09-23-1987 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Little Canada Planning Commission 28 August 1987 Page Two 3. City Standards for Evaluation of Variance Requests. The Ordinance states that a variance cannot be granted unless it can be demonstrated that special topographic conditions exist which create a hardship in complying with the literal terms of the Ordinance; or unless other properties in the same district have enjoyed rights which are being deprived the applicant. 4. Analysis. Other properties in the vicinity of I -35E /Highway 694 have success- fully argued that the bermed areas surrounding the freeways pose unusual obstacles to sign visibility from the freeway. In May, 1987, Little Canada allowed Connco to increase sign height to 40 feet, due to conditions similar to those experienced by the applicant. The topographic conditions created by the berming for the high- way appear to pose an unusual obstacle to sign visibility. The request for a variance in sign area does not meet any of the conditions esta- blished in the Ordinance for granting of variances. Granting a variance for sign area would give the applicant an unusual privilege not enjoyed by other properties in the same district. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the variance requested for sign height on Slumberland's freestanding sign be granted, due to the topographic conditions at I -35E /Highway 694. A sign with a height of 40 feet would therefore be acceptable. It is recommended that Slumberland's requested variance in sign area for the freestanding sign be denied, since no unusual hardship has been demonstrated by the applicant. The area of said sign should not exceed 200 square feet. CC: Joe Chlebeck Margaret Meyer Slumberland John Palacio Tom Sweeney Don Carley 1 Page 9