HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 9 - Subdivision Signs Report and Attachments; 7.21.15
MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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DATE: July 21, 2015
CONSENT
ITEM #9 ORDINANCE 08-124
AGENDA ITEM: Zoning Text Amendment – Subdivision Identification Signs
SUBMITTED BY: Nick M. Johnson, City Planner
THROUGH: Julie Johnson, City Clerk
REVIEWED BY: Planning Commission Kyle Klatt, Community Development Director
SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS (if removed from the Consent Agenda):
- Introduction of Item .....................................Community Development Director
- Report/Presentation………………………...Community Development Director
- Questions from Council to Staff ............................................. Mayor Facilitates
- Call for Motion ............................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Discussion ....................................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Action on Motion .................................................................... Mayor Facilitates POLICY RECCOMENDER: Planning Commission
FISCAL IMPACT: None
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: The City has received inquiries from the residential development community about subdivision identification signage. In reviewing the City’s regulations with signage, staff determined that adding greater clarity about what type of
signage is allowed and where would be beneficial to the City moving forward. To address the
situation staff conducted research and ultimately drafted a Zoning Text Amendment to add
language to the ordinance. The Planning Commission reviewed the research at their 6/22/15 meeting, held a public hearing on 7/13/15, and is recommending approval of the Zoning Text Amendment. If removed from the Consent Agenda, the motion to take the recommended action
is the following:
“Move to adopt Ordinance 08-124, amending the Sign Ordinance to provide greater clarity in the regulations for subdivision identification signage.”
City Council Meeting [Consent Agenda Item 9]
July 21, 2015
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION/STAFF REPORT:
Staff has received multiple inquiries from residential developers, as well as HOAs in the past, as
to what the regulations are for subdivision identification signage. In reviewing the City’s regulations when compared to other cities in the Metro Area, it was found that the ordinance
could be improved by adding additional provisions to regulate the location, number and type of
signage allowed. Staff presented these findings at the 6/22/15 Planning Commission meeting.
Upon review of the information, the Planning Commission directed staff to prepare a Zoning
Text Amendment and schedule a public hearing. The ordinance as proposed reflects the Zoning Text Amendment prepared by staff with input from the Planning Commission.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT:
The Planning Commission reviewed the subdivision identification signage provisions at their meeting on 6/22/15, where they directed staff to schedule a public hearing and prepare a Zoning Text Amendment. The public hearing was held on July 13, 2015. No one spoke during the
public hearing and no written correspondence was received. During the meeting, the Planning
Commission requested that provisions be added to not allow changeable copy or electronic
variable message signage for subdivision identification signs. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the zoning text amendment to add additional provisions to provide clarity for subdivision identification signs (Vote: 6-0).
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, THREATS:
Strengths: The addition provisions proposed for subdivision identification signs add greater clarity to what is allowed for this type of signage. The provisions include more
specificity with regards to the number, location and type of signage that is allowed. These
provisions will set clear expectations for the developers and HOAs who are interested in
installing such signage.
Weaknesses: None
Opportunities: Providing greater clarity in the regulations of subdivision signage should
remove some of the confusion that developer and HOAs have encountered with the
existing provisions.
Threats: None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on the aforementioned, the Planning Commission and staff are recommending that the
City Council approve the proposed amendment to the Sign Ordinance to add provisions related to subdivision identification signage. Should the item be removed from the Consent Agenda, the motion to take the recommended action on the request is as follows:
City Council Meeting [Consent Agenda Item 9]
July 21, 2015
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“Move to adopt Ordinance 08-124, amending the Sign Ordinance to provide greater clarity in the regulations for subdivision identification signage.”
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance 08-124
2. Staff Report to the Planning Commission, dated 7-13-15
3. Staff Report to the Planning Commission, dated 6-22-15
4. Existing Subdivision Signage Provisions 5. Comparison Chart of Signage of Metro Cities
6. Signage Examples from Other Metro Cities
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CITY OF LAKE ELMO
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 08-124
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAKE ELMO ZONING CODE BY AMENDING THE SIGN
ORDINANCE BY ADDING ADDITIONAL REGULATION AND CLARIFICAITON WITH REGARDS TO
SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGNS
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Lake Elmo hereby amends Title XV: Land Usage; Chapter 154: Zoning Code; Section 212; Subsection G.1.c to read the following:
c. Subdivision Identification Signs
i. Number. Each residential subdivision is allowed up to a maximum of two (2)
subdivision identification signs. For the purposes of this section, residential
subdivisions shall include all phases of approved staged developments.
ii. Location. Subdivision identification signs shall be located near entrances to
the subdivision, except that one sign may be located along an abutting
arterial or major collector roadway.
iii. Size. The maximum size for a subdivision identification sign is thirty-two
(32) square feet.
iv. Sub-Monuments. Each residential subdivision may have two (2) sub-
monument identification signs in addition to two (2) subdivision
identification signs. Sub-monument identification signs may not exceed
four (4) square feet in size.
v. Changeable copy signs, including electronic variable message signs, are not
a permitted sign type for subdivision identification signage.
SECTION 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon
adoption and publication in the official newspaper of the City of Lake Elmo.
SECTION 3. Adoption Date. This Ordinance 08-124 was adopted on this twenty first day of
July 2015, by a vote of ___ Ayes and ___ Nays.
LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL
_________________________________
Mike Pearson, Mayor
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ATTEST:
_________________________________
Julie Johnson, City Clerk
This Ordinance 08-124 was published on the ____ day of ___________________, 2015.
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PUBLIC HEARING ITEM 4D – ACTION ITEM
BACKGROUND
With the recent residential development activity in the community, staff has received some inquiries
from developers regarding the allowance of subdivision identification sigs. In researching the City’s provisions, staff found the regulations to be somewhat limited in comparison with other communities. Staff presented these findings to the Planning Commission on 6/22/15. After review
and discussion of various ways to improve the ordinance, the Planning Commission directed staff to
prepare Zoning Text Amendment and schedule a public hearing on proposed changes to the Sign
Ordinance with regards to subdivision identification signs.
STAFF REVIEW COMMENTS:
Staff has prepared a Zoning Text Amendment proposing changes to the City’s Sign Ordinance related to subdivision identification signs. The proposed changes can be found in the draft ordinance
in Attachment #1. The proposed changes included in the draft ordinance are the following:
• The number of total subdivision identification signs allowed was changed to two signs.
• Clarification was added to note that the entirety of the subdivision, regardless of the number
of phases, is allowed two signs.
• Clarification with regards to location was added to note that signs are only allowed at neighborhood entrances, with the exception that one sign can be located along an abutting
arterial or collector road.
• Provisions were added to allow for two sub-monuments within each residential subdivision.
These sub-monuments are not allowed to exceed 4 square feet in size. The addition of sub-
monuments to the ordinance are in response to requests from developers to allow for smaller signage incorporated into landscape features such as columns or fencing. Staff recommends
that this type of signage be allowed as long as it is limited in size.
In addition to these changes, it should also be noted that staff did reach out to various parties to get
questions posed by the Planning Commission answered. Staff conducted the following outreach:
• Staff contacted the Fire Chief to ask if subdivision identification signs are helpful for public safety personnel to locate homes in emergency situations. He noted that the address is always the most important factor. However, in situations where an emergency make be
taking place outside of a specific home but within a subdivision, the sign can be helpful for
police, fire or medical services to find the correct location. Overall, in the opinion of the Fire
Chief, the subdivision signs do provide a public safety improvement, but the benefit is minimal.
• Staff asked a number of residential developers who are working in the community about the
value and importance of permanent neighborhood signage. Unfortunately, none of the
developers responded with definite feedback regarding the need for permanent signage. In
the experience of staff, these signs can be utilized initially as a marketing tool, but also as community or neighborhood identity once the neighborhood is built out.
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PUBLIC HEARING ITEM 4D – ACTION ITEM
It should be noted that the proposed Zoning Text Amendment was drafted utilizing best practices
from other communities in the judgment of staff. Example of other sign ordinances researched can
be found in Attachment #2.
RECCOMENDATION:
Staff is recommending that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the Zoning Text
Amendment to the Sign Ordinance to provide clarity with regards to subdivision identification signs. The suggested motion is the following:
“Move to recommend approval of the Zoning Text Amendment to add greater detail to the
subdivision identification sign provisions in the City’s Sign Ordinance.”
ATTACHMENTS:
1. DRAFT 154.212 – Proposed Zoning Text Amendment
2. Sign Ordinances from Other Metro Communities – Subdivision Signs
ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Introduction ....................................................... Community Development Director
- Report by Staff ..................................................................................... City Planner
- Questions from the Commission ............................ Chair & Commission Members
- Open the Public Hearing .................................................................................. Chair
- Close the Public Hearing .................................................................................. Chair
- Discussion by the Commission .............................. Chair & Commission Members
- Action by the Commission ..................................... Chair & Commission Members
BUSINESS ITEM 5B
PLANNING COMMISSION
DATE: 6/22/15
AGENDA ITEM: 5B – BUSINESS ITEM
CASE # 2015-23
ITEM: Zoning Text Amendment – Subdivision Identification Signs
SUBMITTED BY: Nick Johnson, City Planner
REVIEWED BY: Kyle Klatt, Community Development Director
Joan Ziertman, Planning Program Assistant
Casey Riley, Planning Intern
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
The Planning Commission is being asked to consider advancing an effort to complete a Zoning Text
Amendment to provide greater clarity with regards to what type of signage is allowed for residential
subdivision identification. The City has been contacted by Lennar Homes to inquire about the
possibility of installing additional neighborhood identification signs. City staff has reviewed the City’s Sign Ordinance to determine if additional signage is allowed. Upon review of the ordinance,
it is Staff’s opinion that the section that pertains to subdivision identification signs could benefit from
additional regulations to establish clearer expectations about what type and quantity of signage is
allowed. Staff is recommend the Planning Commission discuss potential changes to the ordinance and, if in agreement with the proposed changes, direct staff to draft an ordinance amendment.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Applicant: City of Lake Elmo
Property Owners: N/A
Location: N/A – Proposed zoning text amendment would apply to existing and future
residential subdivisions throughout the community.
Request: The Planning Commission is respectfully asked to discuss potential changes to the Sign Ordinance with regards to subdivision identification signs.
Existing Land Use: N/A
Existing Zoning: N/A
Surrounding Land Use: N/A
Surrounding Zoning: N/A
Comprehensive Plan: N/A
Proposed Zoning: N/A
History: The City updated the Sign Ordinance in 2013 as part of the Zoning Code Update Project. The provisions that regulate subdivision identification signs were included in
the 2013 update.
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BUSINESS ITEM 5B
Applicable Regulations: §154.212 – Sign Regulations
BACKGROUND
Lennar Homes is currently in process of constructing the 2nd phase of the Savona residential
subdivision. They have contacted the City to inquire about the possibility of installing additional identification signage and other landscape features at separate entrances to the development. In
responding to the request, City staff referenced the Sign Ordinance to determine how much signage
is permitted. With regards to subdivision identification signs, the Sign Ordinance states that in
residential districts, the following is allowed:
A subdivision identification sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in sign area as approved by the City.
Under this language, staff would interpret the ordinance to allow a single neighborhood identification
sign up to thirty-two square feet in area. While the ordinance is simple and uncomplicated, it also does not take different locational circumstances or sign types into much consideration. Based on the simplicity of this provision in the Sign Ordinance, staff thought it would be beneficial to research
other ordinance in the Metro Area to see if Lake Elmo’s ordinance could be improved to add greater
direction and detail to set clear expectations. The general results of the staff’s research can be found
in Attachment #1, Subdivision Signs from Metro Cities. Further detail of staff’s research will be presented at the Planning Commission meeting.
STAFF REVIEW COMMENTS:
Building off the research conducted of other metro cities, staff asks the Planning Commission to
consider the following with regards to neighborhood identification signs:
• Number. The typical allowance for subdivision identifications signs varies between 1 and 2
signs. However, some communities allow one sign per entrance to the development. In these instances, cities typically qualify that the only neighborhood entrances that are allowed
signage are entrances off arterial or collector roads.
• Content. Some cities do not allow any text on neighborhood identification signs other than
the name of the subdivision. This provision would preclude any builder names or other
commercial messages.
• Sub-Monuments. Staff would ask the Planning Commission if there should be any allowance for sub-monuments within residential subdivisions. Sub-monuments are sometimes
incorporated into landscape features or community gathering spaces. This type of signage
would be significantly less in size.
• Definition of Subdivision. For the purposes of clarity, staff would ask the Planning
Commission to confirm whether or not “subdivision” refers to the totality of the residential development, or if individual phases or different hosing types inform the allowed amount of signage.
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BUSINESS ITEM 5B
These items represent some of the areas of further clarification that were included in the signage
provisions of other communities. With additional residential subdivisions being planned and
constructed in the community, staff anticipates the number of requests for subdivision identification
signage to increase. Providing greater clarification in advance of these requests would assist in the interpretation of what is allowed for subdivision identification signs.
RECCOMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission discuss areas of potential improvement based on
the staff report and presentation. Should the Planning Commission reach consensus on potential
changes, they can direct staff to prepare a Zoning Text Amendment,
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Subdivision Signs from Metro Cities
ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Introduction ....................................................... Community Development Director
- Report by Staff ..................................................................................... City Planner
- Questions from the Commission ............................ Chair & Commission Members
- Discussion by the Commission .............................. Chair & Commission Members
- Action by the Commission ..................................... Chair & Commission Members
granted for any premises more than four (4) times in any calendar year; or more
than once in any three month period.
10. Lots having Multiple Street Frontages. Business occupying corner lots, or
multiple frontages adjacent to more than one public right-of-way, may display up to one additional ground or building-mounted sign for each additional frontage
provided that such additional sign may not exceed 50% of the area allowed by the
primary frontage and is oriented toward the additional frontage. For purposes of
this code, the primary frontage shall be presumed to be the frontage upon which
the main entrance to the building is located. The applicant, however, may identify a different frontage as the primary frontage to maximize the effectiveness of the
signage.
11. Resemblance to Traffic Signs. No sign shall contain or resemble any sign
resembling in size, shape, message, or color any traffic control devices compliant
with the Minnesota State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
G. Limitations According to the Type of Land Use. Unless exempt under §154.212.K or as
expressly provided elsewhere, no permanent or temporary signs shall be displayed except
in conformity with the following regulations as they correspond to the type of land use
and districts in which the sign is to be displayed.
1. Residential Uses in Residential Districts
a. In connection with legal home occupations, a single sign which is limited in
content to the name, address and legal home occupation of the owner or
occupant of the premises, and which does not exceed two (2) square feet in
area. Signs under this paragraph shall be wall signs only.
b. A residential condominium or multi-family apartment complex may display signs identifying the name of the condominium or apartment complex if the
total acreage of the lot is one (1) acre or more and the condominium or
apartment includes eight (8) or more units. One (1) wall sign and one (1)
ground sign per street frontage may be displayed, with a maximum of two (2)
wall signs and two (2) ground signs per lot. No identification sign shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area, and the maximum height is one (1) story or
twelve (12) feet above curb level, whichever is lower. For purposes of this
paragraph, the term “lot,” when used in reference to a condominium means all
property within a common interest community.
c. A subdivision identification sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in sign area as approved by the City.
2. Institutional Uses in Residential Districts. Non-residential uses located in
residential districts, such as churches and schools, located in residential districts
may erect signs as follows;
a. Wall and Ground Signs
i. Area and Number. One (1) wall sign and one (1) ground sign per street
frontage may be displayed, identifying the entity, with a maximum of
two (2) wall signs and two (2) ground signs per lot. Additional wall or
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Residential Entry/Identification Sign Requirements from Metro Cities
City Number Dimensions Setback
Bloomington Two signs permitted Max area: 40 sq ft Per neighborhood
Inver Grove Heights One sign per entrance
from a public street, there must be 3
dwelling units.
Max area: 32 sq ft
Lino Lakes One Max area: 50 sq ft Max height: 8 ft
10 ft from any property line
Maple Grove One sign per entrance street Max area: 35 sq ft Max height: 8 ft
Minnetrista Two permitted at
each entrance to
subdivision.
Max area: 24 sq ft
Max height: 6 ft
10 ft from any
property line
Minnetonka One per unified
development
entrance. Maximum
two signs total.
50 sq ft max copy
and graphic area.
100 sq ft max
monument size Max height: 10 ft
Osseo One sign per 6 dwelling units Max area: 6 sq ft, only one surface, not double sided.
Plymouth Two per subdivision, at entrances Max area: 32 sq ft per sign
Max height: 10 ft
Shoreview One sign per entry, up to two signs total.
Must have 20
dwelling units for SF,
6 DU for MF
Max area: 32 ft Max height: 12 ft