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Planning Commission Minutes <br />February 27, 2024 <br />Page 7 <br />challenges communicating awareness and changes to all residents. He came to the 40 feet because it has <br />some industry standard basis to it, but is still nervous. <br />Commissioner Johnson stated it is a lit sign and very impactful. He stated some signs have had no impact <br />and others have. He doesn't feel it should be a blanket number. <br />Commissioner Booth asked if there are any ordinances that relate to signage lighting limits, so they are <br />turned off at various times. <br />Mr. Carlton stated there were no limits to time. <br />Commissioner Johnson stated he has no problem with monument signs as their impact is minimal and <br />raising them 10' would not be impactful, but other styles of signs could be obnoxious. <br />Commissioner Rydberg agreed and thought they may have to take things on a case -by -case basis. He <br />wondered if we needed to find some lighting studies. <br />Commissioner Johnson stated he knows we've looked at other communities and the proximity of neighbors <br />are not as impactful as Elk River. He felt the residential housing and apartment areas are directly impacted <br />and wondered if there was a better option. <br />Chair Larson -Vito asked if it's the Planning Commission's place to say who should and shouldn't have a <br />taller sign. <br />Commissioner Johnson stated he would rather side on the residents' side in the affected communities and <br />make no change to sign height. <br />Commissioner Mauren agreed but stated he felt the best thing for the city is following the industry standards <br />of 40' and he felt that was justifiable. <br />Mr. Carlton stated in cases where the elevation is higher than 10' above the highway grade (such as Harley- <br />Davidson, Menards, Perkins), if the elevation of the base of the sign is higher than 10' above Highway 169, <br />they would be limited to 30' which is the current ordinance. For 50' signs, it would be 10' or lower below <br />the grade — 40'. <br />Commissioner Johnson felt he could get on board with a maximum sign height of 40' above Highway 169. <br />Commissioner Booth asked why the city can't just make the ordinance read that way. <br />Mr. Carlton indicated doing so would make a number of signs legal non -conforming. <br />Chair Larson -Vito asked if staff can we pull out the properties that are more than 10' below the highway <br />grade and where the real impact would be. Seeing and understanding which neighborhoods would be <br />impacted would allow her to make a more informed decision. <br />Mr. Carlton stated staff could work with engineering and see what neighborhoods would be impacted by <br />that, and how close the signs are to residential neighborhoods where the elevation would most be impacted <br />by potential changes. He stated we wouldn't want to create a situation where it would make businesses apply <br />PI1EIEI I <br />NATURE <br />