Title
Amending Chapter 64 of the Legislative Code pertaining to zoning to allow businesses and institutions to place sandwich board signs on public sidewalks and boulevards in certain zoning districts.
Body
WHEREAS, Legislative Code §§ 64.502(b)(4), 64.503(c), 64.504(c), 64.505(c), and 64.506(c) correspondingly permit portable signs in the following zoning districts within the City: residential, traditional neighborhood, business, and industrial; and
WHEREAS, businesses and institutions within these zoning districts indicated a desire to place so-called “sandwich” board signs on public sidewalks and boulevards in order to direct people to a business or institution; and
WHEREAS, while the City Council (“Council”) supported this desire, placing signs in the public right-of-way, which is deemed to include public sidewalks and boulevards, is prohibited under Leg. Code § 64.401(i); and
WHEREAS, the Council, by resolution and pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.357, Subd.4, therefore requested the planning commission (“commission”) to study potential amendments to the zoning code to allow placement of sandwich board signs on public sidewalks and boulevards and to obtain from the commission a report and recommendation for potential amendments to the zoning code based upon the said study; and
WHEREAS, the planning commission subsequently studied the matter, prepared a report containing an analysis and recommendations regarding the Council’s request and delivered the same to the Council; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 462.357, Subd.3, the Council duly conducted a public hearing on the commission’s said report and recommendations where all persons interested were afforded an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, based upon the report of the commission, a copy of which is included herein by reference, and all the records and testimony received at the public hearing, all of which together shall constitute the record of the Council’s rationale to amend the zoning code;
THEREFORE, BASED UPON THE FOREGOING RECITALS:
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
That the following Saint Paul Legislative Code sections are hereby amended to read as follows:
SECTION 1
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Sec. 64.118. P.
Portable sign. A sign which is attached to a chassis with wheels of skids or to a metal or wood frame, which is not permanently mounted into the ground, or a sidewalk sign placed pursuant to chapter 106 of this code.
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SECTION 2
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Sec. 64.204. Exemptions.
(a) Signs of the city, county, state, and federal government and subdivisions and agencies thereof which give orientation, direction or traffic-control information shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
(b) The following signs shall not require a permit. These exemptions shall not be construed as relieving the owner of the sign from the responsibility of its erection and maintenance, and its compliance with the provisions of this chapter or any other law or ordinance regulating the same.
(1) The changing of the message on the display surface of signs that are designed to have changeable copy.
(2) Signs six (6) square feet or less in area.
(3) Lettering on motor vehicles when not utilized as a parked or stationary outdoor display sign.
(4) Political signs.
(5) Sports facility sponsorship signs.
(6) Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 of this code.
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SECTION 3
Sec. 64.401. All signs.
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(i) No signs shall be located in, project into or overhang a public right-of-way, except those projecting business signs permitted in business and industrial districts that do not violate Minnesota Statutes, section 160.27, sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 of this code, and signs established by the city, county, state, or federal governments.
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SECTION 4
Sec. 64.419. Temporary and portable signs.
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(c) Permit required.
(1) A sign permit shall be required for all temporary and portable signs, except that temporary signs concerning a commodity, service or entertainment conducted, offered, sold, or manufactured on the premises, placed inside a window, shall not require a sign permit.
(2) A sign permit is not required for a sidewalk sign placed pursuant to chapter 106 of this code.
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SECTION 5
Sec. 64.502. RL-RM3 residential and entirely residential uses in T1-T4 traditional neighborhood districts.
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(b) Temporary signs.
(4) For parks, community centers, and religious, educational, civic or philanthropic institutions, portable signs and temporary signs are permitted for special events under the following conditions:
a. Portable signs:
1. On zoning lots with a street frontage of three hundred thirty (330) feet or less, the gross surface display area of the signs shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet. On zoning lots with a street frontage of over three hundred thirty (330) feet, the gross surface display area of the signs shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet;
2. The signs shall be permitted two (2) nonconsecutive times per calendar year for a period of not more than fourteen (14) days per time; Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 are exempt from this requirement;
3. The signs shall not be flashing signs or located in a required yard, required off-street parking space or maneuvering area, or public right-of-way. Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 are permitted in the public right-of-way.
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SECTION 6
Sec. 64.503. T1-T3 traditional neighborhood and OS-BC business districts.
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(c) Portable signs. Portable signs are permitted under the following conditions:
(1) On zoning lots with a street frontage of three hundred thirty (330) feet or less, the gross surface display area of the signs shall not exceed thirty-six (36) square feet. On zoning lots with a street frontage of over three hundred thirty (330) feet, the gross surface display area of the signs shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet;
(2) The signs shall be permitted on a zoning lot four (4) nonconsecutive times per calendar year and for a period of not more than fourteen (14) days per time; Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 are exempt from this requirement;
(3) The signs shall not be flashing signs or located in a required yard, required off-street parking space or maneuvering area, or public right-of-way. Sidewalk signs placed pursuant to chapter 106 are permitted in the public right-of-way.
SECTION 7
These ordinance amendments shall take effect thirty (30) days after their passage, approval, and publication.