HomeMy Public PortalAbout680 An Ordinance Amending Regulations Pertaining To Signs; Amending Chapter 8 Of The City CodeCITY OF MEDINA
ORDINANCE NO. 680
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO SIGNS;
AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CITY CODE
The City Council of the City of Medina ordains as follows:
SECTION I. Subd. 16 of Section 815.03 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is
amended by adding the underlined language as follows:
815.03. Definitions. The following words and terms, wherever they occur in this ordinance, are
defined as follows:
Subd. 16. "Sign Area" is that area within the marginal lines of the sign surface which
bears the announcement, name, advertisement or other message, or, in the case of letters,
figures, or symbols attached directly to any part of a building or wall, that area which is
included in the smallest rectangle which can be made to circumscribe all letters, the
figures, or symbols displayed thereon. For a two-sided freestanding sign, only a single
surface shall be counted when measuring the total and maximum Sign Area. Two-sided
signs may have a degree of separation at one end of the sign faces (a V -Sign
configuration). V -Signs beyond 45 degrees will be considered two signs.
SECTION II. Section 815.09 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the stfuek-threugh language and adding the undgrlined language as follows:
Section 815.09. Residential District Signs.
Subd. 1. General Provisions. In addition to the Signs allowed in Section 815.07, the
following Signs are permitted in Residential Districts. A Sign permit is required for each
Sign. No Sign in a Residential District shall exceed six --eight feet in height. If
illuminated, the Sign shall meet the applicable luminary requirements set forth in Section
829 of the city's ordinances.
Subd. 2. Permitted Signs. The following additional types of Signs are permitted in
Residential Districts:
(a) Directional Signs. One Directional Sign is permitted for each property;
(b) Monument Signs. Monument Signs are permitted at the entrances of a residential
subdivision, institutional use or park, but shall be no greater than -30 32 square
feet in Sign Area and be landscaped around the perimeter of the base of the Sign.
The landscaping shall cover at least two times the total area of the Monument
Sign base. The Monument Sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from the curb or
right-of-way;
(c) Home Occupation Signs. Home occupation Signs may be approved by the city
council in conjunction with a conditional use permit for the home occupation.
The home occupation Sign shall be no greater than eight square feet, have only
one side, be set back at least 10 feet from the right-of-way. The home occupation
Sign shall be landscaped around the perimeter of the base of the Sign. The
landscaping shall cover at least two times the total area of the home occupation
Sign base; and
(d) Pylon Signs. Pylon Signs are permitted at the entrance(s) of a residential
subdivision, institutional use or park, but shall not exceed 15 square feet in Sign
Area nor exceed 20 square feet in Sign Surface Area. The Pylon Sign shall be
landscaped around the perimeter of the base of the Sign. The landscaping shall
cover an area equivalent to the width of the sign surface multiplied by two. The
Pylon Sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from the curb or right-of-way. The
Pylon Sign shall be designed to have a natural appearance, and the post(s),
shaft(s) or pier(s) on which the sign is erected shall have a combined width which
is at least 10 percent of the width of the Sign.
SECTION III. Section 815.11 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
adding the underlined language as follows:
Section 815.11. Commercial Highwav (CH), Commercial Highway -Railroad (CH -RR), and
Business (B) District Signs.
Subd. 1. Permitted Signs. In addition to the Signs allowed in Section 815.07, the
following Signs are permitted in Commercial Highway (CH), Commercial Highway -
Railroad (CH -RR), and Business (B) Districts. All Signs shall be integrated with the
design and architecture of any buildings or structures on the property in terms of
materials, style, color and placement.
(a) Freestanding Signs.
(1) Maximum number. One freestanding sign is permitted per lot, except a second
sign shall be permitted if the lot has frontage on more than one street. The
second freestanding sign may not be located along the same street frontage as
the first freestanding sign.
(2) Maximum size. No freestanding sign shall exceed 80 square feet of Sign Area.
(3) Maximum height. No freestanding sign shall exceed 20 feet in height.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, a freestanding sign adjacent to a railroad right-of-
way which abuts a principal arterial may exceed 20 feet in height, but may not
exceed 25 feet in height.
(4) Setbacks. Freestanding Signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from all
property lines and shall not encroach within a Clear Vision Triangle of an
intersection.
(5) Landscaping, The Freestanding Sign shall be landscaped around the perimeter
of the base of the Sign. The landscaping shall cover at least two times the total
area of the Sign base.
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November 16, 2021
(b) Wall Signs.
(1) Maximum size. The maximum total Sign Area of Wall Signs shall be based
upon the area of the wall on which they are attached as described in the table
below. Additionally, no individual Wall Sign shall exceed 200 square feet of
Sign Area. For the purposes of a multi -tenant building, the maximum Sign Area
for Wall Signs shall be based on the frontage of the space leased or owned.
Area of Wall
Maximum Total Sign Area on Wall
1000 square feet or less
8% of the area of the wall
Greater than 1000 square feet and
less than 5000 square feet
80 square feet + 4% of the area of the
wall in excess of 1000 square feet
5000 square feet or greater
240 square feet + 2% of the area of
the wall in excess of 5000 square feet
(2) Projecting Signs prohibited. No Wall Sign shall extend more than 12 inches
from the surface of a building face, wall, or surface.
(c) Window Signs.
(1) Maximum number. Only one Window Sign shall be permitted per structure,
except for multi -tenant buildings where one Window Sign shall be permitted per
tenant space.
(2) Maximum size. The Window Sign shall be limited to 50 percent of the window
in which it is located.
(3) No permit required. No permit shall be required for a Window Sign, but such
Sign shall meet relevant requirements of this ordinance.
(d) Directional Signs.
(1) Directional Signs shall be only permitted for properties utilizing a drive-thru or
that have loading or staging areas.
(2) Maximum number. Two Directional Signs are permitted for each property.
(3) Location. The Directional Signs shall be set back at least five (5) feet from the
curb or right-of-way.
Subd. 2. Illumination. If the Sign is illuminated, it shall meet the applicable luminary
requirements set forth in Section 829 of the city's ordinances.
SECTION W. Section 815.13 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the streek-thfettgh language and adding the underlined language as follows:
Section 815.13. Commercial General (CG), Business Park and Industrial Park District
Sites.
Subd. 1. Permitted Signs. In addition to the Signs allowed in Section 815.07, the
following Signs are permitted in Commercial General (CG) District. All Signs shall be
integrated with the design and architecture of any buildings or structures on the property
in terms of materials, style, color and placement.
Ordinance No. 680 3
November 16, 2021
(a) Freestanding Signs.
(1) Maximum number. One freestanding sign is permitted per lot, except a second
sign shall be permitted if the lot has frontage on more than one street. The
second freestanding sign may not be located along the same street frontage as
the first freestanding sign.
(2) Maximum size. Ne4 reestanding signs shall not exceed 64 square feet of Sign
Area except:
(a) signs along a frontage ofprincipal arterial roadways shall not exceed 80
square feet,
(3) Maximum height._ reestanding signs shall not exceed 10 feet in
height from the adjacent roadway grade, except::
(a) signs along a frontage of principal arterial roadways may exceed 10 feet in
height but shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
signs adjacent to a railroad ri t -of --way which abuts a principal arterial
may exceed 10 feet in height, but may not exceed 25 feet in height.
(4) Setbacks. Freestanding Signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from all
property lines and shall not encroach within a Clear Vision Triangle of an
intersection.
(5) Illumination. Freestanding Signs shall not be internally illuminated unless they
are located along the frontage of an arterial roadway and greater than 200 feet
from residential property. External illumination shall be downcast and
otherwise conform with Section 829 of the City Code.
(6) Landscaping. The Freestanding Sign shall be landscaped around the perimeter
of the base of the Sign. The landscaping shall cover at least two (2) times the
total area of the Sign base.
(b) Wall Signs.
(1) Maximum size. The maximum total Sign Area of Wall Signs shall be based
upon the area of the wall on which they are attached as described in the table
below. Additionally, no individual Wall Sign shall exceed 200 square feet of
Sign Area. For the purposes of a multi -tenant building, the maximum Sign Area
for Wall Signs shall be based on the frontage of the space leased or owned.
Area of Wall
Maximum Total Sign Area on Wall
1000 square feet or less
8% of the area of the wall
Greater than 1000 square feet and
less than 5000 square feet
80 square feet + 4% of the area of the
wall in excess of 1000 square feet
5000 square feet or greater
240 square feet + 2% of the area of
the wall in excess of 5000 square feet
(2) Wall Signs limited to one wall per street frontage. Wall signs shall only be
located on one building wall, except lots with frontage on two or more streets
may have Wall Signs on one wall per street frontage.
(3) Projecting Signs prohibited. No Wall Sign shall extend more than 12 inches
from the surface of a building face, wall, or surface.
(c) Window Signs.
(1) Maximum number. Only one Window Sign shall be permitted along each
frontage of a structure, except for multi -tenant buildings where one Window
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November 16, 2021
Sign shall be permitted per tenant space.
(2) Maximum size. The Window Sign shall be limited to 50 percent of the window
in which it is located.
(3) No permit required. No permit shall be required for a Window Sign, but such
Sign shall meet relevant requirements of this ordinance.
(d) Directional Signs.
(1) Directional Signs shall be only permitted for properties utilizing a drive-thru or
that have loading or staging areas.
(2) Maximum number. Two Directional Signs are permitted for each property.
(3) Location. The Directional Signs shall be set back at least five feet from the curb
or right-of-way.
Subd. 2. Illumination. If the Sign is illuminated, it shall meet the applicable luminary
requirements set forth in Section 829 of the city's ordinances. Freestanding Signs shall
not be internally illuminated unless they are located along the frontage of an arterial
roadway and greater than 200 feet from residential property.
SECTION V. Subd. 8 of Section 815.21 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is
amended by deleting the seek rem language and adding the underlined language as follows:
Subd. 8. Dynamic Displays. Dynamic Displays on Signs are allowed subject to the
following conditions:
(a) RESERVED.
(b) No more than one contiguous Dynamic Display shall be located upon a single parcel,
except as described in clause (e) below. A two-sided Dynamic Display shall be
considered a single Dynamic Display for the purposes of this section.
(c) No Dynamic Display may exceed 32 40 square feet in area on a single Sign face and
shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the i um
Sign area of the Sign faeeon which it is located, except as described in clause (e)
or (1) below.
(d) No portion of the Dynamic Display shall xceed -18-15 feet in
height d, except as described in clause (e), or (1) below
(e) Notwithstanding the limitations in clause (b), (c), and (d), an additional alpha-
numeric, monochrome Dynamic Display element may be included on a Sign face
provided that it can display no more than four characters and is no more than 16
square feet in area. This Dynamic Display element may be located higher than 10
15 feet above the ground.
(f) A Dynamic Display must not change or move more often than once every 60 seconds;
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November 16, 2021
(g) The images and messages displayed on a Dynamic Display must be static, and the
transition from one static display to another must be instantaneous and without
any special effects;
(h) The images and messages displayed on a Dynamic Display must be complete in
themselves, without continuation in content to the next image or message or to
any other Sign;
(i) Every line of copy and graphics on a Dynamic Sign visible from a road must be at
least seven inches in height. If there is insufficient room for copy and graphics
meeting these requirements, then no Dynamic Display is permitted;
(j) Dynamic Displays must be designed and equipped to freeze the device in one
position if a malfunction occurs. The display must also be equipped with a means
to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the Sign owner
must immediately stop the Dynamic Display when notified by the city that it is
not complying with the standards of this ordinance;
(k)
Dynamic Display Brightness Standards.
(1) The illumination from a Dynamic Sign shall not exceed 0.3
footcandles above the ambient light level when measured at the
closest of the following points: i) a distance equal to
v Area of Sign Sq. Ft. g 100 ; or ii) the property line parallel with the
sign face. The Dynamic Display shall be equipped so that it can be
extinguished immediately at any time during operation upon the
request of the City to measure ambient light levels in order to
verify compliance.
(2) In no case shall the luminance from a Dynamic Display exceed 500
NITS between sunset and sunrise and 5,000 NITS between sunrise
and sunset.
(3) All signs with Dynamic Displays shall be equipped with an ambient
light sensor and an automatic dimmer control that automatically
controls the brightness to comply with these requirements.
(4) In addition to these requirements, all lighting on the property shall
abide by maximum illumination requirements at property line as
described in Section 829. However, Dynamic Displays which
meet the standards of this section shall be exempt from the light
output and shielding requirements of Section 829; and
(1) Notwithstanding the limitations of (c) and (d), a Dynamic Display adjacent to a
railroad right-of-way which abuts a principal arterial may:
(1) exceed 40 square feet in area and 50 percent of the maximum Sign area of the Sign
no which it is located, but may not exceed 55 square feet.
(2) exceed 15 feet in height, but may not exceed 25 feet in height.
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November 16, 2021
(m) Dynamic Displays existing on the effective date of this ordinance that do not meet
the structural requirements or operational standards above may continue as a Non -
Conforming Sign subject to Section 815.29. An existing Dynamic Display that
cannot meet minimum font size requirements as stated in subdivision 8(i) above
must use the largest size possible for one line of copy to fit in the available space.
SECTION VI. Subd. 10 of Section 815.21 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is
amended by deleting the struek-threugh language and adding the underlined language as follows:
Subd. 10. RESERVED height of Freestanding Signs. For the purpose of calculating the
allowed height of a Freestanding Sign. height shall be measured from the higher of the
following elevations: 1) ground elevation at the base of the Freestanding Sign: or 2)
elevation at the adjacent centerline of the street adjacent to the Freestanding Sign.
SECTION VII. Section 829.05 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the self language and adding the underlined language as follows:
Section 829.05. Lighting for Signs.
Subd. 1. External illumination for signs shall conform to all provisions of this ordinance. In
particular, such lighting shall conform to the lamp source, shielding restrictions and light
levels of Section 829.04. All upward -directed sign lighting is prohibited.
Subd. 2. Internally illuminated signs.
(a) Portions of a Sign which do not include a logo or message shall be opaque or, if
lighted, shall be constructed with a colored (not white, off-white, light gray, cream
or yellow) background.
(b) Internally illuminated signs shall not exceed 500 nits of luminance from sunrise
sunset until sunset -sunrise and shall otherwise conform to the provisions of this
ordinance. Neon signs, Light Emitting Diode (LED) signs, and other similar
devices shall be treated as internally illuminated signs for the purposes of this
ordinance and shall conform to all provisions of this ordinance.
(c) Other internally -illuminated panels, bands or decorations not considered to be signs
according to the sign ordinance, such as illuminated canopy margins or building
faces and neon/LED banding, shall not exceed 500 nits of luminance from sunset
until sunrise and shall be subject to the standards applicable to such lighting,
including but not limited to the lamp source, shielding standards and light level
requirements of Section 829.04. Internally -illuminated panels, bands or other
decorative lighting shall not be permitted upon building facades, canopies, or
around signs within 500 feet of residential property, as measured from the
proposed lighting location on the site to the property line of the residential
property.
Ordinance No. 680 7
November 16, 2021
Subd. 3. Curfews. Illumination for signs and glass enclosed areas, shall be turned off at 11
PM or when the business closes, whichever is later. Illumination for signs and glass
enclosed areas shall not be turned on until 5 AM or when the business opens, whichever is
later. Signs subject to curfews are required to have functioning and properly adjusted
automatic shut-off timers. Light background (white, off-white, light gray, cream or yellow)
internally illuminated signs, installed legally before enactment of this ordinance, shall be
considered non -conformities but may continue to be used and illuminated so long as their
use conforms to the curfews as indicated. Notwithstanding the above, signs with light
backgrounds must be brought into compliance with this ordinance within the time periods
specified in section 829.03, subd. 3 hereof.
Subd. 4. Internally illuminated signs are not permitted in El Lighting Zones.
SECTION VIII. This ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption and publication.
Adopted by the Medina city council this 16th day of November, 2021.
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
4'.9e0/
Scott T. Johnson, City Administrator -Deputy Clerk
Published in the Crow River News on the 24th day of November, 2021.
Ordinance No. 680 8
November 16, 2021