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Background In January 2007, the City Council enacted a one year moratorium on dynamic display signage. Dynamic display signs are billboards or other types of signs that can change messages and/or pictures electronically. The Clear Channel billboard at the northeast intersection of Interstates 35W and 694 is an example of a dynamic display sign. During the moratorium period, dynamic sign research was reviewed, the City's legal counsel was consulted, and other city's regulations were evaluated. The City Council came to a consensus that new dynamic signage should not be permitted in the City at this time. Although the current regulations do not permit dynamic signage, it was determined that the language banning such signs should be clarified. Therefore, the City Council has directed Staff to prepare an amendment to the Sign Code that specifically prohibits new dynamic signage. Although the Sign Code was last updated in June of 2006, it is important to continuously evaluate City codes to ensure that they are meeting City goals and State statutes. Therefore, in addition to the more specific dynamic sign regulations, Staff is proposing other changes to further clarify and update the Sign Code. Proposed Changes since January Planning Commission meeting The attached amended Sign Code shows the proposed changes, additions, and deletions. Only the proposed changes since the January Planning Commission are summarized below. Please refer to the January 7, 2008, memorandum for a full description of the proposed changes. Section 1200: Purpose and Findings ■ In the last sentence of Subd 1, the phrase "advances the City's goals" was removed. In its place, the following language was added: "The purpose of these sign regulations is to authorize:" • The second sentence of Subd 1 was amended to explicitly include residential areas in addition to commercial/industrial areas for sign regulations. Section 1210: Definitions ■ The "clear vision area" definition was clarified to state the "edge of the driving surface" instead of the "edge of the road" since the edge of the road is not always clear on certain streets. • The "dynamic display" definition was amended to specifically include projected displays and all other types of electronic displays. • The "graphic sign" definition was added from the current ordinance. back into the definition list. It is unchanged • A definition for "grand opening" was added and regulations related to temporary signs for businesses with grand openings were added to Section 1250.02 Subd 4. • The "sign height" definition was amended to measure height from the average elevation of the nearest street instead of the first floor elevation of the nearest building. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Work Session for February 6, 2008 I Metro-inet.uslardenhillsTlanninglPlanning Cases12006 08-004 Sign Code (UPCOMING) 1020608 -PC Report - Sign Code Update.doe Page 2 of 4