HomeMy WebLinkAboutNo 885 An Ordinance for the Purpose of Protecting the Planning Process and Developing Standards for Dynamic Display Signs
ORDINANCE NO. 885
AN ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE PLANNING PROCESS
AND DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR DYNAMIC DISPLAY SIGNS IN THE CITY OF
MAPLEWOOD
The Maplewood City Council ordains:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
a. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens.
b. A dynamic display sign is defined as any sign designed for outdoor use which is capable of
displaying a video signal, including, but not limited to, cathode-ray tubes (CRTs), light-emitting diode
(LED) displays, plasma displays, liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), other technologies used in
commercially available televisions or computer monitors.
c. There are within the City three off-site (billboard) dynamic display advertising sign faces. Two
of these signs are regulated by separate agreement with the City and one has been the subject of
ongoing negotiations with the City.
d. There is one on-site dynamic display sign contemplated at a location along White Bear
Avenue near the Maplewood Community Center. This sign was part of a settlement agreement
approved by the city council in October 2007 in relation to the above-mentioned billboard dynamic
display signs.
e. There also are several other on-site dynamic display sign faces in operation in Maplewood
that fall within the current City-allowed exceptions/guidelines to the general prohibition on such signs.
f. The Maplewood City Council is concerned about the effects of dynamic display signs upon
the traveling public. Such signs pose a potential hazard to the traveling public by the use of bright
colorful lights and changing messages. These attention-getting and eye-catching signs may threaten
the safety of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and other users of public streets and property by
unnecessarily diverting motor vehicle drivers’ and others’ attention away from the road. There are
research studies that show the presence of such signs can result in an increase in motor vehicle or
other accidents. Persons have contacted city officials complaining about these signs and the
distraction they pose to the traveling public who may take their eyes off the road to watch the colorful
lights and changing messages.
SECTION 2. Study
a. The City Council has authorized a study by the City Manager's Office, the City Attorney's
Office, and the Planning Department and other authorized bodies of the City, e.g. the Community
Design and Review Board and the Planning Commission, for the purpose of considering the
amendment or adoption of official controls relating to the need for additional land use regulations
addressing dynamic display signs before any further proliferation of such advertising schemes.
b. The City Council is concerned that the further placement of any dynamic display signs during
the above-mentioned study may compromise the results of that study and they could harm the
public’s health, welfare and safety.
c. Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.355, Subd. 4, authorizes the City to adopt interim zoning
ordinances applicable to all or a part of the City for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its
citizens. Such an ordinance may regulate, restrict or prohibit any use or development within the City
for a maximum period not to exceed one year, with a possible extension up to an additional period of
18 months.
d. It is hereby found and determined by the City Council that it is in the best interest of the
sound, aesthetic and efficient development of the City as a whole, and in the public’s health, safety
and welfare interests, that the City use the authority granted by the above-mentioned Minnesota
Statute in conjunction with the above-authorized study.
e. The City hereby prohibits the issuance or approval of any zoning certificate, sign permit,
building permit or other land use official control for any dynamic display sign in the City of
Maplewood.
SECTION 3. ENFORCEMENT
Sections 1-1 through 1-25 of the Maplewood City Code of Ordinances, entitled Enforcement Policy,
are hereby adopted in their entirety by reference as though repeated verbatim.
SECTION 4. TERM
The term of this ordinance shall be for six months or until the city council adopts
amendments to the city’s sign code because of the study. However, the City reserves the right to
extend the interim ordinance for such additional periods as may be appropriate, not to exceed a total
additional period of 18 months.
The Maplewood City Council approved this ordinance on February 11, 2008.