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Mounds View Planning Commission June 21, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 14 ________________________________________________________________________ With the exception of the issue necessitating the variance, the requested Interim Use Permit appears to satisfy all Code requirements and would not appear to cause any appreciable adverse impacts to the area where the billboard is located. While it can be argued that a billboard on the County Road 10 corridor is contrary to the City’s goal of improving and enhancing the image and appeal of the corridor, this site has been identified by the City Council as a potential location for a billboard. Staff is looking for direction to bring something back to the Planning Commission meeting on July 5, 2006 that can then be forwarded on to the City Council. Chair Stevenson asked for clarification. As a Commission they voted unanimously to not have billboards along County Road 10. The City Council overruled it for monetary reasons years ago. We are now back to approve something that the Council again has said this is where billboards will go. The Planning Commission does not have an option to make recommendations for billboards when the Council has said there will be billboards at specific locations. Director Ericson stated this is correct. Chair Stevenson stated he is not in favor of billboards. Chair Stevenson stated that since the Commission is not here to discuss whether they want the billboards, there are several things they can do a better job on. On page three he believes one 45- foot billboard should be allowed because if the drawings are accurate, it will definitely impact the Abbey Carpet and Mermaid signs. With this writing, he directed the Commission to look at section 7, number 3 and requests striking “ …. the maximum billboard sign height is 45 feet” and say “35 feet except as allowed in section 108.10.” Director Ericson asked Chair Stevenson if he is suggesting the ordinance be modified. The ordinance is adopted and unless he is recommending that an adoption or revision for amendment be proposed, the ordinance is in effect. Chair Stevenson said he is. With this writing, he does not see how they are limiting it to the billboard they are discussing. Looking at subsection 10.16 (f) on page 5, “the maximum allowable height the billboard shall be … except for billboards located on CR 10…..” Director Ericson explained the existing code allowed for not more than 35-foot high billboards in the City of Mounds View. Clear Channel provided information that there are some locations where they will need additional height. There was a concession made to extend billboards up to 45 feet, with the exception of any potential billboards along County Road 10 to preserve the look and feel of a community corridor. They very consciously struck the 45-foot provision from County Road 10 and made it 35 feet. The issue with the “except between County Road H2 and County Road I” is an existing billboard in the Townsedge Terrace Manufactured Home Park that is presently a nonconforming use in a residential area. The Council did not want to inadvertently allow for the billboard to be placed at 45 feet in that area. There was an expressed desire to limit the height of that billboard and the height of any billboard along County Road 10. The spacing was increased from 1000 feet to 1500 feet between billboards.