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

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Meeting of June 14, 2007 Page 3 Subject: Dynamic Signs The consultants also concluded that drivers are more distracted by special effects used to change the message, such as fade-ins and fade-outs. Finally, drivers are generally more distracted by messages that are too small to be clearly seen or that contain more than a simple message. In response to these conclusions, the ordinance allows only static displays. No animation, motion or video would be permitted. Additionally, the message change would have to be instantaneous, without any distracting effects, such as dissolving, spinning or fading. Sequential messages, such as a two-stage message for a single product, service or business, would also be prohibited. This would apply whether the sequential messages are on the same sign or multiple signs. The ordinance also requires a minimum font size to avoid messages that are too small to easily read or that contain too much information. The required minimum is seven inches on a road with a speed limit between 25 and 34 miles per hour, nine inches on a road with a speed limit of 35 to 44 miles per hour, 12 inches on a road with a speed limit of 45 to 54 miles per hour, and 15 inches on a road with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour or more. These are the recommended heights given in Issue 51 (2007) of Sign/ine, a publication of the International Sign Association. As an example, the city's changeable message sign has a font size of slightly less than 10 inches for athree-line message and 12 inches for atwo-line message: ~s'» .~~' 7 2' ~ Slightly less than 10 inch font size The ordinance provides that if the allowed portion of the sign is too small to meet this minimum size, then no dynamic display is allowed. 3 :viw:umem :u S:yn - Uaunir i nr,~ ilhuu:uaL•:f Jr,~r :wti+ LriD :bfessapc Cenivr