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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning report 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 Page 2 City of Columbia Heights Planning Commission August 6, 2008 City of Columbia Heights, Gov’t Temp Signs Case # 2008-0805 Page 3