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City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for September 4, 2019 P:\Planning\Planning Cases\2019\PC 19-008 Drive-Through Menu Board Sign Code Text Amendment Page 4 of 5 E. The sign(s) shall not be located as to impair the vision of the driver of a vehicle traveling either into, out of, or through the drive-through lane. The proposed language above removes the ability to have two-sided menu board signs and describes where menu board signs are permitted. The proposed height standard is consistent with existing ordinance standards for auxiliary signs in Sign District 5. When determining the appropriate surface area, staff reviewed the Applicant’s proposed language and currently-approved sign permits. It was determined that the Applicant-proposed sign surface area of 36 square feet would cause some of the existing drive-through signs to be non-conforming. All of the existing drive-through menu board signs in the community are slightly larger but are under 40 square feet. Based on the findings, staff is proposing 40 square feet as the maximum sign surface area. This is also consistent with other municipalities within the metro. The community has a number of existing drive-through locations with more than one (1) menu board or pre-menu board sign. The intent of limiting the number of drive-through menu board signs to two (2) signs is to ensure the existing signs are in conformance with the Code and allow a user to have two (2) menu board signs as long as they don’t exceed the maximum permitted size of a single menu board. The intent of subdivision five (5) is to provide standards for traditional drive-through menu board signs and digital displays. The Applicant-submitted ordinance language requested the ability to allow menu boards signs to change up to three (3) times per day. Upon review, the existing drive-through establishments within the community currently offer a separate breakfast menu from their traditional lunch/dinner menu and that is the rationale behind allowing signs to change twice per day. The proposed ordinance language requires that all proposed signs remain static to meet the intent of the existing paper menu board signs. After reviewing the Applicant’s draft ordinance language in subsection C, staff determined that all drive-through menu board signs shall be turned off when the drive-through facility is closed. Turning off the screens would be a similar practice to turning off the lights on exiting menu boards. Subsection E is intended to limit the noise impacts on adjacent properties and subsection E is intended to provide motor vehicles with clear vision in drive-through lanes. All of the proposed amendments are consistent with Section 1200.02, Subsection 2 of the Sign Code. The Applicant submitted their findings which can be found in exhibit B. The proposed amendments have been provided in Attachment A. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the proposed changes. Proposed Motion Language 1. Recommend Approval: Motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 19-008 for proposed amendments to Chapter 12 – Sign Code, adding a definition for Menu Board Signs, and excluding dynamic displays menu boards from prohibit signs, and adding section 1240.04 Menu Board Signs requirements, as presented in the September 4, 2019 Report to the Planning Commission. 2. Recommend Denial: Motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 19-008 for proposed amendments to Chapter 12 – Sign Code, adding a definition for Menu Board Signs, and excluding dynamic displays menu boards from prohibit signs, and adding section 1240.04 Menu Board Signs requirements, as presented in the September 4, 2019 Report to the Planning Commission: findings to deny should specifically reference the reasons for denial.