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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 7, 2018 9 • Allow for larger freestanding signs for properties with highway frontage • Permit the use of projecting signs • Evaluate temporary sign regulations, including how regulations address devices such as inflatable mascots City Planner Bachler reviewed the sign code in detail with the Commission stating it currently includes nine sign districts in the City based on land use and geographical location. Generally, properties in commercial and industrial zoning districts are permitted more signage than properties in residential districts, and properties with frontage on main commercial corridors like Lexington Avenue are allotted greater signage than properties on secondary roadways. The purpose of this is to grant appropriate signage for business visibility in the City’s commercial districts while minimizing the negative impacts of signage in residential areas. City Planner Bachler stated as part of its evaluation of the Sign Code, staff reviewed the current sign districts. Staff is recommending that the sign districts be reorganized based on similar zoning districts rather than geographical location. The zoning districts generally conform to geographical areas and road corridors in the City already, and creating sign districts based on zoning districts will allow for easier administration of the Sign Code. Staff reviewed a table with the Commission with the breakdown of the new proposed sign districts. City Planner Bachler explained currently, the Sign Code allows a set square footage of wall signage based on the sign district the property is located in. This one size fits all approach can result in signs that are not proportional to the size of the building a business is located in. For example, under the current Sign Code properties in Sign District 5 (properties fronting Lexington Avenue south of Interstate 694) are allowed 80 square feet of wall signage. This applies to both a large store like Cub Foods as well as a tenant in a multiple occupancy building, such as Subway. City Planner Bachler reported staff has worked on updates to allow wall signage based on a percentage of the building elevation area. From reviewing other cities’ regulations, this approach is commonly used for business and industrial districts and not residential or public/institutional districts. The range is generally between 5 and 10 percent of the elevation area. One wall sign per building would be permitted, but properties with frontage on more than one public street would be allowed an additional sign for each elevation with frontage. Staff reviewed a table with the Commission that provided examples of how much wall signage would be allowed for different businesses in the City. City Planner Bachler stated based on these calculations, using 5 percent of the building elevation for larger buildings (Cub Foods and Walgreens) appears to work better than using 10 percent. Conversely, for tenants in multiple occupancy buildings (Potbelly), 10 percent of the building elevation results in a more appropriately sized sign. Staff would recommend setting the permitted wall signage at 5 percent of the building elevation and establishing a minimum square footage for wall signage in each district. This would ensure that tenants in multiple occupancy buildings have adequate signage. Staff is recommending that wall signage be allocated as a set square footage for properties in residential districts, and in the B-1, Neighborhood Business, Civic Center, Institutional, Parks and Open Space, and Conservation Districts. Staff provided further comment on a table outlining the recommendations for wall sign copy area.