4a. Chapter 20 Code Amendment - EMC Signs
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952,227,1100
Fax: 952,227,1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952,227.1180
Fax: 952,227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952,227.1160
Fax: 952.227,1170
Finance
Phone: 952,227,1140
Fax: 952,227,1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952,227,1120
Fax: 952,227,1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952,227,1400
Fax: 952,227,1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952,227,1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952,227.1300
Fax: 952,227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952,227.1125
Fax: 952,227,1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
L/-
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM:
Angie Kairies, Planner I
DA TE:
o'k(V
August 10, 2009
SUBJ:
City Code Amendments to Chapter 20
Electronic Message Center (EMC) Signs
PROPOSED MOTION:
"Staff recommends that City Council adopt the proposed amendments to
Chapter 20 of the Chanhassen City Code as outlined in the staff report."
BACKGROUND
On April 7, 2009, staff presented the Planning Commission with issues and
concerns relating to electronic message center (EMC) signs including: scrolling,
color, animation, display area, and administrative approval versus conditional use
permit approval.
On May 25, 2009 staff presented the Planning Commission's feedback to the City
Council. On June 16,2009, the Planning Commission conducted a Public
Hearing and tabled this item, directing staff to re-evaluate the step format for the
allowed percentage an EMC may occupy of the total sign area.
On July 21,2009 staff presented the revised step format. The following is a
summary of the findings:
. Permit scrolling as a function of the sign
. Allow the use of multiple colors
. Continue to prohibit animation and special effects
. Increase the permitted electronic message center area
. Approve electronic message center signs administratively
. Permit scrolling as a function of Public/Community Signs
Staff also presented the Planning Commission with a revised definition of
Electronic Message Center Sign for informational purposes.
Chanhassen is a Community for Life. Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
June 22, 2009
Page 2 of 5
Sign, Electronic Message Center (EMC) means a sign or portion of a sign that displays
electronic, non-pictorial text information in which each alpha-numeric character or symbol
is defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light
emitting diodes (LED's), fiber optics, or other illumination devised within the display area.
The characters for the copy or script shall be only that available on a standard word
processing keyboard, and shall not include graphics, pictures, or other items. Electronic
changeable copy signs include computer programmable, microprocessor-controlled
electronic displays and messages that are projected onto buildings or other objects. Motor
fuel price signs are not considered to be EMC signs.
The above definition is included in the Amendment Ordinance for Chapter 1, General Provisons,
of the August 10, 2009 Council Packet.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION
On July 21,2009, the Planning Commission reviewed and voted 5-0 to recommend approval of
the ordinance amendment to Chapter 20.
The Planning Commission requested clarification of privately owned electronic message center
signs versus Community Signs which are owned or leased by a governmental agency. The City
Code provides specific standards for Public/Community signs.
The Planning Commission also discussed the existing signs which exceed the allowable EMC
area of the sign. The existing signs that do not conform to the standards are deemed legal non-
conforming signs, as they were permitted prior to the ordinance amendment.
Minutes from the July 21,2009 Planning Commission meeting are item 1a of the Council
Packet.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS (All new language is in bold, and deletions have
been struck through.)
Proposed Change: Amend Sec. 20-1259 (2) Prohibited signs to read as follow:
(2) Motion signs and flashing signs, except electronic message center signs, time and
temperature signs and barber poles, which may be permitted by conditional use permits (see
sections 20-231 through 20-237). and shall comply '.:'lith the following standards:
a) No electronic message center sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape,
movement or color interferes 'Nith the proper functioning of a traffic sign, sigHal or '.vhich
other.'lise constitutes a traffic hazard.
b) ElectroNic message center displays shall not exceed 5,000 Nits bet'Noen the hours of civil
sunrise and civil sunset and shall not exceed 500 Nits between the hours of civil sunset and
civil sunrise.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
June 22,2009
Page 3 of 5
c) Electronic message center signs shaJI not cause direct glare nor become a distraction due to
excessi'le brightness.
d) The lamp wattage and luminance le','el in candelas per square meter (Nits) shall be provided
at the time of permit applications.
e) There shall be no electronic message center signs in the front setback area within 50 feet of a
street intersection (as measured from intersecting right of way lines) or 'Nithin 125 feet of a
residential district, except where lighting for such sign is indirect or diffused and in no 'Nay
constitutes a traffic hazard.
f) Electronic and non electronic message center space used on a sign shall not exceed a total of
10 square feet or 25 percent of the allo"vable sign area, 'Nhichever is less. The message
displayed on electronio 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. .
g) Electronio message center signs shall not be located in agricultural or residential zoning
districts.
h) Electronic message center sign LED display use for signs v:ithin 500 feet of single family
residential homos shall be limited to the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Proposed Change: Add Sec. 20-1276 Electronic Message Center Signs.
Electronic message center (EMC) signs and time and temperature signs shall comply with
the following standards:
a) 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.
b) Electronic and non-electronic message center space used on a sign shall not exceed the
following display area:
EMC Dis lay
50%
45%
40%
c) 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.
d) Electronic message center signs shall not cause direct glare nor become a distraction
due to excessive brightness.
e) The lamp wattage and luminance level in candelas per square meter (Nits) shall be
provided at the time of permit applications.
f) There shall be no electronic message center signs in the front setback area within 50
feet of a street intersection (as measured from intersecting right-of-way lines) except
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
June 22, 2009
Page 4 of 5
where lighting for such sign is indirect or diffused and in no way constitutes a traffic
hazard.
g) There shall be no electronic message center signs within 125 feet of a residential district.
h) Flashing, special effects or animated scenes on electronic message center signs shall be
prohibited.
i) Electronic message center signs shall not be located in agricultural or residential zoning
districts.
j) Electronic message center sign 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.
Proposed Change: Eliminate the prohibition of scrolling from the Public/Community sign
section of the City Code, consistent with electronic message center signs (Sec 20-1276).
Amend Sec. 20-1302 (4)(c)(7)
(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 120 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.
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 flov.' of information. Flashing, scrolling,
special effects or animated scenes on electronic message center signs reader boards shall
be prohibited. ,^" chaflge in the message shall not occur less than every four secol'l.ds.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
June 22, 2009
Page 5 of 5
8) Electronic message center sign l:EI)...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 recommends the City Council adopt the following motion:
"The City Council adopts the proposed amendments to Chapter 20 of the Chanhassen City Code
as outlined in the staff report."
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Ordinance Amendment.
g:\plan\city code\2009 code amendments\signs\cc memo erne 8-1O-09.doc
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20
CHANHASSEN CITY CODE,
ZONING
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS:
Section 1. Section 20-1259 (2) of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is
hereby amended to read as follows:
(2) Motion signs and flashing signs, except electronic message center signs, time and
temperature signs and barber poles, which may be permitted by conditional use permits (see
sections 20-231 through 20-237). and shall comply with the follo'vYing standards:
a) No electronic message center sign may be erected that, by reason of position, shape,
movement or color interferes '.vith the proper functioning of a traffic sign, signal or 'Nhich
otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.
b) Electronic message center displays shall not exceed 5,000 Nits betv/een the flours of ci':il
sunrise and civil sunset and shall not exceed 500 Nits bet\veen the hours of ci'/il sunset
and ci'/il sunrise.
c) Electronic message center signs shall not cause direct glare nor become a distraction due
to excessive brightness.
d) The lamp wattage and luminance level in candelas per square meter (Nits) sRan be
provided at the time of pennit applications.
e) There shall be no electronic message center signs in the front setback area 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.
f) Electronic and non electronic message center space used on a sign shall not exceed a total
of 10 square feet or 25 percent of the aJlov:able sign area, '::hichever is less. The message
displayed on electronic message center signs shall be depicted in one statement and not a
continuing sentence or flO'.Y of information. Flashing, scrolling, special effects or
animated scenes on electronic reader boards shall be prohibited.
g) Electronic message center signs shall not be located in agricultural or residential zoning
districts.
h) Electronic message center sign LED display use for signs within 500 feet of single family
residential homes shall be limited to the flours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Section 2. The City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended by adding
a section to be numbered 20-1276, which shall read as follows:
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20-1276 Electronic message center signs.
Electronic message center (EMC) signs and time and temperature signs shall comply with
the following standards:
a) 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.
b) Electronic and non-electronic message center space used on a sign shall not exceed the
following display area:
EMC Dis lay
50%
45%
40%
c) 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.
d) Electronic message center signs shall not cause direct glare nor become a distraction
due to excessive brightness.
e) The lamp wattage and luminance level in candelas per square meter (Nits) shall be
provided at the time of permit applications.
f) There shall be no electronic message center signs in the front setback area within 50
feet of a street intersection (as measured from intersecting right-of-way lines) except
where lighting for such sign is indirect or diffused and in no way constitutes a traffic
hazard.
g) There shall be no electronic message center signs within 125 feet of a residential district.
h) Flashing, special effects or animated scenes on electronic message center signs shall be
prohibited.
i) Electronic message center signs shall not be located in agricultural or residential zoning
districts.
j) Electronic message center sign 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.
Section 3. Section 20-1302 (4) (c) 7 and 8 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen,
Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows:
20-1302 (4) (c) 7 and 8 Public/Community Signs on property owned or leased by a governmental
unit and operated by a governmental unit.
7) The message displayed on electronic message center signs shall be depicted ifl one
statement and not a continuing sentence or flO'N of information. Flashing, scrolling,
special effects or animated scenes on electronic message center signs reader boards shall
be prohibited. .A~ change in the message shall not occur less than every four seconds.
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8) Electronic message center sign bIID-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.
Section 4. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _ day of _,2009, by the City Council ofthe City
of Chanhassen, Minnesota
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on )
g:\plan\city code\2009 code arnendments\arnendrnent ordinance ch 20 erne signs.doc
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