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CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PLANNING REPORT
CASE NUMBER: 2008-0805
DATE: August 6, 2008
TO: Columbia Heights Planning Commission
APPLICANT: City of Columbia Heights
LOCATION: City Wide
REQUEST: Zoning Amendment for Governmental Temporary Signs
PREPARED BY: Jeff Sargent, City Planner
INTRODUCTION
The City’s sign code currently does not address temporary signage that a governmental
entity might display to promote citywide events. As currently allowed, the City would have
to obtain a permit and display the sign on a governmental building. Also, the City would
only be allowed to obtain four permits per year. This requirement is restrictive and would
not allow the city to promote activities and events to the general public, as it should.
At this time, staff recommends amending the sign code to allow for the city government to
display temporary signage to promote citywide functions, at its own discretion. This is
consistent with the practices of many other cities in the metro area.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to support intergovernmental efforts that
benefit the community. Allowing temporary signs that promote citywide functions and
activities would benefit the community. For this reason, the proposed amendment is
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The current zoning ordinance does not address signage for governmental entities to
display. The proposed amendment would allow for the city to display signage at its
discretion in order to promote city functions and events, such as the Jamboree, blood
drives, etc.
City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, Gov’t Temp Signs Case # 2008-0805
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.
One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan is to support intergovernmental efforts
that benefit the community. Allowing temporary signs that promote citywide
functions and activities would benefit the community. For this reason, the proposed
amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
2. The amendment is in the public interest and is not solely for the benefit of a
single property owner.
The proposed amendment would allow the city to promote public events and
functions.
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
Staff recommends amending the sign code to allow for the city government to display
temporary signage to promote citywide functions, at its own discretion. This is consistent
with the practices of many other cities in the metro area.
Motion: That the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the
proposed zoning amendment.
Attachments
Draft zoning ordinance
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City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008
City of Columbia Heights, Gov’t Temp Signs Case # 2008-0805
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