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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes April 21, 2009 Page 2 1 2 Chair Stromgren opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. 3 4 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes discussed the history of the proposed amendment to the 5 sign ordinance to allow temporary outfield signs. She stated Mr. Stephen Peterson, representative 6 from the St. Anthony Baseball Association, contacted staff about requesting variances to the 7 City's sign ordinance in order to be allowed to post temporary advertising signs on the outfield 8 fences in Palm Field at Central Park. Staff presented the Association's request to the Planning 9 Commission at a Concept Review during the March 17, 2009 Planning Commission meeting. 10 The determination of the Planning Commission was that it was more appropriate to request an 11 amendment to the City's sign ordinance to allow for the posting of signs on fences. The Planning 12 Commission Chair indicated that as part of the variance process, the applicant is required to 13 show a unique hardship that is particular to the site and not the owner's doing. The Planning 14 Commission agreed that the Baseball Association and the School District would not be able to 15 prove such a hardship. 16 17 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes reviewed the text amendment requested by the 18 Superintendent of Schools to Title XV, Section 155, Signs. She advised that the proposed text 19 amendment proposes to: 1) limit the size of the sign; 2) the signs are to be temporary in nature 20 for seasonal removal; 3) signs will not be permitted to be animated or flashing; 4) the signs 21 cannot be closer than 250 feet to any residential district; and 5) they must face inward toward the 22 playing field. Other conditions may be added as the result of the City's approval process. In 23 addition, the proposed amendment would require the applicant to apply for a conditional use 24 permit. Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes stated staff received some calls asking for more 25 information about the proposed amendment with one opposing this text amendment. 26 27 Mr. Eric Brever, Foster&Brever,PLLC, representing St. Anthony Baseball Association 28 (SABA), addressed the Planning Commission and stated they are present tonight in response to 29 the Concept Review last month for consideration of placing signs on the outfield wall at Palm 30 Field. They have worked with Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes to put together an ordinance 31 amendment that would give room for potential flexibility if they were to want to expand the 32 scope to a football stadium as well. The primary goal of SABA is to look at Palm Field. As part 33 of the process a conditional use permit would need to be obtained from the City. 34 35 Commissioner Jensen indicated he would prefer that the text amendment apply to both football 36 and baseball fields. He questioned if there has been a measurement of the actual dimensions to 37 verify that the distance from the left field fence to the properties to the east is 250 feet. Mr. 38 Brever stated they have talked with the group currently working on renovations at the high 39 school about conducting measurements of the distance from the football field to the fence line; 40 this could be part of that as well. 41 42 Commissioner Jensen stated he recommends that the dimensions be verified prior to moving 43 forward with the requested text amendment. Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes stated the 44 distance from the baseball field has been measured and is within the guideline; however, there is 45 not a measurement for the football field. 46