Planning Commission forwards broad sign ordinance updates, including time‑limited pause on new/converted billboards

The Minneapolis Planning Commission voted 7–0 to forward a broad update to the city’s sign ordinance to the City Council, accompanied by a time‑limited direction on the staff‑recommended pause for new or converted off‑premises billboards.

CPED planner Sarah Roman said the code amendments aim to increase downtown vibrancy and make permitting simpler for businesses. Key elements include: allowing on‑premises signs on non‑primary building walls; expanding the minimum guaranteed sign area to second‑floor and skyway businesses; exempting painted wall signs that depict business activity from strict sign‑area limits; permitting portable “A‑frame” signs outside the pedestrian path; authorizing limited building‑wrap and light‑projection signage in targeted downtown areas; and removing the conditional‑use requirement for dynamic signs in most downtown locations.

Roman said staff proposes retiring the sign‑credit system that historically restricted billboard locations and, during an interim pause, temporarily pausing new billboard installation and the static‑to‑digital conversion of existing billboards while the city develops a second‑phase approach. Staff described the pause as intended to allow arts and cultural staff to complete a downtown CultureScapes process, to develop a legislative request that would allow the city to create a revenue‑generating billboard program (modelled on other cities) and to conduct broader public outreach about desired billboard policy.

Business owners, sign companies and arts organizations who testified at the public hearing praised many proposed changes but asked for more time to review the omnibus draft and requested clarification or modification of the proposed pause. Speakers asked that existing billboard owners be allowed certain kinds of conversions or alterations, that the moratorium be time‑limited and that the city clearly exempt painted wall business signs. Several arts and downtown stakeholders asked that the city expand cultural corridor designations beyond the initial downtown focus.

Commissioners debated the merits of a pause that had no fixed end date. After discussion, the commission adopted staff’s recommended text changes but with a modification: the pause on new billboards and conversions is to be revisited on or before June 1, 2027 (staff will continue legislative outreach and engagement to define a long‑term approach). The motion to forward the ordinance with that time‑limited clarification passed 7–0.

Provenance: Staff presentation 01:57:53; public hearing began 02:17:09; Planning Commission roll call forwarding the amendment occurred 02:57:07.