07-23-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JULY 23, 2014 CANADIAN DAYS VARIANCE — 219-223 LITTLE CANADA ROAD - MAYHEM PROPERTIES Montour reminded the general public that the 2014 Canadian Days Celebration will be held August 1-3, 2014 in Spooner Park. A listing of Canadian Days events is on the City's web site. Montour opened the Public Hearing to consider the application for a Variance for sign setback to allow placement of sign on the property line at 219-223 Little Canada Road requested by Mayhem Properties. Both the City Planner and Planning Commission recommended approval of the Variance. The City Planner reviewed his July 3, 2014 report relative to the request for a Variance to the sign setback requirements for a new monument sign to be located adjacent to the Mayhem Properties driveway at 219-223 Little Canada Road. The Planner noted that this property has Limited frontage on Little Canada Road. The applicant is requesting the Variance as it is their position that placing the sign at the 5 foot setback would result in limited visibility for the sign given the adjacent parking and utility improvements in the area. The applicant has also indicated that people looking for this property have difficulty in finding the driveway into the site given the limited visibility and other driveways in the area. The Planner noted that in order to justify granting a Variance the City is required to find that the proposed use is a reasonable one for the property, taking into account the intent of the ordinance and surrounding neighborhood conditions. The Planner indicated that it is staff's position that the Variance is justified given the width of the property and interference with sight lines. The Planner recommended, however, that the monument sign meet the City Architectural Guidelines. Janet Johansen, Mayhem Properties, appeared before the Council noting the many improvements that have been made to this property. She indicated that the addition of the monument sign will be another improvement. Johansen indicated that people coming to the building have difficulty in finding it given the narrow property width and other driveways and utilities in the area. She felt that having the monument sign at the property line will also be a benefit to traffic on Little Canada Road given that the property will be easier to locate. Montour noted that the property line abuts The Porterhouse and that the City received a letter from the owners of The Porterhouse in support of the Variance. There was no one from the general public present wishing to comment on this matter. 2