Planning Commission Meeting Date: July 16, 2026
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Lori Johnson, Consulting Planner
Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Title
Review of Potential Sign Ordinance Changes for Athletic Field Signage
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission is requested to review potential changes to the sign ordinance to allow for athletic field signage at properties owned by the Northfield Public School District and the City of Northfield.
Summary Report:
Background:
The Northfield Public School District has asked staff to consider presenting amendments to Article 6 of the Land Development Code to establish an avenue and clear standards for signage associated with athletic fields on District-owned property and City-owned public park property. Currently, the District has sold and installed nonconforming advertising facing Division Street on outfield fences. City Code prohibits these signs or any structure designed for the purpose of selling advertising space or identifying off-site businesses. The District is seeking to allow advertising signage on scoreboards and fencing to generate revenue and create financial participation options for businesses. Staff has prepared proposed amendments intended to establish a more specific regulatory framework for scoreboards, athletic field fence signs, and private wayfinding signs that do not clearly fit within the existing permanent or temporary sign categories. The Planning Commission is asked to simply react to these proposed amendments and provide guidance to staff on how to move forward in relation to athletic field signage.
Summary of Proposed Amendments
The draft ordinance would create a new Section 6.11 titled “Athletic Field Signage.” As a result, the existing sections that follow would be renumbered. The new section would allow certain athletic field signage on eligible public school district and City park properties, subject to specific standards intended to address sign size, location, lighting, operational limits, and visibility from surrounding properties and public streets.
Key Ordinance Changes
• Creation of athletic field signage standards. The amendment establishes a dedicated ordinance section for scoreboards, athletic field fence signage, and private wayfinding signage associated with athletic facilities.
• Scoreboard regulations. The draft allows one scoreboard per athletic field, subject to maximum height, area, setback, visibility, and commercial speech limitations. Electronic scoreboard components would be limited to use during games or events and would require dimming and shut-off controls. Signage must be coordinated in the use of colors, materials and shapes.
• Athletic field fence signs. The draft allows signs on fencing surrounding athletic fields, including signs that may contain commercial speech, provided they do not exceed the height of the fence, face toward the athletic field, and are not illuminated.
• Wayfinding signs. Directional signs would be allowed within athletic facilities, subject to maximum size and height standards. The draft also addresses how naming-rights entities may be identified on wayfinding signs.
• Permit exemption clarification. The amendments add language indicating that no zoning certificate is required for athletic field fence signage, while other sign types remain subject to the standards identified in the new section.
Analysis:
The proposed amendments provide a clearer and more predictable process for athletic field signage while maintaining limits to protect public safety, neighborhood compatibility, and the overall intent of the sign ordinance. Athletic fields often include unique signage needs, including scoreboards, sponsor recognition, field identification, and on-site directional signage. Creating a dedicated ordinance section helps distinguish these signs from general commercial signage, temporary signage, and institutional signage. The amendments would also classify athletic field signage separately, so it would no longer be treated as off-site signage.
Currently, City Code includes the following under Article 6, section 6.8 Prohibited Signs:
(D) Billboard signs or structures which are designed and erected for the purpose of selling advertising space or identifying a business not located on the property on which the sign is located.
Under Article 6, Section 6.10 Standards for Permanent Signs by Zoning District, Sub. (E) Signs in the CD-S and PI-S Districts, Pylon signs are prohibited in these districts.
Under Article 6, Section 6.9 Design Guidelines, Sub. (D) Changeable-Copy Signs limits the frequency at which copy may be changed on permitted changeable-copy signs to once per minute. It also allows one changeable copy sign per use or parcel in the PI-S district, limited to 30 square feet.
The draft standards are generally consistent with the purpose of Article 6 because they regulate location, size, placement, lighting, and operational characteristics rather than regulating signs based on viewpoint or content. The limits on electronic scoreboard operation, illumination, and street visibility are particularly important for reducing potential impacts on adjacent properties and motorists. The prohibition on illumination for athletic field fence signs further limits off-site impacts while still allowing sponsor recognition or field-related signage oriented toward spectators and participants.
Several dimensional standards remain placeholders in the draft ordinance, including maximum scoreboard height, maximum scoreboard area, commercial speech percentage, required scoreboard setback, and maximum athletic field fence sign area. These items should be finalized before adoption to ensure the ordinance is enforceable and provides clear expectations for applicants, staff, and the public.
Scoreboard Signage Example:
To illustrate how different signage percentages may appear on scoreboards of varying sizes, two drawings are attached to this report showing the overall scoreboard dimensions and the amount of signage allowed in relation to the digital scoreboard components.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the proposed amendments and indicate whether it supports moving forward with athletic field signage provisions that would remove this signage from treatment as off-site signage. If the Commission supports proceeding, staff also recommends that the Commission provide direction on the remaining dimensional standards. The proposed amendments would create a practical framework for athletic field signage while preserving the City’s ability to address safety, visibility, lighting, and compatibility concerns. It is also important to remember that sign content cannot be considered when drafting the sign ordinance based on current state legislation.
City Plans & Policies Relevance:
The proposed changes are unlikely to have a substantial impact on the guiding values of the Comprehensive Plan. Northfield has a long history of prohibiting off-premise advertising, video messaging signs, flashing signs, moving signs, and strict limitations on changeable copy signs.
Sponsorship of school sports expressed via signage on fencing and wayfinding signs could potentially reduce some of the barriers to participation in school sports by offsetting costs. However, there is no clear mechanism by which the City could ensure revenues generated by sponsorships advance equitable participation in school sports. Other barriers, such as transportation, are likely to remain.
The inclusion of a large video screen on the scoreboard is not likely to advance any of the Comprehensive Plan’s guiding values and does not meet any specific actions or outcomes. The potential to contribute additional e-waste may be contrary to goals of reducing solid waste.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
The School District would like to install athletic field signage for the upcoming school year.