Laserfiche WebLink
I REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING • <br /> 2 DECEMBER 10, 1991 <br /> 3 PAGE 4 <br /> 4 <br /> 5 <br /> 6 lease expired. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 J. C. Penney is requesting the sign based on the poor <br /> 9 visibility the store has from Silver Lake Road, Stinson <br /> 10 Boulevard and surrounding thoroughfares. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Ron Hergers, Manager of Herberger's and President of the <br /> 13 Apache Plaza Merchants, had previously stated his support <br /> 14 of adding the J. C. Penney name to the pylon sign. It was <br /> 15 also noted at the Commission Meeting that by adding the <br /> 16 name of the second largest tenant in the shopping mall, <br /> 17 it added credibility to the mall itself. Some felt this <br /> 18 mall has been viewed as more of a neighborhood center <br /> 19 than a regional center. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 Commissioner Faust advised that much of the discussion at <br /> 22 the Planning Commission meeting focused on economic <br /> 23 considerations in light of today's economy in retail <br /> 24 businesses as well as what other requests may be made by <br /> 25 present or future tenants at the Apache Plaza for signage • <br /> 26 outside of the shopping center. The Commission concluded <br /> 27 there is a need for a comprehensive sign plan for St. <br /> 28 Anthony. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Councilmember Marks requested that the hardship <br /> 31 conclusions be reviewed again by -Commissioner Faust for <br /> 32 a better understanding by the Council. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Commissioner Faust referred to the current ecomomics of <br /> 35 today in retail business but noted that this. was not the <br /> 36 sole consideration for recommending approval of the sign <br /> 37 variance. He stated that two members of the Commission <br /> 38 did not support economics as a hardship in that they felt <br /> 39 this would not meet the test of the statute. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Councilmember Marks inquired of the City Attorney if this <br /> 42 sounds like a hardship. He responded that the most <br /> 43 pursuasive factor was that of the size of the Shopping <br /> 44 Center. He noted that some stores truly do not have <br /> 45 visibility of some other locations; the shopping center <br /> 46 is set apart from some other properties; and there are <br /> 47 some other unusual circumstances. It was his opinion that <br /> 48 the test to be met is, "Will this store survive without <br /> 49 that visibility ? " <br /> 50 <br /> 51 Councilmember Marks felt the application of ordinances to • <br /> 52 Apache Plaza Shopping Center was a challenge in that it <br /> 53 is unique and unusual. <br /> 54 <br />