PL MINUTES 04161985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-4- • 1 mended that to save the expense of publishing again, the Commission table the 2 matter until staff can ascertain whether the store .wants to continue its application. 3 4 Commissioner Bowerman moved the hearing be closed at 8: 15 P.M. and made the,following 5 motion: 6 7 Motion by Commissioner Bowerman and seconded by Commissioner Jones to table action 8 on the sign variance request from Town and Country since the required application 9 fee had not been paid and the proponents were not present for the Commission's 10 April 16th consideration of their request. 11 12 Motion carried unanimously. 13 14 At 8:15 P.M. , Chair Franzese opened the public hearing to consider the petition for 15 a sign variance for Midwest Federal Savings and Loan Association, 3928 Silver Lake 16 Road, which would allow installation of two embossed lexan "tree" logo signs, 5 feet 17 by 6 feet each, one on the north and the other on the south side of the building. 18 The notice of the hearing, which the Chair read, had been published in the April 2nd 19 Bulletin and mailed to all property owners of record within 200 feet of the subject 20 property. Only three Midwest representatives and Chester Krumm who lives across 21 Silver Lake Road from the bank were in attendance and no -one reported failure to 22 receive the notice or objected to its content. As indicated in the City Manager 's 23 April 12th memorandum to the Commission members, Mr. Hamer said he perceived the 24 building was already well signed according to the Sign Ordinance since after the 25 tornado last year, Mr. Childs had allowed the replacement of the sign lettering of • 26 the same size and configuration as had been on the building before it was re- 27 constructed. The signage which goes all around the top of the building has the 28 words "Midwest Federal " in three locations as well as the "tree" logo in -six loca- 29 tions. In his assessment of the request for additional signage, the Manager had 30 reported receiving a call from one businessman questioning the allowance of so much . 31 signage when his own signage had been strictly limited by the City. 32 33 Bob Egge of Griswold, Rauma, Egge, Olson Architects, 830 Shelard Tower, St. Louis 34 Park; Bob Zeller, Senior Vice President of Midwest Federal ; and Terry Boblitt, 35 Manager of the Apache branch bank, who did not speak, were present for the Com- 36 mission consideration of Midwest's request. 37 38 Mr. Egge requested the proposed lexan "trees" not be deemed signs per se but 39 rather "cornerstones". Mr. Zeller responded to the Chair's request that he 40 specifically address the hardship he perceived Midwest would suffer if they were 4 1 not granted the variance, by saying Midwest's attempt to solidify their corporate 42 identification with the tree symbol could not be carried out and he perceived the 43 bank' s location was somewhat unique with two public roads on two sides of the 44 building and the quasi-streets on the other two sides which bear heavy vehicular 45 traffic around the structure. 46 4 7 Commissioner Bowerman said he found it difficult to see the proposed logos as not 48 being signs. He pointed to the beauty shop across Silver Lake Road whose business 49 logo became its sign identification. The Chair commented that she perceived the 50 logos would be very attractive but that they were certainly not necessary to 51 identify that particular building. • 52 53 Mr. Zeller responded by saying, Midwest Federal considers the "trees" they display 54 on all their other branch banks to be the most important business communication the 55 bank has with the community since almost everyone recognizes Midwest Federal is 56 "the tree you go to for shelter". Commissioner Hansen told Mr. Zeller the Apache