The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About8B, Planning Case 11-002 – Sign Standard Adjustment at 3920 Northwoods Drive� EN HYLLS Request for Council Action Prepared By: Meagan Beelanan, City Planner ' Council Meeting Date: January 31, 2011 Planning Case 11-002: Sign Standard Adjustment at 3920 Northwoods Drive Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: NA NA NA Recommendation: 1. Motion ta Approve Planning Case 11-002 far a Sign Standard Adjushnent at 3920 Northwoods Drive, based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans in the January 31, 20ll, report to the City Council. Supportin� Documents: 1. January 31, 201 l, Report to the City CounciI 2. 3anuary 5, 2011, Draft Planrting Commission Minutes 3. January S, 2011, Report to the Planning Commission � EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: lT�� FROM: January 31, 2011 Honarable Mayor & City Council Patrick Klaers, City Administraiar Mea an Beekman Cit Planner �� Y SUBJECT: Planning Case #11-002 Applicant: 3900 Northwoods Drive, LLC Property Lacation: 3920 Northwoads Drive Request: Site Plan Review— Sign Star�dard Adjustment Reguested Action Motion ta Approve Planning Case 11-Oa2 for a Sign Standaxd Adjustment at 3920 Northwoods Drive, based on the findings of fact and tk�e submitted plans in the January 31, 2011, r�port to the City Council. Sack�round The ap�Iicant is proposing to increase the height of ihe freestanding pylon sign Iocated at 3920 Northwoods Drive from 16 feet to 35 feei. The sign face itself would remain unaffected. The property is located an the B-3 Service Business District directly south of the 694 eastbound off ramp to Lexington Avenue. The property is west of the Super $ Motel and Perkins properties, and east of �ie T-Flex District. 3920 N�rthwoods Drive is an office building that has been vacant for a nun:iber of years. Presently the praperty has a freestanding pylon sign located adjacent to �-694. The existing sign is 16 feet in height with a sign face that is 102 square feet in size. The property owner has been actively marketing the property and believes that improving the visibility of the signage from I- b94 would assist in getting the property leased or so�c�. Other signs along I-694 in this area are 35 feet in height, and are mare visible than the �xisting 16-foat tall sign. In Arden Hills, all corriz�n.ercial properties that do not have frontage on Co�nty Road E, Lexington Avenue, or Highway 96 are located within Sign District 7. The Sign Code limits Crty offlyden Hills City Council Meeting for JanuAry 3 l, Z011 Page 1 of 3 properties within Sign District 7 to 25 square feet of freestanding signage and a maxirnuri� h�ight o� eight feet. Most businesses within the �-Flex and B-3 Districts exceed this requizement. Findin�s of Fact The Planning Cammission of�ers the following twelve findings of �'act for City Council review: 1. The property is located in the B-3 Zoning District and Sign District "7. 2. In Sign District 7, freestanding signs are perrnitted up to 25 square feet and eight feet in h.eight. 3. The property is a confor�ning use in the B-3 Zoning District. 4. The existing freestanding sign is 16 feet in height and 102 square feet in size, and exceeds the ma�imum size standards in Sign Dis�rict 7. 5. The existing freestanding sign is adjacent to highway 694. 6. The proposed sign would be 35 feet in height and 102 square feet in size. 7. Adjacent businesses have freestanding signs that are 35 feei in height along highway 694. 8. The sign would not be visible from residential praperties. 9. Section 1260 of the Sign Code perm�ts deviations from the Sign Code through the site plan review process. 10. The location of the office building and the placement of tl�e existing sign limit the visibility of the sign from I-694 eastbound. 11. The sign adjustment will not result in a sign that is inconsistent with the purpose of the B-3 zoning district. 12. The sign would not have a negative impact on adjacent pxoperties ar the City as a whale. Recommendatian The Planning Commission reviewed Planning Case 11-002 at their January 5, 2011, meeting and unanimously recommends approval of the Sign Standard Adjustment based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans. Requested Action Motion to Apprave Pla.nning Case 1 I-002 for a Sign Standard Adjusiment at 3920 Northvvoods Drive, based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans in the 7anuary 31, 20I 1, report to the Ciry Council. City of,4rden Hills City Council Meeting for Januaty 31, Z011 Page 2 of 3 OAtions 1. Approve the proposal as sub�nitted. 2. Approve the proposal with conditions. 3. Deny the application with reasons for denial. If tl�e Ciiy denies the petitionexs request, ". .. it must state in writing the reasons for the denial at the time it denies the request." 4. Table for additional information. Deadline for A�ency Actions The City of Arden Hills received the cornpieted application for this request on December 17, 2010. Pursuant to Minnesota State Statute, the City must act on this request by February 14, 2011 (60 days}, unless the City provides the petitianer with written reasans for an additional 60- day r�vi�w period. With the cansent of the applicant, �Iie City may extend the review period beyond the initial 120 days. Attachments A. January 5, 2011, Draft Planning Commission Minutes B. 3anuary 5, 2411, Repart to the Planning Commission — http://www.ci.ardeia- hiils.mn.uslplannin c� Ciry ofArden Hills City Councal Meeting far January 31, 2011 Pag� 3 of 3 Attachment January 5, 2011, Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes The Planni�ng Commission voted unanimously to approve the application. �- EN HILL5 City ofArden Hills City Council Meeting for January 31, 2011 Draft .�anuary 5, 2011, Planning Commission Minutes Planning Case 11-002; Site Plau Review — Sign Standard Ac�justment; 3920 Narthwoods Darive; 3900 Northwoods Drive, LLC —Not a Puhlic Hearing City Flanner Beekman stated the applicant has req�ested a site plan review for a sign standard adjustment that would a11ow for a deviation from the sign code for the height of the freestanding sign locaied at 3920 Northwoods Drive. City Planner Beekman pravided backgraund information and stated the Planning Commission must malce a finding as to wheiher or not the proposed sign standard adjustment at 3920 Northwoods Drive meets ihe criteria in the Sigz� Code to deviate from the sign reguia�ions and if the increased height of the signage would adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood as�d tl�e community as a whole. Staff offers the following twelve findings for consideration: L The property is located in tl�e B-3 Zoning District and Sign District 7. 2. In Sign District 7 freestanding signs are permitted up to 25 square-feet and eight-�eet in height. 3. The property is a canfarming use in the B-3 Zoning Distxzct. 4. The existing frees#anding sign is 16 feet in height and 102 square-feet in size, and exceeds the maximum size standards in Sign Distric� 7. 5. The existing freestanding sign is adjacent to Highway 644. 6. The proposed sign wo�ld be 35 feet in height and 102 square-feet in size. 7. Adjacent businesses have freestanding signs that are 35 feet in height along Highway 694. 8. The sign would not be visible from residentiai properties. 9. Section 1260 of the Sign Code permifs deviations from the Sign Code through the site plan review process. 10. The �ocation of the office building and the placement of the existing sign li�nit the visibi�ity of the sign from I-694 eastbound. i 1. The sign adjustment will not result in a sign that is incansistent with the purpose of the B-3 Zoning District. 12. The sign would not have a negative impact on adjacent properties or the City as a whole. City Planner Beekman stated Staff recommenc�s approval of Planning Case #11-002 for a Site Plan Review for a sign standard adjustxnent based on the findings of fact, �he submitted app�ication, and the January S, 20I 1, Planning Case Repart. Vice-Chair Thompson opened the floor to Commissian questions. Cammissioner Zim�zerman asked if the sign was on the applicant's property ar in ihe City right of way. City Planner Beek�nan stated it was locat�d an the applicant's property. Commissioner Hole�ova asked if there vsrere oth�r signs within Arden Hi11s that are 35-feet in height. City Planner Beekman stated the Super S sign and the Perkins sign located in this same area are 35 feet in height. Cornrnissioner Zimmerman moved and Commissioner Scott secanded a motion to recornrnend approval of Plannin� Case 11-002 for a Site Plan Review at 3920 Northwoods Drive based on the findin�s of fact, the submitted apnlica#ion, and the Janua 5 2011 Plannin Case Re ort. The mation carried unanimousl 7-0 . Attachment January 5, 2 011, Report to the Planning Commission Available online at: htt : www,ci.arden-hills.mn.us � �N HILL5 City of,4rden Hills City Council Meeting for January 31, 2011