Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/06/2020

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Regular Planning Commission 6. 3. Meeting Date: 02/06/2020 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Request for Conditional Use Permit for Oversized Ground Sign at 14590 Armstrong Blvd NW (Project No. 20-101); Case of RGH Ramsey LLC Purpose/Background: The City has received an application from RGH Ramsey LLC (the "Applicant") for a Conditional Use Permit to construct and maintain an oversized ground sign on the property located at 14590 Armstrong Blvd NW (the "Subject Property"). The request is for a sixty foot (60') tall ground sign with 999 square feet of sign area. The Subject Property is owned by the City. The Applicant has a purchase agreement for three (3) properties northeast of the Subject Property across Armstrong Boulevard. Staff acknowledges that there are a number of specific details to flush out with this request. However, if nothing else, Staff needs broad policy direction on whether this request is even in the realm of possibility to ensure we are using our resources effectively. The Applicant desires at least some feedback from the Planning Commission and City Council if not a formal approval at this time. The City has two relevant tools to assist review of this proposal: 1. Unified Development Signs (allow off -premise signs if within same development) 2. Conditional Use Permit (allow larger signs) Notification: The City attempted to send a mailing via Standard US Mail to property owners within 350 feet of the Subject Property, as noted in the Anoka County Property Records, notifying them of the public hearing. Observations/Alternatives: The Applicant has an active Purchase Agreement with the City for three parcels located at the southeast corner of Sunwood Drive and Armstrong Blvd. The proposed location of the oversized ground sign (the "Sign") would be on the opposite side of Armstrong Blvd, southwest of the parcels covered by the Purchase Agreement. The intention of the oversized ground sign (the "Sign") is to provide highway visibility for prospective tenants of the parcels under contract. While the City has approved two (2) Community Signs along Highway 10, the current request is different as it would be a privately owned sign on a City -owned parcel. If approved, an agreement would need to be drafted for consideration by City Council addressing access for construction and long-term maintenance. The Sign is proposed to be sixty (60) feet in height and 999 square feet in area. The Sign posts would consist of steel with aluminum cladding with a decorative base of faux (fake) stone up to ten (10) feet in height. Portions of the signboard would consist of internally illuminated aluminum cabinets with routed graphics, while the tenant panels would consist of flexible faces with a translucent film overlay. This is very similar to the tenant panels on City's Community Sign at Ramsey Boulevard and Highway 10 on a much larger scale. The Sign would also include an electronic message center. The Subject Property is located within The COR zoning district (COR-2). Sign regulations are outlined in the COR Design Framework and generally allow a ground sign of up to 100 square feet and up to six (6) feet in height on the same parcel as the business itself, with the ability to increase size and height through a CUP. Additionally, there are