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<br />Electric Auto Sales & Service, Lake Elmo, MN February 28, 2023 <br />DLR22002 7 <br />feet in area. The requested sign flexibility allows for coordinated signage which reduces the number of monument <br />signs and provides a more uniform design. <br /> <br />Flexibility is requested to provide increased wall signage area and the number of facades eligible for wall signage. <br />The flexibility requested would allow wall signage on building facades without street frontage. This is important <br />because it will allow buildings on Block 2 to have wall signs facing Hudson Boulevard and along frontages with the <br />private access drive. Hudson Boulevard is also a major collector with high-speed vehicle traffic and the proposed <br />buildings on Block 2 exceed the required setbacks from Hudson Boulevard. The speed of vehicle traffic and distance <br />of buildings to Hudson Boulevard supports larger wall signs to be visually effective. Lot 3, Block 2 is also set back a <br />considerable distance from Hudson Boulevard, so increased wall signage area will help with visibility. Specific <br />standards proposed for wall signage are discussed in the Comprehensive Sign Plan Narrative. <br />Street Frontage Trees <br />Flexibility is requested from the street frontage tree requirement in Section 105.12.480 of the Zoning Ordinance, <br />which requires a minimum of one tree be planted for every 50 feet of street frontage. There is practical difficulty in <br />meeting this requirement because there are buried utilities and overhead power lines along Hudson Boulevard which <br />conflict with potential planting areas. We are requesting flexibility to provide the required boulevard trees along the <br />private drive and Hudson Boulevard in locations where there will be less conflict with the existing utilities. <br />Screening Between Different Land Uses and Parking Lots Abutting Residential Districts <br />City Code requires 6-foot high screening between different uses or districts and 4-6 foot high screening for parking <br />lots adjacent to residential districts. The residential properties adjacent to the west property line include a 20-foot tall <br />retaining wall and a large stormwater pond. We feel that a privacy fence along the west property line will not provide <br />a screening benefit due to the significant elevation difference and the existing separation provided by the stormwater <br />pond. In lieu of a privacy fence, we have focused our landscaping along the west property line, including numerous <br />coniferous trees that will provide year-round screening benefits. <br />Light Cast at Property Line <br />Flexibility is also requested from the maximum allowable light cast at the property lines that are shared with other <br />commercial uses. Section 105.04.070(d) of the Zoning Ordinance regulates that light cast glare shall not exceed four- <br />tenths footcandles at the property line. The property line between Lots 1 and 2, Block 2 is situated in the center of the <br />proposed private drive. The footcandle measurement in the private drive may exceed four-tenths because streetlights <br />are proposed along the private drive to illuminate the drive for vehicle and pedestrian safety. Lighting may also <br />exceed four-tenths footcandles along the east property line of Lot 1, Block 1. This lot shares access with the existing <br />commercial property to the east and additional lighting is necessary for vehicle and pedestrian safety. Therefore, we <br />are requesting flexibility from the footcandle requirement on property lines shared with other commercial uses to <br />allow for adequate illumination of the private drive and shared access area. <br />PUD Benefit <br />Consider the following list of benefits that will be provided with the development: <br />- Enhanced design of the private road, including, but not limited to boulevard landscaping, pedestrian <br />connectivity through the site, pedestrian connectivity to Hudson Boulevard and street lighting. <br />- Building design which includes greater use of high-quality architectural materials such as anodized metal <br />panels and glass storefront. <br />- Increased building setback to residential properties to the west. <br />- Coordinated ground signage for the entire development reduces the number of ground signs from four <br />allowed to the two proposed creating less sign clutter.