DATE: July 12, 2018
TO: Members of the Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission
FROM: Scott Tempel, City Planner
Title
Update on potential changes to downtown sidewalk policies
Body
ACTION REQUESTED:
The HPC is requested to provide input on the idea of limiting space for display of goods on downtown sidewalks.
SUMMARY:
City staff have been made aware of safety and blight issues regarding placement of goods and signs on downtown sidewalks. Several business regularly place goods for sale on the sidewalk in front of their store. While this may be good for the business and contribute to the liveliness of the downtown, it can create safety hazards which expose the City to liability. Staff is suggesting changes to ordinance language to address the issue through a permitting process.
ANALYSIS:
Sidewalk menu board signs are currently allowed in the C1 Downtown district, as well as the C2 Highway Commercial. The only location restriction on these signs is that "the sign shall be placed only in front of the business without significantly limiting the normal pedestrian use of the sidewalk." The HPC is currently reviewing signage regulations downtown. It is suggested that this revision include more specific locational requirements for the menu boards, allowing them only within three feet of the curb.
The City also has laws on the books regulating the use of City property such as sidewalks.
Sec. 14-1. - License required to operate business on city property
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(a) It is unlawful for any person to operate a business on any property owned or controlled by the city without a license issued by the city council.
Failure to enforce this ordinance opens the City to liability. If someone were to get injured tripping on a sidewalk obstruction, the City could be liable instead of the business because we are not actively enforcing existing regulations.
The City also has an ordinance allowing business to temporarily use publ...
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