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<br />Billboard Discussion <br />February 2, 2004 <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />Height <br /> <br />Another issue that Clear Channel would like the City Council to consider is the height of the <br />billboards. Mounds View’s City Code limits the height of a billboard to no more than 35 feet <br />above the grade of the adjacent roadway. There are many trees within the MnDOT right of <br />way that would block the view of the signs if the height were limited to 35 feet. MnDOT does <br />not typically allow billboard companies to remove trees to create a viewshed but does permit <br />those same trees to be trimmed if the grow into the billboard viewing area. In addition, there <br />are many trees on the golf course that could be saved if the height were increased an by ten <br />feet. Similar to the spacing issue, the height issue can be resolved either by variance or by <br />code amendment. In this case, a variance may be more appropriate because one could <br />argue the height of the existing trees causes a hardship. <br /> <br />Clear Channel has submitted a few graphics showing the height differences between 35 feet <br />and 45 feet along with a map showing an aerial photograph of the golf course with the <br />proposed locations of the billboards indicated by blue “V”s. <br /> <br />IUP Amendment <br /> <br />Regardless of what’s decided by the Council concerning the redesign of the billboards or the <br />spacing and height issues, Clear Channel would like the City Council to consider amending <br />the IUP to allow for a true 20-year duration (rather than limiting it to a specific date as is <br />currently the case) consistent with the approved leases. The Interim use Permits are <br />currently approved through the end of 2023. It has been almost four years since the Council <br />adopted the original resolution of approval and an additional year since the Council approved <br />the lease extensions. Staff would recommend such an amendment not be processed until <br />the billboard applications have been approved by MnDOT. <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />Discuss Clear Channels request for reduced spacing, alternative locations, increased height <br />and a different design. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />_____________________________________ <br />James Ericson <br />Community Development Director <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />1. Resolution 5419 <br />2. Resolution 5904 <br />3. Ordinance 708 <br />4. Clear Channel Photographic Documentation