02-12-09 Planning Comm. Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Section 903.110. E.5 of the Zoning Ordinance allows for signage equal to a maximum of 15 percent of the building silhouette for multi-tenant buildings. The aggregate area of the allowed signs may be distributed among the several businesses. The applicant indicates that the proposed signage area will be distributed among the tenants based on leased frontage. The subject building's east elevation silhouette is approximately 5,500 square feet in area. As such, the applicant would be allowed to have 825 square feet of signage including one pylon sign. The applicant is requesting 460 square feet of wall signage and a 192 square foot pylon sign for a total of 652 square feet of signage. The Zoning Ordinance allows free standing signs up to 25 feet in height and 200 feet in area for buildings that are 24,000 square feet or more in area. The existing pylon sign that the applicant is proposing to reface exceeds the allowed height requirement. The applicant is requesting to keep the sign at its current height to maximize tenant visibility for west bound traffic on Interstate 694. If desired, the request to keep the sign at 45 feet can be accommodated as part of the PUD. A general review of the site has indicated that lowering the sign may have minimal impact on the view of this site, and in fact, visibility of the sign may be made more difficult given the reconstruction of the freeway in this area. If permitted to remain at its current height, the City may wish to limit this permission to the current sign plan, retaining the future ability to require sign reconstruction as part of another application. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION Based on the preceding review, our office recommends approval of a CUP/Comprehensive Sign Plan for 3225 Country Drive subject to the following conditions: Signs shall be erected in accordance with the approved comprehensive sign plan. All signs shall be subject to a sign permit as provided for in the Zoning Ordinance. 3. The existing freestanding pylon sign along Country Drive may remain at its current height, provided that future changes to the PUD may result in a requirement to bring the sign into conformity. pc: Kathy Glanzer Steve Westerhaus Lee Elfering Jess Gruba, 3225 Country Drive, Ste 100, Little Canada, MN 55117 2