V.1. 2023-15 Development Code Text Amendment Related to Signage
CITY OF HOPKINS
P&Z Report 2023-15
To: Planning and Zoning Commission Chair and Members of the Commission
From: Ryan Krzos, City Planner
Date: November 28, 2023
Subject: Development Code Text Amendment for Signage
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt Planning & Zoning Resolution 2023-16, recommending the Hopkins
City Council approve an ordinance amending the Hopkins Development Code regarding
signage.
OVERVIEW
The City’s Development Code contains provisions to regulate signage displayed in
Hopkins. When the Development Code was updated, the signage related provisions
were mostly unchanged and carried over from the prior Zoning Ordinance. While staff
recognizes a more complete update of the sign code is warranted, two issues are
needing more immediate consideration for amendment.
Sign Area Definition
One of the basic standards contained in the sign code is the amount of sign area
allowed per building. The definition of “Sign area” – see below – determines how the
area calculation is made. Staff finds that the underlined operational provisions of the
definition are vague and unnecessarily complicate the calculation methodology.
(51) Sign area. A measurement of the area (size/square footage) within the
frame of the sign, except that when the width of the frame exceeds 12 inches in
the frame must be included in calculating sign area. When letters or graphics are
mounted directly on a wall or fascia without a frame, the calculation of the sign's
area must include the area extending 6 inches beyond the periphery formed
around the letters or graphics in a plane figure bounded by straight lines. Each
surface utilized to display a message or to attract attention must be measured as
a separate sign. Symbols, flags, pictures, wording, figures or other forms of
graphics painted on or attached to windows, walls, awnings, freestanding
structures, suspended by balloons, or kites or on persons, animals, or vehicles
are considered a sign and are included in calculating total sign area.
To clarify the practice staff is proposing to modify the text as follows:
Sign area. A measurement of the area (size/square footage) within the frame of
the sign, excluding any structural elements outside the limits of such sign and not
forming an integral part of the display. When letters or graphics are mounted
Planning & Development
directly on a wall, fascia, canopy, or awning without a frame, the calculation of
the sign's area shall be the smallest rectangle which encloses the sign message
or logo. Each surface utilized to display a message or to attract attention must be
measured as a separate sign. Symbols, flags, pictures, wording, figures or other
forms of graphics painted on or attached to windows, walls, awnings,
freestanding structures, suspended by balloons, or kites or on persons, animals,
or vehicles are considered a sign and are included in calculating total sign area.
The type of building signage typically installed at present consists primarily of individual
letters mounted on the exterior wall. Signage within a frame is a style generally falling
out of favor for new signage. As such, the need to include frame width in sign area is
much less relevant today, and thus can be clarified within definition from staff’s
perspective. The methodology for measuring sign area for letters mounted on a wall is
remains largely the same, the language is just spelled out more clearly. The revised
language is also more consistent the language used by peer communities.
Walkway Signage
The sign code defines specific types of signs that are allowed. One such type is a
driveway sign. These are smaller signs that are to be installed near driveways and
typically contain wayfinding information such as “enter” “exit” or similar information.
These signs are required to be within 10 feet of a driveway and are limited to 3 feet in
height and 6 square feet in sign area. Slightly larger signs (8 square feet in area and 6
feet in height) are allowed internal to site driveways within larger developments.
Recognizing that pedestrian travel is equally as essential to guide staff is
recommending adding walkway signage to these provisions. The concept for walkway
signage is similar to driveway signage except that the signs would need to be located
near internal sidewalks and they would be limited to the same size. The proposed
height maximum of walkway signs is 5 feet in order to allow the display at eye level.
Review Criteria
In deciding Development Code text amendments, the City is acting in a legislative
capacity. When considering a legislative action, the City is creating development
standards to regulate land use. Under the law, the City has wide flexibility to create
standards that will ensure the type of development it desires; however, these
regulations must be reasonable and supported by a rational basis relating to promoting
the public health, safety and welfare. Per the Code, in making decisions about
development code text amendments, the Planning & Zoning Commission and City
Council must consider all relevant factors, including at least the following:
(1) Whether the proposed development code text amendment is in conformity with
the comprehensive plan; and
(2) Whether the proposed development code text amendment corrects an error or
inconsistency or will help meet the challenge of a changed or changing condition.
Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan sets a land use goal to encourage all public and private
developments to be well-designed, durable, human-scaled, and pedestrian oriented.
Providing a clear standard for measuring the size of signage allows for consistency
among applications which will contribute to better overall design. Adding the proposed
walkway signage will further pedestrian orientation as wayfinding signage at walkway
scale allows for efficient circulation.
Correcting an Error or Addressing a Changing Condition
Staff proposes the text amendment to modify the sign area definition to address a
vague and overly complicated standard. Staff proposes the addition of walkway signage
to address the inconsistency between allowing driveway signs oriented toward motorists
without having similar signage oriented toward pedestrians.
Review Procedure
The procedure for amending the Development Code involves publication of a notice in
the City’s official newspaper. No comments from the public were received following
publication. The Planning and Zoning Commission must also conduct a public hearing
and provide a recommendation to the City Council. If so inclined, the Commission could
recommend modification of the proposed ordinance, or could table the request for
further information and/or study. The City Council will consider the Commission’s
recommendation and would need to conduct two readings of the proposed ordinance in
order to adopt the amendment. Council review is tentatively scheduled to occur at the
two December meetings pending Planning and Zoning Commission action on the
recommendation.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Proposed Ordinance 2023-1204 Amending the Hopkins Development Code
Regarding Signage
• Planning and Zoning Commission Resolution 2023-16
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2023-16
RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING SIGNAGE
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins’ Development Code establishes provisions related to
the installation and display of signage within the City; and
WHEREAS, City staff initiated an ordinance amendment to modify the definition of sign
area, and to add walkway signage as an allowable sign type in the City; and
WHEREAS, the proposed ordinance is intended to clarify the definition of sign area
which is used in the determination of the size of allowable signage; and
WHEREAS, the proposed ordinance also establishes a walkway sign, which is intended
to allow for directional signage oriented to pedestrians circulating in and around larger
properties in Hopkins; and
WHEREAS, the Hopkins Zoning and Planning Commission, pursuant to published
notice, held a public hearing on and reviewed the proposed ordinance on November 28,
2023: all persons present were given an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the written comments and analysis of City staff were considered.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning & Zoning Commission of the
City of Hopkins hereby recommends the City Council of the City of Hopkins approve an
ordinance amending Chapter 102 of the City Code Regarding Signage.
Adopted this 28th day of November, 2023.
___________________________
Andrew Wright, Chair
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORIDNANCE 2023-1204
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 102 OF THE HOPKINS CITY CODE
REGARDING SIGNAGE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Hopkins City Code, Part III, Chapter 102, Article 10, Section 102-10110, is
hereby amended by adding the double-underlined language as follows:
102-10110 Driveway and Walkway Signs
102-10110 (a) ENTRANCES AND EXITS One driveway sign may be installed at
each vehicle entrance and exit to any lot occupied by an allowed nonresidential use
or multi-unit residential building. Such signs must be located within 10 feet of the
intersection of the driveway and the street right-of-way. Driveway signs may be
illuminated but may not exceed 4 square feet in area or 3 feet in height.
102-10110 (b) INTERNAL
(1) Off-street parking areas with a capacity of more than 4 vehicles, multi-tenant
developments and uses on lots exceeding 50,000 square feet in area may
display internal site driveway signs. Such signs must be located within 10 feet of
an internal site driveway or drive aisle and may not exceed 8 square feet in area
or 6 feet in height.
(2) Developments containing multiple buildings on a lot, or lots exceeding 50,000
square feet in area may display internal walkway signs. Such signs must be
located within 10 feet of an internal walkway and may not exceed 6 square feet in
area or five feet in height.
SECTION 2. Hopkins City Code, Part III, Chapter 102, Article 10, Section 102-1010 (f)
(61), is hereby amended by adding the double-underlined language as follows:
(61) Walkway sign. A sign located near an internal site sidewalk circulation network
that provides a permanent pathway for pedestrians between public streets and
building entrances.
(62) Window sign. Any building sign, pictures, symbol, or combination thereof,
designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event,
sale, or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass
and is visible from the exterior of the window.
SECTION 3. Hopkins City Code, Part III, Chapter 102, Article 10, Section 102-1010 (f)
(51), is hereby amended by adding the double-underlined language as follows:
(51) Sign area. A measurement of the area (size/square footage) within the frame of
the sign, except that when the width of the frame exceeds 12 inches in the frame must
be included in calculating sign area. When letters or graphics are mounted directly on
a wall or fascia without a frame, the calculation of the sign's area must include the
area extending 6 inches beyond the periphery formed around the letters or graphics
in a plane figure bounded by straight lines. Each surface utilized to display a message
or to attract attention must be measured as a separate sign. Symbols, flags, pictures,
wording, figures or other forms of graphics painted on or attached to windows, walls,
awnings, freestanding structures, suspended by balloons, or kites or on persons,
animals, or vehicles are considered a sign and are included in calculating total sign
area.
SECTION 4. The effective date of this ordinance shall be December 28, 2023.
First Reading: December 5, 2023
Second Reading: December 19, 2023
Date of Publication: December 28, 2023
Date Ordinance Takes Effect: December 28, 2023
By:___________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk