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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—FEBRUARY 24, 2014 14 Associate Planner Bachler stated that a sign standard adjustment is being requested for the six (6) properties owned by Transwestern that are located along Dunlap Street North and Grey Fox Road. The properties that are addressed off of Dunlap Street North are zoned B-4 Retail Business District and the property addressed off of Grey Fox Road is within the B-3 Service Business District. All of the properties are generally located north of County Road E, south of Red Fox Road, east of Highway 51/Snelling Avenue and west of Lexington Avenue. Associate Planner Bachler reported that Transwestern leases these building to a variety of tenants, and has expressed concerns about the visibility of the businesses and the products and services they provide to the community. The applicant is proposing to construct or upgrade the signage on each property to provide a uniformed look that will improve the businesses' ability to direct clients or customers to their establishments. The signs would be built for both the multi- tenant and single-tenant building users. As buildings of this size lend themselves very well to multiple tenants, the applicant would like a universal look for the signs and to have the ability to quickly add sign panels for additional tenants in the single-tenant buildings without having to replace the freestanding sign. Associate Planner Bachler stated that the applicant has also indicated that the amount of freestanding signage allowed by the Sign Code for Sign District 7 is not proportionately adequate for these large multi-tenant and single-tenant structures. Transwestern is proposing to increase the amount of freestanding signage to improve the visibility of the businesses to the traveling public. The applicant is proposing to construct one (1) freestanding sign at each of the six (6) properties. Each sign is proposed to have thirty-two (32) square feet of sign copy area and an overall sign area of sixty-three (63) square feet. As indicated by the applicant each sign would be seven (7) feet ten (10) inches in height by eight(8) feet wide,with a depth of approximately ten(10) inches. Associate Planner Bachler reviewed the sign evaluation and site plan review. He explained that the Planning Commission reviewed this application at their February 5, 2014, meeting, and have offered the following findings of fact for consideration: 1. The properties located at 3725, 3728, 3750, 3757 and 3768 Dunlap Street North are within the B-4 Retail Center Zoning District. 2. The property located at 1230 Grey Fox Road is within the B-3 Service Business Zoning District. 3. All six (6)properties are located in Sign District 7. 4. No more than one (1) freestanding sign is permitted on any site except in cases where properties front more than one (1) public street. For properties that front more than one (1) public street, an additional freestanding sign may be permitted for each street front provided that each additional sign does not exceed half the size of the maximum sign area allowed in the underlying sign district. 5. Sign District 7 permits one (1) freestanding sign with a maximum sign copy area of twenty-five (25) square feet and an overall sign area of thirty-seven and one half (37.5) square feet. For the properties that front two public streets an additional sign is permitted not to exceed a sign copy area of twelve and one half(12.5) square feet and a total sign area of eighteen and three quarters (18.75) square feet. 6. The applicant is proposing six (6) identical freestanding signs for the six (6) properties owned by Transwestern that are located along Dunlap Street North and Grey Fox Road.