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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 01211975 Meeting Sheet IIIIII VIII VIII VIII VIII VIII IIII IIII 106230 Box: 36 Folder: PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1975 Document: PL MINUTES 01211975 } CITY OF ST. ANTHONY PIANNING BOARD MINUTES January X4,1975 • The meeting was called to order at 7:34 P.M. by P-Zr. Letourneau. The following were present for roll call: Johnson, Marks, Letourneau, Hiebel and Bowerman. Also present: Jim Fornell, Adm. Asst. The minutes of the December 17, 1974 meeting were amended to show Mr. Letourneau arrived at the meeting at 8:20 instead of 8:40 P.M. Motion by Mr. Marks, seconded by Mr. Bowerman, to appoint Mr. Letourneau to serve as Chairman of the Planning Board for 1975. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Bowerman, seconded by Mr. Hiebel to appoint Mr. Marks to serve as Chairman Pro Tem for 1975. Motion carried. Mrs. Carol Brown of the Herfurth Realty Company presented a proposal for an 11 ft. high, approximately 48 sq. ft. per side lighted free standing sign which she requested a sign variance to erect at her office at 3901 Silver Lake Road. Members of the Board expressed their surprise and disappointment at the size of the sign in proportion to the one story building and the way it differed from the monumental type sign which had been pictured in the original sketches of the renovation of the house to a real estate office. Mrs. Brown cited the height of the snow drifts in front of the property to defend the height of the sign stating the terrain of the building was lower than the road in front. She said the owner of the realty office might decide to place an identifying sign of the size allowed by the ordinance on the front of the building which she felt would not be as attractive as the rustic free standing sign she was proposing. There was some discussion of how the speed of traffic at that point on Silver Lake Road influenced the size of the sign and whether or not a public hearing was necessary on granting a sign variance. Several of the Board members questioned whether a recommendation of a satisfactory sign should be made to Mrs. Brown until the Board had considered the possible changes which might be made in the City sign ordinance to allow free standing signs of a monument type. Mr. Fornell advised the group that he had suggested to the sign designer that the proposed sign be kept under six feet tall and 30 sq. ft. in area per side, at most. Mrs. Grace McGinn, past Chairman of the Planning Board, was present as a spectator and was invited to comment on the proposed sign "as an interested resident of the area'. She also indicated a preference for a smaller sign with low intensity lighting. • -2- The Board indicated they had no objections to the thatched roof on the proposed sign as long as it came within the maximum square footage which they established • in the following motion: Motion by Mr. Marks, seconded by Mr. Hiebel to recommend to the Council that a variance to the sign ordinance be permitted the Herfurth Realty Company if the following criteria is adhered to: 1. The sign or any portion thereof have a maximum elevation above finish grade not to exceed 5 feet. 2. The sign be of a ground hugging nature. 3. The sign have a maximum size of 30 sq. ft. per side. BL-fore voting on the motion the following amendment was made: Motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Hiebel that any lighting of the above sign be of low intensity not to exceed 50 foot candles at the sign surface. Motion to amend carried. Motion carried. Mr: Fornell presented the request of Mr. R.E. Ingvaldsen to be allowed to keep the T.V. repair sign he now has in his front yard at 3621 Stinson Boulevard. He told the Board that Mr. Ingvaldsen, who was unable to attend the meeting, had been un- employed for some time and was attempting to support his family with the proceeds from his T.V. repair business. Mr. Letourneau expressed his concern with setting a precedent by allowing the signs but other Board members expressed their beliefs that exceptions should be made during this time of extraordinary circumstances caused by the economic downturn when the community should encourage persons with such hardships to support themselves and should grant a temporary allowance for the sign, waiving the payment of any application fee for any variance of the ordinance if such fee were required. Mr. Hiebel pointed out that the City allowed temporary "For Sale" and " Sold" realtors signs and that he felt "it should be the part of government to be responsive to people with temporary relief in time of hardship". Motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Bowerman that the City Manager review this and every other application of this type under Section 430:20, Subd. 12 of the sign ordinance and make his recommendations to the Planning Board and the Council on the disposition of each application and to indicate to the Council that the Board felt this particular petition was a legitimate hardship request and a re- newable permit of three months duration should be granted to Mr. Ingvaldsen with the stipulation that the sign be rem6ved upon Mr. Ingvaldsen's obtaining suitable employment. �-, Motion carried. • The meeting was recessed at 9:25 and reconvened at 9:29 P.M. Motion by Mr. Marks, seconded by Mr. Hiebel that letters from the Planning Board be drafted by the Chairman and the Chairman Pro Tem and sent to Mrs. McGinn and G— P -3- Mr. Kronk commending them for their fine services on the Planning Board. Motion carried. In considering the sign ordinance revision to permit monumental type free standing signs submitted by Mr. Fornell, Mr. Hiebel felt that the full Board including members to be selected later in the month should consider the changes and express- ed his own desire to have more time to study the proposed revisions after doing some research on signs now present in the community. Motion by Mr. Hiebel, seconded by Mr. Johnson to table action on the revision of the sign ordinance until the next Board meeting to allow study and research on the matter. Motion carried. The Board requested they be supplied individual copies of the Roberts Rules of Order. Motion by Mr. Hiebel, seconded by Mr. Letourneau to adjourn the meeting at 9:x+3 P.M. Motion carried. Helen Crowe, Secy.