Agenda Packets - 2006/08/28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 24, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 12 billboard is being built. Councilmember Stigney asked if Mr. Hall is requesting the variance. 1 2 Mr. Sontaire noted that the billboard he is proposing is the same size as the one at Walgreens. 3 4 Mr. Jahnke asked if approving this billboard would open the door to other billboards. Director 5 Ericson stated that the ordinance the City adopted in May provides for very specific relocation 6 places for billboards. He stated there is a cap and replace limitation and that the City cannot 7 exceed the number of billboards currently in the City. 8 9 Director Ericson explained that approving the IUP does not open the door to any additional 10 billboards and if one is approved, there cannot be any more built on County Road 10 because the 11 ordinance requires significant spacing between billboards. 12 13 Councilmember Gunn stated she agrees with Councilmember Flaherty that she will approve the 14 site, but not the height variance. She stated she does not want billboards on County Road 10, but 15 this is within an area that was approved. She stated she would not agree with the variance 16 because what she can see from the diagram presented with the Staff Report, the 35-foot billboard 17 will not block Mr. Kopas’ business. She stated she does not see the need for the 45-foot 18 variance. 19 20 Councilmember Thomas stated her difficulty is that the discussion turns to whether or not the 21 Council wants a billboard on County Road 10. She stated that the discussion has been had and 22 this site was determined as one that is acceptable for a billboard. She stated that she appreciated 23 Stevenson’s comments. 24 25 Councilmember Thomas stated that the Council disagreed with the Planning Commission’s 26 denial since the Council agreed that the site proposed is acceptable. She stated the Council is 27 here to decide about whether or not to overturn the vote, not what personal beliefs of billboards 28 are. She stated that the Planning Commission went beyond the scope of the question before 29 them. 30 31 Councilmember Stigney stated he agrees with the Planning Commission’s decision and he will 32 do everything he can to stop billboards on County Road 10. He stated County Road 10 should be 33 the last option. He said the City should negotiate with Medtronic for billboards on their site. He 34 stated the height is immaterial because he will not vote for either the IUP or variance. 35 36 Mayor Marty agreed with Councilmember Stigney that he does not want a billboard on County 37 Road 10. He stated that the City is trying to make County Road 10 more of a “boulevard” rather 38 than a highway or pass-through area. He stated that hopefully by the fall there would be the first 39 lighted trailway between Silver Lake Road and Long Lake Road. He mentioned where other 40 trailways have been installed. He mentioned money set aside from other businesses for the 41 trailway and other businesses will be asked for their contributions. 42 43 Mayor Marty noted the code states that a hardship exists when all of the criteria are met, and in 44 this case, not all criteria are met. 45