4.d) Draft Ordinance No 165 Sign Ord with redlinesOrdinance No. 165 Page 1 of 10
CITY OF SCANDIA
ORDINANCE NO. 165
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 122, THE SCANDIA DEVELOPMENT CODE,
CHAPTER 1, SECTION 4.2 and CHAPTER 2, SECTION 4.30 REGARDING
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR SIGNS
The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota hereby ordains:
Section 1. Amendment. Ordinance No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code
(“Development Code” or “Code”), Chapter One, Section 4.2, Definitions, shall be amended to
add the following definitions:
Abandoned Sign: A sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business,
tenant, service, owner, product or activity, and/or for which no legal owner can be
found.Any sign and/or its supporting sign structure which remains without a message or
whose display surface remains blank for a period of one (1) year or more; or any sign
which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies; or any sign whose
permit has expired shall be deemed to have been abandoned. Signs applicable to a use
temporarily suspended because of a change in ownership or management of such use
shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of one (1)
year or more. Any sign remaining after demolition of a principal structure shall be
deemed to be abandoned. Signs which are present because of being legally established
nonconforming signs or signs which have required a conditional use permit or a variance
shall also be subject to the definition of abandoned sign.
Banner: A temporary sign made of lightweight fabric or similar material with no
enclosing framework that is mounted to a pole or a building at one or more edges.
National flags, state or municipal flags or the official flag of any institution organization
shall not be considered a banner if displayed for noncommercial purposes.
Height of sign: the height of the sign shall be computed as the vertical distance measured
from the base of the sign at grade to the top of the highest attached component of the
sign.
Community Event: A community event is any planned indoor or outdoor gathering that is
held on public property or streets, non-profit organization property, or non-residential
private property that can reasonably be expected to cause a public gathering that is not
part of the normal course of business at that location. Community events typically occur
for a limited or fixed duration. Examples of these events include, but are not limited to
pre-planned marches, parades, block parties, and concert events.
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Pennant: Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material designed to move in the wind,
whether containing a message or not.
Sign: Any letter, word or symbol, poster, picture, statuary, reading matter or
representation in the nature of advertisement, announcement, message or visual
communication, whether painted, posted, printed, affixed or constructed, including all
associated brackets, braces, supports, wires and structures, which is displayed for
information al or communicative purposes.
Sign, Animated (also called Dynamic Display signs): Any characteristics of a sign that
appear to have movement or that appear to change, caused by any method other than
physically removing and replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent
movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component of
the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the
sign fact to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the
sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing,
blinking or animated display, and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED
lights manipulated through digital input, “digital ink,” or any other method or technology
that allows the sign face to represent a series of images or displays.
Sign, Awning: A building sign or graphic printed on or in some fashion attached directly
to the awning material.
Sign, Back-lit or Illuminated: A sign which contains an element designed to emanate
artificial light internally or externally.
Sign, Freestanding: A sign which has a supporting framework that is placed on, or
anchored in, the ground and which is independent from any building or other structure.
Sign, Monument: Any freestanding sign with its sign face mounted on the ground or
mounted on a base at least as wide as the sign.
Sign, Off-Premises: A sign that directs attention to a use not located upon the premises
where the sign is located or to which it is attached.
Sign, Portable Sign: A sign, with or without copy and/or graphics, that is constructed or
placed upon a chassis with wheels , legs, or skids in order to be movable from one
location to another, such as may be mounted on an automobile or trailer. This definition
does not include permanent identification signs painted directly on vehicles, principally
used for transportation, but does include such signs if the vehicles are not used for
transportation purposes but are intended as a structure to support a sign.
Sign, Pylon/Pedestal: A permanent, freestanding sign mounted on one (1) central shaft or
post that is solidly affixed to the ground.
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Sign, Roof: Any sign erected and construction wholly on and above the roof of a
building, supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest
portion of the roof.
Sign, Sandwich-Board: A sign composed of two boards and being either carried by a
person, with one board in front and one behind, creating a "sandwich" effect; or set up in
a triangle shape, hinged along the top.
Sign, Temporary: A sign designed or intended to be displayed for a short period of time
and that is not permanently installed.
Sign, Wall: a Building sign attached parallel to, but within two (2) feet of a wall, painted
on the wall surface, or erected an confined within the limits of an outside wall of any
building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays
only one (1) sign surface.
Section 2. Amendment. Ordinance No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code
(“Development Code”, or “Code”), Chapter Two, Section 3.13, Signs, shall be amended to read
as follows:
3.13 Signs
(1) 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.
(2) Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided in this Development Code, 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 a permit shall be
accompanied by the established fee.
No permit will be required under this Development Code for the following signs:
(A) Real estate sale sSigns under nine (9)up to ten (10) square feet in area.
(A) Po
(B) Noncommercial Signs that comply with Minnesota Statutes 211B.045 or successor
statutes.
(C) litical signs. Signs may be 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.
(D) Signs may be erected on parcels that are currently under construction for single-family
or multiple-family residences. The plat of the development shall be recorded with the
Washington County Recorder prior to the erection of a sign. Signs are subject to the
following standards.
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1. Such signs shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area.
2. Only one (1) such sign shall be erected on each road frontage with a maximum of
three (3) such signs per project.
3. Such signs shall be removed when the project is eighty percent (80%) completed,
sold or leased.
4. Such sign shall be located on the property which is for sale. Off-site development
project signs are prohibited.
5. One sign shall be allowed for each street entrance to a parcel currently under
construction. The sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet per surface
and no sign shall have more than two surfaces. The sign shall not exceed eight
(8) feet in height.
(B)
Warning signs that do not exceed nine (9) square feet in area.
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.
(2)(3) Signs by Conditional Use Permit. Where a use is permitted in a zoning
district by Conditional Use Permit, the sign for that use shall require a Conditional Use Permit
unless the sign is otherwise provided for in this Chapter.
(3)(4) General Standards.
(A) Signs shall located in the Village Mixed Use (VMU A and B),Village Neighborhood
(VN), and Rural Commercial (R COMM) Districts shall be reviewed for compatibility
with the Scandia Architectural Design Guidelines, as applicable.
(B) 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.
(C) All signs, other than public utility warning signs, are prohibited within a public right
of way.
(D) Political signs of any size and number are allowed in any district, on private property,
with the consent of the owner of the property. Such signs may be posted from forty-six
(46) days prior to the election and shall be removed ten (10) days after the election. In
a state general election year, such signs may be posted from forty-six (46) days prior
to the state primary until ten (10) days following the state general election.
(E) IBacklit or lilluminated signs shall be diffused or indirect so as not to direct rays of
lighting onto any public right-of-way. No backlit/ illuminated signs or their support
structures shall be located closer than twenty five (25) feet to any roadway surface or
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closer than ten (10) feet to a road right of way line, notwithstanding more restrictive
portions of this section.
(D)
(F)(E) Flashing signs and animated signs (also called Dynamic Display
signs) shall be prohibited. Signs giving off intermittent, rotating, or direct light, which
may be confused with traffic, aviation, or emergency signaling, are also prohibited.
(G) Real estate sales signs may be placed in any yard providing such signs are not closer
than 10 feet to any property line.
(H) Real estate development project sales signs may be erected for the purpose of selling
or promoting a single family or multiple family residential project. The plat of the
development shall be recorded with the Washington County Recorder prior to the
erection of a sign. Signs are subject to the following standards.
(I) Such signs shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area.
(J) Only one (1) such sign shall be erected on each road frontage with a maximum of
three (3) such signs per project.
(K) Such signs shall be removed when the project is eighty percent (80%) completed, sold
or leased.
(L) Such sign shall be located on the property which is for sale. Off-site development
project signs are prohibited.
One development identification sign shall be allowed for
each street entrance to a development. The sign shall not
exceed thirty-two (32) square feet per surface and no sign
shall have more than two surfaces. The sign shall not exceed
eight (8) feet in height.
(F) Signs shall not be painted directly on the outside wall of a building.One (1) wall sign
shall be allowed for each street frontage on a building for each use located within such
building. The total area of all wall signs affixed to a building wall shall not exceed
twenty percent (20%) of the total area of that wall. No individual wall sign shall
exceed one hundred and fifty (150) square feet.
A wall sign shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall to which
the sign is to be affixed. Wall mounted signs shall not exceed the roof line on any
building. Wall signs located in the Village Mixed Use (VMU A and B), Village
Neighborhood (VN), and Rural Commercial (R COMM) Districts shall be reviewed
for compatibility with the Scandia Architectural Design Guidelines.
The City Council may approve the placement of murals on building walls that exceed
the standards for wall signs.
(M)(G) Signs shall not be painted on a fence, tree, stone or other similar
object in any district.
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(N)(H) Roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
(O)(I) All signs and displays using electric power shall 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. No electrically illuminated signs shall be permitted in the Agriculture
District- Core ( AG-C), Agriculture Preserves (AP), General Rural (GR) and Village
Neighborhood (VN) districts.
(P) Advertising signs are prohibited in all districts except for the following signs:
Signs advertising the sale of agricultural produce grown on the advertiser’s property
shall be permitted after issuance of an Administrative Permit. No more than three
signs advertising the same location are permitted. No more than 135 sign days (each
day that one sign is utilized) shall be allowed in one year. All signs shall be installed
on posts placed in the ground. No portable signs shall be permitted. No sign shall
exceed ten (10) square feet in area.
Signs advertising a community event shall be permitted after issuance of an
Administrative Permit for a period of no more than ten days preceding the event and
ending on the day after the event. No more than three signs advertising the same event
are permitted.
Signs advertising a garage, lawn or similar sale occurring on a property in agricultural
or residential use shall be permitted after issuance of an Administrative Permit. Such
signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet and shall be removed not later than four (4)
days after it is erected.
A temporary off-site real estate open house directional sign advertising the sale of
residential real property is allowed with the consent of the property owner on whose
property the sign is placed. Such sign shall be promptly removed at the completion of
the open house and no later than 6:00 p.m. on the same day.
Temporary off-site real estate directional signs are allowed, but shall be limited to two
square feet and shall include the name and telephone number of the person or
company responsible for the signs. Such signs shall be promptly removed upon the
sale of the property. Temporary “Parade of Homes” signs shall be allowed only during
those periods in each year when the “Parade of Homes” event is being conducted.
Such signs shall be erected not earlier than the first day of such event and shall be
removed on the final day of such event.
(Q)(J) Multi-faced signs shall not exceed two (2) times the allowed square
footage of single faced signs.
(R)(K) Except for more restrictive parts of this Chapter, 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.
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3. Which would partly or totally 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.
(S)(L) Any sign for which no permit has been issued shall 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.
(T)(M) Any sign which is abandoned or becomes structurally unsafe or
endangers the safety of a building or premises or endangers the public safety, shall 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.
(U)(N) 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.
(4)(5) Signs in Agriculture – Core (AG-C), Agriculture Preserves (AP), General
Rural (GR) and Village Neighborhood (VN) Districts. Identification, real estate sales,
development identification, advertising signs as permitted in Section 9.13(4)(L) and political
signs are the only signs permitted in agricultural and residential districts.
(A) The maximum area permitted for a single sign shall be 10 square feet per surface. The
total area of all signs permitted per parcel is 30 square feet.
(B) No sign shall be so constructed as to have more than two (2) surfaces.
(A)(C) Noncommercial signs shall conform to Minnesota Statutes
211B.045.
(B) One (1) of each of the permitted type signs and one (1) political sign for each
candidate will be permitted.
(C) No sign shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in size.
(D) The top of the display shall not exceed ten (10) feet above grade.
(E) Any sign over two (2) square feet shall 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.
(F) The following types of signs are not permitted in the AG C, AP, GR and VN Districts:
1. Animated signs
2. Awning signs
3. Canopy signs
4. Flashing signs
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5. Portable signs
6. Pylon signs
7. Pennants
1.
(5)(6) Signs in Village Mixed Use - A (VMU-A), Village Mixed Use – B (VMU-
B), Rural Commercial (R-COMM) and Industrial Park (IP) districts.
(A) Business, political, advertising signs as permitted in Section 9.13(4)(L), development
identification and real estate sales signs are permitted. Noncommercial signs shall
conform to Minnesota Statutes 211B.045.
(A)
(B) Number of each type of sign allowed per lot frontage:
One (1) real estate sales sign;
One (1) political sign for each candidate; and
One (1) freestanding monument business sign and one (1) business sign attached to
the building.
(B) Except as provided herein, tThe total square footage of permanent sign area for each
lot shall not exceed one (1) square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building
front. No sign shall exceed two hundred (200) square feet in area.
(C) Each lot 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.Each real estate sales sign or political sign shall
not exceed thirty five (35) square feet in area.
(C)
(D) The top of a monument sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet above the average grade.
(E) Any sign over six (6) square feet shall be setback at least ten (10) feet from any
property line. In no case shall any part of a sign be closer than two (2) feet to a vertical
line drawn at the property line.
(6)(7) 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 businessestenants in the project.
Individual businessestenants may be identified by way of signs attached to the
building. The total square footage of sign area may not exceed the limits set forth in
Section 6(CB) above.
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(B) Signs shall in no case project from a building or structure to any point within two (2)
feet of a line drawn perpendicularly upward from a curb line. No projecting sign shall
be less than nine (9) feet above the sidewalk or the ground level. All projecting signs
for which a permit is required shall be constructed entirely of fire resistant material.
(8) Off-Premises Signs
(A) Up to two multi-tenant off-premises signs (one for each roadway direction) may be
permitted per each intersection of State or County Highways within the VMU A and
VMU B Districts Scandia. The sign may be a monument sign or directional sign.
(B) The City Council shall grant a Conditional Use Permit for any off-premises sign.
When the applicant is any person other than the owner of the property, the owner of
the property shall also sign the application. The application shall contain the
following information:
1. Name, address and telephone number of the property owner, sign owner, and
erector.
2. Proposed location of the sign structure, including property identification number
and address.
3. Scaled drawing showing the position of the sign structure in relation to the
property lines, nearest buildings, structures, public streets, and rights-of-way.
4. 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.
5. Any electrical permit required for the sign.
6. If the sign is proposed within the right-of-way of a state or county highway, the
applicant shall obtain any required permits and provide a copy of the approved
permit to the City.
7. Other information as required by the city.
(C) In addition to the above application, an agreement must be entered into with the city
which will authorize and direct the city to:
1. Remove at the expense of the owner, the sign and sign structure, where
maintenance is required, but not furnished after a hearing and a 10-day notice to
the owner specifying the maintenance required by the city.
(7) Home Occupations. Any home occupation permitted under Section 4.10 of this Chapter shall
be allowed a sign no greater than nine (9) square feet in size.
Section 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its adoption and
publication according to law.
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Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia this ________, 2015.
Randall Simonson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kristina Handt, Administrator/Clerk