Planning commission recommends permit for college’s digital display sign

The Moorhead Planning Commission voted April 6 to recommend that the City Council approve a conditional use permit allowing Minnesota State Community and Technical College to install a dynamic (digital) display on a new freestanding sign at 1900 28th Avenue South.

Assistant City Planner Ethan Junk told the commission that YHR Consulting, representing the college, requested the on-premise dynamic-display component and that staff finds the proposed sign meets the city’s sign-code requirements. Junk said the sign will be more than 200 feet from residential uses and will be screened from the west by existing trees; no public comments had been received as of the meeting. Staff recommended forwarding approval to council subject to the 13 conditions listed in the packet.

A commissioner asked whether the proposed 145.43-square-foot display is larger than the existing sign and whether the new sign will be placed in the same location; Junk said the sign meets code and indicated the new sign will be in the same general location, and that the sign permit (showing exact dimensions) was not included in the packet. Commissioners also compared the proposal to a similar Quick Trip sign. The public hearing was opened and closed without public testimony, and the commission approved the motion by voice vote to recommend approval to the council.

The recommendation will appear on an upcoming City Council agenda for final action. The staff packet lists 13 conditions of approval; the commission’s recommendation does not alter those conditions. No vote tallies with member names were recorded in the transcript; the action was approved by voice vote at the meeting.