CR 91-02 Revised Sign Rehabilitation
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.. December 27, 1990 K I Council Report: 91-2
REVISED SIGN REHABILITATION
GRANT PROGRAM
Proposed Action.
.,> Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: "Move to adopt the
sign Rehabilitation Grant Proqram and Desiqn Guidelines as amended."
As part of this motion, staff recommends that the Zoning and Planning
Commission be ,directed to review the items which the Business Council
has identified. This amended program will provide a clear set of
guidelines and will provide funding for the types of signs which the
business community have indicated are a vital part of their business
operations.
Overview.
The original Sign Grant program was established in 1986 and amended in
1989. The program was established with excess community Development
Block Grant Funds amounting to $5500. Presently it is budgeted as
part of the Economic Development Fund.
~" Over the past year, staff has used this program to help several
. businesses. However, it became apparent during these projects that
the program failed to meet the business community's need in two areas;
design and type of signs.
Staff worked with a Committee of the Hopkins Business Council to work
on establishing some new guidelines, procedures and program changes .
The changes which have been detai1ed within the report have attempted
to meet the above problems.
primary Issues to Consider.
o What is the overall purpose of the program?
o What are the major changes to the program?
o Why the change to include illuminated signs?
o What are the major changes to the design guidelines?
o What affects do these changes have on the program?
o Who will be reviewing the signs for design criteria?
o What items has the Business Council identified for review by
the zoning and Planning Commission?
SUDDorting Information.
o Old Program Guidelines
o Revised program guidelines
o Revised design guidelines
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Brian Fritsinger Cj;O
Economic Development Specialist '
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:'. SIGN GRANT PROGRAM
~ CR: 91-2
Page 2
Analysis
Based on this report and the proposal recommended, the Council has the
following issues to consider:
o What is the overall purpose of the program?
The intent of the Hopkins Mainstreet Sign Rehabilitation Grant Program
is to provide money for the repair of old signs in order to enhance
the buildings character and Hopkins overall appearance.
o What are the major changes to the program?
The revised Sign Grant Program would involve only 3 changes to the
program:
1. Allow Neon and Internally lit signs.
2. Require conformance with new Design Guidelines.
3. Combine the program boundaries into one specific set of
... guidelines. (The current progr~m h~s one set of gui<;lelines for
core CBD and another set of gu~del~nes for the rema~nder of
the program boundaries.)
4. Allow staff to undertake minor changes that do not
significantly alter the intent of the program.
o Why the change to include illuminated signs?
In meeting with the business community, they indicated that internally
illuminated and neon signs are an integral part of a downtown business
district. It was recognized that allowing this type of sign would
require some close scrutiny so as to reduce the potential for signs
which would not be compatible with the historic character of the CBD.
Because of the concern in regards to funding non-compatible
illuminated or neon signs, the design committee was then established
to review these signs for their compliance with the design standards
established by the business community. The sign design guidelines
were also strengthened to provide stricter control over this type of
signage.
o What are the major changes to the design guidelines?
There were only three major changes to the design guidelines as
". established by the Business Council. They are as follows:
L Clarify the definition of a "sign".
2. clarify the definition of the "area of a sign".
3. Provide graphics which help illustrate desired signage.
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-. SIGN GRANT PROGRAM
CR: 91-2
Page 3
The remainder of the changes to the guidelines were to clean them up
and clarify some of the objectives. These were primarily in regards
to the signs compatibility with surrounding structures and keeping in
line with any historic character of buildings.
0 What affects do these changes have on the grant program?
The changes made to the program provide incentive to the type of signs
which the business community desires to see within the CBD. The
change to illuminated signs is a major policy change and should be
considered carefully.
The remainder of the changes should help both staff and the applicant
to create signs which are desired ih the community.
0 Who will be reviewing the signs for design criteria?
. A Committee consisting of four Business Council members and staff will
review each sign for its ability to meet the standards established.
o What items has the Business Council identified for review by the
Zoning and Planning Commission?
The Committee identified the following areas of the zoning ordinance
for review by Zoning & Planning, (they can be reviewed in more depth
in the attached minutes from a design committee meeting) :
1. Section 570.01 - the definition of a sign. The Committee
would like to see the definition outlined in the Design
Guidelines to be incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance.
2. section 570.33 - the area of a sign. The Committee would like
this definition to be consistant with the proposed definition.
3. Section 570.03 - Permit reauired. The committee indicated a
desire to see better definitions for the words "altered" and
"maintained".
4. section 570.33 - Area. This section addresses how to
determine the area of a sign. It states the area within the
frame shall be used to calculate the square footage except
-. that the width of a frame exceeding 12 inches shall constitute
advertising space, and if such letters or graphics be mounted
directly on a wall or fascia or in such a way as to be without
a frame the dimensions for calculating the square footage be
the area extending beyond the periphery formed around such
letter. . .
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. SIGN GRANT PROGRAM
CR: 91-2
Page 4
The Committee contends that the interpretation of a frame under this
section is incorrect. currently, an example of how the ordinance is
enforced under the provision is that if ,the sign is painted on a flat
baseboard, with no upraised frame enclosing the graphics, the area is
based upon the 6 inch provision.' '
The Committee believes that this 6 inch provision should only be used,
for example, in the cases of an individual directly attaching, letters
to the building. If the letters are painted or attached to a
baseboard which is then attached to the building as a sign, the area
should be determined by the size of the baseboard attached to the
building, not the letters on the baseboard.
Alternatives.
Based on the above information, the City Council has the following
alternatives to consider:
1. Move to adopt the sign Rehabilitation Grant Program and Design
. Guidelines as amended.
2. Direct staff to make no changes to the Grant Program but to
adopt the new Design Guidelines.
3. continue the item for further information from staff.
4. Direct staff to take no further action on this item.
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