1f-3. Code Amendment-Sign Illumination0
CITY OF
CAANHASSEN
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
MEMORANDUM
TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM: Sharmeen Al -Jaff, Senior Planner
DATE: June 25, 2012 U$� -
SUBJ: City Code Amendment
Chapter 20, Sign Illumination
1-C 3
PROPOSED MOTION:
"The City Council approves the attached ordinance amending Chapter 20 of the
Chanhassen City Code Regarding Sign illumination."
City Council approval requires a majority vote of City Council present.
BACKGROUND
At their June 5, 2012 meeting, the Planning Commission discussed proposed changes
to the sign ordinance. The commission reviewed the final changes and held a public
hearing. The Commission voted all in favor 6 to 0 for the proposed changes and the
ordinance amendment.
Public Works
7901 Park Place
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
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
ATTACHMENT
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
1. Planning Commission Staff Report dated June 5, 2012.
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
g: \plan \city code \2012\2012 -02 chapter 20 non - conforming lots, sign illumination, temporary signs, and puds \c. exposed neon \cc
Planning &
cover memo 6- 25- 12.doe
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
7901 Park Place
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
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
0
MEMORANDUM
Phone: 952.227.1120
TO: Planning Commission
CITY OF
illuminated, and be architecturally compatible with the building and other signage if
CHMNSFN
FROM: Sharmeen Al -Jaff, Senior Planner
7700 Market Boulevard
DATE: June 5, 2012 4�
PO Box 147
The intent of requiring backlit signs is to insure the sign does not emit glare.
Chanhassen, MN 55317
SUBJ City Code Amendment — Sign Illumination
Chapter 20, Sec. 20 -1267. - Uniformity of construction, design, etc.
Administration
to the sign which would reduce the brightness and glare. Furthermore, the technology
Phone: 952.227.1100
of LED signs uses the LED light bulbs to illuminate the sign. These bulbs are
Fax: 952.227.1110
BACKGROUND
Building Inspections
On February 21, and April 3, 2012, staff presented an issue paper addressing backlit
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.22
signs verses exposed neon. Staff explained that the intent of the ordinance requiring
backlit signs is to prevent glare. The Planning Commission was receptive to the idea
Engineering
of allowing signage that promotes creativity in design but requested additional
Phone: 952.227.1160
information on how to control glare. Staff proposed limiting the luminous not to
Fax: 952.227.1170
exceed 5,000 Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset, and not to
exceed 500 Nits between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise.
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
ANALYSIS
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Section 20 -1267 of the zoning ordinance addresses the construction and design of
Phone: 952.227.1120
signs. Subsection (a)(2) states "Wall signs shall be backlit if a wall sign is
Fax: 952.227.1110
illuminated, and be architecturally compatible with the building and other signage if
Fax: 952.227.1310
in a multi - tenant building."
Recreation Center
signs have less luminous intensity than LED. To insure that exposed neon does not
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227 Boulevard
The intent of requiring backlit signs is to insure the sign does not emit glare.
Fax: 952.227.1404
However, limiting the illumination to backlit only limits the design and creativity.
The glare of exposed neon can be easily controlled by reducing the transformer power
Planning &
to the sign which would reduce the brightness and glare. Furthermore, the technology
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.2271130
of LED signs uses the LED light bulbs to illuminate the sign. These bulbs are
Fax: 952.227.1110
exposed light sources as opposed to backlighting.
Public Works
The current ordinance regulating LED signs limits displays not to exceed 5,000 Nits
7901 Park Place
between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset, and not exceed 500 Nits between
Phone: 952.227.1300
the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise. The intensity of the luminous is
Fax: 952.227.1310
automatically regulated through transformers that control the voltage output. Neon
signs have less luminous intensity than LED. To insure that exposed neon does not
Senior Center
emit glare, staff is proposing requiring limiting the luminous not to exceed 5,000 Nits
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset, and not to exceed 500 Nits
between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise. This will be in keeping with
Web Site
existing standards regulating signs in the city.
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
3c
SCANNED
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Todayand Planning for Tomorrow
Planning Commission
City Code Amendment — Sign Illumination
June 5, 2012
Page 2
The amended section will read "Subsection (a)(2) Wall signs shall be either illuminated or
non - illuminated and shall meet the following criteria:
a. Backlit or exposed lighting shall if a wa4i sig is illuminated, and be architecturally
compatible with the building and other signage if in a multi- tenant building.
b. If a neon sign is illuminated by exposed neon or LED, the luminous shall not to
exceed 5,000 Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset, and not to
exceed 500 Nits between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise.
c. If a sign is non - illuminated, downcast decorative lighting compatible with the
building architecture may be used."
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the attached ordinance
amending Chapter 20 Zoning of the Chanhassen City Code pertaining to illuminated signs.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance Amending Chapter 20, Zoning, Section 20 -1267, Subsection (a)(2).
g: \plan \city code\2012 \exposed neon \sign illumination ordinance amendment report.doc
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20
CHANHASSEN CITY CODE, ZONING,
CONCERNING SIGN ILLUMINATION
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS:
Section 1 . The Chanhassen City Code is amended by amending section 20 -1267
subsection (a)(2) to read as follows:
(2) Wall signs shall be either illuminated or non illuminated and shall meet the following
criteria:
a. Backlit or exposed lighting shall if a wall sign is illu minated, an d be architecturally
compatible with the building and other signage if in a multi - tenant building.
b. If a neon sign is illuminated by exposed neon or LED, the luminous shall not to
exceed 5,000 Nits between the hours of civil sunrise and civil sunset and not to
exceed 500 Nits between the hours of civil sunset and civil sunrise.
c. If a sign is non - illuminated, downcast decorative lighting compatible with the
building architecture may be used.
Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2012, by the City Council of the City
of Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on