Agenda - Planning Commission - 12/06/2007

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Case # 3 DISCUSS CHANGES TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE: CASE OF CITY OF RAMSEY By: Breanne Daines, Associate Planner Background: Based on the September 6, 2007 Planning Commission discussion and public hearing with regard to the sign ordinance, Staff has prepared a list of proposed changes to the sign ordinance for consideration. If the Planning Commission is satisfied with the pro~osed changes,. an ordinance will be brought forward in January. At the meeting on September 6t , the Planning Commission directed Staff to bring forward a revised sign ordinance that achieves the following goals: 1) simplify the changes to eliminate content-based standards for temporary signage and make the revisions less complicated and cumbersome; 2) make the temporary signage regulations uniform on a interim basis, with the greatest flexibility to residents by examining the fee structure; and 3) consider a worksession or workgrou& to address these aspects of the sign code (for example electronic signs)~ The September 6t Planning Commission minutes are included for your reference. Observations: Staff is prepared to bring forward changes to only the temporary sign regulations at this time. Based on the PC direction, staff will move forward with examining the electronic sign regulations and permanent sign standards at a later date, perhaps at a worksession or workgroup setting. Staff has taken a new approach to the revisions that do not differentiate between commercial or non-commercial speech signs. All temporary signs are proposed to be regulated the same. Changes to the temporary sign regulations would also eliminate the permit and fee requirements. All temporary signs, including real estate, garage sale, public event, and portable, black signs, (except otherwise permitted by State Statute) would be subj ect to the following: . Limited to 50 square feet in size . Would be permitted off-premise (with pennission of property owner), but NOT permitted in the ROW . Would be limited to six weeks per year per business or property, whichever is appropriate. . Limited to 2 signs per property (discuss exemptions for multi-tenant business properties) . Exempt from permit application and fee There are many pros and cons to these proposed changes. The benefits would be: simpler and easier to administer sign regulations, fairer distribution of cost among constituents, and fewer regulations on residents and businesses. Currently, the sign ordinance exempts public events and signs erected by non-profits and churches from the fee, which puts the burden of sign permit fees disproportionately on small businesses trying to boost sales. 29 of the 75 sign permits issued this year were exempt from paying a fee. Also, fewer regulations would allow enforcement of signs to be concentrated on violations of signs in the right-of-way. 27