operators to utilize an 8 second interval change provided that two existing billboards were removed. The Planner noted that some cities are utilizing 8 second changes and others hourly changes. Knudsen pointed out that dynamic signage is an entirely different medium, and he felt that more frequent signage changes than the once every 24 hours would be reasonable. Knudsen noted that the use of these signs for public service announcements, such as Amber Alerts, can be invaluable to a community. Knudsen suggested allowing changes somewhere between every 5 minutes and once per hour. Pechmann agreed, noting that the nature of the name, "dynamic signage", indicates that it is meant to change. Duray asked if the 24 hour change period was being used as a deterrent to billboards. The City Planner indicated that the City Codes does not allow billboards. The Planner indicated that the existing billboards in Little Canada are grandfathered in and would be allowed to change their display to dynamic signage. The Planner asked the Commission for their consensus on the change period, noting that it appears to be something more frequent than once every 24 hours. Knudsen stated that he would support a change period of anything from once every 5 minutes to once per hour. Duray suggested once per hour. Pechmann suggested once every 10 minutes. Hall stated that the most frequent change he would support would be once every minute. Knudsen pointed out that under any circumstance, the most change that a driver would see would be two messages. Knudsen felt that these billboard companies should be required to participate in public safety announcements, and that there be no animation of message changes. Barraclough agreed that there should be no animation allowed, and felt the biggest problem with the dynamic signage was the razzle dazzle. The Planner reviewed item 8 which recommends that dynamic signage adhere to the City's Architectural Guidelines, as well as states that brightness be no greater than other dynamic signs in the same zoning district. The Planner indicated that there is no good way to measure brightness, and indicated that if the brightness level of signs are consistent with one another, there should be no special hazard created. Pechmann noted that there is other light in business districts to measure against. Pechmann suggested that along freeways, however, there may need to be -7-