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<br />1. To be allowed two freestanding signs – This property does have frontage on both Country <br />Drive and Rice Street. However, the property is one building and under our residential <br />standards would be allowed only one sign. The applicant is seeking a monument style <br />(horizontal) sign along Rice Street and a pylon style (vertical) sign along Country Drive. No <br />wall signage is proposed. <br /> <br />2. To be allowed sign area greater than 35 square feet – The total sign area requested by the <br />applicant is 120 square feet. Each sign measures 60 square feet. <br /> <br />It would be Planning Staff’s opinion that proposed signage is consistent with the area and it is not out <br />of character (although it is beyond what we’d allow in a residential setting). This property is <br />surrounded by properties that are either zoned commercial or PUD. Additionally, the signs proposed <br />are smaller in sign area than what we would allow for a commercially zoned property of this size. <br />Therefore, the applicant has exceeded that allowed in our R-3 zoning by area and number of signs, <br />this request seeks a balance between the two zoning types given the mix of uses in the area. <br /> <br />It should also be noted that the City’s Architectural Guidelines discourage the use of backlit cabinet <br />signs. When they are proposed, the recommendation has been to require the reverse coloring (i.e. <br />dark background with light lettering). Our architectural guidelines also encourage freestanding sign <br />materials to be compatible with the building and preferably in a horizontal orientation. Vertical <br />freestanding signs are to be considered where it is shown the sign coordinates with the overall <br />architectural theme. In this case, the applicant has proposed both panels with the light background <br />and dark lettering. It would be Planning Staff’s recommendation that the panel be reversed in <br />coloring so that they comply with this guideline. Additionally to be consistent in our handling of <br />vertical signs in the PUD zoning, it would be our recommendation that the applicant be required to <br />install a sign base with an integral planting area or some type of brick casing around the sign post to <br />achieve a higher quality look for the proposed sign along Country Drive. The monument sign <br />proposed along Country Drive is proposed with materials complimentary of the building. <br /> <br />Lastly, the site plan submitted does not show the setback from the property line for either <br />freestanding sign proposed. City code states “no sign shall be located closer than five (5) feet to any <br />property line”. City staff has requested this information to verify compliance as part of the review <br />process. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />It would be Planning Staff’s recommendation that the Planning Commission approve a PUD <br />Amendment for Hearth Development at 3100 Country Drive to allow for signage in excess of that <br />allowed by code and the addition of a 20x20 accessory recreational facility (i.e. gazebo) based on the <br />proposal being consistent with the intent of the PUD zoning and subject to the following conditions: <br /> <br />1. Subject to approval and comments from the Ramsey Washington Watershed District. <br /> <br />2. Subject to the recommendations of the City Engineer and execution of a Maintenance <br />Waiver should the City need to gain access to that area if the trail is paved. <br /> <br />3. Subject to the sign face for both panels be “reversed out” in coloring.