09-10-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

AGENDA ITEM Item No.: 13 Date: September 10, 2018 Item Description: LAI 8-000059 — City of Orono Text Amendment, Sign Ordinance Presenter: Jeremy Barnhart Agenda Planning Department Community Development Director Section: Report 1. Purpose. The purpose of this agenda item is to consider an amendment to the City Code pertaining to Sign regulations. 2. Background. The Sign Ordinance was the 4t1i highest priority ordinance amendment identified by the Council and Planning Commission in the fall of 2017. The City Attorney's office drafted the proposed ordinance which repeals the existing regulations in favor of regulations that are content neutral, in part a response to recent Supreme Court ruling that prohibits regulations that are based on their content, as a violation of residents first amendment rights. The revised regulation retains many of the requirements of the current code, including: 1. The draft continues to prohibit pole signs, where free standing signs are allowed, they must be monument style. 2. The draft retains the 4 temporary sign permits annually. 3. The new regulations introduces a sign standard table (Table 1). This table is central to the "content neutral" goals of this ordinance. All signs in the various districts are regulated the same manner. 4. Table 1 on page 11 includes 5 districts. The District 4 correlates to the B-3 zoning district (Lunds Byerlys) and attempts to incorporate existing signage, ie not creating a nonconforming situation. An attempt to tailor Sign regulations in the other commercial districts to prevent non- conforming situations was made. 5. The draft allows up to 35% of changeable copy, either electric or manual. 6. The draft does not require a permit to change the face (text) of a sign. 3. 15.99 Deadline. Not applicable 4. Planning Commission Vote and Comment. The Planning Commission held the second of two public hearings on August 20'. The Commission voted 3-1 to approve the draft ordinance, but some members were concerned that a resident could post a sign advertising a commercial business on their residential property. Upon closer review, and confirmed by the City Attorney, a resident cannot post a sign advertising a business or activity not occurring on the property; this is classified as Outdoor Advertising Sign and is prohibited by proposed 78-1476 (8). 5. Public Comment. No comments have been received. 6. Staff Recommendation. Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance as drafted. COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED Motion to approve the draft ordinance and the summary ordinance as presented. Exhibits Exhibit A. Draft Ordinance Exhibit B. Draft Summary Ordinance Exhibit C. PC August 20, 2018 Minutes draft Exhibit D. PC Staff report Prepared By: J. Barnhart Reviewed By: _Sb)R Approved By _T)a