Agenda - Council - 01/18/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2625 CLEARW~ATER ROAD, P.O. BOX 865 ST, CL(~UD, MN 56302-0865 (812) 253-3000 (800) 777-a896 September 30, 1993 Mayor & City Council City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Blvd. N.W. Ramsey, MN 55303 Dear City Officials: In April, 1992, I~ obtained a,copy of the draft ordinance regulating billboard signs, it was my understanding thatlthe mood of th~ council was to allow billboards under very strict conditions. ')'our spacing requirement of I200 feet and requiring signs to be a principle use of the property eliminated most potential sign:locations in Ramsey. I was fortunate enough to find a location that would meet the criteria at Alpaca Estates, 300 feet east of Llama Street. O~ April 27, 1992 we signed a lease with owner, Haakson .larness, expecting the draft ordinance to be pas .sCxt. Because of other pressing issues, it took almost a year and a half to be brought before the council for a vote and was defeated at the last meeting. I am asking that you reconsider and overturn your rqiection of the proposed ordinance. Because the ordinance is so restrictive, I could only find thr~ parcels of vacant land that met the requirements of the ordinance and of the three-, o,nly Mr Jamess was wi. lling to commit to a lease agreement. By reversing your decision, you will not be closing the door to an industry that provides Ramsey tax payers with lease rent while their property remhins vacant and unproductive. Tour requirement that a sign be an attractive., single pole design with underg)'om~.d ',:,iri,,.g and landscaping indicates lhat you were concerned with aesthetics when this ordinance was drafted. I am enclosing a newspaper article that I hope will convince you that billboards pla), an important role in the business climate-; of any city. Sincerely, Richard Mlodzik Real Estate Department' RM: mf Enclosure OHices in: Duluth, MN * Minneapolis, MN · St. Cloud, MN · Eau Claire,