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The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community <br />engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br />To <br />Planning Commission <br />Item Number <br />4.5 <br /> <br />Meeting Date <br />May 27, 2025 <br />Prepared By <br />Zack Carlton, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Item Description <br />Modification of Legal Nonconforming Advertising <br />Signs (Billboards) <br />Reviewed by <br />Chris Leeseberg <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Recommend, by motion, approval of the request to reduce, relocate, and modify legal nonconforming <br />advertising signs (billboards) subject to the following conditions: <br />1. The city does not require the demolitions or relocation of a billboard until the land beneath the structure is <br />included in a final plat. <br />2. Billboards must be removed from land included in a final plat for Oakwater Ridge and slated for dedication <br />as a frontage road prior to releasing the plat for recording. <br />3. Billboards relocated and constructed on the north side of Highway 10 must be done in accordance with the <br />even spacing exhibit to improve compliance under the current city codes. <br />4. At no time shall there be an increase in the total number of billboard structures, faces, or sign area on the <br />subject properties. <br /> <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />The subject property is in the same location as the proposed Oakwater Ridge/Specht Farm subdivision <br />proposed by Capstone homes. This request seeks approval from the city to move existing billboards on the <br />land slated for residential development. The proposal will support the residential subdivision by removing the <br />billboards from the area proposed for a future frontage road as the property is developed. <br /> <br />The subject properties currently have 21 billboard structures along Highway 10, 14 of which are located on <br />the south side of Highway 10 and seven are located on the north side of Highway 10. The existing billboards <br />vary in size, height, and spacing and are considered legal nonconforming structures as they were in place prior <br />to the current ordinance. The current ordinance prohibits all billboards on residentially zoned properties, and <br />limits billboards to commercial and industrial lots of at least 1-acre, with each billboard requiring their own <br />lot. <br /> <br />The proposal removes all 14 billboards from the south side of Highway 10 to support the Oakwater Ridge <br />subdivision and replaces the seven structures on the north side of the highway with four new double-sided <br />billboards. The new billboards would be spaced further apart to improve compliance with city codes, which <br />require 1,200 feet between billboard structures. <br /> <br />City ordinance Sec. 30-854(d) states: <br />(d) Relocation or alteration. The city council may, upon application of a property owner, permit the alteration or <br />Page 57 of 157