pf_01853 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CASE NUMBER: 1853 APPLICANT: Midway Sign Company Representing Ramsey Technology Inc. LOCATION: North of County Road r:, Between Fairview and Prior (see sk,:tch) ACTION REQUESTED: Approval of Variance to Sign Location PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS: 1. Ramsey Engineering came to Roseville in 1952 and now employs 260 people. They principally manufat ture industrial weighing and sampling equipment for bulk products including coal, iron, and food products. They operate in eight countries and have branch facilities in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The expansion into the latter states has produced a problem with 'their name. Ramsey Engineering is forbidden by law in these states to appear in a company name unless they provide technical engineering services. Thus, they have elected to change the name of the company from Ramsey Engineering to Ramsey Technology Inc. 2. Their property is zoned Industrial and the building is setback 80 feet with the required 42 feet of setback to the parking area in front of the building. The required setback for the building and signs in the Industrial District is 40 feet. In this district at this location (fronting on County Road C), a code would allow a single pylon sign, 25 feet high and 100 feet square feet in area, and setback a minimum of 40 feet from the County Road C right-of-way line (north side). 3. They propose to build a much more modern sign, 8 feet by 2 feet, on a base approximately 4 feet by 3 feet. Thus, the whole sign is about 28 square feet, with a total height of 5 feet. The placement of this sign within the grass area in front of the building would put the nearest edge of the sign to the street right-of-way 30 feet from the front property line. Thus, they are seeking a variance to the sign location from the required 40 feet to 30 feet. 4. In the past, the City has frequently approved such smaller ground signs to be located closer to the property line, with the condition that the sign be built as proposed, usually less than half of the 100 square foot pylon sign typically allowed in an Industrial zone. It has been suggested that the code could be amended to allow a sign to be setback approximately half the required distance if the sign is a ground sign and less than half of the allowable square footage in area. 5. In summary, it would appear that a variance as requested in this case would be appropriate with the condition that the sign be constructed as proposed with a total of 28 square feet and with a height of 5 feet.