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STAFF REPORT DATE: December 16, 1997 TO: Planning Commission Members FROM: Kim Moore-Sykes, Management Assistant ITEM: 97-14 -- Petition for Sign Variance for Stop 'N Go Service Station, 2400 - 37th Avenue NE BACKGROUND: City Staff received a request for two variances to the Sign Ordinance from Jim Sarna, owner of the Stop 'N Go service station, located at 2400 - 37th Avenue NE. The first variance request is to be allowed to install two monument signs on the property and the second variance request is regarding the size of the monument signs. Mr. Sarna is proposing to remove a pylon sign which currently exists on the property and replace it with two monument signs. He would like to place a 7 foot by 10 foot double- sided monument sign at the corner of Stinson Boulevard and 37th Avenue NE and a 6 foot by 8 foot double-sided monument sign at the curb cut on 37th Avenue NE. The surface area of the proposed larger monument sign is 140 square feet and the surface area of the proposed smaller monument sign is--96 square feet. Mr. Sarna's sign proposal also includes increased landscaping and shrubbery. Section 1400.10 Ground Signs., Subd. 5, Design and Location., (4) states that the principal structure of a parcel of land will be allowed one ground sign, regardless of the number of tenants in the structure. Mr. Sarna is asking for the second sign because his business is on a busy 4-way-corner, where Minneapolis; Columbia Heights_and St. Anthony converge. He also wants to remove the pylon sign, which he feels is too much for that corner and is not seen as the result. He is proposing to replace the pylon sign with a monument sign, which he feels is less obtrusive visually. At night, the light from this sign will be closer to the ground and therefore not offensive to the surrounding residential properties. The smaller monument sign will be placed by the driveway on 37th Avenue and is intended to be more directional in nature. Subd. 3 of,the same Section states that signs having two or more copy surfaces may have up to 68 square feet for all surfaces. Mr. Sarna is asking for a 72 square foot variance for the larger sign, which is 140 square feet and a 28 square foot variance for the smaller sign, which is 96 square feet. The two signs that Mr. Sarna has selected are standard sizes for CITGO gas station affiliates.