10-23-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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N1 751.! / ;S' A\ 5;5,QCAiA.ffla ;cr I el CIi'►,9rn 5775 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 555, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Telephone: 952.595.9636 Facsimile: 952.595.9837 planners @nacplanning.com MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman DATE: October 8, 2002 RE: Little Canada — Snyder Drug Comprehensive Sign Plan FILE NO: 758.09 - 02.34 The new Snyders building along Rice Street in front of the Market Place shopping Center is seeking approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Comprehensive Sign Plan for their building. The proposal consists of two to three signs on three walls of their building, including "Snyders Drug Stores" on the south, west, and north exposures, "1 Hr. Photo" on the same three sides, and "Pharmacy Drive -Thru" on the north elevation over the drive - through area. In addition, they are seeking approval of a new freestanding sign along Rice Street. The application states that the total allowable signage is 310 square feet. This is based on 15% of the silhouette of the building from Rice Street. This appears to be correct from the information submitted. The sign ordinance allows just two signs per individual tenant in a Business District, however, the PUD District is more flexible. A Comprehensive Sign Plan can be prepared that allocates the sign area differently than the code would require. However, the applicant's wall signs total 309 square feet. The sign ordinance allows freestanding signs, but the freestanding sign are must be a part of the total allowance. The freestanding sign proposed is 165 square feet in area and 30 feet in height — well out of compliance with the requirements. Moreover, a portion of the freestanding sign is an electronic message board, currently not permitted under the regulations, and the primary sign design appears to be colored letters on a white internally lit light box. The architectural guidelines permit individually lit letters, or light lettering reversed out of a dark background. Finally, if the wall signage were to be reduced to keep the freestanding sign within the regulations, it could be no greater than 155 square feet in area, and 20 feet in height.