03/24/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Section I of the amended ordinance is a new purpose and intent section, which establishes the foundations for requirements in the ordinance. This is followed by a re- organized list of definitions in Section II. Some definitions have been clarified, some new ones added, and they all are now alphabetized. A new Section III describes administration and enforcement. Section IV gives the findings for the City's regulation of dynamic display signs. There are significant public safety concerns. Drivers can be distracted by the large, lighted displays; by moving pictures; by changing messages; and by watching messages that are delivered a piece at a time with a series of displays. There also are aesthetic and community character concerns with a sign that flashes, has moving messages, and is brightly lit. The City amended the zoning ordinance to require 90 degree cutoff lighting fixtures to reduce unnecessary lighting in new developments. This was to minimize lighting the sky at night, which was a concern for residents, especially those in the rural areas of Lino Lakes. Most billboards along freeways are located in rural areas and dynamic display signs are very bright. If a sign is in a residential area, the bright displays can be a nuisance to homeowners in the vicinity. Later, in Section VI. paragraph X., dynamic display signs are prohibited except for a dynamic display area of less than 20 sf. We included this exception to allow for small signs with less potential for safety and lighting impacts. This exemption allows signs such as the horizontal "reader board" often seen at banks and public buildings. The P & Z considered if these small signs should have a limit on the frequency for changing the messages, but left it to the City Council to decide. Note that the definition of signs exempts road construction signs from regulation by the ordinance which allows for changing messages on road project signs. Section V lists the zoning districts and references the tables at the end of the ordinance for specific regulations in the different districts. Section VI is the general regulations. Some revisions are included. Some clauses were combined or moved . Dynamic display signs of any size are prohibited from being hung in windows. The P & Z Board considered the issue of banners versus flags, and how business flags differ from government flags. Banners are distinguished from flags in the definitions, and business and government flags are regulated differently in Paragraph Z. The intent is to prevent the use of numerous American flags as an advertising device. Sections VII and VIII are technical, legal statements seen in many ordinances. Section VIII is the tables of sign requirements —size, number, type —for different zoning districts. Some passages have been clarified or moved from elsewhere in the document for easier administration. • • •