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I way frontage. She indicated the current ordinance only allows one sign per right-of-way frontage. She explained he is requesting an additional sign because his current sign is not readily W noticeable to anyone looking for his business. She indicated the linear footage allowed for the 4 sign by the sign ordinance, has the current Autotraac sign facing south and is clearly visible to 5 the residential area across the street. Mr. Bulicz is unable to install a ground sign on the site 6 because Ramsey County widened 37th Avenue at that point to accommodate a right turn lane 7 onto Silver Lake Road and eliminated the space he would have had available for a ground sign. 8 If the ground sign had been possible, the identification sign would be visible from both directions 9 along 37th Avenue and possibly at the intersection of Silver Lake Road and 37th Avenue. 10 Moore-Sykes explained Mr. Bulicz is asking to be allowed to paint an identifying wall sign on 11 the west side of the building which would be 14 feet by 5 feet or 65 square feet with an 8%wall 12 surface. This would be within the specifications of the sign ordinance regulating the size of wall 13 signs which limits a wall sign to no more than 15%of the wall surface. She indicated the 14 proposed identifying signage would be visible from the west-bound and the north-bound 15 roadways. She reported staff recommends approval of the sign variance. The hardships 16 addressed by this variance request are the inability to install a ground sign due to the construction 17 of a right turn lane for Silver Lake Road by Ramsey County and the current sign is ineffective in 18 providing a reasonable and equitable opportunity for identification of the business. 19 Commissioner Franzese asked if a ground sign could have been placed in the easement even if 20 Ramsey County hadn't widened the road. Morrison stated Autotraac could have put a ground sign there if Ramsey County had not widened the road because Autotraac owned the land. 23 Judy Fruth, Administrative Assistant of Autotraac, indicated the Berger Transfer building sits 24 further out into the street area than Autotraac. She stated customers driving west to east cannot 25 see Autotraac until they are right in front of the building. She indicated a lot of people have to 26 turn around and come back. She stated that in an attempt to distinguish their building from 27 Berger Transfer, they painted the building blue. She questioned how a small business can grow 28 when customers drive right by and think your business is something else. 29 Commissioner Gondorchin asked if there were many comments from customers in regard to the 30 inability to find,Autotraac. 31 John Bulicz, Owner of Autotraac, indicated he has worked at Autotraac since 1986 and numerous 32 customers have indicated they drove by the building and never knew it existed. He explained 33 when Autotraac was built, Berger Transfer did not exist. Subsequently, Berger Transfer was 34 built out ten feet further than Autotraac. He stated Autotraac was painted blue in an attempt to 35 be seen and the business to grow. They now are trying to grow again by being visible from both 36 streets. 37 Commissioner Thompson indicated he thought a more visible sign across the top of the building 038 would be more appropriate. He felt a wall sign would cheapen the look of the building. 40 Chair Bergstrom closed the public hearing at 7:41 P.M.