PUBLIC HEARING: Consider a Code Amendment Pertaining to Address Numbers

Staff have received inquiries from developers and builders regarding address signage requirements. Thus, it was determined to have staff conduct an audit of our current regulations in comparison to neighboring cities. Currently, the City's regulations for address signage are located in Chapter 117, and only include the following language: "One address sign shall be required per main building in all districts."

When conducting the review, it was discovered that nearly all neighboring cities have requirements for size, building materials, and placement of address numbers. Additionally, some cities have specific requirements for address signage on multi-tenant commercial and multi-family apartment buildings. Further requirements are set forth in some cities for construction sites to maintain address signage for the duration of construction.

Staff's draft ordinance, which is attached to this case, proposes the introduction of several of the aforementioned regulations, including the following:

• The draft ordinance will move the address signage regulations from Chapter 117 to Chapter 105, which handles buildings and building regulations.
• The definition of "address sign" will be refined to the following language: "Buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These address numbers shall be limited to identification numbers only, written in Arabic numerical form. Numbers shall not be spelled out."
• The draft ordinance introduces a new definition of "front of the building".
• Applicability language is introduced in the draft ordinance.
• The draft ordinance introduces specifications for residential, commercial, and multi-tenant structures. Additional specifications are introduced for multi-story buildings, as well as buildings with multiple tenants or multiple entrances.
• For properties where the principal building is obscured from the view of the street, the new ordinance introduces regulations for posted address signs.
• Lastly, per the request of the Building Department, additional language is introduced for construction sites to maintain address signage at all times during construction.

A notice of the Public Hearing was published in the Anoka County UnionHerald, the City's official newspaper.

Alternatives:

1. Recommend approval of the ordinance as recommended by staff.

2. Recommend approval of the ordinance with modifications that the Planning Commission desires.

3. Recommend denial of the ordinance, keeping the existing regulations in place.

Preparation of this ordinance is done through staff's normal duties.

Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance pertaining to Address Numbers.

Motion to recommend approval of Ordinance #23-18, Amending Chapter 105, Buildings and Building Regulations, pertaining to Address Numbers.