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Mounds View Planning Commission September 19, 2001 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br />________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Mr. Cronin explained that some trees would need to be removed to make room for the sign but <br />noted the trees to be removed are poplar trees and not significant trees. He then explained that <br />there would be wildflowers, shrubs that are between six and eight feet tall, and the existing trees <br />behind the billboard. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch indicated she feels the sign is large enough as it stands and then asked the <br />applicant if it were possible to improve the appearance of the sign and reduce the expansion <br />amount. <br /> <br />Mr. Cronin indicated that the Company is stuck because the signs come in standard sizes and <br />said that any special or custom sized billboard would be very costly. He then indicated that he <br />feels the Company has done everything it can do to improve the appearance of the sign and make <br />the sign as unobtrusive as a billboard can be. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch indicated she thought the Company had three sizes of signs. <br /> <br />Mr. Cronin indicated the Company used to have a 10.5 x 36 sign but indicated that size is being <br />phased out. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch questioned whether the vinyl wrap type sign was new, as that was her <br />impression from the previous meeting. <br /> <br />Mr. McCarver from Clear Channel Outdoor indicated that the monument type base for the sign is <br />new for the Company, not the vinyl wrap signs. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch indicated that she was aware of how much the Company makes off of its <br />billboards and indicated that, even if the sign were smaller, the Company would still do very <br />well. <br /> <br />Mr. McCarver agreed with Commissioner Scotch that it makes sense for the Company to expand <br />and improve the sign. He then indicated that the improved aesthetics are costly and said the <br />Company is counting on the expanded billboard to offset the costs of the improved aesthetics. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson asked if Walgreens was notified and then questioned whether the <br />expanded sign would affect the line of sight for Walgreens. <br /> <br />Commissioner Scotch indicated she did not feel the sign would obstruct the line of sight for <br />Walgreens but said she felt the sign is very large and could be smaller. <br /> <br />Commissioner Johnson indicated that billboards are big and said he feels it is better to have a <br />nice looking big billboard than an ugly existing billboard. <br /> <br />Director Ericson indicated that Walgreens was not notified and indicated that there was no <br />requirement to do so. He then indicated that he did not feel the sign would negatively impact <br />Walgreens.