Agenda - Council - 10/14/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #1: Request for a Conditional Use Permit to Exceed Sign Size, Number, and Height Restrictions on a Single Parcel; Case of Schad Tracy Signs Chairperson Nixt closed the regular portion of the Planning Commission meeting at 7:05 p.m, in order to call the public hearing to order. Public Hearin Chairperson Nixt called the public hearing to order at 7;05 p.m. Presentation Associate Planner Dalnes stated the City received an application from Schad Tracy Signs requesting an increase in the maximum sign height and. sign area. In accordance with City Code, all variations to the sign regulations are processed, with the conditional use permit application. Sign regulations for the TC -2 district are similar to the general ' business districts' regulations with regard to square footage and height allowed and number of ground signs permitted, The gross surface area of a ground sign is restricted, to 100 square feet for each exposed face and shall not exceed an aggregate gross surface area of 200 square feet. Ground signs are limited to one (1) per parcel, and must not exceed 25 feet in height. The applicant is requesting to construct one additional pylon ground sign off of Highway 10 to advertise businesses in the multi -tenant facility located on Sunwood Drive and Armstrong Boulevard. There is an existing ground sign on site, which displays the cost of gasoline. The proposed sign will be a total of 233.3 square feet, resulting in an overage of 183.3 square feet per exposed surface. Part of the sign face will be electronic display, The sign is proposed to be 35 feet in height. The submitted site plan proposes the sign to be located in a drainage and utility easement held by both the City of Ramsey for drainage and Connexus Energy for utilities. An encroachment agreement would need to be processed with both the City and Connexus prior to building permit issuance. Also, prior to construction the applicant must coordinate with Connexus to determine the exact location of the sign as to avoid conflict with underground utilities. The subject property includes Coburn's, plus three multi -tenant buildings with the potential total capacity of approximately seventeen (17) tenants. Staff recommends approval of the request for increased number and square footage, given the fact that the City has granted conditional use permits in the past for multi -tenant retail facilities. Staff also recommends approval of the increase in height to 35 feet. There is a grade change from the proposed location of the sign to Highway 10, and therefore granting the increase in height will bring the sign to similar heights as other at -grade signs on Highway 10. All approvals should be contingent upon entering into an easement encroachment agreement with the City of Ramsey and Connexus Energy. -283—