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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-03 Planning Report TPC 3601 Thurston Avenue N, Suite 100 � O 2 Anoka, MN 55303 Phone: 783.231 .5840 Facsimile: 763.427.0520 TPC@PlanningCo.com PLANNING REPORT TO: Eric Johnson FROM: Scott Richards DATE: April 3, 2013 RE: Oak Park Heights — Pennant Signs — Public Hearing to Consider as Special Events Signage TPC FILE: 236.01 — 13.04 BACKGROUND At their February 26, 2013 and March 26, 2013 meetings, the City Council discussed allowing pennants as an allowable sign type under the Special Events provisions of the Zoning Ordinance found in Section 401.15.G.8. Currently, pennants are not allowed as a permanent sign or as a temporary sign for Special Events. The City Council asked Staff to review the Sign Ordinance and consider adding this type of sign to the allowable temporary signs for Special Events. The City Council also asked the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on this issue. A public hearing has been scheduled for the April 11, 2013 meeting. The Zoning Ordinance defines pennants as follows: Pennants: Flexible material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually triangular shaped and in a series, designated to move in the wind. The Special Events provisions already allow bannerettes which is a sign similar to pennants. The Zoning Ordinance defines bannerettes as follows: Bannerette: Flexible material that resembles a flag, and has minimum dimensions of two (2) feet by two (2) feet and no larger than three (3) feet by five (5) feet. A smaller sized bannerette is defined as a pennant. The Planning Commission should discuss whether pennants are to be included in the provisions for Special Events. Staff does not see a significant difference between If pennants and bannerettes and would not have an issue allowing them as a temporary sign for a Special Event. Staff would not support allowing pennants as permanent allowable signage. The draft changes to the Special Events section of the sign regulations is found in Exhibit 1. EXHIBITS Exhibit 1: Section 401.15.G.8 Special Events, Sign Regulations of the Zoning Ordinance with Amendments Exhibit 2: Draft Planning Commission Resolution CONCLUSION /RECOMMENDATION The Planning Commission should review the draft language and the resolution related to whether pennants should be considered in the provisions for Special Events. The public hearing should be opened and comments taken from interested parties. 2 EXHIBIT 1 Section 401.15.G Signs 401.15.G.8. SPECIAL EVENTS. a. Sign Permit Required. No special event shall be held without first obtaining a sign permit. b. Number of Events. The business or applicant in all business and industrial zoning districts, as well as each public and institutional use in residential districts (except for the areas within the Destination Retail Highway District as indicated in Section 401.15.G.8.c), shall be allowed five (5) special events per calendar year. The total number of special event days in a calendar year shall not exceed fifty (50) days for any applicant, business, or public and institutional use. Once the time period has expired for a special event the applicant shall wait the same number of days that the sign permit was issued to start a new special event. c. Events in the Destination Retail Highway District. The business or applicant in the Destination Retail Highway District shall be allowed twelve (12) sales events per calendar year. The total number of special event days in a calendar year shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days for any applicant, business, or public and institutional use. Once the time period has expired for a special event, the applicant shall wait two (2) days before starting a new sales event. All other special event requirements, as found in Section 401.15.g.8 of this Ordinance, shall be adhered to within the Destination Retail Highway District. d. Permitted Signs and Displays. The signs and displays described below are permitted for special events in addition to the maximum allowable sign area, provided they are professionally done and the following standards are met and complied with: 1) Small Balloons. a) The size of small balloons or a group of connected balloons shall not exceed two (2) feet as the largest dimension, except that balloon arches not exceeding eight (8) feet in height shall be allowed. b) Small balloons may be multi colored and incorporate logos and messages.15 -64 c) Helium balloons shall be refilled daily. 2) Tents. a) Tents, including all ties, ropes, stakes, etc., shall be located entirely upon the permittee's property and shall comply with the City's setback requirements for accessory buildings. 3) Bannerettes and Pennants. a) Bannerettes and pennants may be attached to standards, poles, tents, and buildings, provided that are well secured and are prevented from being blown around uncontrollably by the wind. b) No more than two pennants may be attached to any standard, pole or object. c) No more than one (1) bannerette shall be allowed per standard pole, or object. d) Bannerettes shall be smaller than any United States flag on the property, and shall not be flown at a height greater than any United States flag allowed on the property. 4) Banners. a) Banners may be attached to poles, tents, and buildings, provided that are well secured and are prevented from being blown around uncontrollably by the wind. b) No more than two (2) banners shall be allowed, except for the areas within the Destination Retail Highway District in which no more than five (5) banners shall be allowed at any one time. c) Individual banners shall not be larger than twenty -eight (28) square feet and the total of all the banners on the site shall not exceed one hundred forty (140) square feet. The applicant may choose to do fewer banners that may exceed twenty -eight (28) square feet as long as the total size of the banners does not exceed one hundred forty (140) square feet.. 5) Search lights. a) Search lights as regulated in Section 401.15.B.7.g.1) of this Ordinance. e. Prohibited Signs and Displays for Special Events. The signs or displays described below are prohibited for special events: 1) Animated signs, Tight bulb strings, pennants, portable signs, ribbons, and streamers.15 -65 2) Displays or special features on any landscaped areas or on roofs. 3) Aerial rides. 2 4) Large balloons or collections of small balloons exceeding two (2) feet in diameter, except for balloon arches not exceeding eight (8) feet in height. 5) Additional lighting that does not meet this Ordinance. 6) Any sign or display in the public right -of -way. 7) Air inflatable devices. f. Sign Permit Requirements for Special Event Lot Decorations. Before any special event signs or decorations shall be permitted to be used for an event, the responsible property owner or organization shall submit a completed application for a sign permit with the City. In addition to other requirements, the applicant shall show that when the event is held, adequate parking area will continue to exist, even though a portion of required parking spaces may be used to celebrate the event. Only after the City issues the sign permit, may a business display the special event signs and decorations. g. Violations. 1) It is a violation for any person, company, or organization to provide, erect or display any beacons, balloons or other advertising device which is not in conformity with the provisions of this Section. 2) Special event signs and decorations not removed by the last day of the special event. 3 EXHIBIT 2 A RECOMMENDING RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING FINDINGS OF FACT AND RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW PENNANTS AS AN ALLOWABLE SIGN TYPE UNDER THE SPECIAL EVENTS PROVISIONS OF SECTION 401.15.G.8 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE WHEREAS, City Staff requested that the Planning Commission consider an Ordinance amendment to allow pennants as an allowable sign type under the Special Events provisions of Section 401.15.G.8 of the Zoning Ordinance, the Planning Commission of Oak Park Heights makes the following findings of fact: 1. The Planning Commission has reviewed the sign regulations of the Zoning Ordinance and determined that including pennants as an allowable sign type under the Special Events provisions of Section 401.15.G.8 of the Zoning Ordinance is justified; and 2. The Special Events provisions already allow bannerettes which is a sign similar to pennants. There is not a significant difference between pennants and bannerettes and City Staff would not have an issue with allowing them as a special event or temporary sign. 3. City Staff prepared draft Zoning Ordinance amendments which were reviewed and revised by the Planning Commission; and 4. The Planning Commission held a public hearing at their April 11, 2013 meeting, took comments from the public and recommended amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as found as follows; and 5. Section 401.15.G.8.d.3) Bannerettes and Pennants, is recommended to be amended to read as follows: 3) Bannerettes and Pennants. a) Bannerettes and pennants may be attached to standards, poles, tents, and buildings, provided that are well secured and are prevented from being blown around uncontrollably by the wind. b) No more than two pennants may be attached to any standard, pole or object. c) No more than one (1) bannerette shall be allowed per standard pole, or object. d) Bannerettes shall be smaller than any United States flag on the property, and shall not be flown at a height greater than any United States flag allowed on the property. 6. Section 401.15.G.8.e.1), Prohibited Signs and Displays for Special Events is recommended to be amended to read as follows: 1) Animated signs, light bulb strings, portable signs, ribbons, and streamers. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING: A. The Zoning Ordinance is amended to allow pennants as an allowable sign type under the Special Events provisions of Section 401.15.G.8 of the Zoning Ordinance; and B. Copies of the recommended Zoning Ordinance amendment are on file at City Hall. Recommended by the Planning Commission of the City of Oak Park Heights this 11 day of April, 2013. Jennifer Bye, Chair ATTEST: Eric A. Johnson, City Administrator 2