The sign ordinance is intended to establish a comprehensive and balanced system of sign control that accommodates the need for a well-maintained, safe, and attractive community, and the need for effective communications including business identification. It is the intent of this section, to promote the health, safety, general welfare, aesthetics, and image of the community by regulating signs that are intended to communicate to the public, and to use signs that meet the city's goals by authorizing:

a)   permanent signs that establish a high standard of aesthetics;

b)   signs that are compatible with their surroundings;

c)   signs that are designed, constructed, installed and maintained in a manner that does not adversely impact public safety or unduly distract motorists;

d)   signs that are large enough to convey the intended message and to help citizens find their way to intended destinations;

e)   signs that are proportioned to the scale of, and are architecturally compatible with, principal structures;

f)   permanent signs that give preference to the on-premise owner or occupant; and

g)    temporary commercial signs and advertising displays that provide an opportunity for grand openings and occasional sales events while restricting signs that create continuous visual clutter and hazards at public right-of-way intersections.

The city of Minnetonka finds it is necessary for the promotion and preservation of the public health, safety, welfare and aesthetics of the community that the construction, location, size and maintenance of signs be controlled. Further, the city finds:

a)   permanent and temporary signs have a direct impact on and relationship to the image of the community;

b)   the manner of installation, location and maintenance of signs affects the public health, safety, welfare and aesthetics of the community;

c)   an opportunity for viable identification of community businesses and institutions must be established;

d)   the safety of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and other users of public streets and property is affected by the number, size, location and appearance of signs that unduly divert the attention of drivers;

e)   installation of signs suspended from, projecting over, or placed on the tops of buildings, walks or other structures may constitute a hazard during periods of high winds and an obstacle to effective fire-fighting and other emergency service;

f)   uncontrolled and unlimited signs adversely impact the image and aesthetic attractiveness of the community and thereby undermine economic value and growth;

g)   uncontrolled and unlimited signs, particularly temporary signs which are commonly located within or adjacent to public right-of-way or are located at driveway/street intersections, result in roadside clutter and obstruction of views of oncoming traffic. This creates a hazard to drivers and pedestrians and also adversely impacts a logical flow of information;

h)   commercial signs are generally incompatible with residential uses and should be strictly limited in residential zoning districts; and

i)   the right to express noncommercial opinions in any zoning district must be protected, subject to reasonable restrictions on size, height, location and number.

Every section, subdivision, clause or phrase of this section 325 is declared separable from every other section, subdivision, clause or phrase. If any such part is held to be invalid by competent authority, no other part shall be invalidated by such action or decision.