04/13/2005 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board March 9, 2005 Page 10 Carmen Schmidt, 3895 86th Lane, Circle Pines, Taco Palace Restaurant — 730 Apollo Drive, stated her restaurant was not within the site lines of Lake Drive and therefore people did not know her business was there. She noted she had placed temporary signage along Lake Drive, which had been taken down by the City. She noted the signs were home made because she could not afford professional signage. She indicated she had been in business for 18 months and was not taking a salary. She noted she had advertised in the Quad with no success. She noted when she had banners out, her business increased significantly. She understood the City's concerns about maintaining the banners. She stated she did not mind paying $25.00 for a permit for a banner, but 17 days per quarter was not sufficient. She noted there were many holidays grouped together that they would have specials for and they could not advertise those specials, except once a quarter. She stated the maintenance department continuously checked banners and signs all of the time in the City. She understood the City's concern about having cluttering with the signage, but if the small business was not allowed the temporary signage, they could not survive. She noted she could not afford to go to Anoka County and pay $350.00 to get the names of residents, as well as paying for a flyer and mailing the notices. She stated the simplest way for her to advertise was with banners. She indicated she did not mind paying the $25.00 with a time limit, as long as the time limit was reasonable. She indicated if people did not see the signage, they forgot the business was there. Jim Gemlo, 1750 Wood Meadow Lane, representing the Legacy Dry Cleaning opening in Spirit Hills next week, stated they are the first new drycleaner in the metro area that did cleaning onsite. He indicated a streamer without words might not say anything, but it did say to look here. He noted if the streamers got someone's attention even for a short period of time, it was to businesses advantage. He asked for some reasonableness that would be a benefit to the business owners and not detract from the beauty of the City. He asked why was it okay for people to put up For Sale signs and garage sale signs for free while charging the businesses $25.00 for a sign. He asked why was it not required that the realtors and garage sale signs also be charged. He noted signage was a vital piece of their business and he requested they work together and be reasonable on signage. He asked the City also not determine what was a special event at his business. He stated he should just be able to get a permit without having to run a special. Jim Szyplinski, Mansetti's, 6511 Ware Road, stated he agreed the signage problems are a disaster, but the signs do matter to the survival of the businesses. He asked why couldn't they have permanent signage on the road that indicated where Spirit Hills Mall was. He stated the issue was not just banners, but it was signage in general. He noted Spirit Hills Mall was facing backwards to Birch and if he would have realized this at the time, he would not have built there. He indicated he spent approximately $7,000 per month on advertising, but people still did not know they existed. He asked without banners how are they suppose to let the residents know where the small businesses in the City were located. He indicated flyers, newspaper, and television advertising were not working. He suggested they have some street signage and he was willing to pay for it. He stated he was open to suggestions, but the small business owner needed help from the City. He stated he was willing to put up City approved signs and pay a permit fee, but he needed to advertise his business. He asked where else should they be advertising. He noted he also had not received a salary since he opened. He stated the smaller businesses generated DRAFT MINUTES • • •