HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 11211995 Meeting Sheet
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Box: 19
Folder: PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1995
Document: PL MINUTES 11211995
.1 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
3 November 21, 1995
4.. I. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
5 The meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chair Bergstrom at
6 7:00 P.M.
7 H. ROLL CALL.
8 Commissioners present: Bergstrom, Makowske, Gondorchin, Horst, Faust, Thompson, and
9 Franzese.-
10
ranzese:10 Commissioners absent: None
11 Also present: Kim Moore-Sykes, Management Assistant.
12 III. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 21, 1995 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
13 Motion by Franzese, second by Makowske, to approve the Planning Commission Agenda
4 for November 21, 1995 as presented.
Motion carried unanimously.
16 IV. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 17, 1995 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES.
17 Corrections:
18 Page 2, line 4: "...informaiton...", changed to "...information..."
19 Page 2, line 5: "...Comprenehsive...", changed to "...Comprehensive..."
20 Page 2, line 17: "...a reduction in...", changed to "...better management of..."
21 Page 4, line 12: "...good technical...", changed to "...comprehensive and detailed..."
22 Page 4, line 28: "...Northeastern...", change to "...Northeast.."
23 Motion by Franzese, second by Makowske to approve the Planning Commission.minutes of
24 October 17, 1995 as corrected.
25 Motion carried unanimously.
26 V. PUBLIC HEARINGS.
7 A. Sign variance - Apache Medical Building
28 Chair Bergstrom Opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m.
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
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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.
Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
November 21, 1995
Page 3
1 Mr. Scott Schmit indicated his request is variance from Subd. 5, 1400.09, but he indicate_d he
2 also is unsure of where the building definition fits in.
3 Commissioner Makowske indicated the Planning Commission needs to establish if the Apache
4 Medical Building is a single commercial establishment or several commercial establishments
5 under one roof.
6 Mr. Schmit indicated his request is for two additional signs for his tenants Rehab Dynamics, and
7 a salon. He indicated Wirth Companies would not allow more than six signs on the building.
8 Commissioner Horst inquired as to Benson Optical. Mr. Schmit indicated Benson Optical is
9 vacating the building.
10 Commissioner Faust inquired as to the current occupancy percentage. Mr. Schmit indicated the
11 current occupancy is 86%.
12 Mr. Schmit reported there are approximately 25 suites in the building, with eight vacant at this
13 time.
Commissioner Faust asked what kind of tenants are marketed. Mr. Schmit indicated currently
15 100% of their marketing is towards medical services, professions, although they would not turn
16 away tenant requests for other businesses.
17 Commissioner Gondorchin.inquired as to what the applicant felt was the hardship in this case.
18 Mr. Schmit indicated if the request was denied the tenant would be denied additional advertising.
19 Commissioner Gondorchin inquired if Mr. Schmit felt the business relied on drive by customers.
20 Mr. Schmit indicated there are no substantial facts to base this on.
21 Commissioner Gondorchin asked how the applicant would control the signs proposed by tenants,
22 in regards to trademarks, etc. Mr. Schmit indicated the lease agreement states all signs are at the
23 discretion of the Wirth Companies.
24 Commissioner Gondorchin inquired if, as an example,the area now used by Benson Optical was
25 requested by three tenants, would they try to accommodate this request. Mr. Schmit indicated
26 that could be a possibility.
27 Commissioner Franzese inquired if the applicant had reviewed the potential for just a building
28 sign,perhaps using the address 4001. Mr. Schmit indicated this had been reviewed, but no
29 decision had been made.
1110 Commissioner Franzese expressed concern that any signs would not be seen from the road
31 anyway, and felt a building sign using the address would be more appropriate.
Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
November 21, 1995
Page 4
1 Commissioner Makowske indicated there are three conditions the Planning Commission must
2 meet in order to grant a variance; one of which is the property must be unique. He questioned
3 the applicant as to what he felt made this building unique. Mr. Schmit felt the building was
4 unique because of low visibility from higher traffic roads.
5 Commissioner Franzese inquired if there are similar buildings that have such signs. Mr. Schmit
6 indicated the Central Medical Building in St. Paul.
7 Chair Bergstrom indicated in his review the closest definition of this building in the Code was
8 "Strip Mall", but this still does not define this building. He indicated this issue still needs to be
9 addressed.
10 Chair Bergstrom noted the Planning Commission is also struggling with finding the three
11 conditions bound by State Law in regards to the variance request.
12 Chair Bergstrom closed the Public Hearing at 7:35 p.m.
13 Commissioner Gondorchin indicated it was his perspective this building should be addressed as a
14 single entity.
445 Commissioner Gondorchin expressed concern for perpetual-si n requests in the future as tenants
16 change.
17 Commissioner Gondorchin suggested a monument sign would be more appropriate.
18 Commissioner Horst indicated he felt the signage would not be unusual. He did not want to
19 inhibit what the owner could do with his building.
20 Commissioner Faust indicated he did not feel comfortable with the determination of the
21 definition of"commercial establishment" and felt the City Attorney should review and make
22 recommendations.
23 Commissioner Gondorchin indicated the current professional tenants also need to be taken into
24 consideration and their opinion that signs,perhaps, detract from the aesthetics of the building.
25 Motion by Makowske, to table action until the City Attorney can review and make
26 recommendations in regard to the definition of"Commercial Establishment".
27 Chair Bergstrom expressed concern at tabling the item.
�8 Commissioner Makowske explained he was addressing the definition separately from the
�j variance request. Commissioner Makowske withdrew his motion.
Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
November 21, 1995
Page 5
1 Chair Bergstrom indicated the Planning Commission is not generally opposed to a detailed
2 signage request, but this request seems too vague, or "open-ended".
3 Commissioner Faust expressed concern with not having all the information, or a more detailed
4 sign request.
5 Commissioner Franzese indicated most patrons go to the building for appointments and are
6 looking for the building, not a individual business sign.
7 Motion by Franzese, seconded by Makowske,to deny Petition for a Wall Sign Variance - Wirth
8 Companies for the Apache Medical Building, based on the rationale that the petition did not meet
9 the three conditions for granting variances.
10 Motion carried 6-1. (Commissioner Horst opposed)
11 Commissioner Horst felt it may be an unfriendly gesture of the City to deny signage.for
12 businesses.
3 Commissioner Faust indicated it could be detrimental to the City, since there is no parameters of
how many signs would be allowed. Commissioner Faust did not believe there was enough
15 information to make a decision.
16 Commissioner Gondorchin concurred with Commissioner Faust.
17 Commissioner Makowske indicated he felt the evidence was inadequate; there may be a better
18 vehicle by which the applicant could achieve his request.
19 Commissioner Horst noted he also agreed that there may be another way in which the applicant
20 could achieve signage needed.
21 Chair Bergstrom indicated this item will be reviewed by the City Council at its November 27,
22 1995 meeting.
23 The Planning Commission directed Staff to further review the definition issue and forward to the
24 City Attorney for review and recommendations.
25 Chair Bergstrom appointed Commissioner Franzese as the representative of the Planning
26 Commission at the November 27, 1995 meeting of the City Council.
Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
® November 21, 1995
Page 6
1 VI. GUEST SPEAKER
2 A. Larry Hamer, Director of Public Works.
3 Mr. Hamer was not in attendance.
4 VII. COMMENTS
5 Each member of the Planning Commission congratulated Commissioner Faust on his Council
6 election victory.
7 Ms. Moore-Sykes reminded the Planning Commission of the November 27, 1995 City Council
8 meeting at 7:00 p.m. due to the Truth in Taxation meetings,the regular meeting had been
9 rescheduled for Monday,November 27th.
10 Ms. Moore-Sykes indicated there will be a Special Use Permit request at the December meeting
11 of the Planning Commission.
2 Chair Bergstrom indicated he would have a conflict with the meeting in-December and would not
3 be able to attend.
14 Commissioner Faust thanked all those who supported him in his campaign.
15 Commissioner Gondorchin inquired if there was anything in regard to Apache Plaza. Ms.
16 Moore-Sykes indicated nothing has come to City Hall as far as requests.
17 Commissioner Horst reminded everyone of the Carriage Rides to be held on December 8, 1995.
18 VIII. ADJOURNMENT
19 Motion by Thompson, second by Franzese to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
20 Motion carried unanimously.
21 Respectfully submitted,
22 Ruth McLaurin
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