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I Planning Commission Meeting 2 December 15, 1992 3 Page Two 4 5 6 7 construction of an illuminated ground sign to identify the mall. It was determined that the 8 larger Conoco sign in the agenda packet actually only had 206.5 square feet of sign surface 9 which was less than the 208.7 square foot sign for which the applicants had been granted a 10 variance in October, 1991. 11 12 The ground sign was proposed to be 128 square feet of sign surface where the new sign 13 ordinance allows 150 square feet. When questioned about what was planned for the base of 14 the sign, Mr. Vogt indicated there were 22 feet of lawn, trees, decorative rock and shrubbery 15 all around the front and both sides of the site. He said the footings for the ground sign are 16 within the planted area but the trees,-shrubs and rock are in other_areas. Commissioner 17 Madden pointed out that under the new ordinance the ground sign can only be five feet high 18 unless it qualifies for a height bonus which for a 128 foot sign would seem to require 192 19 square feet of qualifying landscaping around the pedestal of the sign. 20 21 The applicants indicated a willingness to work with staff to bring the signage into 22 conformance with the requirements of the ordinance. 23 24 Commissioner Madden told Mr. Vogt and Mr. Sarna how gratified he was to see their 25 operation up and thriving. However, he said he was concerned about the profusion of 26 non-conforniing signage he perceived on their property including the lottery banner on their 27 store; the signs above the four gas pumps, and the oversized sign in the door window of what • 28 was formerly Mr. Roberts Beauty Shop which advertised that business' relocation to 29 Columbia Heights. The fact that the signs had been up for such a long gime caused hum to 30 doubt the sincerity of the City staff's efforts to enforce the sign ordinance,the Commissioner 31 indicated. He said he was especially concerned since this was the City's first efforts under the 32 new Sign Ordinance and he perceived precedents were being set which could diminish the 33 intent of the ordinance right at its start. When Mr. Urbia said he would have to refer these 34 complaints to the City Manager, Commissioner Madden indicated that to demonstrate his 35 displeasure with a lack of commitment to enforcement he intended to abstain from voting on 36 the motion of approval of the Comprehensive Sign Plan. 37 38 The applicants indicated a willingness to work with staff to bring the proposed signage into 39 confomnance with the requirements of the ordinance to avoid having to go through a public 40 hearing on any variance from the ordinance. 41 42 Motion by Murphy, seconded by Thompson to recommend Council approval of the 43 Comprehensive Sign Plan for the Stop-N-Shop mall on the condition that the Conoco pylon 44 sign not exceed the 208.7 square feet of sign surface for which the applicants had been granted 45 a 55 foot variance in the fall of 199.1 and that landscaping around the pedestal of the ground 46 sign be provided in accordance with the requirements set forth oil Page 12, Subdivision 4, 47 Subsection 1 of the Sign Ordinance dealing with strip malls. 48 49 Voting on the motion: Thompson,Gondorchin,Murphy,Faust, Werenicz-Aye. 50 Madden -Abstention. 51 52 Motion carried. •