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("Historically, courts have been reluctant to allow governing authorities to base zoning ordinances on esthetic considerations."); White Bear Docking & Storage, Inc. v. City of White Bear Lake, 324 N.W.2d 174, 177-78 (Minn. 1982) (holding that aesthetic considerations "will not be the sole justification for approval or denial" of a project in a case involving a special use permit) (intemal quotation marks and citation omitted). Finally, even accepting the City's premise that internally lit signs would be "inappropriate for the industrial character" of District 7, and that this type of aesthetic regulation is pennissible, the Sign Code still lacks any rational basis. Local ordinances must be reasonably related to their stated purpose, Wheeler, 722 N.W.2d at 334, and the extemal lighting requirement is not. For although intemallighting is not permitted forfreestanding signs in District 7, such lighting is permissible for wall signs with this district. Sign Code tbl. 1.7 7 To the extent that the City justifies the external lighting requirement based on its conclusion that "that the purpose ofthe signage allowed in District 7 was not to attract the attention of customers, but to provide directional and locational information," the restriction also raises serious First Amendment concerns, because it amounts to a content-based restriction. See Prolife Minnesota v. Minnesota Pro-Life Comm., 632 N.W.2d 748,753 (Minn. App. 2001) (noting that "[cJontent-based restrictions on speech survive First Amendment strict-scrutiny analysis only if they are necessary to serve a compelling state interest and are narrowly drawn to achieve that end"). Clear Channel did not previously assert a First Amendment claim because it was not aware of this content-based rationale, which the City eXplained for the first time in discovery responses served on April 7, 2008. In the event that the Court disagrees with Clear Channel, and concludes that summary judgment is not appropriate, Clear Channel will likely seek to amend its Complaint in this regard. 21