Public Forum: Lewis and Clark Elementary and Russell Elementary School Dynamic Display Signs
UPDATE: The Public Forum request was heard on January 8, 2024. This case is now closed for comment.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
City of Missoula Community Planning, Development, and Innovation has received a notice from Missoula County Public Schools of their intent to install dynamic reader board signs at Russell Elementary and Lewis and Clark Elementary. Russell Elementary School is located at 3216 South Russell Street. Lewis and Clark Elementary School is located at 2901 Park Street. The signs will be approximately 25 square feet in area and 15 feet off the ground. The signs will be installed on the building frontages facing Russell Street (Russell Elementary) and Queen Street (Lewis and Clark Elementary). The reader boards will be primarily used for messaging families and public on events and important dates happening at the school. The display could change daily and will be programmed to turn off between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
These signs will not be meeting the dynamic display and wall sign zoning requirements. The proposed signs will be larger than the maximum allowed area and height for wall signs in R5.4 Residential and OP3 Public Lands and Institutional zoning districts (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050). The maximum area allowed is 12 square feet and the maximum height is 6 feet. The proposed dynamic display signs are permitted only in B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, M1, and M2 zoning districts (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.070.F.1). These signs will be in R5.4 and OP3 zoning districts. The dynamic display portion of the sign may not exceed 40 square feet or 50% of the total area of the sign, whichever is less, and must be computed as part of the sign’s total area (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.050.F2). The displays will exceed 50% of the total sign. The dynamic display sign face must be oriented away from adjacent residential uses and zoning districts (Title 20, Chapter 20.75.070.F.3) The proposed signs will face adjacent zoning districts.
City Council is authorized by state law to hold a public hearing, known as a public forum, when a public agency proposes to use public land contrary to the local zoning regulations. The public agency in this case is Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS). City Council does not have the power to deny or condition the approval of the project. The proposed use is permitted regardless of the outcome of the hearing. However, public comment is greatly appreciated and may be considered by MCPS.
PROJECT APPLICATION LINKS:
The application packet can be viewed here: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1638/Private-Development-Projects
PROJECT TIMELINE:
The hearing date is scheduled for January 8th, 2024 at 6:00 PM. Information on how to attend the meeting virtually or in-person is posted here: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1149/AgendasWebcastsMinutes
PROJECT COMMENT DEADLINE:
Public comment will be taken by City Council until the public hearing is closed. Comments can be submitted through Engage Missoula, via email to the planner noted below, by mailing in a letter to the City of Missoula office at 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT 59802, or during the public meeting.
PROJECT PLANNER:
The project planner is Claire Lovelace and can be reached at (406) 552-6671, or lovelacec@ci.missoula.mt.us.
