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PLANNING REPORT DATE: October 14, 2011 CASE: ZA2011-005 SUBJECT: Zoning Code Amendment to Allow Manual Changeable Copy Signs APPLICANT: Tim Larson on behalf of Dairy Queen REQUEST&BACKGROUND 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. Staff provided a planning report dated September 15, 2011 that discussed the current prohibition of these signs, which dates back to at least 1977. Staff could not find any documentation that specified why these types of signs were made 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 communities impose maximum size requirements, most do not. This information was presented to the Commission at a work session held on October 5, 2011. ATTACHMENTS A—Proposed Ordinance FINDINGS Zoning Code, Chapter 9. Signs. AMENDMENT ANALYSIS The Planning Commission considered a Zoning Code Amendment request at the September Planning Commission meeting that related to deletion of manual changeable copy signs from the prohibited signs list of Chapter 9 of the Zoning Code. At the September 20th Planning Commission meeting the Commission expressed interest in allowing manual reader board signs, but was not comfortable simply deleting these signs from the prohibited signs list, which would allow manual reader boards without limitations. The Planning Commission tabled action and directed staff to prepare an amendment to would allow these signs but put conditions on them, mainly related to a maximum size. Staff prepared the attached code amendment, which accomplishes the following: • Provides a definition of manual changeable copy signs. • Deletes the term manual changeable copy sign from the prohibited signs list of Section 9-040 (1). • Allows a single manual changeable copy sign per lot subject to a maximum size of 32 square feet or 50% of the allowable sign area, whichever is less. Slightly different language exists for the residential districts and commercial/industrial districts. • Proposed Section 9-050 (5) and 9-060 (8) allows manual changeable copy signs in the R— 1 through R—4 zoning districts subject to issuance of a special use permit and only for schools or public facilities (which would be interpreted to include a church). The special use permit