electronic & digital signs

Electronic & Digital Signs

April 5, 2017

Sign Code Re-write Process

Updating a piecemeal code that saw its last major revisions in 2007 and 1999

Comprehensive Plan High Priority Goal

PC Goals: Simplify, balance business with community needs, consistent with plans

Government interest in regulating signs: Aesthetics, Traffic Safety, Protection of Property Values

Process is on-going and will likely run through the calendar year

Expectations, Goals & Questions

Your participation, opinions and views on these electronic and digital signs (and future participation)

Share information/sign technology Identify user groups and individuals that should be involved (residents, visitors,

peds, drivers, bus. owners) Do you own an Electronic Sign? Are they effective? Advantages & Disadvantages? Complaints & Issues? How to ensure adopted standards reflect goals?

Sign Types & Technologies

There are many types of signs. Effective signs have common traits: Express identity of the business

Compatible with visual character of surrounding area

Legible under the circumstances in which they are seen

Not likely to distract drivers to a dangerous degree

Focus on Electronic and Digital Signs

Traditional/Manual Changeable Copy Signs

Tri-Vision Boards

Electronic Changeable Copy Signs (AKA Electronic Message Centers)

Defined by the USSC as: “An electrically activated changeable sign whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. EMC’s typically use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a lighting source.

Types of Electronic Message Centers

Static Animated Intermittent

Video Signs

How are the New Electronic Signs Different from Traditional Signs?

Drivers make twice as many and longer glances at active signs than they do at passive/static signs.

Flashing messages are more distracting, less comprehensible, and require more reading time.

Visually complex locations, e.g., intersections, compound the distraction problem.

Scrolling messages require viewers to concentrate; how long depends on size, resolution, length of message

Anticipation of a new image appearing may distract drivers who feel compelled to wait for the change.

Electronic Message Centers – Contrasting Views

Increases Visual Clutter

Distracting to Motorists creating Traffic Safety Risks

May create light pollution

More Effective Business Identification Relative to Cost

Multiple Tenants can AdvertiseQuick & Remote Sign Copy

ChangesCan Communicate Community

Events & Information

How to achieve benefits of EMCs while minimizing risk and addressing concerns?

What we Know (Soldotna Stats)

20 Electronic Message Center Signs in Soldotna

Full graphic & color/animated

1 color graphics

Scrolling text/intermittent

Multi-line text/intermittent

Static text

Most installed after 2007

Average size = 31.9 sf

Sign Code Standards Universal to All Sign Types

Sign Area

Height

Placement (setbacks)

Number

Illumination

Zoning Districts

Sign Types

Sign Code Standards Specific to Electronic & Video Signs

Brightness (e.g., daytime vs. nighttime limits)

Movement (flashing, strobing, racing)

Color

Setbacks (e.g., from R districts)

Operational mode (message duration, transitions, animation, video)

Spacing (minimum separation from similar signs)

Audio

Brightness

Consider Brightness by Zoning District

Movement

Flashing/Strobing Scrolling/Racing Animation Video

Where are they Appropriate?

Commercial

Limited Commercial

Institutional

Industrial

Parks

Residential

Only on the Sterling and/or Spur Highways?

Commercial Zoning District

Limited Commercial Zoning District

Institutional & Parks Zoning District

Institutional & Parks Zoning District

Spacing

Should there be a minimum spacing requirement between signs and from Residential areas?

Intersections?

Parks or scenic areas?

How Big?

Many limit the size of a sign face that can be used for digital displays. Thirty percent is common although in some entertainment districts the proportion is higher.

Final Thoughts

Input will be shared with Planning Commission Process will continue for several months Stay informed by signing up for e-mail notificationsContinue to participate and share your thoughtsWho are we missing? Others that should be involved?