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Sign Ordinance Revisions• May 24, 1984 To: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Jim Kerrigan Re: Sign Ordinance Revisions Enclosed is information related to the revision of the sign ordinance. Nancy Anderson, the person that replaced Ann Norris, has been working with Richard Hill, Sign Inspector, on this matter. There have also been meetings with the City Attorney regarding possible changes. He had a number of con- cerns, and most specifically how non - conforming signs are dealt with. If the Commission determines that the recommended changes are acceptable they need to be reviewed by both Richard Hill on enforceability and Jerre Miller on the legal aspects (both individuals were on vacation when these changes were drafted). r • May 24, 1984 PROBLEM AREAS WITH THE SIGN ORDINANCE a) Non - conforming signs Nothing exists in the sign ordinance to make any sign non - conforming. It has only been implied policy since the amended ordinance removed the non - conforming provision from the ordinance. Other communities have provisions that deal with non - conforming signs in different ways. Although it is questionable from a legal standpoint to have all non- conforming signs brought into compliance with the ordinance it appears this is possible for some signs such as those strictly prohibited. Hopkins has signs that have flashing lights, such as Lindees and Clark Gas Station which are prohibited signs. Temporary Signs b) The sign ordinance does not require permits for temporary signs as it does for portable signs. Temporary signs hence are harder to control because the date erected and frequency are often obscure. What is recommended is that temporary signs other than political, real estate and For Rent signs be required to have permits. c) Removal of Signs The sign ordinance has no provision to remove signs on a building once it has been vacated. A statement should be included that once the building use is terminated the owner is required to remove the on- premise signs after a certain amount of time. Also the billboards will be removed in,the same period of time. Surrounding communities use 14 to 30 days to remove signs. d) Billboards The Hopkins sign ordinance needs more restrictions for billboards. The ordinance has no provisions for distance between signs, distance from R distrcits and residential structures and also the distance from an on- premise sign. Coon Rapids sign ordinance is an example of a restrictive ordinance. This ordinance prohibits Billboards within 500 feet of all public parks, rest areas, or residential structures. Billboards may not be placed within 1000 feet of another billboard on the same side of the street. Also they cannot be erected within 100 feet of a building other than a residential structure or within 100 feet of an on- premises sign. Provisions like these need to be inserted in the ordinance to protect the city from having billboards going up all over. • May 24, 1984 POSSIBLE REVISED LANGUAGE REGARDING SIGNS 427.42 (7) Temporary signs temporary signs, banners, pennants, and portable signs (excluding political, real estate, and For Rent signs) shall not be erected or placed without a sign permit from the City of Hopkins. Such permits may be issued for a maximum of 30 days per year (30 days are up to the discretion of the applicant) (17)Removal of signs Wall non - conforming prohibited signs lawfully existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance shall be allowed to continue in use for a period of not more than two years from the date of adoption. (d)whenever use of a non- conforming sign as been discontinued for a period of six months, such use shall hereafter be resumed unless.u conformance with the provisions of this ordinance 409.60 Billboards (a) billboards are prohibited within 500 feet of all public parks, rest areas, or residential structures, measured laterally along the roadway and 200 feet in any other direction. If a residential structure is constructed on residential property within these dis- tances, the sign shall be removed within three years. on- premises signs shall be removed from the building and property erected closer than by the owner of such property within 14 days after the use is term- inated. Billboards shall be removed within 14 days after discon- the same tinuation of use of the sign for advertising purposes, as indicated 100 feet of a by removal of the advertising message or termination of the business building, other than a so advertised. structure (18) Non - conforming signs (a)any non - conforming temporary or portable sign existing at the time If such a of adoption of this ordinance shall be made to comply with the re- is constructed within quirements set forth herein or shall be removed within 30 days 100 feet of an existing after the adoption of this ordinance, such sign (b)permanent signs lawfully existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance and not conforming to its provisions, but which did con - form to previous laws shall be regarded as non- conforming signs which may be continued if properly repaired and maintained as pro- vided in this ordinance and if in conformance with other ordinances of the city. All non - conforming signs shall not be rebuilt, altered or relocated without being brought into compliance with the require- ments of this ordinance. Wall non - conforming prohibited signs lawfully existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance shall be allowed to continue in use for a period of not more than two years from the date of adoption. (d)whenever use of a non- conforming sign as been discontinued for a period of six months, such use shall hereafter be resumed unless.u conformance with the provisions of this ordinance 409.60 Billboards (a) billboards are prohibited within 500 feet of all public parks, rest areas, or residential structures, measured laterally along the roadway and 200 feet in any other direction. If a residential structure is constructed on residential property within these dis- tances, the sign shall be removed within three years. (b) billboards shall not be erected closer than 1000 feet to another sign on the same side of the same street; within 100 feet of a building, other than a residential structure or within 100 feet of an on- premises sign. If such a building is constructed within 100 feet of an existing billboard, such sign shall be removed within three years. 0 (c) billboards may not be located closer than 250 feet from a residential district. Winitinns Temporary sign - shall mean any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising device, placed on any building, structure or land and advertising an event or a situation and placed on any lot or parcel of land to which the attention is to be directed for a period not exceeding thirty days of any calendar year. Portable sign - a sign constructed to be movable from one location to another and not permanently attached to the ground or to any immobile structure. Such sign may consist of a mobile structure such as a semitrailer, carriage, van, sled or other device whose primary function during a specific time is to serve as a sign. 409.50 Subd 2. In all zoning districts except 6 -2, no sign which is erected or maintained flat against any building or structure in said location shall extend or pro - ject more than fifteen inches over the sidewalk, street, or highway. In a 6 -2 District overhanging signs are permitted at horizontal intervals along the front property line of not less than twenty -five feet (25'0 "). Over - hanging signs should be no greater dimension than eighteen inches wide by sixteen inches high (18" 16 "), shall extend no more than twenty -four inches (24 ") from property line and shall be mounted no lower than eight feet (8'0 ") from ��� 0 •