Item 8BAGENDA ITEM tl 8B
MAY 29, 2007
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Confirmation of staff interpretation of sign regulations
SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP
Community Development Director
DATE: May 21, 2007
BACKGROUND: The Jacksonville Federal Credit Union now under construction at Atlantic
Boulevard and Royal Palms Drive has contacted staff for review of their preliminary signage plan. The
bank proposes to construct a monument sign similaz to the sign depicted on the attached drawing. The
proposed sign meets required size and height limits. This sign incorporates an LED message display
that would be used to advertise loan, mortgage and CD rates and such information typically displayed by
financial institutions. The message would be a static message and would not move, scroll, flash or be
animated in any way. The information on the display is changed from a desktop computer inside the
bank. Bank officials have stated that this information would be changed not more than one time per day,
if that often, and have offered that this restriction may be included as a condition of the Sign Permit.
The City's sign regulations prohibit Automated Changeable Message Device Signs which are defined
as: Any Sign, which through a mechanical, electrical, solar, or other power source is capable of
delivering messages, which rotates or appears to rotate, change or move at any time and in any way,
including Tri-Vision or any Multi-Prism Sign faces.
This a standard defmition used in sign regulations, but it was not staff s intention that the type of sign
now proposed be restricted when the sign regulations were re-written in 2003. Sign technology has
evolved, and this type of LED signage was not commonly used for small businesses until more recently
because of the high cost of the earlier LED signs. Since LED sign messages are capable of being
changed by a power source, this sign could technically be construed as such a sign. After consultation
with the City Attorney, we felt it appropriate to bring this issue to the attention of the City Commission.
As an alternative, the bank could use the type sign ~
depicted to the right. There are a number of these types ~'~~ BfIJG! ~:
of signs along Atlantic Boulevard, but the bank has .. ' ~~CTt~tAR0111SE F Si"i
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expressed their desire to use a "higher quality" of sign
design and construction rather than one with these
plastic insert letters. ~ _ ~,~
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BUDGET: NO budget 1SSUeS. This type of sign with changeable plastic inset letters is permitted.
RECOMMENDATION: Find that LED-lighted signs, subject to a sign permit condition that any
message shall remain static, shall not move in any manner or be changed more than one time in any 24-
hour time period, are consistent with the intent of the sign regulations not to permit signs with flashing,
scrolling, moving or animated message displays.
ATTACHMENTS: Example of proposed sign.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
May 29, 2D07 regular meeting
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AGENDA ITEM # 8B
MAY 29, 2007
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