|
Chapter 12 - Sign Code
<br />Section 1200 - Purpose and Intent
<br />1200.01 Recitals.
<br /> This Chapter shall be known, cited and referred to as the Arden Hills Sign Code, except as referred to herein, where it shall
<br />be known as "this Chapter."
<br />1200.02 Purpose and Findings.
<br /> The purpose and findings of this Chapter are as follows:
<br /> Subd. 1 Purpose. This Sign Code is intended to establish a comprehensive and balanced system of sign control that
<br />accommodates the need for a well-maintained, safe, and attractive community, and the need for effective communications,
<br />including business identification. It is the intent of these sign regulations, to promote the health, safety, general welfare,
<br />aesthetics, and image of the community by regulating signs that are intended to communicate to the public in all areas of the
<br />City. It is not the purpose or intent of this Chapter to regulate the message displayed on any sign. The purpose of this
<br />Chapter is to authorize:
<br /> A. Permanent signs which establish a high standard of aesthetics and are appropriate for the planned character in each
<br />sign district as established in Section 1240;
<br /> B. Signs which are compatible with their surroundings;
<br /> C. Signs which are designed, constructed, installed and maintained in a manner that does not adversely impact public
<br />safety or create a hazard to motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists;
<br /> D. Signs that are proportioned to the scale of, and are architecturally compatible with, principal structures;
<br /> E. Permanent signs which give preference to the on-premise owner or occupant;
<br /> F. Temporary commercial signs and advertising displays which provide an opportunity to advertise while restricting signs
<br />that create visual clutter and hazards at public right-of-way intersections;
<br /> G. Minimize adverse effects on nearby property; and,
<br /> H. Provide for fair and consistent enforcement of the sign regulations set forth herein under the authority of the City.
<br /> Subd. 2 Findings. The City finds it is necessary for the promotion and preservation of the public health, safety, welfare, and
<br />aesthetics of the community to control the construction, location, size, and maintenance of signs. Further, the City finds:
<br /> A. Permanent and temporary signs have a direct impact on and relationship to the image and aesthetic of the community;
<br /> B. The manner of installation, location and maintenance of signs affects the public health, safety, welfare and aesthetics
<br />of the community;
<br /> C. An opportunity for viable identification of community businesses, residences, and institutions must be established;
<br /> D. The safety of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and other users of public streets and property is affected by the number,
<br />size, location and appearance of signs that create a hazard for drivers, particularly from dynamic display signs;
<br /> E. Installation of signs suspended from, projecting over, or placed on the tops of buildings, walks or other structures may
<br />constitute a hazard during periods of high winds and an obstacle to effective fire-fighting and other emergency service;
<br /> F. Uncontrolled and unlimited signs and sign types, particularly dynamic display signs, adversely impact the image and
<br />aesthetic attractiveness of the community and thereby undermine economic value and growth;
<br /> G. Uncontrolled and unlimited signs, particularly temporary signs which are commonly located within or adjacent to public
<br />right-of-way or are located at driveway/street intersections, result in roadside clutter and obstruction of views of oncoming
<br />traffic. This creates a hazard to drivers and pedestrians and also adversely impacts a logical flow of information;
<br /> H. Commercial signs are generally incompatible with residential uses and should be strictly limited in residential zoning
<br />districts; and
<br /> I. The right to express noncommercial opinions in any zoning district must be protected, subject to reasonable restrictions
<br />on size, height, location and number.
<br />1200.03 Scope of Regulations.
<br /> The sign regulations set forth in this Chapter shall apply to all structures and all land uses. This Chapter describes the
<br />signage standards for the nine sign districts that overlay the zoning districts of the City. Specific additional regulations are
<br />established for signs which are unique in purpose and not easily addressed by district regulations. No person, property
<br />owner, lessee shall place, erect, alter, modify, enhance or change in any way a sign that does not conform to the
<br />requirements of this Chapter and all other applicable regulations.
<br />1200.04 Severability.
<br /> If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phase, or other part of this Chapter is for any reason held to be invalid, such
<br />invalidity shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining portion of this Chapter. The City Council hereby
|