PL MINUTES 12021985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-10- • 1 been permitted a pylon sign just because they had retained two gas pumps from the 2station which had previously operated on that site. Mr. Johnson said he didn't 3 think his business was that much different. He cited the need for more exposure 4because of a direct competition from both the Zantigo Restaurant and Amoco and 5said another City fast food establishment, Kentucky Fried Chicken, had a building 6 much closer to the street where it could be seen more easily than -his. 7 8 Mr. Johnson stated that the Mobil station pylon sign next door visually blocked 9 his sign and he said he expected the view of any ground sign would also be 10 blocked by cars parked at the station. The restaurant owner told the Commissioners llhis existing roof sign which he now proposed to erect on a 20 foot pole was 12 actually smaller than he would be allowed under the ordinance. Mr. Johnson con- 13 eluded by saying he had always tried to be a good neighbor by keeping his property 14up, remodeling the restaurant, and cleaning the trash picked 'up. Mr. Childs said 15it was true that Hardees would be allowed 150 feet of wall signage but he told 16 the petitioner the Sign Ordinance does not allow any free standing signs for 17 commercial establishments, which is why even a ground sign of the same dimensions 18would require a variance. 19 20 Chester, Krumm- of'the St. Anthony Townhomes across Silver Lake Road, indicated he 2 1 would like the Hardees sign to stay right where it was . However, he acknowledged 22 the Townhome Association had also been allowed a ground sign although it had taken 23 a good number of meetings before the sign was finally approved. He was told the 24 final product had been one which more closely resembled what the City wanted than 25 any other in St. Anthony. However, when Mr. Krumm was asked whether he opposed • 26 the sign, he offered no opposition.. 27 2 8Commissioner Wagner told Mr. Johnson he was a regular Hardees customer and he 29 wasn't at all certain all the restaurant patrons were there because of last 30 moment decisions,, but, rather it might be more ;;:accurate to say one in ten customers 31hadn't planned to eat there in the first place. The Commissioner said he certainly 32 didn't think the gas station would offer any competition for the type of food 33 Hardees serves and he doubted that the Mobil - sign prevented drivers from seeing 34 the restaurant in time to stop if they wanted to. Commissioner Wagner said he 35 perceived there was little justification for a pylon sign in that location and, 36in his own opinion, a "classier, groundhugging sign would be just as effective" . 37 38 The Chair agreed, saying there are residences across from the restaurant whose 39 owners might not want to look at a tall pylon sign from their windows. 40 41 Commissioner Bowerman told the restaurant owners gas stations had been given the 4 2 privilege of- identifying their brand names on pylon signs long before he was on 4 3 the Planning. Commission, but he did not perceive they had been given the. right 44 to advertise the food they sold in the station in the same manner . 45 46 The hearing was closed at 10:00 P.M. for the Commissioners to develop a recom- 4 7 mendation to the Council . During the process, Commissioner Madden disagreed with 48Commissioner Bjorklund's specifying the type of materials to be used in the planter 49 base, -saying there had been similar -signs' in the City which had not been con- 50 structed in the same manner. However; the Commissioner voted for the final motion 5 1 which contained that specification. ? • 52 5 3 After the vote on the following was taken, Mr. Johnson thanked the Commissioners 54 and indicated he would have the architect draw up plans for the sign which he 55 would bring to Mr. Childs before the sign is installed in the spring :