CCP 01-29-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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., e . . CITY OF ARDEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: January 5, 2001 TO: Mayor and City Council Jennifer Chaput, City Planner ~ Case #00-34, Sign Variance Metro Community Credit Union, 3533 N. Lexington Avenue FROM: SUBJECT: Request Metro Community Credit Union is requesting approval of a sign variance for an additional wall sign at 3533 N. Lexington Avenue (ExIUbit A). Back2round In June of this year, Metro Community Credit Union made application for two permanent wall signs at their new location within Arden Plaza, located at 3533 N. Lexington Avenue. The sign permit application was approved for only one permanent wall sign, as stated in the Sign Ordinance. For each exterior entrance per business within a strip mall, one permanent wall sign is allowed, by Ordinance. The applicant was told that a variance application was required for the additional wall sign. The previous tenant at this location had two wall signs. The building juts out in this area, creating two different fuces to the building and the need for two wall signs, fucing in both directions. The applicant is requesting that an additional sign be permitted as it was for the previous tenant on the other face of the building, even though there is only one exterior entrance for this tenant. Staff could not find a record of a sign permit for the previous tenant or any variances granted in the past at this location. Variance Review In order to grant a variance, findings of fact must be identified to prove that an undue hardship exists, according to Section IX of the Sign Ordinance. According to the criteria, staff can make the fullowing findings: 1. Hardship. A hardship is defined by the physical characteristics of the land that creates a need for a variance from the Ordinance. A hardship can not be based on economics, by State Statute. The circumstances of this tenant are not unique and the property can still be put to a reasonable use without the granting of a variance for an additional wall sign. Also, granting a variance is not in keeping with the intent of the Ordinance to, "...encourage effective and orderly communication by reducing clutter. .." and "...for an attractive and orderly enviromnent by reducing visual clutter...". It can be determined that no undue hardship exists, creating the need for a variance. 2. Materially Detrimental. The granting of this variance would not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property or zone. However, if permitted, other businesses within the mall with only one exterior entrance would also