Agenda - 02-19-2015 - C2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�A 22 large -scale commercial operations within the County, with an emphasis on property located within the: a. Commercial Transition, b. Commercial - Industrial Transition, and c. Economic Development Transition Activity Nodes (please see Attachment 2 for a copy of the Future Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan for additional detail). Current sign regulations limit the total allowable square footage for freestanding and wall signs for most non - residential general use zoning districts to 32 square feet (8 feet by 4 feet in size) regardless of the properties location (in or outside of an Activity Node), size of parcel, or amount of road frontage. There is a concern that current regulations do not offer a suitable distinction between development within various identified Activity Nodes (i.e. more urban areas of the County) and rural areas allowing for a sign of suitable size to accommodate a non- residential project on a larger parcel of property. The `one -size fits all' sign limit may, in fact, be a deterrent to non - residential development in the aforementioned Activity Nodes. There is also a noticeable lack of clarity within the UDO addressing the development of large -scale properties with multiple tenants necessitating the need for a larger, freestanding sign, advertising local businesses and on what constitutes a blinking /flashing sign leading to enforcement concerns. The proposed amendment(s) seek to address these concerns. 0 Analysis As required under Section 2.8.5 of the UDO, the Planning Director is required to: `cause an analysis to be made of the application and, based upon that analysis, prepare a recommendation for consideration by the Planning Board and the Board of County Commissioners'. The amendments are necessary to address current concerns over advertising needs for development within the urban areas of the county (i.e. the Commercial Transition and Commercial - Industrial Transition Activity Nodes) and clarify the prohibition on the use of blinking /flashing signage by incorporating new definitions into the UDO. Staff will also be using this amendment process to incorporate an interpretation relating to the use of digital displays by gas stations. Historically gas stations have displayed gas prices through an internally /externally illuminated reader board. These displays create unnecessary glare for motorists. We have allowed gas stations to incorporate digital reader board displays to advertise gas prices, reducing glare and eliminating issues of light trespass either through cracked message boards allowing undiffused light to escape or misaligned external light fixtures creating glare for motorists. 3. Comprehensive Plan Linkage (i.e. Principles, Goals and Objectives) Land Use Goal 4: Land development regulations, guidelines, techniques, and /or 2