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MINUTES <br />PLANNING COMMISSION <br />OCTOBER 11, 2018 <br />means they can replace the signs "as is", but cannot increase the non- <br />conformance. The Associate Planner stated that the Church could upgrade <br />either freestanding sign, but would have to stay at or below a combined <br />total of 40 square feet of sign area between the two signs. She explained <br />that the proposed signage has a slightly smaller message center, but the top <br />cabinet is larger due to visibility concerns. Overall, the sign area is <br />proposed to be approximately five square feet larger. <br />The Associate Planner stated that the new Public District standards would <br />allow the Church to increase the sign area since commercial districts allow <br />signage up to 15 percent of wall area, but the code now specifies the <br />number of signs. She explained that a corner property is allowed one <br />freestanding sign, phis one wall sign per street frontage. She noted that the <br />code amendment has shifted their legal non -conforming portion to be the <br />number of freestanding signs since the sign area now complies. Therefore, <br />St. Johns Church of Little Canada is seeking a variance to allow two <br />freestanding signs. <br />The Associate Planner stated that the proposed variance does not create any <br />negative impacts. She explained that it is city staff s opinion that the <br />special conditions and circumstances were not a result of the actions of the <br />applicant, which supports a finding of fact for a variance to allow St. Johns <br />Church of Little Canada two freestanding signs. She reported that two free <br />standing signs were allowed with the old Public District standards. She <br />noted that the proposed sign is consistent with the City's Architectural <br />Guidelines and is in character with the mix of residential/commercial uses <br />along Little Canada Road. The Associate Planner stated that planning staff <br />is recommending approval of a variance to allow two freestanding signs <br />based upon a finding that the circumstances were not a result of actions of <br />the applicant and the previous ordinance language for the Public District <br />did not regulate the number of signs allowed. Buesing clarified that the <br />new sign would be 15 inches taller than the existing sign. <br />Don Kellett, Business Administrator at St. John's Church, stated that they <br />will be full compliance with the dynamic sign code requirements and feel <br />this sign will be a nice upgrade. <br />George recommended approval of a variance to allow two freestanding <br />signs based upon a finding of fact that the circumstances were not a result <br />of actions of the applicant and the previous ordinance language for the <br />Public District did not regulate the number of signs allowed. <br />Motion seconded by Johnson. <br />Motion carried 6 — 0. <br />-5- <br />