Ord 460 Electronic SignageCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 460
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 12-1B-2 AND 12-1D-15 OF THE CITY
CODE OF THE CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, DAKOTA COUNTY,
PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION OF ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SIGNAGE FOR
INSTITUTIONAL USES IN THE R-1 AND R -1A ZONING DISTRICTS
The City Council of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, does hereby ordain:
Section 1.
Section 12-1B-2 is hereby amended to read as follows:
INSTITUTIONAL USE: Uses operated as schools, places of worship, cemeteries, or
government facilities.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC DISPLAY: A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic, non -
pictorial, text infoiination in which each alphanumeric character is defined by a small number of
matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light
bulbs, or other illumination devices within the display area. Electronic display signs include
computer programmable, microprocessor -controlled electronic displays. A scoreboard being used
during an organized sporting event shall not be considered a sign.
Section 2.
Section 12 -1D -15(H) is hereby amended to read as follows:
7. By conditional use permit, an institutional use in the R-1 or R -1A zoning district which is
allowed either as a permitted or conditional use may install one (1) freestanding electronic
display sign, provided that each of the following requirements are met:
a. The parcel, or campus containing contiguous parcels, on which the sign is proposed must
be no less than two (2) acres in size.
b. The sign shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area per surface.
c. The sign shall not exceed nine feet (9') in height from the average natural grade at the
base of the sign.
d. The total area per surface for an electronic display is not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of
the sign's total area. Only one (1) contiguous electronic display area is allowed per
surface.
e. The sign shall be set back at least ten feet (10') from any external property boundary line
and shall not be located closer than fifty feet (50') to any surrounding residential property
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boundary line, unless a less intrusive sign placement can be accomplished as approved by
the City Council.
f. The electronic display message shall not change more than once every one (1) hour,
except for emergency safety messages. Time, date, or temperature is considered one (1)
electronic display when displayed alone, however it may be included as a component of
any other electronic display but cannot change more than once every three (3) seconds.
g.
The hours of operation shall be limited to 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
h. The electronic display message shall be limited to static letters and numbers. No portion
of a message may contain animation, video or audio, scroll, flash, twirl, fade, or change
color.
i. The electronic display area shall be a black background and messages shall not contain
more than one (1) font color.
j. The electronic display message shall be a minimum of four inches (4") in height or larger
as necessary to ensure readability.
k. Messages shall be limited to advertisement of products, events, persons, institutions,
activities, businesses, services or subjects which are located on the premises only or
which give public service information.
1. Malfunctioning signs shall be shut off immediately by the owner. Additionally, the sign
owner shall immediately stop the display if notified by the City that the sign is
noncompliant.
m. The sign shall be constructed in monument style fashion, including a base of natural
stone, brick or other masonry material of at least twenty four (24) inches in height from
the average natural grade.
n. The sign are shall be landscaped with materials subject to a plan a submitted with the
application approved by the City Council.
o. The sign shall be equipped with a sensor that detects the ambient light level and adjusts
the brightness of the sign accordingly. Brightness shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candles
above ambient light as measured using a brightness meter from a preset distance
depending on the sign size, as indicated in the table below:
Sign Area Measurement Distance
Sign Area (sq. ft.)
Measurement Distance (ft.)
10
32
15
39
20
45
25
50
30
55
35
59
40
63
45
67
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50
71
55
74
60
77
65
81
70
84
75
87
80
89
85
92
90
95
95
97
100
100
Measurement Distance = I (Sign Area x 100)
8. By additional conditional use permit, an institutional use in the R-1 or R -1A zoning districts
which is allowed either as a permitted or conditional use may qualify for one (1) additional
freestanding electronic display sign, provided that the requirements of Section H.7. above are
met and each of the following additional requirements:
a. The parcel, or campus containing contiguous parcels, on which the sign is proposed must
be no less than twenty (20) acres in size.
b. The sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area per surface and the electronic
display area shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the sign's total area.
c. The sign shall be set back at least three hundred feet (300') from any external property
boundary line.
d. Landscaping shall be installed to provide screening of the sign from any surrounding
residential uses.
Section 3.
This Ordinance shall be in effect from and after the date of its passage and publication.
Adopted and ordained into an Ordinance this 15th day of April, 2014.
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NDOTA HEIGHTS
Ate
San a Krebsbach, yor
ATTESAa
air
L
ri Smith, City Clerk
Ord #460
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