03-24-24 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – FEBRUARY 28, 2024 3 forward. Did the Commission think they should be permitted for other business uses? They are currently only permitted for drive-through restaurants. They have had some requests for different uses; recently there was an application approved for a carwash and there had been interest in using dynamic display signs for point of sale processes. For this type of use, a dynamic display would not be permitted. Commissioner Murchie thought there might be a geographic component to it and they should be considerate of adjacent businesses in adjacent towns having a difference in code from Arden Hills. He said there could be a competitive edge to businesses with this technology. He’d be open to talking through areas that have dynamic signs on one side of the street but not the other. Commissioner Brausen said in a neighboring town they are also allowed to have lighting around canopies such as Holiday or Speedway. Chair Cupery felt an issue was lighting glare from the signs, proximity to homes and other businesses. He thought they should continue to discuss it considering they were the only ones restricting those type of signs. Commissioner Subramanian asked if it was possible to write a separate code just for dynamic signs. Senior Planner Fransen responded that currently dynamic signs are listed as prohibited except for menu board signs, but they could review the portions of the code that apply. Commissioner Bonine said it might be worth revisiting what concerns the City Council has today. He thought dynamic signs could be allowed in certain districts that they’re not impacting residential areas as much. They could narrow the scope of what they are comfortable with in regard to timing, color, brightness and location. Commissioner Murchie asked Commissioner Brausen what the value of those signs was from his standpoint as a business owner. Commissioner Brausen replied it was being able to market against competitors. They use their sign for the gas station sales and rebates for the repair center, plus they like to do local things like promote the football teams and other community things. Dynamic display signs cost $60,000 - $100,000 so they won’t just pop up everywhere. Commissioner Bonine mentioned that a dynamic display sign would not fit with his business and that other businesses could reach that same conclusion. Senior Planner Fransen said this could be brought back for more discussion but it sounded like there was interest in some opening up of the current language for dynamic display signs. Commissioner Brausen added that they should look at why the second sign has to be smaller than the first sign, he thought Arden Hills was the only city that requires that. Commissioner Bonine discussed the code section requiring a second freestanding sign to be half the size of the first. He wondered if there was something in the code that dictated how many signs