09-13-07 Planning Comm. Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Add an introductory section to the regulations relating to the City finding that regulations addressing such signs are necessary. Apply the regulations to all signage in the City -including new or existing commercial signage, existing non-conforming signs (such as billboards), etc. 4. Require a minimum letter size of 10 inches -the Minnetonka ordinance has a scaled size based on speed of the adjoining roadway, ranging from 7 to 15 inches. While such scaling can result in a more "tailored" ordinance, we have found such scaling to be problematic, since speeds on roadways can change over time -often without the participation of the City. Indeed, the primary commercial areas in Little Canada front on County, State, or Federal highways where speed limits are not subject to City input. The 10 inch standard should provide an adequate message size in most conditions in the City. Require message changes to be instantaneous, rather than animated. The Minnetonka study notes that the animated changes is responsible for a great amount of driver distraction, but does not increase knowledge of the message. 6. Prohibit dynamic displays in residential districts. Little Canada's zoning regulations are designed to distinguish between the signage needs of different land uses. There would not appear to be any need for such displays in residential areas, and the additional disruption created by such signs would raise special concerns for residential uses. 7. This ordinance draft specifies a change period of 24 hours. The Minnetonka ordinance utilizes a 20-minute interval. While others utilize aone-hour interval, and some are operating on an 8-second interval for billboard applications. Minnetonka's ordinance includes a negotiated allowance for billboard operators to utilize an 8-second interval provided the operator removes two other existing billboard locations in the City. This is listed as an "incentive" in the ordinance for the removal of existing billboards. Time and temperature signs have special court determinations that distinguish them from other signs. These are left at a 3-second interval in this ordinance. Add a specific requirement for adherence to the City's Architectural Guidelines, and state that brightness must be no greater than other non- dynamic signs in the same zoning district. The issue of brightness was clearly a difficult one for Minnetonka to address. Their solution was to make some general references to brightness levels, then create a special process to adjudicate disputes over this issue. We would not recommend this process, and instead believe that if the sign is consistent with the architectural guidelines and other signs in the area, it should not create a special hazard. 9. Add a section related to malfunction and the freezing (and discontinuance) of the message in such a case. This concept comes directly from the Minnetonka ordinance material.