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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-2008 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting October 15, 2008 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Stevenson at 7:00 p.m. October 15, 2008. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Chair Stevenson; Commissioners, Cramblit, Gunn, Lang, Miller and Walsh-Kaczmarek Absent and Excused: Commissioner Meehlhause. Also Present: Community Development Director Roberts and Planning Associate Heller ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Sign Code Amendment 2 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approval of Minutes September 3, 2008 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Gunn/Commissioner Miller. To approve the Minutes of the September 3, 2008 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission October 15, 2008 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity A. Sign Code Amendment Community Development Director Roberts stated that before the Commission tonight is a proposed amendment to the city sign code. This amendment is driven by the need to include dynamic display signs in the code. Currently, the city code does not allow them. In review of the sign code, staff found other areas that also need changing. The definition of dynamic display signs are signs where the face changes electronically similar to the sign located at the Mermaid. In revised City Code Chapter 1008.10 Subd. D, dynamic display signs would be considered a ground sign and could be allowed on the sites of schools, churches, places of worship or other institutional land uses. The code regulates the minimum amount of time that each message is displayed, and what that amount of time should be is something that the Commission should discuss. Staff felt that if the sign message changes more frequently, the sign would be more of a distraction to drivers and could cause safety issues. If the message display time is set too long, it defeats the purpose of the sign. Staff has set these limitations to a minimum of 15 seconds display time, and billboard signs would have a minimum display time of 30 seconds. Director Roberts stated that within the ordinance there is an incentive for sign owners. If the owner of a billboard wants to add a dynamic display sign, this ordinance would support it. However, if the owner wants to remove a sign face, this ordinance is in support of that also. This would cause a voluntary reduction of billboards in the city. He stated there is additional language in the proposed code about maintenance and repairs to signs. Director Roberts recommended the Planning Commission approve Resolution No. 896-08, a resolution recommending approval of an amendment to Chapter 1008 of the Mounds View City Code About the Requirements for Signs and Billboards. Commissioner Lang asked why there are two different time length requirements. Director Roberts stated 30 seconds is for billboards. These signs are located on freeways and the longer time will alleviate any distractions for drivers. He stated staff would be notifying all sign owners with the new display time requirements when the city changes the ordinance. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek asked about how many displays a driver can really see when driving by at 50 mph. She questioned the impact the sign has. Director Roberts stated the driver will see different messages but may not see them all. He stated the dynamic display sign has more of an impact than a static sign. Mounds View Planning Commission October 15, 2008 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Gunn asked about the ordinance regulating the brightness standard and she questioned how this was going to be enforced. Director Roberts stated the brightness is very subjective. He suggested that the brightness limitation could be eliminated. Commissioner Lang asked if staff could add language to quantify the brightness. Commissioner Gunn stated that the dynamic display sign where she works has a software program in which personnel can control the length of display time and the brightness. She stated that she has not had to adjust the brightness of the sign. Director Roberts stated the time and brightness limitations for these types of signs is for the aesthetics of the city. The city has some rights to control the aesthetics and the look of the city. Other limitations are not only safety important but aesthetically important to the city. Chair Stevenson asked about the speed of the road. He felt the faster the road the shorter the display time made more sense. He suggested having all signs be regulated at 15 seconds. Director Roberts stated 15 seconds would probably be easier. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek asked about the 15 seconds as far as is that a sufficient or insufficient amount of time. She questioned what the process would be to revisit the time requirement. Director Roberts stated after six months if staff feels the 15 seconds is insufficient it can be revisited, and the city code can always be amended. Commissioner Miller questioned the Title of section 1008.03 and the removal of the word building. Director Roberts stated some signs need a building permit and some need a sign permit depending on the size of the sign. He stated larger signs including any signs requiring ground footings are required to have a building permit. Chair Stevenson suggested the title could read Permit Required. Director Roberts stated this is to be presented at a City Council workshop session on November 3rd. He asked if there was one area of the brightness limitations section that was a particular concern. Commissioner Gunn stated it was all of the language. Chair Stevenson stated if the city does not regulate the brightness, it could become a safety issue. Mounds View Planning Commission October 15, 2008 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek stated the brightness should be measured otherwise there is no way to regulate the brightness. She questioned if there was a light meter that could be obtained from a larger government entity such as Ramsey County. Planning Associate Heller stated an option is to add language that the sign may not be set above 75 percent of the brightness capability of the sign. She stated this would be a more feasible way to control the brightness. Commissioner Lang stated in the article included in the staff report, there is a table that could possibly assist in regulating the brightness of the sign. Commissioner Miller asked about chapter 1008.01 and the city not regulating the message on any sign. She questioned if someone would display an inappropriate message on the sign. Director Roberts stated under the First Amendment, the City does not want to regulate the message on any sign. If the message was slanderous it would become a civil action. If the was message was vulgar in nature, it could possibly be addressed under the nuisance code. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek stated in Chapter 1008.10 Subd. 4, it may be helpful to cross reference the location in the city code that it is referring to. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Gunn/Commissioner Cramblit. To approve Resolution 896-08, a Resolution Recommending Approval of an Amendment to the Chapter 1008 of the Mounds View City Code About the Requirements for Signs and Billboards as amended. Ayes –6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ___________________________________________________________________________ 7. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. November 5, 2008 B. November 19, 2008 ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Mounds View Planning Commission October 15, 2008 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Ken Roberts Community Development Director Transcribed by: Barbara Suciu TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.