01-11-2024 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 2 The Community Development Director replied that due to COVID staff relaxed some of the regulations for businesses to allow time for their customer base to return. Chair Johnson invited the public to provide comments. Emily Heuring, representing Caribou Coffee, commented that they had a 30 percent drop in sales in 2019 due to construction and continued to be impacted during COVID. She stated that they continue to build back up their sales but still remain under the typical sales of 2018. She stated that the additional signage helps to direct traffic with the new roundabout and asked for the support of the Commission. Commissioner Thorson stated that the original variance was granted because of the hardship of construction and asked if that language would remain as language within the hardship. The Community Development Director agreed that was the hardship when the variance was granted and this new amendment would allow an extension, therefore there would be new reasons/findings as to why this would be allowed to continue. She reiterated those findings which included wayfinding and loss of customer base. Commissioner Thorson asked if there are plans to remove the additional sign in the future. Ms. Heuring commented that they love being part of the community and would love to keep the sign indefinitely. Chair Johnson asked if the business would be willing to make a trade in order to keep the additional monument sign indefinitely, giving up the right to have the additional signage on the building that would otherwise be allowed. Ms. Heuring commented that she would agree to that. Chair Johnson commented that she would argue that this business has a unique location near the newly created roundabout and understands the hardship to that location. She noted that she has missed the correct exit and had to circle around. She stated that the construction of the roundabout occurred after the business was in existence and therefore would be willing to offer the trade to allow the two monument signs in lieu of additional signage on the building. Commissioner Carlson-Clark asked if that would set precedent for other businesses. Chair Johnson commented that this was an existing business which had construction occur around it that impacted access, noting that the triple roundabout is very unique.