03-26-08 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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to retail /service businesses is higher, resulting higher traffic in the area and increased pressure on parking facilities. In the past year or two, there has been some movement toward more retail activity along Country Drive, particularly with the auction sales at Rose Gallery and the transition of the Levitz site to Flom Furniture. Both of these examples are farther north on Country Drive, however, and have greater exposure to freeway visibility. The site in question has limited visibility due to the topography of the area. The City should carefully consider whether a transition of this area to a more retail /service orientation would be consistent with long -term City land use goals. One consideration in this regard would be the effect of this transition on competitive locations, such as areas along Rice Street. Item 3 — Comprehensive Sign Plan to construct two new signs on the property -- one freestanding and one wall sign. In the PUD District, potential sign area is regulated by two elements: (1) the maximum allowances of the sign ordinance for commercial uses, and (2) modification of those allowances based on the requirement that PUD design is required to demonstrate a higher standard of design beyond the basic ordinance standards. The freestanding sign proposed by the applicant is a 155 square foot pylon sign on a 20 foot pole. This is the maximum sign allowance for buildings in this district based on building size. In the area, there are a mix of freestanding signs. For the building directly adjacent to the TEMO site, a monument sign identifies the Ramsey County Sheriff's offices. To the north are two newer buildings which have pylon signs identifying the office occupants. Pylon signs area allowed, and the proposed sign is at least nominally consistent with the sign regulations applicable to the property. Staff would recommend the following modifications to the sign as being consistent with the PUD district: - A sign panel design that avoids a lighted white plastic panel background. Instead, the applicant should "reverse out" lighter text from a dark background. - Sign materials that are an improvement over a simple metal pole, augmenting the based with masonry material or other similar improvement. Consider landscaping around the base of the sign. - Rather than a pylon design, utilize a monument style sign which is less visually intrusive and utilizes materials consistent with the building. Item 4 — Provide for up to eight 10 -day periods allowing additional outdoor dumpster storage. As with the display discussion above, outdoor storage is the mast problematic issue in the City's commercial and industrial areas. All of the buildings in the development in question were required (consistent with ordinance standards) to provide for screened 3 9