04-05-23 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – April 5, 2023 7 Commissioner Weber moved and Commissioner Blilie seconded a motion to strike the language within Item A from the draft Attachment H - Zoning Code Amendment, Accessory Uses . The motion carried unanimously (7-0). Chair Vijums moved and Commissioner Weber seconded a motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 23-007 as amended for a Site Plan Review at 1273 West County Road E and Zoning Code Amendment to Section 1305.04 – Definitions, Section 1320.05 – Land Use Chart and Section 1325.02 – Accessory Uses based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, as amended by the conditions in the April 5, 2023, report to the Planning Commission. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). B. Planning Case 23-005; 4300 Round Lake Road W and 1987 Gateway Boulevard – Site Plan Review – Public Hearing Not Required Community Development Director Jagoe stated the Applicant has submitted a land use application for a Site Plan Review, seeking flexibility on the size wall signs at two Delkor office buildings. The two buildings are located in Sign District 7, which allows a wall sign with a maximum size of 45 square feet. The Applicant is proposing one (1) 60 square foot wall sign on the western elevation of each building. Community Development Director Jagoe explained at its January 17, 2023 meeting, the City Council considered a request for a Concept Plan Review for the proposed wall signs. At this meeting, the Council expressed general support for the requested flexibility in wall sign size. At this meeting, Planning Staff presented the City Council with a second option to amend the Sign Code. The City Council briefly discussed the undertaking of amending the sign ordinance. Given the Applicant’s desired timeline for sign installation, they are pursuing the application for Site Plan Review based on the Council’s feedback. Community Development Director Jagoe reported the Applicant was recently approved for a Planned Unit Development Amendment at a third location they occupy at 4200 Round Lake Road. At their August 22, 2022 meeting, the City Council approved a request for wall signage with a 60-square-foot copy area on three elevations at the new Gateway building subject to sign standards under Sign District 6. The Applicant has indicated the proposed signage would be consistent and conform to the approvals at 4200 Round Lake Road. Community Development Director Jagoe indicated the Applicant is proposing 60 square foot signage that will match the wall signs at their 4200 Round Lake Road location. Planning Staff would add that the new construction of the Gateway Interstate building at 4200 Round Lake Road was approved on October 12, 2020 as part of a Planned Unit Development that included sign district flexibility. The sign flexibility that the Applicant is seeking under this proposal for the Subject Properties would be initiated through the Site Plan Review process. The review process type is different because the Subject Properties are existing buildings that are operating in accordance with city code requirements under the Gateway Business Zoning District as allowed without a Planned Unit Development. A Planned Unit Development is an overlay district utilized on land use reviews for residential and commercial subdivisions, new developments, or redevelopments that will function as one entity or may include flexibility to design standards. Not all properties in the City function as part of a Planned Unit Development. Rather there are historical uses (i.e. permitted use, conditional use, special use, legal nonconforming, etc.) that are