02-05-14 PC Work Session Minutes

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 5, 20142 Commissioner Hames agreed stating the set square footage for wall signage should be reevaluated based on frontage, building size, and the distance from a right-of-way. She recommended the provisions for temporary signs also be reviewed given the number of recent requests for these types of signs. Councilmember Holmes encouraged the Commission to advocate for the Sign Ordinance revisions at the joint meeting. Commissioner Holewa suggested that staff research the number of sign standard adjustment requests that were made in 2013, and that this information be presented to the Council during the work session. Commissioner Hames recommended that staff review how many sign standard requests have been made since the Sign Ordinance was amended. She was in favor of the Commission sign codes. an adequate amount of signage when compared to neighboring communities. Commissioner Bartel was in favor of allowed wall signage being proportionate to the building size. Commissioner Hames discussed the multi-family design standards. She questioned if there were currently any new proposals for multi-family housing. She recommended that staff provide visual aids for the Planning Commission to help quantify the square footage requirements within the Zoning Code. -family design standards were approved in 2012. Recently, the Council directed staff to review unit sizes in comparison to neighboring communities to ensure the City was prepared for the development of TCAAP. This issue has been discussed by the Council at a prior work session and this item will be coming to the Planning Commission for review in March or April. Vice Chair Thompson asked what the Planning Commission would be expected to complete in 2014 with regard to TCAAP. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated the Commission would be looking at land use, overlay districts, design standards, and zoning requirements for the various land uses. She anticipated that TCAAP may look different than the rest of Arden Hills and new standards would have to be established. Associate Planner Bachler reported that the proposed Parks and Open Space District and Conservation District rezoning would be reviewed by the Planning Commission in March. Vice Chair Thompson discussed the online training available by the League of Minnesota Cities. She asked if front porch setbacks continued to be a concern since the Zoning Code was amended in 2006 to address this issue.