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Mounds View Planning Commission October 15, 2008 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />5. Planning Cases <br /> <br />None. <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />6. Other Planning Activity <br /> <br />A. Sign Code Amendment <br /> <br />Community Development Director Roberts stated that before the Commission tonight is a <br />proposed amendment to the city sign code. This amendment is driven by the need to include <br />dynamic display signs in the code. Currently, the city code does not allow them. In review of <br />the sign code, staff found other areas that also need changing. The definition of dynamic display <br />signs are signs where the face changes electronically similar to the sign located at the Mermaid. <br />In revised City Code Chapter 1008.10 Subd. D, dynamic display signs would be considered a <br />ground sign and could be allowed on the sites of schools, churches, places of worship or other <br />institutional land uses. The code regulates the minimum amount of time that each message is <br />displayed, and what that amount of time should be is something that the Commission should <br />discuss. Staff felt that if the sign message changes more frequently, the sign would be more of a <br />distraction to drivers and could cause safety issues. If the message display time is set too long, it <br />defeats the purpose of the sign. Staff has set these limitations to a minimum of 15 seconds <br />display time, and billboard signs would have a minimum display time of 30 seconds. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Roberts stated that within the ordinance there is an incentive <br />for sign owners. If the owner of a billboard wants to add a dynamic display sign, this ordinance <br />would support it. However, if the owner wants to remove a sign face, this ordinance is in <br />support of that also. This would cause a voluntary reduction of billboards with the city. He <br />stated there is additional language in the proposed code about maintenance and repairs to signs. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Roberts recommended the Planning Commission approve <br />Resolution No. 896-08, a resolution recommending approval of an amendment to Chapter 1008 <br />of the Mounds View City Code About the Requirements for Signs and Billboards. <br /> <br />Commissioner Lang asked why there are two different lengths of time requirements. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Roberts stated 30 seconds is for billboards. These signs are <br />located on freeways and the longer time will alleviate any distractions for drivers. He stated staff <br />would be notifying all sign owners with the new display time requirements when the city <br />changes the ordinance. <br /> <br />Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek asked about how many displays a driver can really see when <br />driving by at 50 mph. She questioned the impact the sign has. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Roberts stated the driver will see different messages but may <br />not see them all. He stated the dynamic display sign has more of an impact than a static sign.