6.1. PCSR 03-26-2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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it ci Elk* River Request for Action To Item Number Planning Commission 6.1 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by General Business March 26, 2024 Zack Carlton, Community Development Director Item Description Reviewed by City of Elk River Chris Leeseber , Senior Planner Reviewed by ■ Ordinance Amendment, Commercial Signage Along Highway 169, Case No. OA 23-07 Action Requested Recommend, by motion, approval of the ordinance amendment changing the freestanding sign regulations for certain properties along Highway 169. Background/Discussion The Commission reviewed this item and held a public hearing on February 27, 2024. Debbi Rydberg, Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke during the public hearing and expressed support for the proposed ordinance, noting that consistency along the corridor is important. Commissioners asked questions regarding the application of the ordinance on different parcels and situations, specifically how the changes impact signs for businesses that are now much lower or higher than the highway. The Commission directed staff to review the impacts of grade along the corridor and provide an analysis to improve understanding of the impacts along the corridor. This analysis is attached. The greatest impact on visibility occurs around the interchanges at Main/169 and 193Td/169. In these locations, adjacent commercial properties are 20-feet or more below the adjacent grades of Highway 169. Under the current ordinance, signs in these locations could be 50-feet tall, placing them approximately 30-feet above the highway grade, which is the current height limit. The Commission also discussed impacts at night from the lights on taller signs. Staff drove the periphery of the 169 Redefine project after dark, specifically the residential neighborhoods, observing the visibility of freestanding signs and their lighting impacts. Generally, lights from existing freestanding signs are lost in a sea of other light sources coming from streetlights, parking lot lights, traffic lights, freeway lights, wall signage, covered canopy lights, and general building lighting inside and out. Many of the residential areas on the west side of Highway 169 have mature trees screening the light from the commercial corridor and, at times, it was difficult to locate the brighter freestanding signs from these neighborhoods. While lighting from taller signs is a concern, with the modest increase in height proposed by staff, the signs will generally blend into the abundant light pollution already in these commercial areas. Finally, as a note regarding the recommended height limit of 40-feet above the highway grade, staff received a call from a recent applicant, noting that the height of the existing McDonalds sign was 50-feet tall. Staff then measured the height of the existing Burger King sign and found that their sign was also approximately 50-feet tall. While the The Elk River Vision A n elcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. p I I E I E 0 IY NATUREI Updated.• January 2023