Kaysville panel approves two America First electronic message signs with automatic nighttime dimming

The Kaysville City Planning Commission on Feb. 13 approved conditional-use permits to replace two existing monument signs at America First Credit Union, 1302 West 200 North, with electronic message centers (EMCs), and added a condition requiring the signs to automatically dim during evening hours.

City planning staff told the commission the proposed EMCs meet the city's sign-size, setback and zoning requirements and that the signs are considered conditional uses under the city's sign rules. Staff recommended approval and noted the two applications are identical except for which street frontage the EMC would face.

Eric Cheney, a representative of Yesco who was available for questions, said Yesco will install the sign housings and integrate the message centers provided by America First. Cheney told commissioners the message center hardware can be configured to control brightness and that the display will show static images (rotating still frames) rather than video or motion. “It should be static images that rotate,” he said.

Commissioners expressed concern about color temperature and nighttime brightness. One commissioner, drawing on prior city experiences with bright commercial signage, pressed for a condition that the EMCs dim automatically in the evening. City staff confirmed the code requires automatic dimming to respond to ambient light conditions; the motion adopted by the commission added a specific programming condition that the sign intensity be reduced beginning approximately one hour after sunset.

A commission motion to approve the permit for the sign on the Flint Street frontage (agenda item 3) passed after discussion and an amendment to require automatic dimming; at least one commissioner abstained. The commission then approved a second, essentially identical permit for the 200 North frontage (agenda item 4) with the same dimming condition; that motion also passed with an abstention.

Staff noted there were no public comments or written objections submitted for the applications and that standard on-site notice had been posted. The commission discussed but did not add other conditions; staff confirmed the proposal complies with the relevant sign regulations.

The Planning Commission’s approvals send the conditional-use permits forward consistent with the staff report and the additional dimming stipulation incorporated into the motions.