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
Potentia...
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