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Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 2 Ayes - 6 Nays - 0 The motion carried. 5. Staff Reports /Items of Information A. Billboards Community Development Director Jopke explained the Council has asked the Planning Commission to continue to look into and make recommendations on whether billboards should be allowed and what process should be used if it is determined that the City wants to allow billboards at the golf course. He stated that he was not a"fan" of billboards and has serious misgivings about granting variances to allow billboards on the golf course and other sites in Mounds View. He stated he believes this would constitute a use variance which is prohibited by State Statutes. He suggested, as an alternate method of addressing this if the City wishes to permit billboards, that they consider a Code amendment. Jopke stated if the City wishes to proceed to approve billboards, he would recommend the Code be amended to allow billboards by conditional use permit and that specific standards for billboards • be specified in the Code. He reviewed the types of standards that could be included (maximum sign area, maximum sign height, minimum distance between billboards, pole type, sign face configuration, minimum distance and/or screening requirements from residential property, total number of billboards allowed, permitted locations, maximum length of permit, and minimum setback requirements). Jopke stated a second issue that would have to be overcome is that the billboard company will have to also obtain a permit from MnDOT which requires that billboards must be located in commercial or industrial zoning district. The golf course is zoned CRP and it is unclear whether MnDOT would approve permits in that zoning district. An alternative would be to rezone the golf course to PF since golf courses are permitted uses in the PF district. However, the current sign code technically does not permit any signage in the CRP or PF zone. Under this scenario, the Code could be amended to allow billboards in PF and/or CRP districts if a conditional use permit is obtained. Jopke suggested the Planning Commission discuss the general concept outlined as well as what kind of public input process should be utilized. Based on direction from the Planning Commission, staff could then prepare draft ordinance amendments for their consideration at a future meeting. Commissioner Johnson asked if this will "open the door" for Highway 10 billboard requests. 411 Jopke suggested the Code specify specific areas and where billboards would and would not be permitted with a CUP process. Highway 10 would not need to be listed as a permitted area.