2014-02-05_VB_Agenda_Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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4.0B ACKGROUND 4.1Transwestern (St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.) owns the property at 1480 County Road C. The property, located in City Planning District 8, has a Comprehensive Plan designation of High Density Residential (HDR) and a corresponding zoning classification of High Density Residential-1 (HDR-1) District. The current used of the site, however, is multi-tenant office/showroom/warehousing. 4.2City Code §1010.11.E.1 limits freestanding signs under a Master Sign Plan (MSP) to a minimum setback of 5 feet from a property line. The proposed freestanding sign is sought at a setback of 1 foot, which would require the approval of a prior to the City VARIANCE Planner approving the pending Sign Permit. 4.3Roseville’s Development Review Committee (DRC) reviewed this application on th. January 9The DRC was generally supportive of the application, and the only significant recommendation was that the property pins be verified prior to work commencing on the sign construction/installation. 5.0VA ARIANCENALYSIS 5.1The existing building and most of the site improvements, including the original retaining wall, were completed in 1965. Last year Transwestern spruced-up the area by slightly expanding the planting area and installing boulders. The freestanding sign improvement on this property is one of 7 planned improvements included in a MSP meant to unify Transwestern’s similar freestanding and wall signage. 5.2City Code Table §1010.02 requires freestanding signs to be set back a minimum of 15 feet from a property unless such signs are a component of an approved MSP where the minimum setback is 5 feet. In the case of the current property, there is an estimated 5 feet from the building to the front property line in which to install a freestanding sign. 5.3Transwestern did approach Minnesota Commercial Railroad about placement of the sign within their rail right-of-way, but the cost was significant and therefore they determined that a variance better suited their needs. 5.4The proposed freestanding sign is roughly 9 feet in height and 8 feet in length, with a width of just over 9 inches. The proposed sign would be placed a minimum of 1 foot off the property line, which, when looking at attachment C is in line with the telephone poles or 2-15 feet from the edge of the sidewalk adjacent the building. 5.5RV: Section 1009.04C of the City Code EVIEW OF ARIANCE APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS establishes a mandate that the Variance Board make five specific findings about a variance request as a prerequisite for approving the variance. The required findings, along with specific comments from the Planning Division, are as follows: a. The proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Planning Division staff finds that the proposed freestanding sign is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in that it advances the goals related to the aesthetics of a well-planned and coordinated private development. PF14-001_RVBA_020514 Page 2 of 4