3c. City Code Amendment - Chapter 20 - 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
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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
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Planning Commission
FROM:
Angie Kairies, Planner I
DATE:
October 6, 2009
SUBJ:
City Code Amendment
Chapter 20, Zoning, Signs
PROPOSED MOTION:
"The Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends that City Council
adopt the proposed amendments to Chapter 20 of the Chanhassen City Code
as outlined in the staff report."
BACKGROUND
On September 15, 2009, staff presented the Planning Commission with issues and
concerns relating to clarification of logos on wall signs and temporary signs.
On September 28,2009 Staff presented the issues and Planning Commission's
feedback to the City Council. The Council did not present any changes to the
proposed amendments at such time.
Staff has prepared a strike-through (delete) and bold (add) format to review the
proposed changes.
ANAYLSIS
SIGNAGE
In April 2008, the City's sign ordinance was updated to permit logos up to 30% of
the sign display area, and provide an exemption to the individual dimension letter
requirement for a portion of a sign. When the amended sign ordinance was put
into practice, it came to staff's attention that the language regarding the dimension
letter exemption for logos should be clarified for easier interpretation.
Additionally, due to the current economic downturn, businesses are requesting
more temporary signs to advertise their goods and services. Staff is in support of
one additional sign per calendar year. Staff is also proposing language to clarify
the permitted location of detached and attached temporary signs.
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Planning Commission
October 6, 2009
Page 2
Permanent Signs
1. ISSUE: The current sign ordinance
provides an exemption to the
individual dimension letter
requirement for company logos and
display messages, if it occupies 20%
of the sign display area or less and
the letters are not more than 6 inches
in height.
Registered trademarks are also part
of this exemption; however, this can
be mistaken for the company logo.
Therefore, staff is proposing to
eliminate Registered Trademarks.
Logos are addressed separately.
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2. ISSUE: The intent of the amended ordinance is to exempt all logos from the dimension
letter requirement; it is clear for Pylon and Monument signs, but not as clear for wall signs.
Staff is proposing to add language to clarify the intent ofthe ordinance.
PROPOSED CHANGE: Amend Section 20-1267 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 ofthe 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
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 dimension letters, at least one-half inch deep.
--_.- --- -. - --- - 1
Registered trademl!'!f~, Company symbols, display messages (less than not g!:~a~e.r:
lh.!rl 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 the individual dimension letter requirement.
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.
c. Company logos shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the sign display area;and
,.....-.___ _a. - _ - - - -.....
are exemp.t from the individual dimension !ett~r r~.9l!i~I!t;1
Planning Commission
October 6,2009
Page 3
Temporary Signs
1. ISSUE: Due to economic times, businesses are requesting more temporary signs to advertise
their goods and services. Currently the sign ordinance permits three temporary signs per
year; staff is recommending increasing the number of temporary signs to four signs per year.
Staff is also proposing language to clarify the permitted location of detached and attached
temporary signs.
PROPOSED CHANGE: Amend Section 20-1256 as shown below:
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. Portable signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and 6 feet in height.
4. 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 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 up to
. occasions per calendar year with a maximum ten-day display period for each
occaSIOn.
c. Messages must relate to on-premises products or services, or any noncommercial
message.
d._anners, must be located on the
property which is owned or leased by the business which the sign is advertising.
Non-profit and governmental event banners are excluded from this provision.
e. Portable signs and detached banners shall not be located in the public right-of-way.
f. Portable signs and detached banners are limited to the driveway entrance area.
g. No more than one portable sign or detached banner shall be permitted per entrance at
any given time.
RECOMMENDA TION
"The Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends that City Council adopt the proposed
amendments to Chapter 20 of the Chanhassen City Code as outlined in the staff report."
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance Amendment pertaining to permanent and temporary sign standards.
g:\plan\city code\2009 code amendments\signs\pc memo signs 9-15-09.doc
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20
ZONING
CHANHASSEN CITY CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS:
Section 1. Section 20-1256 ofthe City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
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. Portable signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and 6 feet in height.
4. 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 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 up to tflfee
four occasions per calendar year with a maximum ten-day display period for each
occaSIOn.
c. Messages must relate to on-premises products or services, or any noncommercial
message.
d. Attached banners, detached banners and portable signs must be located on the
property which is owned or leased by the business which the sign is advertising.
Nonprofit and governmental event banners are excluded from this provision.
e. Portable signs and detached banners shall not be located in the public right-of-way.
f. Portable signs and detached banners are limited to the driveway entrance area.
g. No more than one portable sign or detached banner shall be permitted per entrance at any
given time.
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Section 2. Section 20-1267 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
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 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 dimension letters, at least one-half inch deep.
Registered trademarks, Company symbols, display messages (less than not greater 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 the
individual dimension letter requirement.
b. Wall signs shall be backlit if a wall sign is illuminated, and be architecturally compatible
with the building and other sign age if in a multi-tenant building.
c. Company logos shall not occupy more than 30 percent of the sign display area.,. and are
exempt from the individual dimension letter requirement.
Section 3. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _ day of _,2009, by the City Council of the City
of Chanhassen, Minnesota
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on )
g:\plan\city code\2009 code amendments\signs\amendment ordinance ch 20 wall and temp sign.doc
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