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Home My WebLink About[07] Sign Amendment 7 Council Agenda Item MEETING DATE: December 2, 2013 AGENDA ITEM: Ordinances SUBMITTED BY: Administration PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City Council on November 21 considered the request to consider changing the sign at 320 Old Highway 52. The Council tabled action on the application and requested the Planning Commission review sign ordinances, including but not limited to size and dynamic provisions. The City Office staff sent out inquires to the area Cities to secure their provisions; however, due to the holiday, only one City has responded so far. We will continue to secure other same and provide that information at the meeting on Monday evening. The same is true for the fence amendment, we are still looking at some samples. ATTACHMENTS: Request for Planning Commission Action Sauk Rapids Sign Ordinance REQUESTED PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Consider possible amendments to the Sign Regulations in the St. Joseph Code of Ordinances. This page intentionally left blank Kayla Tschida From: Todd Schultz <Tschultz@ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us> Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 3:35 PM To: Kayla Tschida Subject: RE: Dynamic Sign Ordinances Below is our dynamic display language. We do not prohibit billboards yet, but based on our ordinance (setbacks, allowed locations, etc.) there isn't a place that a new one could be installed. We don't really regulate the refacing of existing signs other then they do require a sign permit. Subdivision 17. Dynamic Displays. A. Findings. Studies show fhat there is a correiation between dynamic displays on signs and the distraction of highway drivers. Distraction can lead to traffic accidents. Drivers can be distracted not only by a changing message, but also by knowing that the sign has a changing message. Drivers may watch a sign waiting for the next change to occur. Drivers are also distracted by messages that do not tell the full story in one look. People have a natural desire to see the end of the story and will continue to look at the sign in order to wait for the end. Additionally, drivers are more distracted by special effects used to change the message, such as fade-ins and fade-outs. Finally, drivers are generally more distracted by messages that are too small to be clearly seen or that contain more than a simple message. Time and temperature signs appecar to be an exception to these concerns because the messages are short, easily absorbed, and become inaccurate without frequent changes. Despite these public safety concerns, there is merit to allowing new technologies to easily update messages. Except as prohibited by state or federal law, sign owners should have the opportunity to use these technologies with certain restrictions. The restrictions are intended to minimize potential driver distraction and to minimize proliferation in residential districts where signs can adversely impact residential character. Local spacing requirements could interfere with the equal opporfunity to use such technologies and are not included. Without those requirements, however, there is the potential for numerous dynamic displays to exist along any roadway. If more than one dynamic display can be seen from a given location on a road, the minimum display time becomes criticaf. If the display time is too short, a driver could be subjected to a view that appears to have constant movement. This impact would obviously be compounded in a corridor with multiple signs. If dynamic displays become pervasive and there are no meaningful limitations on each sign's ability to change frequently, drivers may be subjected to an unsafe degree of distraction and sensory overload. Therefore, a longer display time is appropriate. 1 A constant message is typically needed on a sign so that the public can use it to identify and find an intended destination. Changing messages detract from this way-finding purpose and could adversely affect driving conduct through last- second lane changes, stops, or turns, which could result in traffic accidents. Accordingly, dynamic displays generally should not be allowed to occupy the entire copy and graphic area of a sign. In conciusion, the city finds that dynamic displays should be allowed on signs but with significant controls to minimize their proliferation and their potential threats to public safety. B. Regulations. Dynamic displays on signs are allowed subject to the following conditions: 1. Dynamic displays are allowed only on monument signs where otherwise allowed in the C-1, C-2, C-3, D-1 and I-1 Districts. In addition, Dynamic Display Signs are allowed on billboards located within the delineated areas defined in Subdivision 12. A. 1. and that are in all other respects to Subdivision 3. F. of this Section, considered conforming; 2. A dynamic display may not change or move more often than once every 3 seconds; 3. The transifion from one dispiay to another must be instantaneous without any special effects; 4. The images and messages displayed must be complete in themselves, without continuation in content to the next image or message or to any other sign; 5. Every line of copy and graphics in a dynamic display must be at least seven inches in height on a road with a speed limit of 25 to 34 miles per hour, nine inches on a road with a speed limit of 35 to 44 miles per hour, 12 inches on a road with a speed limit of 45 to 54 miles per hour, and 15 inches on a road with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour or more. If there is insufficient room for copy and graphics of this size in the area allowed under clause 1 above, then no dynamic display is aliowed; 6. Dynamic displays must be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one position if a malfunction occurs. The displays must also be equipped with a means to immediatety discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the sign owner must immediately stop the dynamic display when notified by the city that it is not complying with the standards of this ordinance; 7. Dynamic displays must comply with the brightness standards contained in Subdivision 18; 8. Only one, contiguous dynamic display area is allowed on a sign face; 9. Dynamic displays on signs located inside enclosed buildings visible through windows shall be allowed only in the D-1 District and are exempt from items 1-5 above. z a. Shall be no wider than five feet, no taller than one foot; and b. Shall not contain copy/graphic lines more than six inches in height or less than three inches in height; and c. A dynamic display sign in a storefront window is intended to target pedestrian traffic and shall be used only in accordance with the findings stated within item A of this Subdivision. 10. Existing Dynamic Display readerboard signs which exist as of the date of the adoption of this ordinance (March 24, 2008), shall be exempt from articles 2 and 4 above. Subdivision 18. Brightness Standards. A. All signs must meet the following brightness standards in addition to those in Subdivision 17: 1. No sign may be brighter than is necessary for clear and adequate visibility. 2. No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver with average eyesight or to otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle. 3. No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device or signal. B. The person owning or controlling the sign must adjust the sign to meet the brightness standards in accordance with the city's instructions. The adjustment must be made immediately upon notice of non-compliance from the city. C. All signs installed after March 1, 2008 that will have illumination by a means other than natural light must be equipped with a mechanism that automatically adjusts the brightness in response to ambient conditions. These signs must also be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display or lighting if it malfunctions, and the sign owner or operator must immediately turn off the sign or lighting when notified by the city that it is not complying with the standards in this section. From: Kayla Tschida [mailto:ktschida@cityofstjoseph.com] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 1:20 PM To: matt.glaesman@ci.stcloud.mn.us; Todd Schultz; anita@sartellmn.com; buildingdept@cityoflittlefalls.com; gwalz@cityofinelrose.com; tdjesh@albanytel.com; bill.barber@ci.waitepark.mn.us Subject: Dynamic Sign Ordinances Good Afternoon, The City of St.Joseph is in the process of reviewing our ordinances regarding dynamic or digital signs/billboards. It would be greatly appreciated if you could take the time to provide responses to the questions below: 3 This page intentionally left blank