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MINU4'ES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />JI~N[JARY 26, 1994 <br />center would like to have signage on Rice Street so <br />that people driving by will know they are there. <br />Chazin felt the fact that the shopping center was <br />perpendicular to the street was the hardship that would <br />justify granting the variance. <br />Hanson pointed out that he and the City Administrator <br />are looking into doing a business retention survey of <br />local businesses. Hanson felt that if the City is <br />truly interested in retaining its businesses, it should <br />do something to help The Market Place tenants. <br />Chazin reported that Red Wing Shoes has indicated that <br />without signage on Rice Street they will definitely <br />vacate the center. Red Wing Shoes has been a tenant <br />for the past 10 years. <br />Chazin again pointed out that a hardship must be <br />present to justify granting a variance, and it is their <br />belief that the fact that the shopping center is <br />perpendicular to the street rather than parallel was a <br />hardship. The lay-out of the center to the street <br />offers no visibility for the tenants to Rice Street. <br />All other shopping centers in the City are parallel to <br />the street. <br />Aanson pointed out the senior citizen housing <br />development adjacent to The Market Place Shopping <br />Center, and the benefit to the senior citizens of <br />having the grocery store and drug store at The Market <br />Place Shopping Center. <br />Morelan asked the ownership of Rainbow Foods. <br />Chazin reported that Gateway Foods owns Rainbow Foods, <br />Festival, and Jubilee. Chazin again pointed out that <br />the Snyders lease allows Snyders to leave should <br />Rainbow Foods relocate. However, it is the hope of <br />Team Properties that if another grocery store moves <br />into The Market Place, Snyders will stay. <br />The City Planner reported that he had no concerns about <br />the design of the sign being proposed, however, was <br />concerned about its size. The Planner also commented <br />that the retail information that his office reviews <br />indicates that signage is not a factor in attracting <br />traffic to a business location. Businesses will <br />disagree with this, however, this is what the experts <br />indicate. The Planner stated that this is usually <br />borne out when a business is thinking about locating in <br />the city. The owners will ask about traffic volumes <br />and demographic information, not about signage <br />regulations. It is only when the business is in the <br />process of obtaining permits will the issue of <br />Page 4 <br />