Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/13/2021 - Special Joint CC, Planning & EDA

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PART II - CODE OF ORDINANCES Chapter 117 - ZONING AND SUBDIVISIONS ARTICLE II. - ZONING DIVISION 8. SIGNS DIVISION 8. SIGNS Sec. XXX-XXX. Off -Premises Digital Billboard Signs (a) Findings, purpose, and intent. The city council finds it necessary for the promotion and preservation of the health, safety, welfare, and aesthetics of the community that the construction, location, size, conspicuity, brightness, legibility, operational characteristics, and maintenance of off -premises digital billboard signs be controlled. Off -premises digital billboard signs have a direct and substantial impact on traffic safety, pedestrian safety, community aesthetics and property values. The city council recognizes that signs provide a guide to the physical environment and as such serve an important function in the community and economy. With respect to off -premises digital billboard signs, the city council finds that they are highly visible from long distances and at very wide viewing angles both day and night and are designed to catch the eye of persons in their vicinity and hold it for extended periods of time. If left uncontrolled, off -premises digital billboard signs, including video display signs, constitute a serious traffic safety threat. The city council intends by this subsection to establish a legal framework for off -premises digital billboard sign regulation in the city. The regulations promulgated in this subsection are intended to facilitate an easy and agreeable communication between people while protecting and promoting the public health, safety, welfare and aesthetics of the community. It is not the purpose or intent of this subsection to prefer or favor commercial messages or speech over noncommercial messages or speech or to discriminate between types of noncommercial speech or the viewpoints represented therein. Rather, the purpose of the off - premises digital billboard sign regulations promulgated in this subsection is: (1) To eliminate potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians using the public streets, sidewalks, and rights of way; (2) To safeguard and enhance property values; (3) To control nuisances; (4) To preserve and improve the appearance of the city through adherence to aesthetic principles, in order to create a community that is attractive to residents and to nonresidents who come to live, visit, work, or trade; (5) To eliminate excessive and confusing sign displays; (6) To encourage signs which by their design are integrated with and harmonious to the surrounding environment and the buildings and sites they occupy; (7) To maintain the character of the mainstreet core downtown but allow local businesses the opportunity to reach a wider audience by advertising along Highway 10 and (7) To promote the public health, safety, and general welfare. (b) Location of off -premises digital billboard signs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained within this Code, off -premises digital billboard signs may be located only within the off -premises digital billboard sign overlay district. Off -premises digital billboard signs are prohibited in all zoning districts of the city other than the off - premises digital billboard sign overlay district. Off -premises digital billboard signs located in the off -premises digital billboard sign overlay district must comply with all Code requirements for permitted off -premises digital billboard signs. Ramsey, Minnesota, Code of Ordinances (Supp. No. 10, Update 2) Created: 2021-07-01 14:42:48 [EST] Page 1 of 3