A. Special Purpose of the HR District. The City Council makes the following findings in establishing the sign regulations in the HR District:
1. The HR Zoning District was created to accommodate the unique land use reflecting the Minnesota State Legislature's provisions for a single standardbred horse racing facility allowed within the Seven County Metropolitan Area.
2. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 240 includes the provisions for regional horse racing facilities and the Minnesota Racing Commission's rules, regulations, and permitting procedures.
3. The Running Aces harness track and gaming facility is a unique, one-of-a-kind, regional entertainment facility.
4. The Running Aces harness track and gaming facility occupies the largest single business property in the City of Columbus.
5. The Running Aces harness track and gaming facility is located adjacent to Interstate Highway 35 (I-35), and has direct access to the facility provided via county and local roadways.
6. The Running Aces harness track and gaming facility holds a variety of special public and private events throughout the year, in addition to harness track racing and gaming.
7. There is considerable traffic generated by and attributed to the Running Aces harness track and gaming facility.
8. There is a need for signage opportunities which are relevant to the size and scope of a regional entertainment facility.
B. The maximum freestanding sign area for buildings with 40,000 square feet gross floor area or more shall not exceed 360 square feet in area, nor 82 feet in height. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the front property line and 20 feet from the side yard property lines and be designed such that in the event of a column failure the breakaway point causes the sign to fall on vacant property and not cause harm or damage to human health or private/public property. Illuminated signs and Dynamic signs are permitted.
C. Freestanding Signs for Developments in I-35 Corridor. In addition to the one allowed on-premises freestanding sign in Subsection B. above, properties in the I-35 Corridor, as defined in Section 7B-200.R. of this Ordinance, are allowed a second on-premises freestanding sign to be oriented toward the interstate highway and located in the I-35 Corridor, as provided in this subsection.
1. The maximum sign area for the second on-premises freestanding sign shall not exceed 200 square feet in area, nor 30 feet in height. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the property line oriented toward the interstate highway and 20 feet from the side yard property lines. Illuminated signs and Dynamic signs are permitted.
2. On any property located in the I-35 Corridor, which is also located within 300 feet of the intersection of an interstate highway on- or off-ramp and the intersecting highway, the second on-premises sign allowed in Subdivision 1 above may be substituted for a freestanding sign not exceeding 100 square feet in area, nor 60 feet in height. Such sign substituted in this Subdivision 2 may be illuminated but shall not be dynamic.
3. For any single development in the I-35 Corridor with least 150 acres in area and with a principal structure with at least 60,000 square feet of gross floor area, the maximum sign area for the second on-premises freestanding sign is allowed to exceed the maximum area and height in Subdivision 1, up to 1,640 square feet in area and 82 feet in height. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the property line oriented toward the interstate highway and 20 feet from the side yard property lines and be designated such that in the event of a column failure the breakaway point causes the sign to fall on vacant property and not cause harm or damage to human health or private/public property. Illuminated signs and Dynamic signs are permitted.
D. Wall Signs. Wall signs are permitted on each wall of a principal structure with direct public street frontage. Principal structures served by private street frontage are permitted one wall sign. The maximum wall sign area for buildings with less than 20,000 square feet gross floor area shall not exceed 15% of the wall area or contain lettering heights greater than 36 inches. The maximum wall sign area for buildings with at least 20,000 square feet gross floor area but less than 40,000 square feet gross floor area shall not exceed 15% of the wall area or contain lettering heights greater than 42 inches. The maximum wall sign area for buildings with 40,000 square feet gross floor area or more shall not exceed 15% of the wall area or contain lettering heights greater than 48 inches. Wall sign area allowed on a wall but not used on that wall may be allocated to another wall of the same building. Illuminated wall signs are permitted. Dynamic wall signs are not permitted.
E. Sign Band for Multiple Wall Signs. Buildings with multiple uses or multiple businesses may have multiple wall signs, provided the aggregate total wall sign area does not exceed the standards in Subsection C. above, and the individual sign areas are similar and complementary in size, shape and location on the building.
F. Wall Signs on Accessory Buildings. Signage on accessory structures shall be limited to wall signs providing identification or directional information, such as "Tack Room," "Veterinarian," or "Racing Officials." Such signage shall not exceed 20 square feet in area or lettering exceeding 12 inches in height.
G. Directional and Public Information Signs. Small, freestanding signs providing directional and other public information, such as "Horse Racers Only," "Park and Ride Facility," and "RV Parking," are permitted on private property in the HR District. Such signage shall not exceed 18 square feet in area or 8 feet in height or be located in areas impeding vehicle driver vision or safety.
[§ 7B-307 added by Ord. No. 10-06, effective May 6, 2010, amended by Ord. No. 13-01, effective January 31, 2013, amended by Ord. No. 15-02, effective June 4, 2015, amended by Ord. No. 21-06, effective October 21, 2021.]