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City Council Meeting Minutes August 24, 1999 Page 9 1 2 Voting on the motion: Ranallo, Cavanaugh, Marks, Thuesen vote aye. Faust voted nay. 3 The motion carried. 4 5 Mr. Hatch reviewed the request for a comprehensive sign package for The Hitching Post 6 noting that the Planning Commission had approved a signage package with restrictions. 7 Cavanaugh was dismayed at how easily a signage package had been approved. He was 8 concerned that it would encourage other businesses to request exceptions to the City's 9 Ordinance on signage. Cavanaugh asked for clarification on the difference between the 10 City's Ordinance and the sign package that was presented. 11 Mr. Kellison stated that City Ordinance allows for 150 square feet of signage, and The 12 Hitching Post is requesting approval for 180 feet of signage on the east side, and 172 feet 13 on the north side of the building. In summary, the project is a total of 42 square feet in 14 excess of the allowable amount. He stated that the Ordinance allows for a 15% coverage 15 of the wall area, or two square feet for each lineal foot of wall space, but a total of 150 0 6 square feet of signage is still the maximum. The proposal included five signs with meas- 7 urements of Yx12'. 18 Mr. Kellison reviewed for the Council that Mr. Furseth has a marketing agreement with 19 manufacturers that requires particular signage. According to the City Ordinance, a busi- 20 ness could cover up to 50%of the window area with signage. Mr. Kellison stated that if 21 the Council recommended against the comprehensive sign plan allowing for excess 22 signage on the walls of the business,then The Hitching Post would need to place signs on 23 the windows. Mr. Kellison felt that would cause the business to lose curb appeal. Mr. 24 Kellison clarified that the City is being asked to approve the comprehensive sign package 25 in lieu of The Hitching Post placing signs in the windows. 26 Ranallo inquired about the square footage of the window area. Mr. Kellison stated the 27 windows are 12 feet wide by 8 feet high. Ranallo stated it has been an issue before 28 whether only the letters of the sign are measured or the entire sign for compliance with 29 the Ordinance. 30 Faust shed some light on the history of the sign ordinance. He stated that seven or eight 31 years ago, the Ordinance was rewritten. The specifications in the Ordinance were set 32 forth by a collective group, and he feels that many cities are able to require smaller signs 33 regardless of the franchise. Faust cautioned the Council that St. Anthony, as a commu- 4 nity, has always felt set apart from other suburbs in that it was important to keep signage 5 appropriate, dignified, and consistent throughout the community. Faust clarified he did 36 not plan to vote for the sign package.