Agenda - Council - 11/13/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VicRoads also gives operational requirements for electronic advertising message signs. Signage must: • not display animated or moving images, or flashing or intermittent lights; • remain unchanged for a minimum of 30 seconds; • not be visible from a freeway; and • satisfy the ten -point checklist. 4.0 SUGGESTED REGULATORY APPROACH Local governments regulate electronic outdoor advertising devices in widely varying degrees. Some cities completely prohibit the use of all electronic signs (sometimes specifying LED signs), while others have no regulations specific to electronic signs. Between those two extremes, there are many levels and types of control that can be applied. The primary concerns to keep in mind when considering sign regulations are 1) First Amendment rights, which can be affected by regulations that affect the content of a sign's message, and therefore should be avoided, and 2) changing technology, which can quickly make a sign ordinance no longer applicable if the ordinance has been specifically written to address a certain type of sign technology. Performance based measures may therefore be preferable as they remain viable even as sign technology advances. 4.1 Definitions Signage discussions often include a number of different words or phrases used to describe the technical characteristics of signage devices or their components (such as LEDs). For the purpose of zoning, some additional terms are also used to describe sign characteristics. Any regulatory efforts should take care to precisely define terminology. One possible resource in this effort is "Street Graphics and the Law," published by the American Planning Association (APA) Planning Advisory Service29. 4.2 Types of Regulatory Measures 4.2.1 Complete or Partial Prohibition of Electronic Siam Some cities have completely prohibited the use of electronic outdoor advertising devices. For example, the City of Maple Valley, WA prohibits all types of electronic outdoor advertising devices including animated signs, electronic changeable message signs, flashing signs or displays, moving signs, scrolling displays, and traveling displays. This applies to both on - premise and off -premise signs. Other cities are very selective about where electronic signs are allowed, allowing them only in certain zoning districts. There are very few "standard" approaches. For the most part, each local 19