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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL--January 31, 2011 5 8.A. Planning Case 11-003: Zoning Code Amendment and Conditional Use Permit Amendment for Mounds View High School (continued) MOTION: Councilmember Holmes moved and Councilmember Tamble seconded a motion to Approve Planning Case 11-003 for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment at 1900 Lake Valentine_Road, Based on the Findings of Fact, the Four Conditions and the Submitted Plans in the January„31, 2011, Report to the City Council. The motion carried unanimously (4-0). B. Planning Case 11-002: Sign Standard Adjustment at 3920 Northwoods Drive City Planner Beekman stated the applicant is proposing to increase the height of the freestanding pylon sign Iocated at 3920 Northwoods Drive from 16 feet to 35 feet. The sign face itself would remain unaffected. The property is located in the B-3 Service Business District directly south of the 1-694 eastbound off ramp to Lexington Avenue. 3920 Northwoods Drive is an office building that has been vacant for a number of years. Presently the property has a freestanding pylon sign located adjacent to 1-694. The property owner has been actively marketing the property and believes that improving the visibility of the signage from 1-694 would assist in getting the property leased or sold. Other signs along I-694 in this area are 35 feet in height and are more visible than the existing 16-foot tall sign. The Planning Commission reviewed Planning Case 11-002 and unanimously recommends approval of the Sign Standard Adjustment. Mayor Grant clarified the current sign is twice the height the Code allows for this area and the sign face is also larger than the code allows. City Planner Beekman stated this was correct and the other signs in this area are also not in compliance with the code. The applicant is requesting to increase the height to match the other signs in this location. These other signs had been grandfathered in but the code should be reviewed for this area. The applicant will be keeping the same internally Iit sign face but they would like it on a taller pylon. Councilmember Tamble asked if Staff had received any objections from area businesses. - City Planner Beekman replied that Staff had not received any complaints regarding the request. Councilmember Tamble asked for additional information regarding the sign face. City Planner Beekman stated the applicant will reuse the current sign box or sign structure but on a taller pole. Once the property is sold or leased the purchaser would be able to put their sign in this location. The purchaser would be able to keep the same height and sign structure or sign box for their signage. Mayor Grant clarified the variance would run with the property, not the applicant. Councilmember Holmes stated she feels strongly that the Council should allow the applicant to raise this sign if this will help him sell the property. The Council needs to help the residents and businesses of Arden Hills.