HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.23.93 Special Planning Packet1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVE MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 1993
3. DISCUSSION
5. ADJOURN
AGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
NOVEMBER 23, 1993
a. Business Signs within the Downtown
b. Landscaping Requirements between Public Streets and Loading Areas
c. Planning Commission By -Laws
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Continued Hearing Variance Request for Lot 5, Mickelson's Addition
1. CALL TO ORDER 7:00 P.M.
2. DISCUSSION
AGENDA REPORT
PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL
NOVEMBER 23, 1993
a. Business Signs within the Downtown
The attached letter with the request to amend Section 4- 3 -3(B)5 was prepared by
Willard Barnett of B &B Pizza and signed by six other business owners. The City
staff agrees that the existing ordinance needs revision due to the fact that it
is not enforceable as currently written. The issue needs discussion because
Heart and Home, Welcome Friends and the Farmington Bakery each have the equivalent
of "sandwich board" signs on the sidewalk that are geared to be read by pedestrians.
B &B Pizza, on the other hand, designed a boulevard sign to be read by passing motorists.
The size was large enough to obscure the intersection at Third and Elm Streets.
The resulting complaint ended by warnings and ultimate ticketing of the sign. The
draft ordinance submitted by Mr. Barnett and others provides that very large signs
can be erected within the business district provided that they comply with several
subjective standards. The City staff believes that this too would be difficult
to enforce and has drafted an alternative which addresses the use of signs on wheels
and those that are of the sandwich board type. Because the Police Department regularly
patrols City streets and the process of ticketing and court appearances also falls
within that Department, the administration of this part of the sign ordinance would
be handled by the Chief of Police. The ordinance will be scheduled for public hearing'
during the December meeting of the Planning Commission if it appears that there
is a general agreement that a change is warranted. This item was placed first on the
agenda to accommodate participation by the City Administrator. He is scheduled
for another meeting later in the evening.
Recommendation
Look at business signs in other communities and visualize sizes recommended in pre-
paration for setting a public hearing to invite input from the applicants as well
as others in the community.
b. Landscaping Requirements between Public Streets and Loading Areas
Review the agenda report from November 9,:_1993.
c. Planning Commission By Laws
Enclosed is a copy of existing City Council By -Laws which can be used as a starting
point for the discussion.
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Continued Hearing of Variance Request Lot 5, Mickelson's Addition
Review agenda report and minutes of the November 9, 1993 meeting.
Charlie Tooker
City Planner