Council approves ordinance amendment to regulate dynamic drive-thru signs

The Richfield City Council on Jan. 28 approved a second reading and authorized summary publication of an ordinance amendment establishing rules for dynamic drive-thru or menu-board signs.

Council Member Burke said the amendment responds to an applicant request (Taco Bell, 7740 Second Avenue South) seeking to replace an existing menu board with a dynamic display. Staff said the zoning and sign code previously limited dynamic display signs and that the amendment moves "order board" rules into the sign code and reclassifies them as drive-thru signs for clarity and consistency with neighboring cities.

Staff told the council the proposal limits dynamic signs to a single freestanding or drive-thru sign per property and applies area and proximity limits; the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Dec. 9 and recommended approval. Director Pailman answered council questions on administration and permitting, saying a sign permit is required and the permitting process will identify whether a property has already used its dynamic-sign allowance.

Council Member Hayford O'Leary, who had raised a clarity question by email, said the ordinance as written addressed his concern about whether a property could later convert an additional freestanding pylon sign to dynamic if a menu-board sign was already dynamic.

The council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance on second reading and authorized summary publication.

Votes at a glance: second reading of the drive-thru sign ordinance amendment and resolution authorizing summary publication were moved, seconded and approved by the council (voice vote).