Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.01.95 Planning Packet '. . . . AGENDA PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR JULY 11, 1995 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M.. - OATH OF OFFICE FOR TODD LARSON 2. APPROVE MINUTES a. June 13, 1995 3. DISCUSSION a. Business Signs - Ordinance Amendment Requested by Chamber of Commerce b. Business Signs - Potential Variance Requests from Two Business Locations c. Comprehensive Plan Amendment 4. ADJOURN . . . AGENDA REPORT PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR JULY 11, 1995 1. Call to Order 2. Approve Minutes 3. Discussion a. Business Signs - Ordinance Amendment Requested by Chamber of Commerce The enclosed paragraph has been put forward by the Chamber to provide downtown business people the opportunity to draw attention to daily specials with sidewalk signs. The wording is intended to replace (or, if not intended, should replace) the paragraph in Section 4-3-3(B)5 - Portable Signs. The emphasis of these signs would be to attract the attention of pedestrians rather than automobile traffic. To leave both in the ordinance would be more than confusing. The staff suggests, however, that the 2' x 3' size on the sidewalk could interfere with pedestrian traffic and suggests a reduction to 18" x 30" in a vertical orientation. This request is being made approximately one year after an earlier discussion of the same issue. To adopt it as a substitute for the paragraph under portable signs is likely to eliminate a portion of the ordinance which has been difficult to enforce. Recommendation Forward a portable sign ordinance amendment to the Council with the recommendation that it be approved at a somewhat smaller size than requested by the Chamber. b. Business Signs - Potential Variance Requests from Two Business Locations The two attached letters refer to a specific request and to the report of an ordinance violation, respectively. Both deal with reasonably recent actions by the Planning Commission and/or the City Council. If there is a belief that either one justifies a variance, the Commission should develop an amendment that can be forwarded to the City Council for final action. Recommendation Reaffirm the sections of the Code in question. If Budget Oil believes that the bank needs better identification, it could eliminate its own pylon sign. The wall signs at Budget Mart appear to be particularly effective in attracting attention from the north. c. Comprehensive Plan Amendment The City of Farmington has entered into a Multi-City GIS Project which will dramatically improve base map production and reproduction. The most important reference documents from the perspective of planning are the Zoning Map and a ~. . , . . Citywide Land Use Plan Map, but a Commercial/Industrial Inventory Map will also be useful. The major obstacle to preparing a Land Use Plan Map is that the last Metropolitan Council approved Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1982. The draft plan prepared in 1990 was never adopted and it, too, is now out of date. In order to get the planning process initiated anew, Staff has prepared a land use plan map based upon the 1982 plan as amended by plat and PUD approvals since that time, and would like to begin discussions on various aspects of the City Plan by referring to a planning map prepared for the City Council/Planning Commission/Park Board workshop held early last Spring. To provide some insight into how much information will be required, the "Metropolitan Council Guidelines for Reviewing Local Comprehensive Plan Amendments" of January, 1994, has been duplicated for your consideration. It would be helpful to keep the meeting as "loose" as possible, providing opportunities for questions as well as discussion of ideas about the direction of future Farmington growth and renewal. &~ 4J 1J,~ . . Charlie Tooker City Planner