C. Chapter 20 Code Amendments (Signage)
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
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Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax 952.227.1110
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Phone: 952.227.1130
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WINI,ci ,chanhassen, mn.us
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM:
Bob Generous, Senior Planner
Sharmeen Al-Jaff, Senior Planner
DA TE:
o~
July 28, 2008
SUBJ:
City Code Amendment
Chapter 20, Zoning, Signage
BACKGROUND
In anticipation of the adoption of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, staff is preparing
an update of the City Code to coincide with its adoption. Staff has reviewed the
City Code and discovered issues, shortfalls and general updates, and prepared
amendments to the Code addressing these. These amendments were discussed at
the June 3, 2008 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission
unanimously recommended approval of the proposed code amendments at their
June 17 and July 15, 2008 public hearings.
The Planning Commission contemplated pylon signs in areas other than Highway
5 and recommended not to amend the ordinances at this time.
The intent of the work session is to review the proposed changes with the City
Council. Any modifications to these ordinance amendments directed by the City
Council will be made; and the amendments will be placed on the August 11, 2008
agenda for adoption.
At this time, staff will be focusing on issues related to Signage.
The text of all final ordinance amendments is shown in strike-through and bold
format.
DISCUSSION
TEMPORARY SIGNS
Issue: Due to the upcoming November Election, campaign signs will soon be
erected around the city. According to State Statute, campaign signs are of
noncommercial nature; therefore, they may not be regulated and are allowed
without a permit. However, often campaign signs are put up too early, placed in
the right-of-way or sight triangle, do not meet the required setback from a polling
place, or are placed on private property without permission. Staff has reviewed
the City's current campaign sign ordinance, Minnesota State Statutes 212B.045
and 212B.ll, and queried other cities. Based on that research staff is proposing
changes to the Campaign Sign ordinance that reflect Minnesota State Statutes and
the integrity of the community.
The City of Chanhassen · A growing community with clean lakes, quality schools, a Charming downtown, thriving businesses, winding trails, and beautiful parks. A great place to live, work, and play.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28, 2008
Page 2
State Statute
211B.045 Noncommercial Signs Exemption.
In any municipality, whether or not the municipality has an ordinance that regulates the size or
number of noncommercial signs, all noncommercial signs of any size may be posted in any
number from August 1 in a state general election year until ten days following the state general
election.
211B.ll
This section forbids erection of campaign signs before Election Day for display on Election Day
within 100 feet of polling place.
Proposed Change: Amend Section 20-1255 as shown below.
(1) Political campaign signs: Temporary political campaign signs are permitted according to the
following:
a. The sign must contain the name of the person responsible for such sign, and that person
shall be responsible for its removal.
b. Signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way, or within the sight triangle.
c. Shall comply with the fair campaign practices act contained the M.S. ch. 2118.045.
d. The city shall have the right to remove and destroy signs not conforming to this
subsection.
e. Permitted from August 1 in a state general election year until 1 0 days following the
state general election and thirteen (13) weeks prior to any special election until ten
(10) days following the special election.
f. No such sign shall be located within one hundred (100) feet of any polling site.
g. Sign shall be located on private property with permission of the property owner.
Issue: It is staff's intent to allow a 30-day banner or portable sign display period to coincide
with a grand opening in addition to the three 1 O-day display periods per calendar year. The
current ordinance states that a business may have a banner or portable sign for 30 days to
coincide with a grand opening or three occasions per year with a maximum 1 O-day display
period. This does not benefit a new
business opening in the community as
they must choose to have either a grand
opening sign or to advertise their
business/sale on three separate
occasions throughout the year. Staff
proposes clarification of the regulations
to provide these opportunities for
businesses to both advertise their
openings and promote sales or events
throughout the year.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28, 2008
Page 3
Issue: The intent of the temporary sign ordinance is to allow tenants equal opportunity to
advertise their name and service. However, in a multi-tenant building, when all of the tenants
apply for temporary signs at the same time, it can cause visual clutter on the site and be a
distraction to motorists. Staff is proposing to limit the number of portable and detached banner
signs for a multi-tenant building to one per entrance into the site.
Issue: The height of detached banners must also be addressed as some detached banners exceed
the height of the building. Staff is proposing to limit the display area and height of detached
banners similar to the requirements for portable signs.
The intent of the sign ordinance is to allow businesses an equal opportunity to advertise without
creating a cluttered environment. Based on the discussion at the Planning Commission work
session on June 3, 2008, it was concluded that feather signs as shown in the above photo would
not be permitted.
Proposed Change: Amend Section 20-1256 as shown below.
Sec. 20-1256. Permit for temporary signs, searchlights, banners, etc.
Temporary signs are permitted as follows:
1. Banners attached to the principal structure shall not exceed 140 square feet.
2. Detached banners shall not exceed 32 square feet and 6 feet in height.
3. ana Portable signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and 6 feet in height.
4. ana All temporary signage shall meet the following standards:
a. A 30-day display period to coincide with the grand opening of a business or a new
development (business park or shopping center), or a business may display a banner or
portable sign on three occasions per calendar year with a maximum ten day display
period for each occasion. which shall be in addition to Sec 20-1256 (4) (b) .
b. A business may display an attached or detached banner or portable sign on three
occasions per calendar year with a maximum ten-day display period for each
occasion.
dr-Messages must relate to on-premises products or services, or any noncommercial
message; and
d.e:-Banners must be located on the property affixed to a principal structure which is owned
or leased by the business which the sign is advertising. Nonprofit and governmental
event banners are excluded from this provision.
e.4Portable signs and detached banners shall not be located in the public right-of-way.
f. e-: Portable signs and detached banners are limited to the driveway entrance area; and
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28, 2008
Page 4
g. No more than one portable sign or detached banner shall be permitted per entrance
at any given time.
PERMANENT SIGNS
Issue: The current ordinance states that signage shall use individual dimension letters, at least
one-half inch in depth. Staffs intent was to require all wall signage to maintain these standards.
However, the literal translation of the current design standards for signage requires all lettering
to be individual dimension, a minimum V2-inch deep. This includes monument signs and multi-
tenant panel signs. Typically, the panel on a multi-tenant sign is v.\-inch thick. To comply with
the Y2-inch depth, this requires push-through letters.
Such lettering is much more costly to the applicant than
routing out the letters in the panel. The dimension
lettering is less visible at a distance on a monument sign
than it is on a wall sign due to the scale of the sign. Staff
proposes requiring dimension letters on a monument
sign for the name of the center or development only and
to permit the use of replaceable panels for tenant names.
15% Logo ~
20"10 L090~
~
25% Logo ~
Additionally, staff is has been working on providing
opportunities for businesses to display their logos,
company symbols and display messages in a reasonable
planner. Staffhad initially used a 30 percent sign area standard as part of the discussion for the
area to be permitted as logos or registered trademarks. Upon further review, staff recommended
a 20 percent standard would create a more proportionate sign and continue to make the
individual dimensioned lettering the dominate sign feature. However, the Planning Commission
reverted back to the original discussed size limitation and recommended that the logo may not
occupy more than 30 percent of the total sign area. Staff and the Planning Commission are
further recommending that the display area advertising services not occupy more than 20 percent
of the total sign area.
30% L090 ~..!'~
Proposed Change: Amend Section Sec. 20-1267. Uniformity of construction, design, etc., as
shown below:
1. All permanent signs shall be designed and constructed in a uniform manner and, to the extent
possible, as an integral part of the building's architecture. Multi-tenant commercial and
industrial buildings shall have uniform signage. When buildings or developments are
presented for site plan review, proposed signs for the development should shall be presented
concurrently for staff review. All planned centers and multi-tenant buildings shall submit a
comprehensive sign plan for approval by the Planning Commission and City Council.
a. All wall signage shall use individual dimensional letters, at least one-half inch in depth
deep. and logos Registered trademarks, company symbols, display messages (less
than 6 inches tall), pictorial presentations, illustrations, or decorations (anything
other than wording) and less than 20 percent of the total sign display area are
exempt from this requirement.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28,2008
Page 5
b. Wall signs shall be backlit if a wall sign is illuminated, and be architecturally compatible
with the building and other signage if in a multi-tenant building. Company symbols,
display messages, pictorial presentations, illustrations, or decorations (anything other
than '.'lording)
c. Company logos shall not occupy more than~ 30 percent of the sign display area.
2. All permanent monument or pylon signs shall be designed and constructed in a uniform
manner and, to the extent possible, as an integral part of the building's architecture.
Multi-tenant commercial and industrial buildings shall have uniform sign age. When
buildings or developments are presented for site plan review, proposed signs for the
development shall be presented concurrently for staff review. All planned centers and
multi-tenant buildings shall submit a comprehensive sign plan for approval by the
Planning Commission and City Council.
a. All center, development name or an individual tenant building signage on a
monument or pylon sign shall use individual dimension letters, at least one-half inch
deep.
b. Registered trademarks, company symbols, display messages (less than 6 inches tall),
pictorial presentations, illustrations, or decorations (anything other than wording)
and less than 20 percent of the total sign display area are exempt from this
requirement.
c. In multi-tenant buildings, tenant panels may be used and shall be exempt from the
individual dimension letter requirement.
d. Company logos shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the sign display area and
are exempt from this requirement.
Issue: Staffs intent is to allow for signage on buildings where individual entrances do not
front on a public street for single or multi-tenant buildings (see Figure 1).
The current ordinance prohibits wall signs adjoining a residential district unless there is an
intervening public street. Staff proposes that in circumstances where an intervening building
would serve as a screen for the signage to the residential properties, wall signage would be
permitted. This is true for all commercial and industrial zoning districts (see figure 2).
-=,";J-/...-- .....5
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Figure 1
Figure 2
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28,2008
Page 6
Issue: In calculating the total permitted square footage of a sign area, the total sign area figure
becomes redundant or misleading. Staff recommends deletion of the total permitted sign area.
The percentage section allows the sign to be proportionate to the wall. The one exception is the
size of signs on walls that exceed 4,500 square feet. Staff is recommending the maximum size of
the sign not exceed 275 square feet.
Proposed Change: Amend Sections 20-1302 (2), 20-1303 (3) and 20-1304 (3) as shown below.
Wall business signs.
(a) One wall business sign shall be permitted on the street frontage for each business
occupant within a building. In multi tenant buildings where individual entrances do not
front on a public street, a wall sign may be permitted on the entrance facade consistent
with the approved comprehensive sign plan.
(b) The sign may contain the name, and logo, company symbols, display messages,
pictorial presentations, illustrations, or decorations of the business only and shall
have a sign display area that is in compliance with the district standards. Wall business
signs shall not be mounted upon the wall of any building which faces any adjoining
residential district without an intervening building or fffiblie street. The total of all wall
mounted sign display areas for each business shall not exceed the square footage
established in the f-allowing table:
(c) The total of all wall mounted sign display areas for each business shall not exceed the
square footage established in the following table:
Maximum Percentage Wall Area in Square Feet Total Square Fottage
of Wall Area Of Signs
15% 0--600 9Q
13% 601--1,200 -lM
11% 1,201--1,800 -l-9&
9% 1,801--2,400 ~
7% 2,401--3,200 ~
5% 3,201--4,500 ~
3% not to exceed 275 Square Feet 4,500+ ~
Community Signs
Issue: The City desires to permit public entities the ability to provide public signs with motion
centers in order to promote community events and messages. The current regulations restrict the
ability to provide signage that would accomplish this.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28, 2008
Page 7
04. 4 "-- ~.- -~ -
Minnetonka: Total sign area: 7' x 10'6" = 73.5 sq ft, LED area: 3' x 7'6" = 22.5 sq ft or 30.5%.
Chaska: Total sign area: 7' x 16' = 112 sq ft, LED area: 1 '6" x 10" = 15 sq ft or 13%.
Purgatory Creek: Total sign area: 8'6" x 13' = 110.5 sq ft, LED area: 2'6" x 10' = 25 sq ft or
23%
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28,2008
Page 8
District 112: Total sign area: 9' x 20' = 180 sq ft, LED area: 2'6" x 11 '6" = 28.75 sq ft or 16%
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Potential City Center sign: Total area 6'6" x 10'7" = 68.8 sq ft, LED area 2'8" x 9'11" = 26.4 sq
ft.
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Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28, 2008
Page 9
CHANH SSEN HIGH SCHOOL
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Preliminary Chanhassen High School sign: Total area 8'8" x 10'0" = 86.6 sq ft, LED area 2'7" x
10' = 25.8 sq ft.
The intent of the proposed sign ordinance amendment is to permit local governmental units the
ability to provide messages regarding public events, notices or services. Stafflooked at the
various district regulations to verify that, except for the size of the electronic message area, the
sign would not be disproportionate to what is permitted for other property owners.' The use of
message centers is becoming more common as technology improves. In order to encourage
communication between governmental agencies, residents and businesses, it benefits the City to
permit governmental units to install such signage. Staff has visited existing public signage to
determine appropriate standards for such signage.
Proposed Change: Add Section 20-1302 (4)
Public/Community Signs on property owned or leased by a governmental unit and
operated by a governmental unit.
(a) One monument sign shall be permitted per site for each street frontage. Such sign
shall not exceed 64 square feet in display area nor be greater than eight feet in height.
(b) Electronic message center signs may be permitted as part of the sign display area. Such
sign does not require a conditional use permit.
(c) Electronic message center signs shall comply with the following standards:
1) Electronic message center space used on a sign shall not exceed a total of 40 square
feet.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
July 28, 2008
Page 10
2) No electronic message center sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape,
movement or color interferes with the proper functioning of a traffic sign, signal or
which otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.
3) Electronic message center displays shall not exceed 5,000 Nits between the hours of
civil sunrise and civil sunset and shall not exceed 500 Nits between the hours of civil
sunset and civil sunrise.
4) Electronic message center signs shall not cause direct glare nor become a distraction
due to excessive brightness.
5) The lamp wattage and luminance level in candles per square meter (Nits) shall be
provided at the time of permit application.
6) There shall be no electronic message center signs within 50 feet of a street
intersection (as measured from intersecting right-of-way lines) or within 125 feet of
a residential district, except where lighting for such sign is indirect or diffused and
in no way constitutes a traffic hazard.
7) The message displayed on electronic message center signs shall be depicted in one
statement and not a continuing sentence or flow of information. Flashing, scrolling,
special effects or animated scenes on electronic reader boards shall be prohibited. A
change in the message shall not occur less than every four seconds.
8) Electronic message center sign LED display use for signs within 500 feet of single-
family residential homes shall be limited to the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00
p.m.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff request that the City council review the proposed City Code amendments and provide
comments or direction.
g:\plan\city code\2008 code update\cc memo 7-28-08.doc