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<br />OFF-PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGNS FOR INSTITUTIONAL USES IN <br />RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS <br /> <br />The City Council did not favor a total ban on this type of sign, <br />but, strongly agreed with the need to limit their size, number and <br />to come back with a recommendation. <br /> <br />First of all, it was clearly understood that this standard will <br />apply to any permitted institutional use in the residential <br />district. The current ordinance singles out churches and we do not <br />believe that is legal. <br /> <br />As to size and location, we think 2 ft. by 3 ft. (6 sq. ft.) is an <br />appropriate size. Any smaller than this and it is doubtful that <br />they could be read by motorists. <br /> <br />The question of location and number are related and we are still <br />studying this question. One aspect of location is placement and it <br />would seem that these signs will need to continue to be located <br />within the public right of way. However, we will want to have a <br />provision for the approval of specific locations to ensure that <br />they will not interfere with sight distance and traffic visibility. <br />Therefore, some form of review by the Planning Director, or city <br />Engineer should be required. <br /> <br />The other aspect of location gets at the questions of how many and <br />where. Here the City Council agreed with the idea of establishing <br />some criteria based upon the location of the institution and <br />limiting the distance from the site to a maximum of the next <br />collector (or higher classification roadway). We are currently <br />preparing some maps to review with you at the meeting. These maps <br />will show the locations of all of the churches and other known <br />institutional uses in the residential districts and the pertinent <br />street network. <br /> <br />The point in this discussion is that there are some institutional <br />uses that are located at the corner of two collector streets. It <br />seems obvious that their need for off-premises directional signs is <br />different from a similar use located in the middle of a <br />neighborhood. It is also clear that the purpose .of these signs is <br />to direct people who are in the immediate vicinity and not from <br />miles away. <br /> <br />It was also clear from our discussion at the workshop that the <br />Council agreed that these signs needed to be kept in good repair <br />and that several of the existing signs that are located miles away <br />from the place are inappropriate and should not be allowed. <br />