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Report Number 11-293 NE' Agenda Section VIII-1 ��j Council Meeting Date October 25,2011 the city that works for you REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Consideration of an amendment to the Zoning Code to allow manual changeable copy signs when Zoning Code Section 9-040(1)(F) currently prohibits them. DEPARTMENT HEAD'S APPROVAL: Grant Fernelius, Community Development Director CITY MANAGER'S APPROVAL: No comments to supplement this re ort Comments attached 15.99 Deadline: October 30, 2011 Recommendation: Adopt the attached Ordinance, amending various section of Chapter 9 of the Zoning Code to conditionally permit manual changeable copy signs. Legislative History: September 20, 2011: The Planning Commission considered the request and held a public hearing. No persons provided testimony. The Commission discussed allowing manual changeable copy signs, but asked staff to conduct additional research to determine what conditions should be placed on the signs, rather than simply deleting manual changeable copy signs from the prohibited signs list in Section 9-040 (1). October 5, 2011: The Planning Commission conducted a work session and discussed the proposed sign code amendment related to manual changeable copy signs. Staff provided information related to the various communities that allow manual reader boards and the types of conditions placed on those signs. The Commission directed staff to prepare an ordinance that limits the size of manual changeable copy signs to 50% of the allowable sign area or 32 square feet,whichever is less. October 18, 2011: The Planning Commission continued the public hearing with no persons providing testimony. The Commission reviewed the proposed ordinance drafted by staff and recommended approval of the ordinance without changes. Financial Impact: None Explanation: A Zoning Code Amendment request has been made by Tim Larson on behalf of Dairy Queen at 409 Old Highway 8 NW. The request would allow manual changeable copy signs (also referred to as reader boards) where the current Zoning Code prohibits them. The Commission opened the required public hearing at the September 20th meeting. No persons provided testimony. The Commission tabled action and directed staff to work on preparation of an amendment that would allow these signs but limit their size. The current prohibition of these signs dates back to at least 1977. Staff could not find any documentation that specified why these types of signs were prohibited, but staff suspects it was an aesthetic and maintenance issue. Following the September 20th Planning Commission meeting, at the direction of the Commission, staff researched the allowed use of these signs in other communities. It was determined manual changeable copy signs are permitted in the neighboring cities of Mounds View, Roseville, Blaine, Arden Hills, St. Anthony, Fridley, Shoreview, and Columbia Heights. Some of these