Minutes - Planning Commission - 07/10/2008

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Citizen Input Dennis Carpenter, BOB FM community radio, stated they will be operating by Monday and hope to invite the Planning Commissioners to see their new location. He asked about staff research that was conducted beyond talking with two banks. Associate Planner DaInes explained that SRF Consulting prepared a report addressing 10 to 12 scientific studies on signage. That report was prepared on behalf of the City of Minnetonka due to a lawsuit and their need to determine the level of distraction "dynamic display" signs had to the driver due to brightness and size of letters. Mr. Carpenter stated he is unfamiliar with the SRF study but knows studies have been conducted, which is what he wanted to address tonight. He read a prepared statement indicating he wants to assure the new sign ordinance is crafted on a scientific basis, not personal opinion. He commented that if each of the Planning Commissioners is to positively impact the community they need to do so under the mastery of the subject under consideration, namely signs in the roadside environment. Mr. Carpenter suggested that this knowledge will allow the Planning Commission to take command of this process and have a truly positive impact on businesses and the community. He urged the Planning Commission to take into careful consideration the desires of the municipality for a visually pleasant and safe landscape but also the free speech rights of the individual and business. He noted that some businesses want to convey a certain unique image, but not all are like banks and have an individual identity. Mr. Carpenter stated there is some verifiable research available beyond what staff relied upon. On line he found the United States Sign Council (USSC) has done research and clearly shown that signs do not cause traffic accidents and when properly sized and placed, contribute to traffic safety. Research shows that in most municipalities, signs are not too big but need to be bigger to account for the increased need for rapid legibility in high speed traffic environments. He suggested that the facts are clear that signs provide vitally needed info in extremely complex landscapes without which motorists may not find their destination. He advised that the United States Sign Council research is funded by the United States government and all studies done by impartial universities, unbiased researchers, and scientists. He suggested there is an unprecedented level of acceptance for these scientific studies and organizations have come to utilize them including the American Planning Association who just adopted the USSC study for illuminated signs. Other organizations include the International Code Council, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science and Engineering, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Mr. Carpenter stated he wanted to share this information to encourage the Planning Commission and staff to look into this research, to step back for a moment, and not vote in favor of the ordinance change tonight but to wait until staff has an opportunity to study the research so a proper sign ordinance can be crafted using the latest scientific data for illuminated signs. Mr. Carpenter explained that as a radio communication company, they take it seriously to serve the public interest and are charged by the Federal Government to do so. He explained that in the Planning Commission / July 10, 2008 Page 5 of 17