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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 7 Community Development Intern Bachler explained that the Council reviewed Planning Case 13-010 at their July 29, 2013, regular meeting and voted to table action on the case to give the applicant additional time to work with staff regarding concerns about the design of the north building fagade. Since then, City staff and the applicant have reviewed options to improve the appearance of the north building wall. The updated proposal includes a reduction in wall signage and the addition of window decals on the north fagade. Community Development Intern Bachler discussed the wall signage regulations for Sign District 5. It was noted that a typical property would be permitted up to 80 square feet of wall signage. Currently, 97.6 square feet of wall signage has been installed on the Walgreens building. The applicant has requested an additional 57.4 square feet of wall signage, which would bring the total wall sign area allowed to 156.4 square feet. The additional signage would be divided between one "Walgreens" sign measuring 40.2 square feet and two "W" signs each measuring 8.6 square feet. Community Development Intern Bachler commented that the applicant has proposed installing window decals on several windows on the north building fagade. The windows on this side of the building are grayed out and are not transparent. As a result, the store can have the appearance of being closed for those traveling along County Road E, adjacent to the north side of the building. The proposed decals will partially cover the darkened windows and help to lighten up the fagade. The "Walgreens" sign would be installed on the north building fagade and the "W" signs would be located at the corner where the north and west walls meet. Community Development Intern Bachler stated that the window decals would be placed on three of the north facing windows: the central window and the two windows on either end of the fagade. The decals would cover only the lower half of the windows, an area of 75 square feet. In total, 225 square feet of decals would be used across the three windows. Community Development Intern Bachler explained that for properties in Sign District 5, window signs are not permitted to cover more than 35% of the area of a window and cannot exceed 5% of the building fagade. On the windows where decals would be installed, 50% of the window area would be covered. The total area of the north fagade is approximately 2,600 square feet. The 225 square feet of proposed coverage by the window signs would represent 8.6% of the building fagade. Community Development Intern Bachler indicated that the design of the decals would be similar to the window decals used at the Walgreens store at the intersection of Lexington and Larpenteur Avenue in Roseville, Minnesota. These signs feature black and white photographs of nearby Como Park and images of historic Walgreens stores. It was noted that the applicant has expressed an interest in including photographs of sites and landmarks in Arden Hills. Community Development Intern Bachler reviewed the findings of fact as discussed by the Planning Commission at their July 10, 2013, meeting. Staff recommends the Council approve an amendment to the Final PUD for Phase I of the Arden Plaza redevelopment proposal at 3585 Lexington Avenue based on the findings of fact, the submitted plans and the seven conditions within the staff report.