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Item No: 5A Meeting Date: April 2, 2008 Type of Business: Public Hearing City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View Planning Commission From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Public Hearing and Consideration of a Variance to Allow an Increased Amount of Wall Signage for Aldi at 2537 County Highway 10; Planning Case VR2008-001 Introduction: Aldi, Inc. has requested a variance to allow for an increased amount of wall signage on their building located at Mounds View Square, 2537 County Highway 10. The Aldi grocery store recently moved in to one of the end spaces at Mounds View Square, and installed signage above the entrance door that says simply “Aldi.” The end units at most retail centers have two exterior walls which is the case with Aldi’s location, so they have two wall signs. Each tenant is allowed up to 100 square feet of wall signage – Aldi’s current signs total 93.75 square feet. They would now like to add another small sign under the original one that says “Food Market” in order to specify what kind of store Aldi is. The two additional proposed signs would add an additional 18.75 square feet of wall signage, which would put them 12.5 square feet over the amount allowed. Discussion: The Sign Code calls for building mounted signage not to exceed 100 square feet per building occupant. In most cases, 100 square feet is more than adequate, although issues have arisen regarding end spaces at the retail malls and for stand-alone buildings with multiple frontages. Aldi’s location in Mounds View Square has two front walls with good visibility since both sides face County Highway 10 and one side also has visibility from Long Lake Road. Our Code makes no exceptions for multiple building elevations, thus limiting each tenant to 100 square feet. Aldi, Inc. would like to install two additional signs, each one would be 18” tall and 6’3” wide (9.375 square feet), on the exterior walls of their building. The signage would appear as shown in the photo included in this report. Each of the current signs are 7’6” tall and 6’3” wide (46.875 square feet). Paster Enterprises, the owners of Mounds View Square, are supportive of Aldi’s request. Similar Requests: Budget Liquor and Mario’s Video were both granted variances for additional signage at Mounds View Square. (Both leased space at either end of the center.) The Abbey Carpet building, Carmike Wynnsong Cinema and C.G. Hill & Sons also received approval for signage in excess of 100 square feet. The Mermaid, through its PUD, was allowed signage in excess of the City’s requirements.