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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 1995 Page 2 1 Management Assistant Moore-Sykes reported the Wirth Companies, the management company 2 for the Apache Medical building, has submitted a petition for a sign variance for the Apache 3 Medical building, basing their request on a lack of adequate exterior commercial signage for 4 business tenants. They are asking to be allowed to place two additional commercial signs on the 5 exterior south wall. 6 Ms. Moore-Sykes explained in reviewing the sign ordinance, it appears that there is an unclear 7 definition of what was meant by "commercial establishment" with regards to this situation. The 8 question before Staff is, whether or not the Apache Medical Building is considered one 9 commercial establishment or are the individual service businesses located within the Apache 10 Medical Building each a commercial establishment? 11 Ms. Moore-Sykes further explained if the Planning Commission establishes that each business 12 located in the Apache Medical Building is an individual service establishment, then the next 13 question is the number of wall signs allowable for the Apache Medical Building. the City's sign 14 ordinance states that the total area of all wall signs affixed to a wall may not exceed 15%of the 15 total area of that wall. Currently the total of the proposed sign area, including the Apache sign, is 16 9.7%of the wall. If it is determined that the Apache Medical Building is allowed multiple wall 17 signs, the proposed signs would fall within the 15% of the total area of the wall restriction. 08 Ms. Moore-Sykes indicated Staff is asking the Planning Commission to make a determination on Y g g 19 the definition of a commercial establishment and whether the individual businesses in the 20 Apache Medical Building qualify as such. 21 Ms. Moore-Sykes noted Staff recommends that if the Planning Commission finds tht there exists 22 multiple commercial establishments in the AMB, that the Wirth Companies be authorized to 23 install the wall signs according to the submitted signage plan, without variance. 24 Ms. Moore-Sykes indicated Staff would then recommend that the variance petition fee be 25 refunded to the Wirth Companies once it is determined that no variance is required. 26 Ms. Moore-Sykes indicted Staff recommends that Wirth Companies adhere to the wall signage 27 restrictions as stated in 1400.12, Subd.2(1), whereby the number of additional signs be limited by 28 the 15% wall coverage and that the Wirth Companies limit the total number of wall signs to six, 29 as per the letter dated October 18, 1995 and submitted to the City. 30 Chair Bergstrom questioned what portion of the Code this request is a variance from. Ms. 31 Moore-Sykes indicated this is actually unclear because of the definition of"commercial 32 establishment". 4 Commissioner Franzese indicated she has lived in St. Anthony for 25 years and has always known this building as the Apache Medical Building. She felt patrons would be looking for the 35 building rather than a particular business.