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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION –September 4, 20132 PLANNING CASES A.Planning Case 13-012;Variance Request;1306 County Road E–Not a Public Hearing City Planner Streff stated the applicant has requesteda variance to deviate from the signage regulations in order to replace an existing manual gasoline price sign with a digital LED (light- emitting diode) price sign. The proposed sign would be approximately 15.35 sq. ft. (35”x63 1/8”) in size with twenty-four (24) inch tall numbers. City Planner Streff indicated the applicant, Identi-Graphics, is proposing to replace a portion of the sign face on the existing pole sign that identifies the Shell Station located a 1306 County Road E. The property is located within the B-2 Zoning District, south of County Road E and east of Highway 51. This parcel contains three (3) structures that include the convenience store, gas pump islands and canopy, and carwash. The adjoining parcel to the south is also owned by Theodore Brausen. The southern property has shared access through the Shell Station property and is used commercially as an auto repair shop. City Planner Streff commented the sign, which the applicant intends to modify, is located in the northwest corner of the property. The existing sign is fifteen feet ten inches (15’ 10”) in height and has a sign copy area of eighty-four and one half square feet (84.50). The existing pole sign is described as being a legal non-conforming sign. It has been given this designation as “pole signs” are no longer allowed in Sign District 4 (County Road E Frontage). Freestanding signs in Sign District 4 are still permitted; however, they must be constructed as a monument type ground sign. City Planner Streff indicated there is an existing cabinet area on the sign that measures thirty-five inches by sixty-three and one eighth inches (35” x 63 1/8”) that the applicant intends to replace with a digital LED price sign. The digital section of this cabinet would be approximately 15.35 square feet in size with twenty-four (24) inchtallnumbers to display the price. The remaining balance of the sign would remain unchanged other than typical signage updates to the remaining cabinet sections. No other portions of the sign would be digital in nature. City Planner Streff noted the property owner submitted a similar request in 2006, which was approved under the Site Plan Review process, to add a twenty (20) square foot electronic message board to an existing sign. This particular off-premise sign is currently used to market the auto repair shop just south of the subject property that has no frontage onto County Road E. Site Data Future Land Use Plan:CMU: Commercial Mixed Use Existing Land Use:Commercial (Convenience store and gas station) Zoning:B-2: General Business District Current Lot Sizes:.81 acres (35,284 square feet) Topography:The west/south west portion of the property drops approximately six feet from east to west. City Planner Streff reviewed the surrounding area, the Plan Evaluation and the Variance Evaluation Criteria.