Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-07 CITY OF LAKEVILLE Planning Commission Meeting Minutes JANUARY 18, 2007 T'he January 18, 2007 Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Swecker in the City Hall Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. Flag pledge and roll call of members: Present: Blee, Manikowski, Stolte, Swecker, Pattee, Grenz, Drotning, Ex-officio Gerl. Absent: None. Staff Present: -Daryl Morey, Planning Director; Jay Rubash, Assistant City Engineer; Daniel Licht, Northwest Associated Consultants; Roger Knutson, .City Attorney; and Penny Brevig, Recording Secretary. ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: T'he .December 21, 2006 Planning Commission meeting minutes were approved as presented. ITEM 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mr. Morey stated that a copy of a letter staff received prior to tonight's meeting from Todd Bornhauser, Executive .Director of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce, concerning the proposed Sign Ordinance amendment, was forwarded to the Planning Commission prior to tonight's meeting.. A copy of the letter was also provided to the Planning Commission at tonight's meeting. ITEM 5. CITY OF LAKEVILLE (CONTINUED Chair Swecker continued the public hearing to consider an ordinance amending Title 9 (the Sign Ordinance) and Title 11 (the Zoning Ordinance) of the Lakeville City Code concerning signs. Mr. Morey indicated that because the letter from Mr. Bornhauser was received only yesterday, the Planning Commission could act on the content neutral portion of the amendment tonight and the remaining portion of the amendment proposing changes that the Chamber has expressed concerns about could be separated out for further review. Commissioner Drotning felt that the LED billboards recently placed along freeways in the metropolitan area are very distracting and he thinks that the City should address this issue now. Commissioner Grenz questioned changeable copy fuel signs. Mr. Licht explained that electronic fuel price signs are allowed under the current ordinance and no changes are proposed. Planning Coxrunission Meeting January 18, 2007 Page 2 City Attorney Roger Knutson presented an overview of the LED signs and billboards that are becoming increasingly popular in the Twin Cities. He indicated that. these signs are basically a high definition television on a pole that change copy every eight seconds.. Mr. Knutson stated that these LED signs create traffic safety concerns. Mr. Knutson indicated that it is critical to move ahead on the content neutral and the LED sign portions of the proposed amendment. The Planning Commission agreed to close the public hearing at tonight's meeting, make a motion. and a vote regarding the content neutral and LED sign portions of the amendment, and make a separate motion referring the remainder of the amendment to the Economic Development Commission for their review and recommendation. A second amendment would address any additional changes and a new public hearing and Planning Commission review would be required. Mr. Licht presented the planning report. He stated that to prevent First Amendment legal challenges, the Sign Ordinance amendment will address content neutral language, policy issues, moving the Sign Ordinance from the general City • .Code to a chapter within the Zoning Ordinance, and removal of all definitions related to the content of a given type of sign. Mr. Licht explained that the proposed amendment could be easily revised to eliminate the proposed changes of concern to the Chamber of Commerce so the amendment could be forwarded to the City Council for final action. Mr. Licht explained that the public hearing was continued at the December 7, 2006 Planning Commission meeting to allow staff the opportunity to expand the notification to Lakeville residents and businesses beyond the required public hearing notice. He indicated the steps that were taken to expand notification, which were listed in Mr. Morey's January 12, 2007 memo. Chair Swecker opened the hearing to the public for comment. Dave Oswald, 15919 Garden View Drive, Apple Valley Mr. Oswald stated that he is a realtor and owns Dave Oswald Homes. He indicated that -real estate signs are important for advertising open houses and the real estate agents want to be able to continue using them. • 07.01. Motion was made and Seconded to close the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 Planning Commission Meeting January 18, 2007 Page 3 Mr. Licht clarified that no changes were planned to the real estate sign regulations. Chair Swecker indicated that the open house signs placed within the public right- of-way are not allowed by ordinance. No changes are proposed to this requirement. Commissioner Stolte commented that he felt the City should be held to the same sign requirements as businesses. He also wanted to be sure that balloon signs were addressed. He felt that there was some merit to this type of advertising and it does actually help people find where these businesses are located. Chair Swecker expressed her appreciation for the business community's comments. She requested that a work session prior to the public hearing for the next phase of the Sign Ordinance amendment process. 07.02 Motion was made and Seconded to recommend to City Council approval of an amendment of the Sign Ordinance as presented with direction to City staff to modify Section 11-23-15.X, 11-23-17.D and 11-23-17.J prior to City Council consideration to restore the applicable regulatory provisions of the existing Sign Ordinance utilizing content neutral language. Ayes: Blee, Manikowski, Stolte, Swecker, Pattee, Grenz, Drotning. Nays: 0 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, i Penny e g, Recording Secr tary ATTEST: r~-----~ Ke i.n Swecker, Chair