Zoning Amendment-Super ValuDecember 19, 1988
ZONING AMENDMENT - SUPER VALU
101 Jefferson Avenue South
Planning Report: ZN88 -6
Proposed Action.
Staff recommends the following motion: "Move that the Zoning Ordinance
not be amended to allow electronic message signs within the City of
Hopkins".
Adoption of this motion will not allow electronic
the City.
message signs within
Overview.
The Zoning Ordinance does not presently allow any illuminated
flashing, rotating or animated signs. Super Valuu wants to put two new
signs on the west side of the penthouse area of the new freezer
addition. One sign is a nameplate sign and the second is an
electronic message sign.
Staff is recommending denial to amend
• negative sight impact.
Issues to Consider.
o What is the specific request by Super Valu?
o Should the City allow this type of sign in the City?
Supporting Documents.
o Location Map
o
Site Plan
t a rn s r I r f
p
Nancy . Anderson
Community Development
Analyst
Resolution
because of the
the ordinance
•
ZN :88 -6
Page 2
Background.
The following are examples of other city ordinances that allow some
sort of electronic messages:
MINNETONKA - Illuminated flashing signs, moving beacons, zip flashers,
or similar devices shall not be permitted in any use
district. However, in a B -2 shopping center district and
B -4 general business district flashing signs are
permitted when limited to public service messages only,
such as: time, temperature, Dow Jones averages, etc.
BURNSVILLE - Any sign which moves or rotates including electronic
reader board signs, except time and temperature
information signs and barber poles.
No sign shall display any moving parts, be illuminated
with any flashing or intermittent lights, or shall it be
animated, except time and temperature information. All
displays shall be shielded to prevent any light to be
directed at on- coming traffic in such brilliance as to
impair the vision of any driver. No device shall be
illuminated in such a manner as to interfere with or
obscure an official traffic sign or signal. this
includes indoor signs which are visible from public
streets.
ST. LOUIS PARK - Changing signs are prohibited except those signs
which display only any one or a combination of the
following: time, temperature and stock market indexes.
COON RAPIDS- There shall be no signs having blinking, flashing, or
fluttering lights or which change in brightness or color.
a) electronic variable message signs are permitted which
provide public service information or advertise
activities conducted on the premises on which the sign is
located.
b) electronic variable message signs are defined as those
signs whose message may be changed at reasonable
intervals by electronic process or remote control and
whose only movement is the periodic changing of
information against a solid, colorless background,
engineered for maximum legibility and readability, and
having a constant light level and glare - reducing screens.
The light from an illuminated sign shall not reflect
direct rays of light onto adjacent property or public
streets.
No incandescent lamp shall be used on exterior surfaces
of any sign which exceeds 15 watts during night time
hours.
•
It appears that of those cities that allow electronic message signs,
most allow only time, temperature and stock market information.
What is the specific request by Super Valu?
Super Valu is proposing to locate two signs on the penthouse area on
their new freezer warehouse.
One sign is a Super Valu sign 8'x 16' and the second sign is the
electronic message sign 2'8" x 21'8.
The height of the penthouse is approximately 56 feet high. The
maximum height for signs is 35 feet unless the sign is a name plate
sign and attached to the structure. The Super Valu sign is allowed at
the proposed height but not the electronic message sign. Super Valu
is also requesting that the ordinance is changed to allow electronic
message signs at the same height as name plate signs.
Super Valu does have the square footage to allow both signs.
- Should the City allow this type of sign in the City?
411/ I checked into many cities and found that most of them do not allow
electronic message signs. Of the cities I checked, only Coon Rapids
allows electronic message signs and limits the messages to service
messages or to advertise activities on the premises. If the zoning
amendment requested by Super Valu is granted, any other business in
Hopkins will also be allowed to have this type of sign.
Cities in the past have not allowed flashing, moving and rotating
lights because they add to sight pollution. A few years ago the
Zoning Ordinance was changed to reduce the signage allowed to each
business. This change was because of a concern of the large signs
that could be put in the city. It would seem a contradiction now to
allow signs that would contribute to a negative sight impact.
Another consideration with electronic signs is the distraction caused
to drivers on the adjacent roads. The proposed location for the
subject sign will be visible from County Road 3 and County Road 18.
The proposed location is not a good location for driver distraction
because of the visibility from County Road 3 and 18.
Alternatives.
ZN88 -6
Page 3
1. Deny the request to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow
electronic message signs and to allow these signs higher than
35 feet. By denying the request, Super Valu or any other
business in the City will not be able to put up the proposed
electronic message sign on the penthouse.
ZN88 -6
Page 4 4
2. Grant the request to amend the ordinance to allow electronic
message signs and to allow these signs higher than 35 feet.
By amending the ordinance Super Valu will be able to put an
electronic message signs on the penthouse of their new freezer
warehouse. Other businesses in Hopkins will be able to have
this type of sign also.
3. Grant the request to amend the ordinance to allow electronic
message signs, but allow only time and temperature as the
message. This will allow Super Valu and other businesses to
put up electronic message signs with only the time and
temperature.
1 4. Continue for further information. If the Commission feels
that more information is needed, the item should be continued.
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November 28, 1988
City of Hopkins
Community Development
1010 South 1st Street
Hopkins, MN 55343
RE:
Amendment to Zoning Ordinance to Allow a Reading
Message Center for Super Valu Stores, Inc.,
Located at 101 Jefferson Ave. So., Hopkins, MN
Thank you for your consideration.
Warren Decker
Division Controller
THE
RE1AJ L
SUPER VALU STORES, INC.
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. BOX 1451 • MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440
We request approval for a message center to be located on our
newly finished freezer addition which will be used in conjunction
with our new Super Valu sign. The message center will be used
as a community service, offering time and temperature and also
could be available to the City to announce city /civic events.
We would also use the message center to announce new stores open-
ing and special events.
MINNEAPOLIS DIVISION: 101 JEFFERSON AVENUE SOUTH • HOPKINS. MINNESOTA 55343 • PHONE (612) 932 -4300
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CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO: 89 -5
RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS OF FACT AND DENYING
APPLICATION FOR ZONING AMENDMENT ZN:88 -6
WHEREAS, an application for a Zoning Amendment
entitled ZN:88 -6 made by Super Valu Inc., 101 Jefferson
Avenue South, to allow electronic message signs is denied.
WHEREAS, the procedural history_ of the application
is as follows:
1. That an application for a Zoning Amendment
ZN:88 -6 was filed with the City of Hopkins on
December 2, 1988.
2. That the Hopkins Planning Commission reviewed
such application on December 27, 1988.
3. That the Hopkins Planning Commission, pursuant
to published and mailed notices, held a public
hearing on December 27, 1988: all persons
present at the hearing were given an
opportunity to be heard.
4. That the written comments and analysis of the
City Staff and the Planning Commission were
considered.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that application for
Zoning Amendment ZN:88 -6 is hereby denied with following
Findings of Fact:
1. That electronic message signs will cause
additional sight pollution in Hopkins.
2. That electronic message signs have the
potential to cause a distraction to drivers and
cause traffic problems.
Adopted this 3rd day of January 1989.
Donald J. Milbert, Mayor