CC MINUTES 05271980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The amendment passed unanimously and the amended motion carried unanimously. Motion by Councilman Sundland .and seconded by Councilman Marks -to grant a three foot sideyard setback variance at the 37th Avenue N.E. frontage of Lot 6, Block 9, Moundsview Acres. Second Addition, for . . the proposed townhouse project, finding, .as did the Planning Commission, the variance is necessitated. by the ten foot right of way recently acquired on that site by Ramsey County for their proposed rebuilding of that roadway and, the variance is not prompted by a desire to increase the value of the property since the developer has reduced the number of 6nits to be developed from the possible permitted eight to seven. Bruce Mc.Reever and Douglas Goodard, representing Red Owl Stores , were present to discuss the firm' s request for an. additional 280 square feet of signage on the south side of the Country Store at 2508 38th Avenue N.E. Mr. Goodard identified himself as in charge of engineering and store planning for Red Owl and said he is. generally opposed to too much signage but felt that although the store has 304 square feet of signage through variance to the sign ordinance on the front of the store, the competitive nature of the grocery • business makes it essential that the store can be identified from 37th Avenue N.E. on the south as well. He was "confused as to why the Planning Commission should question Red Owl 's -assumption that the signage would. be effective believing the firm itself is best equipped' to make such a determination. " Sibley Showrooms, who share the building with Country Store, has approval for -signage on the south and Red Owl is willing to coordinate the exterior finish of the building and the sign with Sibley' s redecorating schemes. The- Country Store has been losing business to the newly remodeled Snyder-Red Owl store in the' St.- Anthony Shopping Center and needs to make up the loss by capturing some of the potential shoppers who travel east on 37th Avenue and never know there is a Country Store at that location unless they happen to glance back, Mr. Goodard said. It was noted that when the existing eastern frontage sign variance was fronted in - 1978, the Red Owl representative then assured the Council that was all the signage Red Owl would ever require at -this site. Mr. Goodard felt this was not a prudent statement and that individual is no longer with Red Owl. In any event, he continued, conditions change. Councilman Marks told Mr. Goodard he was Chairman of the Planning Commission when such a large concession to sign size was granted Red Owl and he questioned whether grocery shopping is done by- impulse or is rather a carefully planned activity for 'most .shoppers. Mr. Berg confirmed that Country Store now has 304 square feet of signage for 38, 000 square feet of building area where 180 is permitted by the City sign ordinance and they would have 584 if the request is granted.