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Section 1220: Permit and Review Process ■ The sign permit application review timeline was brought into conformance with Minnesota Statute 15.99, which is the standard review timeline for all types of planning cases. Statute 15.99 is the regulation that states all applications must be reviewed within 60 days unless extended by the City and all decisions must be made within 120 days unless extended by the applicant. Most over-the-counter sign permit applications are reviewed within two to five days. ■ The appeal process was modified to clearly state that the Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council on sign permit appeals. The previous language indicated that the Planning Commission made the final decision, which was not the intent of the Code. Section 1230: Exempt and Prohibited Signs: ■ The allowed address identification sign size was increased from two square feet to four square feet to provide more flexibility for property owners to adequately display their address numbers without needing a sign permit. • Internal signs were exempted from needing a permit. This is a new definition that was formerly included with auxiliary signs and is not a policy change. Internal signs refer to those signs that are not visible from adjacent properties or the public right-of-way. Since those types of signs have no impact on the City, a permit is not needed. ■ Dynamic display signs are specifically prohibited in this section. Section 1240: General Sign Regulations • The definition of sign district four was clarified so that properties cannot fall into multiple sign districts as was the case with the Arden Plaza redevelopment application. • In subdivision two, the regulations for determining permitted sign areas for freestanding signs was clarified but the intent was not significantly changed. • Since auxiliary and internal signs are not visible from adjacent properties or the right-of- way and since they are exempt from permits, the regulations by sign district were deleted from Table One. Section 1250: Special Provisions ■ The regulations allocating signage on multi -tenant properties were clarified. The intent of the regulations has not changed, but the regulations will now be easier to enforce since there is less room for interpretation. A multi -tenant property is treated like one parcel for monument/freestanding signs, and the property owner is responsible for allocating the permitted signage. ■ The temporary signage language was amended to limit a business to no more than three temporary signs each year and, on each occasion the temporary sign can be in place for no more than 30 days. The permits could be used consecutively. The previous code had been interpreted to allow an indefinite number of signs but the sign could only be up for 30 days. Staff is uncomfortable with that previously used interpretation because, in City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meeting for January 9, 2008 IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillslPlanninglPlanning Cases12008108-004 Sign Code (UPCOMING)1010908 - PCReport -Sign Code Update.doc Page 3 of 5