06-05-24 PC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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PC Agenda Item — 4A ,-ARZEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: June 5, 2024 TO: Planning Commission Chair and Commissioners FROM: Elena Fransen, Senior Planner SUBJECT: Sign Code Review — Summary of EDC Review Requested Action The Economic Development Commission has reviewed Chapter 12 — Sign Code of the City of Arden Hills Code of Ordinances. Members of the EDC have drafted a summary of recommended revisions for the City's Sign Code to be reviewed with members of the Planning Commission. Background At their April 17, 2023 meeting, the City Council reviewed a list of staff -identified code amendments for further discussion. Signage was added to this list as a task for the Economic Development Commission. Direction was given to review the current sign code to ensure the standards are consistent with current technology and community needs. At the August 23, 2023 Economic Development Commission meeting, staff presented an introduction to the sign code, with a focus on non-residential, permanent commercial message signage, covering the current format and content of the code with sign standards by sign district and sign type. At subsequent meetings, the EDC reviewed standards for different sign types with an awareness of recent requests for sign standard flexibility through planned unit developments and sign standard adjustments. The group considered wall signage, freestanding signage, and dynamic display signs. The review also included a comparison of the sign codes for the Cities of Shoreview and New Brighton. Summary of EDC comments Takeaways from the EDC review of the city sign code were that the sign code should be easy for business owners to understand and equitable. Commissioners suggested that the sign code could be made simpler and more approachable for businesses. The more detailed summary of the EDC's review comments are included in Attachment A and noted below: General Sign Code - Recommendations Page 1 of 2