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Planning Commission • <br /> Planning Case No. 462-96: Mounds View Square Shopping Center <br /> November 6, 1996 <br /> Page 2 <br /> October 9, 1996, the Planning Commission requested more information on how the <br /> proposed pedestrian bridge would affect the sight lines from Highway 10 to the shopping <br /> center. <br /> This report serves as a supplement to the staff report prepared for your October 9, 1996 <br /> meeting. (A copy of the previous staff report will be available at your November 6 <br /> meeting for the Planning Commission's reference.) <br /> Analysis/ <br /> Recommendation: <br /> Staff has obtained a diagram of the sight lines from the City Engineer. The City Engineer <br /> has estimated that 10 sections are needed for a motorist to see the shopping center pylon <br /> sign and react in sufficient time to turn at the Mounds View Square, based on the 50 <br /> m.p.h.. speed limit on Highway 10. In this amount of time, the car will travel 765 feet. <br /> This distance was measured from the intersection of Highway 10 and Long Lake Road, <br /> which puts the car at 919 feet from the base of the bridge and approximately 1550 feet <br /> from the proposed location of the sign. At this distance, the bridge appears to be 52 feet • <br /> high from the ground to the top of the railing, given the angle of view. (A copy of the <br /> City Engineer's study will be available at your meeting.) <br /> The applicant's original proposal was for a sign 75 feet in height and having a sign area of <br /> 800 square feet. At this height, 23 feet will show above the bridge. The panel identifying <br /> the center would be visible but not the tenant names. Staff would note that most of the <br /> traffic passing Mounds View Square is commute traffic so motorists would see the tenant <br /> names when traveling east. The applicant is concerned, however, with both the actual and <br /> perceived obstruction created by the bridge for visibility of the center, and how it may <br /> affect their ability to lease space. Keeping the shopping center leased is in the best <br /> interests of both the applicant and the City. <br /> Staff has toured four of the other centers owned by the applicant to look at signage, and <br /> took pictures which will be available at the meeting. We asked the applicant for the <br /> measurements of the signs for Mendota Plaza, Crystal Center and Northway Center which <br /> are as follows: <br /> Shopping Center Sign Height Sign Area <br /> Mendota Plaza 50 feet 430 sq.ft. <br /> Crystal Center 36 feet 7 inches 297 sq.ft. <br /> Northway Center 36 feet 301 sq.ft. • <br />