01-24-2024 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO:Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM:Corrin Wendell, AICP, Community Development Director DATE:January 24, 2024 RE:Variance Amendment – 3354 Rice Street – Case #1424 ACTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED To consider approval of a Variance Amendment application to allow the use of a second monument sign with the condition that the property foregoes any additional signage square footage requests. BACKGROUND The City has received a Variance Amendment application from the Caribou Coffee Company located at 3354 Rice Street to allow the extension of a previously granted Variance indefinitely. At its August 14, 2019 meeting, the City Council approved a Variance for the Caribou property in efforts to allow additional signage because of on-going construction when the round-a-bouts and highway construction was occurring causing practical difficulties not created by the property owner. This Caribou location has two monument/pylon signs, the second of which has a sunset date of February 28, 2021. Because of Covid, the City relaxed this requirement due to customer challenges during the pandemic and is now bringing it forward due to continuation if enforcement. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-8-91 – ALLOW 9 DIRECTIONAL-INFORMATION SIGNS, AND APPROVE VARIANCES TO ALLOW A TOTAL OF UP TO 400 SQUARE FEET OF SIGNAGE AND WALL SIGNS ON 4 SIDES OF THE BUILDING AT 3354 RICE STREET FOR CARIBOU COFFEE, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 1.THE FREE-STANDING SIGN MUST COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ZONING CODE CHAPTER 903.110.E.5.c FREE-STANDING SIGNS 2.THE EXISTING PYLON SIGN AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER MAY REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL FEBRUARY 28, 2021. The Caribou store has noted that Caribou's unit sales have not rebounded since the disruption of the construction and they would like the City to consider an extension to the signage enhancement to help with getting our customers back. They stated that Caribou was harmed with the bridge closure, creating excessive disruption and traffic. In addition, they stated that they are grateful to be a part of the community, and believe they are an asset as well. They are requesting the use of the existing second monument sign be extended for 5 additional years. At the Planning Commission meeting on January 11, 2024, the Planning Commission reviewed the application, heard from the applicant, and recommended to not only consider an extension of