Planning Commission Meeting Date: October 15, 2026
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Mathias Hughey, AICP, Interim City Planner
Title
Consideration of a Resolution to Recommend Approval of a Text Amendment Related to Athletic Field Signage in the Land Development Code.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission is asked to review the draft text amendments to the sign ordinance and definitions in the Land Development Code (LDC) to allow for athletic field signage at properties owned by the Northfield Public School District and the City of Northfield.
Summary Report:
Process and Update
The proposed changes are being reviewed by the City Attorney. Should that review result in any substantiative changes to the proposed amendments, staff will notice a new public hearing. If all changes proposed or required by the City Attorney are substantially consistent with the drafts included here, the proposed text amendments will be presented to City Council.
A resolution will be included in a supplemental memo.
At the July 16, 2026 Planning Commission (PC) meeting, Staff, the Consulting Planner, and a representative of the School District presented an initial proposal for text amendments related to signage at athletic fields and incorporated into scoreboards. Staff have presented several iterations of the amendments and requested specific feedback at subsequent meetings. The attached draft text amendments reflect prior direction from the PC.
State Statute grants school boards the authority to enter into contracts with advertisers, sponsors, or others regarding advertising and naming rights to school facilities, but it does not exempt school districts from local zoning regulations.
Based on past discussion of the proposal, staff took the following general guidance from the PC.
- Internally facing advertising/sponsorships may be acceptable
- Externally facing advertising/sponsorships was not desired
- Potential impacts such as noise and light should be mitigated, especially related to residential properties.
- Appropriate limits should be placed on the size and location of signs.
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, so long as an approved sign plan is on file with the City Planner.
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.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the PC recommend approval of the proposed text amendments to City Council.
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:
The PC may recommend not changing the LDC as proposed, may recommend minor changes to the proposed amendments, or may initiate an alternative text amendment.
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
September 30, 2026 - Public Hearing notice published in the Northfield News
October 15, 2026 - Public Hearing and PC recommendation on text amendments
November 3, 2026 - First Reading at City Council
November 17, 2026 - Second Reading at City Council and approval of Summary Publication
November 25, 2026 - Summary Publication in the Northfield News
December 25, 2026 - Ordinance goes into effect