HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 07.02.2015 MINUTES
LAUREL CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
JULY 2, 2015 10:00 AM
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kathy Siegrist, Chairman
Dan Koch, City Rep.
Judy Goldsby,County Rep.
Lee Richardson, County Rep.
Hazel Klein, City Rep.
Greg Nelson, City Rep.
OTHERS PRESENT: Monica Plecker, Contracted Planner
Cheryll Lund, City Secretary
Gary Colley, Building Official
Call to order: Chairman Siegrist called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.
Roll Call-Members present: Koch,Goldsby, Richardson, Klein, Nelson and Siegrist.
Approval of minutes from previous meeting: A motion was made to approve the minutes of the June 4,
2015 meeting by Dan Koch and seconded by Judy Goldsby. The motion carried by a vote of 5—0.
New Business: Discussion on Laurel Municipal Code 15.40—Sign Code
Contracted Planner Monica Plecker referenced the Memorandum she sent out to the Planning Board in
their agenda packets. (see attached)
The Laurel City Council recently adopted Ordinance#015-02 which moved the Sign Code from Laurel
Municipal Code (LMC)Chapter 15 to Laurel Municipal Code (LMC)Chapter 17-Zoning Regulations.
With the adoption of this Ordinance the Laurel City Council has tasked the Laurel City-County Planning
Board with enforcing and reviewing the ordinance and recommending proposed changes. This meeting
will serve as an introductory to the sign code. In addition, city staff will present the information on
conflicting codes and rely on the Planning Board's recommendations to move forward in revising
portions of the code.
Monica stated that the intent of the existing sign code is not to regulate traffic and government signs or
things that relate to public health and safety. This code is about private enterprise signs used for
commercial businesses.
The existing code does identify several different types of signs:
• Animated*+
• Fixed Message
• Banner Sign
• Beacon+
• Variable Message*
• Changeable Copy*
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• Directional/Informational
• Canopy
• Building Marker
• Flag
• Freestanding
• Manually activated*
• Electronically activated*
• Projecting Sign
• Roof Sign (Above Peak+)
• Wall sign
• Snipe Signs+
• Wind driven+
• On-Premise
• Portable (Vehicle+)
The types of signs that Monica feels have conflicting language are marked with an asterick* and
prohibited signs are marked with a plus sign+.
Other items that are considered in the sign code are:
• Lighting, height, size, nonconformance, number of signs and maintenance;
• Rules related to temporary political and real estate signs;
• Shopping Center/Strip Mall/Common signage is encouraged with certain provision and special
requirements;
• Further sign requirements are found in the Entryway Zoning District, Downtown Overlay District
and SE 4th Street Overlay District. Entryway Zoning District has its own sign requirements as
does the Downtown Overlay District and SE 4th Street Overlay District. When the signs are in
both the EWZ District and an Overlay District the EWZ sign rules apply.
Judy Goldsby asked if there was language in the sign code that prohibits a business from facing a sign
towards the highway close to a highway exit ramp.
Monica stated there is no language in the sign code that addresses which direction the sign has to face if
it's close to a highway exit ramp.
Montana Department of Transportation does have rules regarding signage on signs that are placed on
the highway but local laws apply first on signs as Laurel zoning goes 1-mile out of the city limits.
Gary Colley requested that a definition for billboards be written into the sign code.
There was a general discussion by the board regarding the current signs along S. First Avenue. It is felt
there are too many different kinds of signs some which are distracting to drivers the amount of signs are
overwhelming to the point that it could confuse travelers and cause safety issues. The board would like
the signs to be more consistent in size and type and business friendly with safety issues being
considered.
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The board would also like to see projecting signs allowed in the Downtown Overlay District to help
identify the different businesses to visitors. The current projecting signs in the Downtown Overlay
District are considered legal nonconforming because they are not allowed in the sign code.
The discussion moved on to whether or not the board would like to consider allowing neon signs and
artistic statement signs in the sign code. It is felt that neon signs do have a purpose and there are
businesses that currently use neon signs. The goal is to think about the intent of the sign and whether
or not neon should be combined with another type of sign such as animated.
The board discussed nonconforming signs. There is language in the sign code regarding when a sign
becomes a nonconforming use and when it needs to be removed.There needs to be more discussion at
the August meeting regarding revising the code as making a business remove a nonconforming sign
could cause financial hardship to a business.
The board discussed what an animated sign means. In LMC 15.40.040 the definition reads"Animated
sign" means any sign that uses movement or change or lighting to depict action or create a special effect
or scene".
In LMC 15.40.040"Changeable copy sign" means a sign whose informational content can be changed or
altered by manual or electric, electromechanical or electronic means. Changeable signs include the
following types:
1. Manually activated. Signs whose alphabetic, pictographic or symbolic information content can
be changed or altered by manual means.
2. Electrically Activated. Signs whose alphabetic, pictographic or symbolic informational content
can be changed or altered on a fixed display surface composed of electrically illuminated or
mechanically driven changeable segments.
It was decided that these 2 definitions are very similar and need to be either combined into one
category or each definition should be clearly defined so staff can make an easy determination between
the two. Maybe one needs to be focused on text and the other on an image.
The board also felt that placement of animated signs should be considered so as to cause the least
distraction to drivers. The board wants to be business friendly while still considering public safety.
Monica asked the board if they would like to see a cap on the amount of signs allowed per business.
After a discussion it was determined that there is currently language in LMC(15.40.130G)that covers
amount of signs allowed.
Gary stated that the Sign Code stands by itself and only becomes confusing when rules for Entryway
Zoning and the Overlay Districts are applied.
Monica stated that the purpose is to clarify the sign code and make it user friendly for staff and the
public. She suggested that adding photos and diagrams would also help clarify.
Old Business: Proposed Zone changes to RMF.
The City Council will hold to a public hearing on July 21St
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Old Business: Special Review for Redneck Pizza.
The Special Review for Redneck Pizza went well.
Miscellaneous:
Monica and Gary will be proposing language to the Downtown Overlay District regarding off-street
parking in the rear of the building. There will be a public hearing at the August 6, 2015 Planning Board
meeting. The proposed language change will be sent out in the agenda packet prior to the August
meeting.
There are now 3 openings on the Planning Board. One opening is for a city representative,one for a
county representative and one for a Conservation Corp member. Monica encouraged the board to get
the word out that there are openings on the board.
There are interviews being conducted for the Planning Director position.
Next month meeting: Next month's meeting will be held on August 6, 2015. There will be a zone
change request for a minor subdivision from Agricultural Open to Residential Tracts.
Adjourn: A motion was made by Dan Koch and seconded by Judy Goldsby to adjourn the meeting. The
motion carried by a vote of 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 11:27 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryll Lund,Secretary
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A
PIONEERING i\ o!' O • '1L_ ' `"
MEMORANDUM
TO: Laurel City/County Planning Board
FROM: Monica Plecker, Contract Planner
DATE: June 22, 2015
RE: Sign Ordinance
Ordinance No. 015-02 was adopted recently by the Laurel City Council. This ordinance
moved the Sign Code from LMC Chapter 15 to LMC Chapter 17 Zoning.With the adoption
of this Ordinance City Council has tasked the Laurel City/County Planning Board with the
task of enforcing and reviewing the ordinance and recommending proposed changes.
The July 2nd Planning Board meeting will serve as an introductory to the sign code. In
addition, staff will present the information on conflicting codes and rely on the Board
recommendation to move forward in revising portions of the code. This memo includes
information regarding a preliminary schedule for review, current sign code over, and
summary of conflicts.
Preliminary Schedule
July 2, 2015 — Introductory discussion and review of other community sign codes
August 6, 2015 — Planning Board review of draft changes
September 3, 2015— Final Review and Public Hearing Setting
October 1, 2015 — Public Hearing and Recommendation to City Council
Existing Sign Code Overview
• Intent of the existing sign code is not to regulate traffic or government signs.
• Several sign types have been identified and defined. Please be sure to prepare
comments on sign types you feel are favorable or unfavorable to the character of the
City of Laurel.
o Animated*+ o Variable Message*
o Fixed Message o Changeable Copy*
o Banner Sign o Directional/Informational
o Beacon+ o Canopy
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o Building Marker o Snipe Signs +
o Flag o Wind driven+
o Freestanding o On-Premise
o Manually activated* o Portable (Vehicle +)
o Electronically activated* *conflicting language
o Projecting Sign +prohibited
o Roof Sign (Above Peak +)
o Wall Sign
• Lighting, height, size, nonconformance, number of signs and maintenance are all contemplated in
existing ordinance.
• Rules related to temporary political and real estate signs have been contemplated.
• Shopping Center/Strip Mall/ Common signage is encouraged with certain provision and special
requirements.
• Further sign requirements are found in the Entryway Zoning District, Downtown Overlay District and
the SE 4th Street Overlay District.
Planning Board Next Steps
For the meeting, please familiarize yourself with the attached code (LMC 15.40) and highlight any areas
you like, dislike or find to be confusing. Your comments and feedback will guide and shape future
amendments to the code. Also, if you have ideas on signs you like and don't like, but don't find them
highlighted in the existing code, please come prepared to share that feedback, too.
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