VII.3. First Reading Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 of the Hopkins City Code Regarding Signage; Krzos
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2023-133
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Ryan Krzos, City Planner
Date: December 5, 2023
Subject: First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Development Code
Regarding Signage
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO Adopt for First Reading, Ordinance 2023-1204 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 previous Zoning Ordinance. While a
more complete update of the sign code is warranted in the future, two issues are
needing more immediate consideration for amendment. The first issue relates to the
definition of sign area, the second matter would create a new type of sign for pedestrian
wayfinding.
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.
Planning & Development
To clarify the practice of calculating sign area 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
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, however the language is 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 three feet
in height and six square feet in sign area. Slightly larger signs (eight square feet in area
and six feet in height) are allowed internal to site driveways within larger developments.
Recognizing that pedestrian travel is equally essential to guide, staff is proposing to add
walkway signage as a new type of sign. The concept for walkway signage would be
similar to driveway signage except that the signs would need to be located near internal
sidewalks. Walkway signs would be limited to the same display area size (six square
feet), but the height maximum of walkway signs would be five feet in order to allow the
display at eye level. Only properties with multiple buildings or sites over 50,000 square
feet in area would be eligible for walkway signs consistent with the provisions for
internal driveway signage. The signage code cannot mandate the type of information
posted on such signage; due to content-based requirements being prohibited.
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 navigation.
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.
Planning and Zoning Commission Review
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance
amendment at their November 28, 2023 meeting. Notice of the public hearing was
published in the City’s official newspaper. No comments from the public were received
following publication or during the public hearing. The Commission unanimously
approved a resolution recommending the City Council approve the proposed Ordinance.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Proposed Ordinance 2023-1204 Amending the Hopkins Development Code
Regarding Signage
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, excluding any structural elements outside the limits of such sign and not
forming an integral part of the display. 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, 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. 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