City Council Meeting Date: October 15, 2024
To: Members of the City Council
From: Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Mikayla Schmidt, City Planner
Mathias Hughey, Associate City Planner
Title
Consideration of Approval of the Second Reading of Ordinance 1067 Text Amendments Related to Sign Regulations in the Historic-Overlay District in Chapter 34 - Land Development Code of the Northfield City Code.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the second reading of Ordinance 1067 (Alternative Number 1) text amendments related to sign regulations in the Historic-Overlay district in Chapter 34 - Land Development Code of the Northfield City Code.
Summary Report:
At the first reading of Ordinance 1067 on October 1, 2024, the City Council approved a version of the ordinance consistent with Alternative 1. This is the second reading of the proposed ordinance. A link to the recording of that meeting is provided. As approved at the first reading, this version contains no references to “fluorescent colors.”
*Same staff report as first reading
The HPC currently reviews and approves signs in the Historic-Overlay District (H-O District) and on Heritage Preservation Sites via the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) process. Signs in the H-O District must receive a COA before city staff can issue a Sign or a Building Permit. The HPC has engaged in internal discussions for years about the regulations in the H-O District and initiated the request to update the ordinance. The HPC intends to increase the diversity and creativity of signs and ease approvals while retaining a high level of aesthetic integrity and preserving the historic character of the H-O District.
The existing H-O sign regulations are among the most restrictive of comparable cities, and the HPC spends a significant amount of time reviewing, discussing, and approving COAs for signs. The HPC has denied COAs for signs that did not meet specific requirements of the Land Development Code. HPC Commissioners and staff have engaged in multiple discussions to craft the proposed revisions, focusing on how to best reduce restrictions while effectively protecting the valued historic character of the H-O District.
At the August 7th, 2024 meeting of the HPC, commissioners passed resolution HPC 2024-009 approving a draft text amendment and requesting the Planning Commission (PC) to consider the proposed changes and continue the text amendment process. Sign regulations changes are focused within the H-O District, and the PC reviews all LDC amendments and holds public hearings on amendments of ordinances therein. At the August 15th, 2024 PC meeting, the PC reviewed the HPC's recommended changes, discussed additional changes, and passed a motion directing staff to draft a second version of the proposed text amendments. The PC’s recommended version amends the current code to remove the limit on the number of colors permitted for sign lettering and changes the review and approval process from a Major review (HPC review and approval authority) to a Minor review (staff review and approval authority).
The HPC reviewed the changes proposed by the PC and changed several of their original recommendations. Staff developed a fourth version of the proposed text amendments to reflect the HPC’s revised recommendation.
Proposed Changes:
Signs in the H-O District are still recommended to meet the Downtown Preservation Design Guidelines, which were the basis for the original regulations, and the proposed changes to the Land Development Code are intended to increase flexibility for businesses that might require it.
Staff wrote the initial draft for the HPC’s consideration based on staff’s working knowledge of the code, the Downtown Design Guidelines, the Secretary of Interior Standards, other cities’ ordinances, feedback from business owners and discussions with HPC.
Notable proposed changes from the existing regulations include:
1. The limit on the number of different colors permitted for text is increased from two (2);
a. The HPC, PC, and Staff all agreed on this recommendation.
2. Guiding language regarding color selection removed;
a. HPC and Staff Recommendation: the HPC and staff recommended removing vague guiding language adding an explicit prohibition on the use of fluorescent colors and including a definition of fluorescent colors. The rationale was that fluorescent colors were not appropriate for the character of the H-O district and could present a safety concern.
b. PC Recommendation: The PC recommends removing the vague guiding language, and not explicitly prohibiting any colors, including fluorescent colors. The rationale was that fluorescent colors were rarely, if ever, used outside of the H-O District where such a restriction was not in place, and that regulating the color of signs was not an appropriate function of the HPC.
3. Eliminate the requirement to coordinate sign colors and building colors;
a. This requirement is difficult to administer and enforce, especially where business owners and building owners differ, in multi-tenant buildings, and where wordmarks or other branding may not conform to the building’s color scheme.
b. HPC, PC, and staff all agree on this recommendation.
4. Remove the limit on fonts and type styles (existing: two fonts allowed; only serif fonts allowed);
a. This requirement is perceived as overly restrictive, with no exemptions for legitimate commercial purposes.
b. HPC, PC, and staff all agree on this recommendation.
5. Clarify and change requirements associated with physical relief, allow alternative shapes;
a. Current standards require a raised rectangular border, a regulation perceived as overly restrictive and artificially limiting the creative variation in signage that reflects a vibrant and dynamic downtown commercial district. The proposed regulations require “physical relief” but allow flexibility in meeting that requirement, either with a raised border, raised letters, or a uniquely shaped sign.
b. HPC, PC, and staff all agree on this recommendation.
6. Owners of properties with “Ghost Signs” on them will be required to maintain the sign (note: a ghost sign is a hand painted advertisement or sign that has been preserved on a building for a long time, often on brick).
a. Ghost signs may develop historic significance in their own right.
b. HPC, PC, and staff all agree on this recommendation.
7. Change sign application reviews from “Major Work” (HPC Review & Approval) to “Minor Work” (Staff Review & Approval).
a. The HPC, PC, and Staff all agree on this recommendation.
Staff Recommendation:
City staff recommends the adoption of Ordinance 1067. This version removes the sign lettering color limit (including no limitation to fluorescent colors) and changes the process of sign approvals in the H-O District to “Minor work” = staff review and approval.
Alternative Options:
City Council may propose additional changes to the ordinance.
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
August 7, 2024: Public Hearing Notice Published in the Northfield News
August 15, 2024: Public Hearing and Recommendation from the Planning Commission
September 30, 2024: HPC reviews PC recommendation and has further discussion
October 1, 2024: First Reading of Ordinance with City Council
October 15, 2024: Second Reading and Summary Publication Notice with City Council
October 23, 2024: Summary Publication Notice Published in the Northfield News
November 22, 2024: Ordinance goes into effect