09-10-07 Item 7D, Clear Channel - Laserfiche WebLink

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In early January 2007, the City sent a letter to Clear Channel informing them that the electronic billboard sign was not permitted by the Arden Hills Sign Code and it should be removed. Clear Channel stated that they believed the sign was in conformance with the City's sign regnlations. On January 24, 2007, the City issued a Sign Code violation letter to Clear Channel and requested that they submit a completed sign permit application and details about the previous traditional billboard and the new electronic billboard (Attachment 4A-2). A sign permit application was not submitted, and the City issued a citation. Although Clear Channel contends that a sign permit application is not needed, they submitted a sign permit application on May 21,2007 (Attachment 4A-3). The City's Sign Code requires the City Planner to approve or deny a sign permit within 30 days of receiving the application or the application is automatically approved (Section 1220.03). City Staff and the City Attorney met with Clear Channel on June 7, 2007, to discuss the status ofthe submitted sign permit. Due to the controversial nature of the electronic billboard sign and due to the interpretation by City Staffthat the electronic billboard is not in conformance with the Sign Code, the City Planner issued a denial to Clear Channel on June 18,2007 (Attachment 4A-2). The denial was needed to keep the process moving forward and to allow the Planning Commission and City Council the ability to review the case. Clear Channel submitted their official appeal of the City Planner's denial on July 2,2007 (Attachment 4A-4). Marvin Liszt of Bernick and Lifson and Tom McCarver of Clear Channel attended a work session with the City Council and Planning Commission on the July 9, 2007, to discuss the status of the electronic billboard. At that meeting, the City Council came to a consensus that the sign permit evaluation process should continue and, the Planning Commission should review Clear Channel's appeal as required by the Sign Code appeal process (Section 1220.04). Billboards in Arden Hills There are only two billboard structures within Arden Hills, both of which are located in the northeastern corner of the Interstate 35W and 694 intersection and both are owned by Clear Channel, Inc. (Attachment 4A-l). The two billboard structures host a total of four sign faces (each billboard structure has a sign face that displays to the east and west). Only one of the sign faces is of the electronic billboard type. The other three sign faces are traditional static billboards. The Sign Code does not permit the construction of entirely new billboards or other off-site signs in the City. The two remaining billboards are considered nonconforming. City of Arden Hills Planning Commission Meetingfor August 1, 2007 \\Metro-inet.uslardenhillslPlanninglPlanning CommissionWew-Old Business\2007\080107 - Clear Channel Sign Permit Application Denial Appeal.doc Page 2 ofS