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Mounds View City Council July 24, 2006 <br />Regular Meeting Page 12 <br />billboard is being built. Councilmember Stigney asked if Mr. Hall is requesting the variance. <br />Mr. Sonterre noted that the billboard he is proposing is the same size as the one at Walgreens. <br />Mr. Jahnke asked if approving this billboard would open the door to other billboards. Director <br />Ericson stated that the ordinance the City adopted in May provides for very specific relocation <br />places for billboards. He stated there is a cap and replace limitation and that the City cannot <br />exceed the number of billboards currently in the City. <br />Director Ericson explained that approving the IUP does not open the door to any additional <br />billboards and if one is approved, there cannot be any more built on County Road 10 because the <br />ordinance requires significant spacing between billboards. <br />Councilmember Gunn stated she agrees with Councilmember Flaherty that she will approve the <br />site, but not the height variance. She stated she does not want billboards on County Road 10, but <br />this is within an area that was approved. She stated she would not agree with the variance <br />because what she can see from the diagram presented with the Staff Report, the 35-foot billboard <br />will not block Mr. Kopas' business. She stated she does not see the need for the 45-foot <br />variance. <br />Councilmember Thomas stated her difficulty is that the discussion turns to whether or not the <br />Council wants a billboard on County Road 10. She stated that the discussion has been had and <br />this site was determined as one that is acceptable for a billboard. She stated that she appreciated <br />Stevenson's comments. <br />Councilmember Thomas stated that the Council disagreed with the Planning Commission's <br />denial since the Council agreed that the site proposed is acceptable. She stated the Council is <br />here to decide about whether or not to overturn the vote, not what personal beliefs of billboards <br />are. She stated that the Planning Commission went beyond the scope of the question before <br />them. <br />Councilmember Stigney stated he agrees with the Planning Commission's decision and he will <br />do everything he can to stop billboards on County Road 10. He stated County Road 10 should be <br />the last option. He said the City should negotiate with Medtronic for billboards on their site. He <br />stated the height is immaterial because he will not vote for either the NP or variance. <br />Mayor Marty agreed with Councilmember Stigney that he does not want a billboard on County <br />Road 10. He stated that the City is trying to make County Road 10 more of a "boulevard" rather <br />than a highway or pass-through area. He stated that hopefully by the fall there would be the first <br />lighted trailway between Silver Lake Road and Long Lake Road. He mentioned where other <br />trailways have been installed. He mentioned money set aside from other businesses for the <br />trailway and other businesses will be asked for their contributions. <br />• Mayor Marty noted the code states that a hardship exists when all of the criteria are met, and in <br />this case, not all criteria are met. <br />