Laserfiche WebLink
NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. <br />4800 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 202, Golden Valley. MN 55422 <br />Telephone: 763.231.2555 Facsimile: 763.231.2561 planners@nacpla nning.com <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Little Canada Planning Commission <br />FROM: Stephen Grittman <br />DATE: September 7, 2007 <br />RE: Little Canada - Sign Ordinance Amendments <br />FILE NO: 758.09 - 07.01 <br />Attached is an updated set of sign regulations, based on staff comments since the <br />previous Planning Commission review. The City Council considered the Planning <br />Commission's comments in July, and will be considering adoption of the ordinance at its <br />September 261h Council meeting. <br />With regard to the dynamic sign issues, the Council's consensus was to utilize a 10 <br />minute interval for sign display changes, and to adopt the Planning Commission's <br />recommended language relating to the "potential" for driver distraction from such <br />signage, rather than the original staff language. In addition, the Council recommended <br />that such signs connect to the Amber Alert system, and language has been added to <br />require this where available. <br />The staff comments raised the potential issue relating to the changes in the temporary <br />signage section, primarily over the possibility of an over-abundance of such signs for <br />new businesses, particularly in multi-tenant commercial buildings. This provision was <br />taken from a change that eliminated the "Grand Opening" sign due to concerns over the <br />content-regulation of that class of signs. A change was also inserted allowing <br />businesses in the PUD District this same benefit. The language has not been changed <br />in this draft. <br />The language, taken from the what was previously a section entitled "Grand Opening <br />Signs" allows new businesses to have up to three additional temporary sign permits of <br />30 days each. Only one such sign may be a "portable" sign, with the rest being <br />comprised of banners or some similar display. The Planning Commission should <br />consider this issue and provide a recommendation to the City Council. <br />Per a note from the Code Enforcement staff, a requirement for a minimum five foot <br />setback for holiday displays has been added. This replaces previous language that <br />