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issued and one of those signs (south side of site adjacent to the Byerly’s access form <br />County Road C) was determined to have been accidentally installed incorrectly. <br />As the Commission may recall, this particular sign was supported/approved to be located <br />15 feet from the roadway easement adjacent to County Road C. In the case of this <br />particular sign/location, the roadway easement is 11 feet in width and therefore the 15- <br />foot setback would be in addition (added) to the roadway easement creating a required <br />setback from property line of 26 feet. <br />When Welsh Companies and the sign installer established the construction limits based <br />on the previous VARIANCE and SIGN PERMIT, the distance (setback) selected was <br />from the furthest easement point and not the nearest easement point – hence the existing <br />sign locating does not meet the required 15-foot setback. <br />The line demarcation is confusing – how far from the existing property line; property line <br />versus permanent easement line; and outer versus inner permanent easement line all play <br />a role – but only one provides the necessary/required setback – 15 feet from the inner <br />permanent easement line. <br />In light of this misfortune/mistake, the City did meet with Welch Companies on three <br />separate occasions to review/consider options to rectify the matter. During the last <br />meeting it was determined that Ramsey County needed to participate in the decision <br />process. Specifically, Welsh Companies was to ascertain the exact location of the <br />property line and roadway easement line, and to find out (through a formal letter) <br />whether Ramsey County would support the location or desired the sign to be moved. <br />Dan Soler, Traffic Engineer did complete a field inspection of the situation confirming <br />that there is/will be 8 feet of concrete (to be installed) from back of the curb to back of <br />sidewalk, 1 foot to the “new” property line, 2 feet to the retaining wall. There is also <br />approximately 1 to 1-1/2 feet to the actual sign foundation. In a letter dated April 17, <br />2006, Mr. Soler states that the County has reviewed the situation and concluded that the <br />sign is outside the permanent roadway easement and that the sign will not obstruct traffic <br />views, thus they support the sign in its current location. <br />With the County’s information we can conclude that approximately 3-1/2 feet exist <br />between the “new” property line and the sign foundation – which concludes a setback <br />encroachment of 11-1/2 feet. <br />Member Boerigter inquired about the apparent evolution of the property and easement <br />lines that were the basis for the setback. While the property lines and easements shown <br />on the various plans as part of the initial variance application and approval may not have <br />changed, all parties apparently understand that the sign should be set behind the front of <br />the easement (resulting in the present location of the sign base) rather than the back of the <br />easement. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br />