Agenda - Council - 01/09/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #5: Request for a Conditional Use Permit to Exceed Sign Size Restrictions and for Multiple Ground Signs on a Single Parcel; Case of Sophia-Ramsey, LLC Ass't Community Development Dir!HRA Executive Dir. Frolik stated the City received an application from Sophia-Ramsey, LLC requesting a conditional use permit to exceed the allowable square footage for a ground sign and for multiple ground signs on a single parcel at the property located at 7900 Sunwood Drive. Sign regulations for the TC-2 district are similar to the general business district's regulations in regard to square footage 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. Furthermore, ground signs are limited to one per parcel. Ass't Community Development Dir/HRA Executive Dir. Frolik stated the subject property includes Coborn's, plus three multi-tenant buildings with the potential total capacity of about 17 tenants. Three sides of the property have public road frontage (Armstrong Boulevard, Sunwood Drive, and Zeolite Street) and for all intents and purposes it could be considered as having public road frontage on all four sides as the south side is only separated from Highway 10 by the railroad tracks. Yet, regardless of the number of potential businesses or the amount of road frontage, this site is restricted to a single ground sign not exceeding 100 square feet. Ms. Frolik explained there is an existing ground sign on site, which displays the per gallon cost of gasoline. That sign has eliminated the ability of Coborn's and other tenants or potential tenants from promoting their businesses through the use of ground signage, along Highway 10. The property owner wishes to install two additional free standing signs, one ground sign and one monument sign. . The intent of the proposed signs is to highlight the tenants of the site for Highway 10 traffic and to help identify the Town Center site in general. The proposed free standing ground sign would have a total sign area of 253 square feet per sign face and the monument sign would have a total of 54 square feet per sign face. Both signs would comply with the height regulations. Ms. Frolik stated the. proposed locations for the two signs are the southwest and southeast comers of the property. There is drainage and utility easement as well as a Connexus Energy easement across both.proposed sign locations. City Code restricts any sign other than those erected by a governmental agency from being placed within any public easement. However, there are not really any other viable alternatives. Staff has informed the applicant that to erect signs within this easement area would require a written agreement acknowledging that it would be the property owner's responsibility' to relocate the signs(s) if authorized work necessitated it. Staff is also working with Connexus Energy to coordinate exact locations to ensure that there would not be any conflict with utilities and/or future expansion of utilities. Ass't Community DevelopmentDir/HRA Executive Dir. Frolik advised the City has, in the past, granted conditional use permits for signs larger than allowed under City Ordinances and for multiple ground signs on a single parcel. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing regarding Sophia-Ramsey's request on December 7, 2006, and there was no public input. Ms. . Frolik indicated three sides of the property have public road frontage, and the fourth side is only separated from Highway 10 by the railroad tracks, and there is a potential for approximately 18 businesses on this one parcel. Considering that, it seems unreasonable to restrict the site to a single ground sign of not more than 100 square feet. Additionally, the applicant has agreed to work with the City concerning relocation of the' sign(s) if necessitated by utility work. City Council! December 12, 2006 Page 12 of 29 -56- . . .