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Councilmember Rousseau stated that the Planning Commission and City Council have recently <br />reviewed multiple requests from businesses seeking flexibility from the sign code. It was a <br />recommendation from the Council that the Economic Development Commission review the code. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said at the last City Council meeting specifically there has been push <br />back on the ban on LED’s, as the technology has moved past the current ordinances that do not <br />allow LED’s. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said he also feels that it is very difficult to change the type/design of a <br />sign after the initial sign is complete. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Jagoe said there is some flexibility granted, based on the <br />Master Plan from the original development. But this definitely is something that should be <br />discussed further. <br /> <br />Senior Planner Fransen presented possible Next Steps: Commission to review Arden Hills Sign <br />Codes and identify points for discussion. What do you like, not like, find confusing? Staff will <br />follow-up with Sign Codes from neighboring, similar communities, Commission to bring <br />comments to next EDC meeting. <br /> <br />Commissioner Williams said as the only Commissioner who was on the previous EDC he felt <br />that in the past EDC recommendations were ignored and there was little communication with the <br />Council. He asked if the EDC’s recommendations would be respected and considered. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brausen said that after attending Council meetings since the election in 2022 this <br />new Council is more open to businesses and growing economic opportunities. <br /> <br />Councilmember Rousseau said that there has been a real shift and the Planning Commission does <br />have businesses in mind. The hope is that EDC and PC will work together to modernize some of <br />our ordinances. There are a lot of opportunities to increase quality communication between the <br />City and Businesses. <br /> <br />Commissioner Williams said that the perception of Arden Hills is one of exclusion and slow to <br />change. He stated that there will need to be an effort to overcome that image. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist said in order to move things along quickly, it would be helpful to know <br />the common themes of the requests for sign flexibility. She agreed there should be <br />rules/parameters in place to keep a uniformity and avoid overcrowding and excessive signage that <br />is distracting. However, the current ordinances do not make sense, when the limits on signs result <br />in confusion and something that is not aesthetically pleasing. Simplifying the ordinances will result <br />in more compliance. For example, the Pop Culture Frozen Yogurt store is allowed two wall signs <br />as it has two frontages. The City’s sign code requires that if there are two wall signs that the total <br />square footage of both signs shall not exceed the maximum square footage for a wall sign. <br /> <br />Commissioner Gronquist said it would be a good practice to provide signage information in the <br />information sent out for business licenses.