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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION September 4, 20136 1. The property is located in the B-3 Zoning District and in Sign District 5. 2. The Planned Unit Development at 3833 Lexington Avenue was approved by the City on July 8, 2013 in Planning Case 13-003. The approved Planned Unit Development did not include a sign plan for the property. 3. The applicant is proposing an amendment to the approved PUD for a sign plan that includes a monument sign and wall signage. 4. The City has adopted special design standards for the B-3 Zoning District, which include provisions on signage. 5. The proposed PUD Amendment is in considerable conformance with the requirements of 6. Zoning Code. 7. Whe requested by the applicant due to the site conditions unique to the property at 3833 Lexington Avenue. 8. The PUD Amendment approval process allows for flexibility within t regulations through a negotiated process with a developer. 9. The signage plan would not have a negative impact on adjacent properties or the City as a whole and it is consistent with the size and orientation of the property on which the signs would be located. Community Development Intern Bachler stated Staff is generally supportive of the Lexington Station sign plan. There are unique site conditions that warrant granting flexibility for additional monument and wall signage. The right of way between the Lexington Avenue curb and the property line is unusually wide. As a result, the proposed monument sign will be situated approximately 60 feet back from Lexington Avenue, reducing its visibility from the roadway. Since the primary entrances to the building face the interior of the development and the building fronts Lexington Avenue as well, the building will need to have a presence on both sides, which includes signage. The additional signage will have the added benefit of enlivening the eastern side of the building. However, staff believes the overall amount of signage being requested is excessive. In the conditions of approval, staff is recommending a reduction in the amount of wall signage per retail bay and in the height of the monument sign. These recommendations are based on what staff believes is an appropriate amount of signage given the proportions of the building and the individual retail bays. They also take into consideration the amount of signage that will be provided for each tenant on the monument sign. Community Development Intern Bachler explained that based on the submitted plans and findings of fact, Staff recommends approval of Planning Case 13-014 for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at 3833 Lexington Avenue. Staff recommends the following ten (10) conditions be included with the approval: 1. The signage plan shall be completed in accordance with the plans submitted as amended by the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission.