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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-10-19 Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting December 10,2019 1. Call to Order Chair Rotty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Rotty, Franceschelli, Lehto, Tesky Members Absent: Windschitl Also Present: Tony Wippler, Planning Manager 2. Approval of Minutes a. MOTON by Lehto second by Rotty to approve the minutes of November 12, 2019. Voting for: Rotty, Lehto. Abstain: Franceschelli, Tesky. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Public Hearings—Chair Rotty opened the public hearings a. Variance Request from Section 10-6-3(B)5(e) of the City Code to Allow an Internally Lit Projecting Box Sign—344 Third Street Homestead Community Church, 344 Third Street, has applied for a variance to allow an internally lit cabinet projecting sign on the Exchange Bank building. There are nine requirements in the city code for projecting/blade signs. The proposed sign would project out 4.33 feet. If the variance is approved,the applicant would reduce it to the required 4 feet. According to the city code,projecting signs may have external lighting only. The applicant is requesting an internally lit sign. The proposed sign is a cabinet or box sign, which are prohibited. The variance is needed due to the proposed sign being internally lit and being a box sign. There are nine criteria for a variance to be approved, one being practical difficulty. Staff was unable to determine a practical difficulty as a sign meeting the current code requirements could be installed. Staff recommended denying the variance application. Member Franceschelli asked what would be used to illuminate the sign. Mr. Kerr stated it would be LED. Member Franceschelli noted the height would be 11 feet above the walkway. That height is sufficient. Staff noted we have not had a projecting sign within the last ten years. Member Franceschelli did not see any difficulty with a cabinet sign and suggested changing the ordinance to allow it. He felt it would complement the building and did not see a reason not to approve it. Member Tesky agreed with those comments. The sign is progressive from what we have experienced in the past. Lighting has changed over the last ten years and LED is a great source of light. The longevity of it makes sense. The box style is the nature of how signs are being built today. She felt it would be nice to see some light on the streetscape and would like to consider changing the ordinance. Chair Rotty noted this was discussed at the last meeting. Sometimes the type and location of a sign is important. He did not see a reason to deny it. He would agree with a Planning Commission Minutes December 10,2019 Page 2 future step to revise the ordinance after seeing this sign installed. Mr. Kerr stated the sign would be installed in late February. Staff asked that some conditions be placed on the variance as follows: 1. Submittal and approval of a sign permit. 2. Sign can only be anchored into brick mortar. 3. All other requirements of section 10-6-3(B)5(e) shall be met with the exception of the cabinet style and internally lit. Mr. Kerr agreed with the above conditions. MOTION by Franceschelli, second by Tesky to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Franceschelli, second by Tesky to approve the variance application to allow an internally lit projecting box sign at 344 Third Street with the three conditions. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Member Franceschelli asked that the city code be revised at a later date to allow this type of sign. 4. Discussion a. Prairie Waterway First Addition Final Plat The final plat consists of right-of-way to be dedicated for 213th Street W and Spruce Street as well as two outlots. Earlier this year, Sapphire Lake First Addition was approved. This development is bordered by 213th Street W to the north and Spruce Street to the south. In the initial phase, 213th Street W was extended across the Prairie Waterway. Also, Spruce Street will need to be extended through the Prairie Waterway in a later phase. Staff felt it was appropriate to separate out the right-of-way from the open space. MOTION by Franceschelli, second by Lehto to recommend approval of the Prairie Waterway First Addition final plat and forward the recommendation to the City Council. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. 5. Adjourn MOTION by Tesky second by Franceschelli to adjourn at 7:18 p.m. APIF,MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Ctuwthf,a Muller Cynthia Muller Administrative Assistant