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5.d Pylon_Pedestal Sign Standards - PC Packet1 | P a g e Date of Meeting: September 5, 2023 To: Chair Loeffler and Members of the Planning Commission From: T.J. Hofer, Consultant City Planner Re: UDC Amendment for Pylon/Pedestal Signs The City has identified an error in the Unified Development Code (UDC) that should be addressed by the City. Currently, pylon/pedestal signs are allowed in Village and Business Districts. Staff believes these were omitted in error when the UDC was adopted. The City Council is requesting the Planning Commission consider an amendment to the UDC. BACKGROUND The City adopted the UDC on September 20, 2022, to replace the previous zoning and subdivision codes. 153.400.100 includes standards and regulations for Signs in the City. Pylon/pedestal signs are defined as, “A permanent, freestanding sign mounted on one (1) central shaft or post that is solidly affixed to the ground.” Pylon/pedestal signs are currently prohibited in the Agricultural and Rural Districts. The City has historically made an effort to discourage or prohibit pylon/pedestal signs in favor of more decorative signs or historically appropriate signs that conform with the Architectural Design Guidelines. OVERVIEW OF UDC AMENDMENT The draft ordinance language shows what will be struck from the ordinance with a strikethrough and new text as underlined red text. 2 | P a g e 153.400.100 SIGNS Subd. 1. Summary and Intent. The sign standards within this Section are established to allow for the appropriate types, scale and size of signs based on the Character Area and Zoning District where the sign is located. Subd. 2. Applicability. The regulations contained herein do not apply to signs painted, attached by adhesive or otherwise attached directly to or visible through windows and glass portions of doors. No Permit is required for the following signs: Signs, except those specifically defined within this Section, up to ten (10) square feet in area. Noncommercial Signs, will be regulated consistent with Minnesota Statutes 211B.045 or successor statutes, for time and duration. During years without a general state election signs must comply with the standards stated within this Section. Signs placed on parcels that are currently offered for sale providing such signs are not closer than 10 feet to any property line and shall not exceed ten (10) square feet in area. One sign shall be permitted for each street frontage. Signs erected on parcels that are currently under construction for single-family or multiple-family residences that are intended to promote the construction, sale or leasing of the project. The plat of the development must be recorded with the Washington County Recorder prior to the erection of a sign. Signs are subject to the following standards. a. Such signs may not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area. b. Only one (1) sign is permitted per each road frontage with a maximum of three (3) signs per project. c. Such signs shall be removed when the project is eighty percent (80%) completed, sold or leased. d. Such sign must be located on the property which is for sale. Off-site development project signs are prohibited. e. One sign for each street entrance to a parcel currently under construction is permitted. The maximum sign area is thirty-two (32) square feet per surface and no sign may have more than two surfaces. The sign must not exceed eight (8) feet in height. f. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six (6) months after the date of issuance, the permit will become null and void. Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided in this UDC, no sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt or relocated until an Administrative Permit or Conditional 3 | P a g e Use Permit as may be required for the sign has been issued. Application for the applicable permit shall be accompanied by the established fee. Signs by Conditional Use Permit. Where a use is permitted in a Zoning District by Conditional Use Permit, the sign for that use is required to obtain a separate Conditional Use Permit unless the sign is otherwise provided for within the CUP or is permitted within the Base Zoning District. General Standards. a. Signs located in the V-N, V-C, V-HC and R-C Zoning Districts must be consistent with Section [153.400.040]. b. Pylon/pedestal signs are prohibited in all districts, with the following exceptions: i. Motor Vehicle Service Station uses in all districts ii. Uses where a pylon/pedestal sign is considered historically accurate or appropriate based on the City’s Architectural Design Guidelines c. No sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape, movement, color or any other characteristic, interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard; nor shall signs be permitted which would otherwise interfere with traffic control. d. All signs, other than public utility warning signs, are prohibited within a public right-of-way. e. When permitted, backlit or illuminated signs must be diffused or indirect so as not to direct rays of light onto any public right-of-way or adjacent residential property. No backlit or illuminated signs or their support structures may be located closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any roadway surface or closer than ten (10) feet to a road right-of-way line, notwithstanding more restrictive portions of this Section. f. LED (light-emitting diode) luminaires, or other energy-saving luminaires, may be used in backlit signs, illuminated signs or other signs permitted by this ordinance. g. Flashing signs and animated signs (also called Dynamic Display signs) are prohibited. h. Signs giving off intermittent, rotating, or direct light, which may be confused with traffic, aviation, or emergency signaling, are prohibited. i. One (1) wall sign is allowed for each street frontage on a building for each use located within such building. The maximum total area of all wall signs affixed to a building wall is twenty percent (20%) of the total area of that wall. No individual wall sign shall exceed one hundred and fifty (150) square feet. 4 | P a g e j. A wall sign must not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall to which the sign is affixed. Wall mounted signs must not exceed the roof line on any building. k. The City Council may approve the placement of murals on building walls that exceed the standards for wall signs. Signs must not be painted on a fence, tree, or other object in any district. Roof signs are prohibited in all Zoning Districts. All signs and displays using electric power must have a cutoff switch on the outside of the sign and on the outside of the building or structure to which the sign is attached. Multi-faced signs must not exceed two (2) times the allowed square footage of single faced signs. Except for more restrictive parts of this Section, no sign that exceeds one hundred (100) square feet in area shall be erected or maintained: 1. Which would prevent any traveler on any road from obtaining a clear view of approaching vehicles on the same road for a distance of five hundred (500) feet. 2. Which would be closer than one thousand three hundred fifty (1,350) feet to a national, state or local park, or historic site. 3. Which would obstruct more than fifty (50) percent of the view of a lake, river, rocks, wooded, area, stream or other point of natural and scenic beauty. 4. Any sign that requires a permit, but no permit has been issued, must be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, or land upon which the sign may be found within thirty (30) days after written notice from the Zoning Administrator. Any sign which is abandoned or becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises or endangers the public safety, must be taken down and removed or structurally improved by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure or land upon which the sign is located within ten (10) days after written notification from the Zoning Administrator. 5 | P a g e If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six (6) months after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void. Agriculture and Rural Residential Signs. Signs in A-P, AG-C, RR-G, and RR-N Zoning Districts ), Agriculture Preserves (AP), General Rural (GR) and Village Neighborhood (VN) Districts must meet the following standards. a. The maximum area permitted for a single sign is 10 square feet per surface. Up to three signs that meet this requirement are allowed per parcel. b. No sign may be constructed to have more than two (2) surfaces. c. The top of the display may not exceed ten (10) feet above grade. d. Any sign over two (2) square feet must be setback at least ten (10) feet from any property line. In no case shall any part of the sign be closer than two (2) feet to a vertical line drawn at the property line. e. The following types of signs are not permitted in the AP, AG-C, RR-G, and RR-N Zoning Districts: Animated signs Awning signs Canopy signs Flashing signs Portable signs Pylon signs Pennants Business and Village Signs. Signs in the V-C, V-HC, R-C and I-P Zoning District must meet the following standards. a. The total square footage of permanent sign area for each lot may not exceed one (1) square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building front. The maximum total combined area of a sign is two hundred (200) square feet. b. Each business or organization may display one temporary or portable sign (including sandwich-board signs) in addition to the area of permanent signs permitted. The temporary sign shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in size, and shall be permitted for a period of no more than thirty-four (34) consecutive days. No permit is required for one temporary or portable sign. c. The top of a monument sign may not exceed eight (8) feet above the average grade. Any sign over six (6) square feet must be setback at least ten (10) feet from any property line. In no case may any part of a sign be closer than two (2) feet to a vertical line drawn at the property line.Shopping Center Signs. 6 | P a g e Shopping Center Signs. a. Shopping Centers or buildings containing more than one (1) tenant are allowed one (1) monument sign which may contain the names of all tenants in the project. Individual tenants may be identified by individual signs attached to the building. The total square footage of sign area may not exceed the limits set forth in this Section as determined by the Base Zoning District in which the property is located. b. Signs must not project from a building or structure to any point within two (2) feet of a line drawn perpendicularly upward from a curb line. A projecting sign must be a minimum of nine (9) feet above the sidewalk or the ground level. All projecting signs that require a permit must be constructed entirely of fire-resistant material. Off-Premises Signs. a. Up to two multi-tenant off-premises signs (one for each roadway direction) may be permitted near the intersections of Olinda Trail North and TH 97, Oakhill Road North and TH 97, Manning Trail North and TH 97, TH 95 and TH 97, and Oakhill Road North and TH 95, within the V-C and V-HC Zoning Districts. The sign may be a monument sign or freestanding directional sign. b. A Conditional Use Permit is required for any off-premises sign. When the applicant is any person other than the owner of the property, the owner of the property must also sign the application. The application must contain the information contained in Section 153.500 of this UDC, and the following additional information: Name, address and telephone number of the property owner, sign owner, and erector. Proposed location of the sign structure, including property identification number and address. Scaled drawing showing the position of the sign structure in relation to the property lines, nearest buildings, structures, public streets, and rights-of-way. Plans, specifications, materials, and method of construction or attachment to the ground or a structure, including all dimensions, all construction materials, a description of al light sources, wattage, types and color of lights, and details of light shields. Any electrical permit required for the sign. If the sign is proposed within the right-of-way of a state or county highway, the applicant must obtain any required permits and provide a copy of the approved permit to the City. Other information as required by the City. 7 | P a g e c. Off-premise signs must comply with the requirements and standards stated within Section 153.400.040. d. In addition to the above application, an agreement must be entered into with the city which will authorize and direct the city to remove, at the expense of the owner, the sign and sign structure, where maintenance is required, but has not been furnished. The agreement will stipulate the terms under which removal may be taken and will include a required hearing and 10-day notice that clearly specifies the maintenance required by the City. ANALYSIS Staff Analysis Staff believes that the proposed changes will maintain the rural character of the City while allowing for historical accuracy in the use of pylon/pedestal signs. RECOMMENDATION After holding the public hearing, the Planning Commission can do one of the following: 1. Recommend approval, with or without conditions 2. Recommend denial, with findings 3. Table the request for further review/study Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the request for UDC amendment to Section 153.400.100 regarding pylon/pedestal signs presented in the attached ordinance. Attachments A. Draft Ordinance 2023-02 B. Unified Development Code Section 153.400.100 Signs C. Zoning Map – City of Scandia Page 1 of 3 CITY OF SCANDIA ORDNANCE NO.: 2023-02 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCANDIA UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE CHAPTER 153.400.100 REGARDING PYLON/PEDESTAL SIGNS The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota hereby ordains: Section 1 Amendment. The City of Scandia Unified Development Code (“Development Code”, or “Code”), Chapter 153.400.100 Signs, shall be amended by deleting the stricken text and add the underlined text as follows: Subd. 2. Applicability. The regulations contained herein do not apply to signs painted, attached by adhesive or otherwise attached directly to or visible through windows and glass portions of doors. Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided in this UDC, no sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt or relocated until an Administrative Permit or Conditional Use Permit as may be required for the sign has been issued. Application for the applicable permit shall be accompanied by the established fee. General Standards. a. Signs located in the V-N, V-C, V-HC and R-C Zoning Districts must be consistent with Section [153.400.040]. b. Pylon/pedestal signs are prohibited in all districts, with the following exceptions: i. Motor Vehicle Service Station uses in all districts ii. Uses where a pylon/pedestal sign is considered historically accurate or appropriate based on the City’s Architectural Design Guidelines c. No sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape, movement, color or any other characteristic, interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign or signal or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard; nor shall signs be permitted which would otherwise interfere with traffic control. d. All signs, other than public utility warning signs, are prohibited within a public right-of-way. e. When permitted, backlit or illuminated signs must be diffused or indirect so as not to direct rays of light onto any public right-of-way or adjacent residential property. No backlit or illuminated signs or their support structures may be located closer than twenty-five (25) feet to any roadway surface or closer than ten (10) feet to a road right-of-way line, notwithstanding more restrictive portions of this Section. Page 2 of 3 f. LED (light-emitting diode) luminaires, or other energy-saving luminaires, may be used in backlit signs, illuminated signs or other signs permitted by this ordinance. g. Flashing signs and animated signs (also called Dynamic Display signs) are prohibited. h. Signs giving off intermittent, rotating, or direct light, which may be confused with traffic, aviation, or emergency signaling, are prohibited. i. One (1) wall sign is allowed for each street frontage on a building for each use located within such building. The maximum total area of all wall signs affixed to a building wall is twenty percent (20%) of the total area of that wall. No individual wall sign shall exceed one hundred and fifty (150) square feet. j. A wall sign must not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall to which the sign is affixed. Wall mounted signs must not exceed the roof line on any building. k. The City Council may approve the placement of murals on building walls that exceed the standards for wall signs. Signs must not be painted on a fence, tree, or other object in any district. Roof signs are prohibited in all Zoning Districts. All signs and displays using electric power must have a cutoff switch on the outside of the sign and on the outside of the building or structure to which the sign is attached. Multi-faced signs must not exceed two (2) times the allowed square footage of single faced signs. Except for more restrictive parts of this Section, no sign that exceeds one hundred (100) square feet in area shall be erected or maintained: 1. Which would prevent any traveler on any road from obtaining a clear view of approaching vehicles on the same road for a distance of five hundred (500) feet. 2. Which would be closer than one thousand three hundred fifty (1,350) feet to a national, state or local park, or historic site. 3. Which would obstruct more than fifty (50) percent of the view of a lake, river, rocks, wooded, area, stream or other point of natural and scenic beauty. 4. Any sign that requires a permit, but no permit has been issued, must be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or Page 3 of 3 person having the beneficial use of the building, or land upon which the sign may be found within thirty (30) days after written notice from the Zoning Administrator. Any sign which is abandoned or becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises or endangers the public safety, must be taken down and removed or structurally improved by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure or land upon which the sign is located within ten (10) days after written notification from the Zoning Administrator. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six (6) months after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void. Shopping Center Signs. a. Shopping Centers or buildings containing more than one (1) tenant are allowed one (1) monument sign which may contain the names of all tenants in the project. Individual tenants may be identified by individual signs attached to the building. The total square footage of sign area may not exceed the limits set forth in this Section as determined by the Base Zoning District in which the property is located. b. Signs must not project from a building or structure to any point within two (2) feet of a line drawn perpendicularly upward from a curb line. A projecting sign must be a minimum of nine (9) feet above the sidewalk or the ground level. All projecting signs that require a permit must be constructed entirely of fire-resistant material. Section 3 Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its adoption. Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia this 19 day of September, 2023. Christine Maefsky, Mayor ATTEST: Kyle Morell, City Administrator 6, 01 8.7 Legend 0 4,213 Feet This drawing is neither a legally recorded map nor a survey and is not intended to be used as one. This drawing is a compilation of records, information, and data located in various city, county, and state offices, and other sources affecting the area shown, and is to be used for reference purposes only. The City of Scandia is not responsible for any inaccuracies herein contained. 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