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6. Staff Report-Sign Ordinance Staff Report Date of Meeting: August 10, 2015 To: Economic Development Authority From: Kristina Handt, Executive Director Re: Sign Ordinance Background: In June after the EDA had heard from businesses in meetings and through surveys that the sign ordinance has problems, the EDA recommended some changes to the Planning Commission. These changes included deleting the prohibition on banners and pennants in the guidelines, portable signs (even those not attached to a building or the ground) should be allowed up to 32 square feet, temporary signs should not require a permit and be allowed for 135 sign days in a year, lighting standards should remain as in the ordinance but the guidelines should be amended to delete all prohibitions expect for flashing, blinking lights and raceway lights (both on storefronts and in general), or raceway lights could have time limits imposed to prevent quick flashing of messages and changes to community event signs to allow for more signs and a longer duration. The Planning Commission has twice discussed changes to the sign ordinance. There remains a lack of support for temporary signs for business purposes, other than agricultural businesses and community event signs. President Swanson attended the Aug 4th Planning Commission meeting and agreed to have the EDA look at the ordinance and suggest specific language. Issue: What language should the EDA recommend to the Planning Commission regarding business signage? Should businesses be allowed temporary banners or signs to promote a sale or activity? Should temporary signs be required to comply with the Scandia Architectural Guidelines? Proposal Details: Included in your packet is the latest draft ordinance. First issue for discussion is on page 4, Sec. (N)2. Should temporary signs be required to comply with the Architectural Guidelines? I argued no since they are temporary in nature. Also, depending on how colors are limited in the guidelines, some temporary signs that have been used in the City for multiple years would no longer be permitted. For example, temporary signs for the MN Ironman Bike Ride have a white background with black and red logo and lettering. The use of a white background is discouraged in the Guidelines as currently drafted. See page 3 of the Guidelines included in your packet. Also, Vinterfest banners have tied into the overall marketing and promotional material. Would they be consistent with the Guidelines? Not sure what Scandinavian blues are. Sue Rodjso has argued that the Lions portable sign does not meet the Guidelines. Would we prohibit that sign going forward? Are there other temporary signs you can think of that would not meet the guidelines? Second issue, should businesses be allowed banners and temporary signs? See section (6) 4.and 5. on page 6 of the ordinance. It would seem to me if we’re allowing ag producers to put up three signs, we should allow brick and mortar storefronts to also use temporary signs. Should it be limited to one per lot frontage or one per tenant? Should the temporary signs conform to the Guidelines, see page 14 of the Guidelines? I again would argue no due to their temporary nature. If a business is advertising the sale of an item, service or promotion that is not historic or have subdued colors included in the current logo and promotion of the item or activity, is it necessary to make them change their marketing materials? Think about beer and wine sales, pizza sales, banners advertising bands at Meisters or Chikos, etc. Another issue brought up by a commissioner was to distinguish between business banners attached to a building and those on temporary stakes closer to the road. However, there was no determination of how or why these would be treated differently. Is it necessary for the banner to be attached to the building? This certainly works in the VMU A district where there are no lot line setbacks and businesses are right on the road, however it would not work as well in the VMU B district (think of the Plaza and Prairie Resto) where the buildings are set back further from the road.