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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 8, 2013 2 <br /> <br />Background <br />Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler explained the property at 1195 County Road E is <br />owned by TAT properties, represented in this case by Stuart Co. The property is located in the B-2 <br />General Business District on the north side of County Road E directly west of Lexington Avenue. <br />The applicant is proposing to install two vinyl banners each measuring 216 square feet on the <br />exterior walls of the property. <br /> <br />Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler stated on December 21, 2012, the City Council <br />approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to remodel the existing structure at 1195 County <br />Road E and construct 74 residential unit apartments on the site in Planning Case 12-019. The <br />applicants have concerns about visibility of their advertising signs. The proposed reuse converts the <br />building from a former hotel into residential apartment units, which is a substantial change in land <br />use and may not be known by the average person driving by the building. Further, given the size of <br />the building and the large building setback from Lexington Avenue, advertising signs are not easy to <br />see. The building is setback approximately 360 feet from Lexington Avenue and 70 feet from <br />County Road E. The proposed signs include images and text that would better identify the new use <br />of the property as a residential apartment building and would provide directions on how to obtain <br />information about the project. The applicant has provided images of the two signs. <br /> <br />Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler indicated one sign would be located on the east <br />building wall facing Lexington Avenue and the second sign would be located on the south building <br />wall facing County Road E. Each sign would measure 12 feet by 18 feet, an area of 216 square feet. <br />The combined area of the two signs would be 432 square feet. A professional sign company would <br />install the signs. Stuart Co would maintain the signs in like new condition and repair and/or replace <br />a sign if it is torn or deteriorates during the approved timeline.Section 1250.02 of the Sign <br />Ordinance regulates the use of temporary on-premise signs. The property fronts Lexington Avenue <br />and therefore standards for Sign District 5 apply in this case. The Ordinance permits the property to <br />have no more than one temporary sign not exceeding 40 square feet in area. However, because the <br />building currently has space for lease the property is allowed one additional temporary sign not <br />exceeding 25 square feet in area. <br /> <br />Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler commented the applicant has asked to display the <br />banners from the date the sign permit is issued to 30 days after the residential property receives the <br />Certificate of Occupancy. Under the Sign Ordinance, the property is allowed to display a permitted <br />temporary sign for no more than 30 days per calendar year. A sign advertising available space for <br /> <br />lease in a building can be displayed until seven days after the building is leased. <br /> <br />Site Data <br />Future Land Use Plan: Community Mixed Use <br />Existing Land Use: Apt 4+ Units <br />Zoning: B-2 General Business District <br />Size: 7.65 Acres <br />Topography: Relatively Flat <br /> <br />Community Development Intern Matthew Bachler reviewed the surrounding area, in addition to the <br />Plan Evaluation. <br /> <br /> <br />1.Site Plan Review Section 1260: Sign Standard Adjustment <br /> <br />