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~- • ~~;coa~oa.a-reo PLANNING REPORT DATE: CONSULTING PLANNERS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 300 FIRST AVENUE NORTH SUITE 210 MINNEAPOLIS, i~IN 55101 612.339.3300 7 July 1992 APPLICANT: Harry Schroeder LOCATION: Amoco Station, Larpenteur and Snelling ACTION REQUESTED: Variance PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS: Sign Variance Comments The Applicant is proposing to make significant improvements to the Amoco Station in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues. The improvements include replacing some of the pumps and pump islands, reconfiguring the entry drive from the old frontage road, adding landscaping in the area between the new drive and Snelling Avenue and replacing the fascias on the canopies over the pump islands. The new fascias are to be slightly larger than the existing ones and include internally illuminated signage on three sides. The current signage on the property exceeds the maximum square footage allowed in the B-2 (Retail Business) District in the Falcon Heights Zoning Ordinance. Since-the existing signage is nonconforming and no previous variance had been granted for it and the proposal includes significant alterations to the signage, a variance is required. The current ordinance controls both the number of signs and the total area of signage. One business sign is permitted for each lot (Section 9-13.02 Subd. 3b). In addition, the amount of signage is limited in proportion to the length of the building (see Section 9-13.02 Subd. 3c). This method of controlling signage can be problematic for fuel stations because the structures associated with this use are usually smaller than typical retail buildings. The Falcon Heights Ordinance does not provide any additional allowances for signage on fuel station sites. The formula for determining the permitted area of signage, as found in Section 9-13.02 Subd. 3c, would result in a total sign allowance of 107 square feet on the subject property. According to the letter submitted by the applicant,. the area of the signage on the canopies alone would be 345 square feet. This does not include the pylon sign, for which a variance has already been granted, or the other existing signage on the building. It should be noted that the colored stripes, which are part of the Amoco logo, are considered part of the sign for purposes of determining sign area. This is consistent with the definition found in the Ordinance, which identifies a sign as any display, illustration or structure for the purpose of identifying an organization or business. •