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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />some of these shops may transfer from the other side of the road. The base height of the <br />buildings will be 25 feel. Mr. Klain requested input from the Plannmg Commission regarding <br />the sketch plan. He stated Hack Real Estate Associates is looking to fast track this development <br />as much as possible while going through the required process and receiving all the necessary <br />approvals. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Levine encouraged including a pedestrian friendly aspect in the <br />development. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brauer stated this type of development incorporates what the. City is working <br />towards with Town Center. The concepts of the walkability, visibility, and 56 forth all resonate <br />with the values and the whole principal set forward for Town Center. He stated an informal <br />group was formed within the City that looked at the whole notion of mixed use development, and <br />Qut of that grew the City's Ramsey3 grant proposal that is in process. This development seems <br />like a good iteration of that concept with the current honsing and the commercial being added. <br />They would like to encourage more of the walkability concept in the City, <br /> <br />Commissioner Brauer commended the applicant On taking the time to design this in such a way <br />. that it is not just a wall of buildings up to the street, which is the situation with some of the other <br />developments in this area. <br /> <br />2) Discussion of Potential Sign Ordinance Revisions <br /> <br />Associate Planner Dalnes informed the Commission there have been a few sign ordinance <br />debates lately in the news; most predominantly in relation to flashing signs. The City of St. Paul <br />has placed a moratorium on signs and the City of Mlnnetonka is currently involved in a lawsuit <br />with a sign company regarding their definition of signs. The biggest issue is flashing signs; the <br />City's ordinance could include a better definition in this area. Ms. DaInes indicated the City <br />Planners attended a legal seminar put on by the League of Minnesota Cities. There have been <br />100 court cases in the last three years against cities, three of which have been in Minnesota. The <br />cities of Hopkins. Eden Prairie and Bloomington have all been sued by local sign companies for <br />their ordinance being based on content regulation. Content regulation is defined by the court as <br />regulatirig signage by what it says. This is the situation with the City of Ramsey Sign Ordinance. <br />Staff would like direction from the Commission on whether to be strict about the legal <br />interpretation of the ordinance or to step back and wait to see what happens. <br /> <br />The Commission discussed the current sign ordinance and the current legal environment in <br />relation to sign ordinances. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Dalnes indicated the City Attorney is in support of proceeding with a sign <br />ordinance revision. <br /> <br />Consensus if the Commission was to direct staff to proceed with a sign ordinance revision as <br />discussed above. <br /> <br />Planning Commission! February 1, 2007 <br />Page 11 of 12 <br /> <br />P11 <br />