Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1175 Ord (Chapter 31-10, Graphic Design Signs, 31-202,Sign Design Approval, 31-404, Design Permit HPC Review & 31-509, Sign Regulations)City of Stillwater Washington County, Minnesota ORDINANCE NO. 1175 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING STILLWATER CITY CODE CHAPTER 31-101 REGARDING GRAPHIC DESIGN SIGNS, 31-202 REGARDING SIGN DESIGN APPROVAL, 31-404 REGARDING DESIGN PERMIT HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION REVIEW AND AMENDING CHAPTER 31-509 REGARDING SIGN REGULATIONS The City Council of Stillwater does ordain: SECTION 1 REPEAL AND REPLACE. Stillwater City Code Section 31-101.75 defining graphic sign is hereby repealed and replaced as follows: 75. Graphic design sign means any mural or pictorial scene or graphic design painted on the side of a wall or building or painted on a sign board affixed to a wall and in which a mural or scene has its purpose artistic effect. A graphic design sign is a non- commercial speech sign. SECTION 2 AMEND. Stillwater City Code Section 31-202 relating to types of permits is amended to remove "(i) Sign design approval" and re -letter the remaining subsequent types of permits. SECTION 3 AMEND. Stillwater City Code Section 31-204, Subd. 5 relating to Public Hearing Requirements and Decision -Making Authority for Sign design approval shall be amended as follows: Permits/Action Recommendation Action Appeals Board Sign design approval Staff HPC All other Permits/Actions shall remain unchanged. SECTION 4 REPEAL AND REPLACE. Stillwater City Code Chapter 31-404(3)(a)(v) relating to the Heritage Preservation Commission Design Permit sign review is hereby repealed and replaced as follows: (v) All multi -tenant signs and sign plans. (ix) Any sign design denied by City staff SECTION 5 REPEAL. Stillwater City Code Chapter 31-404(4)(e) relating to sign standards shall be repealed. SECTION 6 REPEAL AND REPLACE. Stillwater City Code Chapter 31-509, Subd. 9(a) relating to specific regulations in the Central Business and General Commercial Districts is hereby repealed and replaces as follows: (a) Central Business, General Commercial, and Neighborhood Commercial Districts. All signs in the CBD-central business, CA -general commercial, and NC - neighborhood commercial districts are subject to the following requirements: (1) General regulations: In addition to the signs allowed without a permit pursuant to Subdivision 8 of 31-509, only one (1) wall, monument, awning, canopy or three-dimensional sign is allowed per business within the CA -general commercial district. When a building or business abuts two or more public streets and/or public alleys, one (1) sign is allowed on each street building face. ii. In addition to the signs allowed without a permit pursuant to Subdivision 8 of 31-509, two (2) signs are allowed per business within the CBD-central business district. The two (2) allowed signs must be one (1) wall sign and either a three-dimensional sign or a projecting sign. iii. All signs shall adhere to the following design standards: a. Use simple sign shapes to complement the architecture of the building. b. Signs shall not obscure architectural features of buildings, including window or door openings. c. Sign shall be used to display the primary name of the business only. d. Use only one line of lettering, if possible. e. Only one sign containing the business name or graphic logo shall be permitted per street facing side. Projecting signs are allowed in addition to the one sign allowed facing the street. Use simple, bold lettering with sufficient contrast between the lettering and the background. f. Sign Lighting i. Indirect incandescent lighting shall be permitted. ii. Place spotlights discreetly to shield from pedestrians and vehicular traffic. iii. Neon lights are only permitted as interior window signs. iv. In the CBD-central business district all signs shall adhere to the following design standards: a. All signs must meet the downtown design guidelines for signs. b. May not be backlit nor internally lit. 2 c. May not contain changeable or movable letter or graphics (2) Wall signs. Wall signs shall meet the following requirements: i. The total building signage may have an aggregate area not exceeding one (1) square foot for each foot of building face parallel or substantially parallel to a street lot line. H. It must not project more than twelve (12) inches from the wall to which the sign is affixed. It must not project higher than the parapet or eave line of the wall to which the sign is affixed or fifteen (15) feet as measured from the base of the building wall to which the sign is affixed, whichever is less. iv. Where a principal building is devoted to two (2) or more permitted uses, the operator of each use may install a wall sign for its use consistent with a building sign plan approved by the City. The total gross signage for the entire building may not exceed one (1) square foot for each foot of the building face parallel, or substantially parallel, to a street lot line with a maximum of twenty-five (25) square feet per business. v. All signs shall adhere to the following design standards: a. In the CBD-central business and district, signs shall generally be constructed of the traditional materials used during the primary development period of downtown Stillwater buildings. If modern materials, such as acrylic, vinyl, or plastic, are used for signs, they shall be painted and simulate the texture and depth of traditional downtown sign materials, such as wood and metal. b. In the CBD-central business district, three-dimensional letters/symbols, with at least one -quarter inch depth or reveal, are required unless an approved sign plan permits otherwise. c. If a signboard area exists on the building facade, a wall sign shall fit within this space and not extend above, below, or beyond the edges of the signboard area. d. In the CBD-central business and NC -neighborhood commercial districts, no part of any sign shall be placed higher than the height of the sills of the second story windows of a multi -story building. e. Wall signs may not be directly painted onto historic masonry or stone. (3) Multi -tenant wall signs. i. Design the sign plan to emphasize the whole width and geometry of the building and individual storefronts and tenant spaces. ii. Placement of individual tenant signs shall be coordinated to achieve a unified signage appearance in sign heights, widths, depths, coloring and lettering sizing. iii. Signs shall use a common lettering style and color scheme. iv. A sign shall not span across different buildings. (4) Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs shall meet the following requirements: For all free-standing signs: a. Placement of individual tenant signs shall be coordinated to achieve a unified signage appearance in size heights, widths, depths, coloring and letter sizing. b. The area around a monument or freestanding sign must be landscaped. c. Externally illuminated letters are allowed, but no internally illuminated signs are allowed. d. Pedestrian and vehicular sight lines must not be blocked. ii. In the CA -general commercial district: a. The area of a monument or freestanding sign may not exceed 30 square feet. b. A monument or freestanding sign may be located in any required yard but must have a setback of 15 feet from any point of vehicular access, public roadway and property line. c. A monument or freestanding sign may not project higher than six feet, as measured from the base of the sign or grade of the nearest roadway, whichever height is less. iii. In the CBD-central business and NC -neighborhood commercial district: a. The area of a monument or freestanding sign may not exceed 15 square feet. b. A monument or freestanding sign may be located in a required yard but must be pedestrian in scale and does not block architecture features, including window and door openings. c. A monument or freestanding sign may not project higher than five feet, as measured from the base of the sign or grade of the nearest roadway, whichever height is less. d. Signs shall use a common lettering style and color scheme. (5) Awning or canopy signs. Awning or canopy signs shall meet the following requirements: i. The gross surface area of an awning or canopy sign may not exceed fifty (50) percent of the gross surface area of the smallest face of the awning or canopy to which the sign is affixed. ii. An awning or canopy sign may not project higher than the top of the awning or canopy or below the awning or canopy. iii. Signage on awnings is permitted on the end panel or front valance only. Use lettering proportional to the space available. (6) Three-dimensional signs. The total area of a three-dimensional sign is determined by enclosing the largest cross section of the sign in an easily recognized geometric shape and computing its area, which may not exceed nine (9) square feet. (7) (8) Projecting sign. A projecting sign shall meet the following requirements: i. The total area of a projecting sign may not exceed six (6) square feet. ii. It must be easily visible from the sidewalk and not be a hazard to pedestrians. iii. If lighted, the sign must be externally illuminated. iv. The bottom of the sign and bracket must be at least eight (8) feet above sidewalk grade. v. Projecting signs shall generally be oriented to visibility by pedestrians and small in size so that they do not obscure other signs. vi. No part of any sign shall be placed higher than the height of the sills of the second story windows of a multi -story building. vii. The mounting bracket for a projecting sign shall be a black metal material and designed as a decorative element of the sign that is complementary of the building's architectural style. Graphic design sign. 5 i. Graphic design signs may only be placed on non-contributing buildings, portions of contributing buildings where historic brick or masonry does not exist, or on portions of structures outside of a historic district where historic brick or masonry does not exist. SECTION 7 SUMMARY PUBLICATION. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 412.191, in the case of a lengthy ordinance, a summary may be published. While a copy of the entire ordinance is available without cost at the office of the City Clerk, the following summary is approved by the City Council and shall be published in lieu of publishing the entire ordinance: The sign ordinance has been revised to add additional sign standards for the CA - general commercial, CBD-central business district, and NC -neighborhood commercial zoning districts, to clarify requirements of graphic design signs, and to remove HPC design permitting requirements for all signs with the exception of multi -tenant signs and sign plans. SECTION 8 EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law. Approved this 9th day of November, 2021. CITY OF I LWATER ATTEST: Beth Wolf, City Clerk Ted Kozlowski, Mayor 6 CITY OF STILLWATER ORDINANCE NO. 1175AN ORDINANCE AMENDING STILLWATER CITY CODE CHAPTER 31-101 REGARDING GRAPHIC DESIGN SIGNS, 31-202 REGARDING SIGN DESIGN APPROVAL, 31-404 REGARDING DESIGN PERMIT HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION REVIEW AND AMENDING CHAPTER 31-509 REGARDING SIGN REGULATIONS The City Council of the City of Stillwater does ordain: The sign ordi- nance has been revised to add additional sign standards for the CA-gener- al commercial, CBD-central business district, and NC-neighborhood com- mercial zoning districts, to clarify requirements of graphic design signs, and to remove HPC design permitting requirements for all signs with the exception of multi-tenant signs and sign plans. Approved this 9th day of November, 2021. Do not hesitate to contact the City Clerk’s Office (651) 430-8802 if you have any questions or need further information. Signed: Beth Wolf, City Clerk Published in the Stillwater Gazette November 12, 2021 1182434