Minutes - 2006/04/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council April 24, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 12 Mr. Hall indicated he is not asking for two billboards on his property. He stated he is asking for one billboard. He stated he would not have a problem in changing the Ordinance to read one billboard per property owner (unless it is the City of Mounds View). Councilmember Stigney stated that with a spacing requirement of 500 feet, it is possible that there would only be one billboard. He stated that the amendment is to allow billboards on County Road 10 and take them off Highway 8. He stated the Council needs to deals with it and not the residents. Mayor Marty stated that the billboard height limit in this Ordinance is not to exceed 45 feet. He stated there would be a 45 foot billboard in town. He noted that in the past, there have been discussions about billboard height of 35 feet in Mounds View and 45 feet along I-35W. He stated this Ordinance is not amending the height requirements, so a billboard could be up to 45 feet right in town. Mayor Marty indicated that he spoke with the residents that live on Old Highway 8, and noted that they did not seem to be as concerned with billboards along the Old Highway 8. He noted it is mostly public land except for Townsedge Terrace, and that would be up to Mr. Toberman. He stated farther south, there is the possible reuse of the site of the Skyline Motel. He explained Townsedge Terrace is down the hill from the Skyline Motel. He stated that unless there is a billboard placed at the Townsedge Terrace entrance or on the Skyline Motel property, he does not see it affecting the residents in the area. Mayor Marty noted that he is concerned about billboards placed along County Highway 10, because the City is trying to create a boulevard look with landscaping, lighted trailways, and a City monument to beautify the area. He stressed that having billboards erected for 30 years is totally contrary to the boulevard look. He stated the Comp Plan designates the area as business light industrial, and while it is the business district, it is also the entrance to Mounds View. Mayor Marty stated he received calls from residents about the signs that are there now, but they are signs that represent the actual businesses that are there. He pointed out that anything can go up on a billboard. He noted that when the City controlled the now-Medtronic property, the City had control over what types of advertisements would be on the billboards, but in this case there would be no control over the content of the billboards, and Clear Channel would have control over what would be on the billboards. Mayor Marty pointed out that billboards were used by the City to try and keep the taxpayers of Mounds View from having to pay taxes to support the golf course. Mayor Marty stated that the City got a good deal with Clear Channel, which would have paid off the golf course and left the City with several million left over. Mayor Marty stated it is his understanding after talking with City Staff, that the City is providing adequate sites along Old Highway 8, US Highway 10 and I-35W for the number of billboards that need to be relocated.