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Page 1 of 5 <br /> <br /> EDC AGENDA ITEM – 4B <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: October 25, 2023 <br /> <br />TO: Economic Development Commission Members <br /> <br />FROM: Elena Fransen, Senior Planner <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Sign Code Review – Recent Requests for Flexibility and Wall Signage <br /> <br />Requested Action <br /> <br />The City is asking the Economic Development Commission to review and consider the regulations <br />in Chapter 12 – Sign Code of the City’s Code of Ordinances and their application for wall signage. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />At the August 23 meeting of the Economic Development Commission, staff presented an overview <br />of Chapter 12 – Sign Code of the City’s Code of Ordinances and shared the direction of the City <br />Council for the Commission to consider the Chapter’s form and content to provide <br />recommendations. The Commission was given a copy of the Arden Hills Sign Code for their <br />review in the meeting packet. On September 25, staff shared the sign codes for the City of New <br />Brighton and the City of Shoreview as points of comparison for the Arden Hills sign code. <br /> <br />Requests for Flexibility from the Sign Code <br /> <br />At the August 23 meeting, members of the EDC asked staff to prepare information about recent <br />requests for flexibility from the sign code regulations. Staff researched and found 16 land use cases <br />between 2002 and 2023 that ranged from site plan reviews specifically for a sign standard <br />adjustment to Planned Unit Developments for which an applicant can include requests for <br />additional signage beyond the amount permitted in the Sign Code. For a sign standard adjustment <br />and sign flexibility to be approved, the applicant must satisfy Subdivision 1 or Subdivision 2 in <br />the below criteria and must satisfy Subdivision 3: <br /> <br />Subd. 1 There are site conditions which require a sign adjustment to allow the sign to be <br />reasonably visible from a street immediately adjacent to the site; <br />Subd. 2 The sign adjustment will allow a sign of exceptional design or a style that will <br />enhance the area or that is more consistent with the architecture and design of the site; <br />Subd. 3 The sign adjustment will not result in a sign that is inconsistent with the purpose of <br />the zoning district in which the property is located or the current land use. <br />