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CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING REPORT
CASE NUMBER: 2008-0802
DATE: August 6, 2008
TO: Columbia Heights Planning Commission
APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights
LOCATION: City Wide
REQUEST: Zoning Amendment for LED Signage
PREPARED BY: Jeff Sargent, City Planner
INTRODUCTION
On multiple occasions, business owners wishing to incorporate LED and dynamic signage
to promote their business have approached the City asking for permission to incorporate
this type of signage into their building. The current Sign Code and Design Guidelines
specifically prohibit the use of variable electronic message signs, and a code amendment
would be required before these businesses could be allowed to use this signage.
Much research on dynamic signage has been done, as many other cities have recently
amended their ordinance to regulate electronic signs throughout their respective cities.
The following report includes the City of Columbia Heights’ standards regarding dynamic
signage, the different types of dynamic signs available.
At this time, staff recommends amending the sign code in order to address and control
LED and dynamic signage, in an effort to both stimulate and promote the economic vitality
of the city, while ensuring that the signage is not obtrusive, distractive or incompatible with
the overall character of the commercial districts throughout the city.
WHAT IS LED SIGNAGE AND DYNAMIC SIGNAGE?
“LED” stands for Light Emitting Diode, and is the industry-standard way of describing a
changeable electronic sign. Per a study conducted by SRF Consulting Group, Inc. for the
City of Minnetonka, a definition of Dynamic Signage was given as:
Any characteristics of a sign that appear to have movement or that appear
to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, LED Signage Case # 2008-0802
replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or
change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component
of the sign.
This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to
change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its
components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing, blinking, or
animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated
through digital input, “digital ink” or any other method or technology that allows the sign
face to present a series of images or displays.
Examples of such signage include Electronic Changeable Copy signs, Electronic Graphic
Display signs, Video Display signs, and Time and Temperature signs. Figure 1 is an
example of some proposed sign standards used by the City of Bloomington, and shows the
difference between the above-listed signs.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve and enhance the existing
viable commercial areas within the community, and to promote reinvestment in properties
by the commercial and industrial sectors. Allowing dynamic signage is a way to enhance
economic vitality by giving the commercial owners a mechanism to advertise their business
in an efficient and aesthetic manner.
ZONING ORDINANCE
Section 9.106 (P)(6)(e – f), Prohibited Signs, lists “an animated or rotating sign, except
barber poles and signs displaying time and temperature information only in the animated
or rotating portion thereof” and “a flashing sign, including indoor flashing, electronic signs
visible from the public right-of-way, other than time and temperature signs limited to such
time and temperature information”, as specifically prohibited in the City of Columbia
Heights.
The Design Guidelines state, “Variable electronic message signs are not permitted, with
the exception of existing time/temperature signs”.
The zoning code and Design Guidelines would have to be amended to help regulate the
use of dynamic signage throughout the city.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Section 9.104 (F) of the Columbia Heights zoning code requires that the City Council make
each of the following four findings before approving a zoning amendment:
1. The amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
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City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, LED Signage Case # 2008-0802
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to preserve and enhance the
existing viable commercial areas within the community, and to promote reinvestment
in properties by the commercial and industrial sectors. Allowing dynamic signage is
a way to enhance economic vitality by giving the commercial owners a mechanism
to advertise their business in an efficient and aesthetic manner.
2. The amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the benefit of a
single property owner.
The proposed amendment would affect all business owners throughout the city
and not solely for the benefit of a single property owner.
3. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular
property, the existing use of the property and the zoning classification of
property within the general area of the property in question are compatible with
the proposed zoning classification.
The amendment would not change the zoning classification of a particular property.
4. Where the amendment is to change the zoning classification of a particular
property, there has been a change in the character or trend of development in
the general area of the property in question, which has taken place since such
property was placed in the current zoning classification.
The amendment would not change the zoning classification of a particular property.
RECOMMENDATION
If the City Council chooses to allow all or certain types of dynamic signs, Staff
recommends that regulations be imposed on such signage.
Recommended Regulations Include:
Allowing such signs only in the CBD, GB, MXD, and PO Districts.
Allowing high schools and religious institutions the use of such signs, regardless
of the zoning district they are located in.
Prohibiting motion, animation and video electronic signs.
Restricting the time duration of message changing to no less than once every 10
minutes in non-residential zones and no less than once 30 minutes in residential
zones.
Allowing electronic signs only as a component of a monument sign.
Limiting the electronic signs to occupy no more than 50% of a monument sign.
Requiring an automatic dimmer control.
Requiring electronic signs to be no less than 35 feet from other electronic signs.
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City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, LED Signage Case # 2008-0802
If the City Council chooses to prohibit electronic and dynamic signs, Staff recommends that
the current City Code be amended in order to clarify that these types of signs are indeed
prohibited. A definition of electronic and/or dynamic sign should be added to the Code
with specific references made to them in the text. However, staff also recommends that
gas station price signs be exempt, and electronic signs may be allowed to display gas
prices only, with no limitation to the number of times during the day in which the price may
be changed.
Motion:
That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the
proposed zoning amendment.
Attachments
Draft zoning ordinance
Figure 1
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