Loading...
PL 06/17/2009 - 29943PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING June 17, 2009 Chairperson Kondrick called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: David Kondrick, Jack Velin, Brad Sielaff, Dean Saba, and Brad Dunham Marcy Sibel and Leroy Oquist Stacy Stromberg, City Planner Nathan McPherson, Altare Signs Inc. Approval of Minutes: May 6, 2009 MOTION by Commissioner Saba to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #09-06, by Altare Signs Inc., on behalf of Speedway, Super America LLC, is seeking a Special Use Permit to allow an electronic gas pricing sign at their location at 7299 Highway 65. MOTION by Commissioner Sielaff to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Dunham. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE HEARING OPENED AT 7:01 P.M. Stacy Stromberg, City Planner, stated the petitioner, Altare Signs, Inc., who is representing the property owner of the Super America gas station located at 7299 Highway 65, is requesting a special use permit to allow a freestanding automatic changeable LED gas pricing sign. Ms. Stromberg stated a freestanding sign already exists on the subject property, located on the corner of 73rd Avenue and Highway 65. The petitioner is proposing to replace the existing manual gas pricing section of the sign with an electronic LED gas pricing sign. The LED section of the sign is proposed to be approximately 14.4 square feet, and the total square footage of the sign is 80 square feet. Ms. Stromberg stated the subject property is located at the southeast corner of 73rd Avenue and Highway 65. The property is zoned M-1, Light IndustriaL Motor vehicle fuel and oil dispensing services are a permitted special use in the M-1, Light Industrial zoning district. When the service station was constructed in 1983, several land use requests were also approved by the City Council. A lot split was granted to subdivide one large lot and create two small lots, which are now, 7201 and 7299 Highway 65, which in turn allowed for the construction of the Service Road. A special use permit was also approved to allow the construction of the motor vehicle fuel service station, and two variances were approved to reduce the lot size requirements and the parking lot setback requirement from an abutting right-of-way. The original freestanding sign was also constructed in 1984. There have been several changes and modifications to that sign since it was constructed. Ms. Stromberg stated electronic changeable signs are an approved special use in any zoning district, except residential, provided the message does not change more often than once every 45 seconds. The sign also needs to be in conformance with the sign requirements for the zoning district in which the property is located. The subject property is zoned, M-1, Light Industrial, which requires that freestanding signage cannot exceed 80 square feet in size. The existing sign meets that size requirement. The petitioner is proposing a simple modification of the sign that will replace the existing manual gas pricing signs with the installation of two electronic gas pricing signs, which is approximately 14.4 square feet in size. Ms. Stromberg stated City staff recommends approval of the special use permit as electronic changeable signs are an approved special use in the industrial zoning districts, provided the sign complies with Code requirements, subject to the following stipulations: 1. Petitioner shall obtain sign permit and current sign erector license prior to installing any signage on site. 2. Message on L.E.D. sign shall not change more often than authorized under Section 214.07 of the Fridley City Code. 3. Message on L.E.D. sign shall never flash or have motion that may distract vehicular traffic in the area. Commissioner Sielaff asked how the amount of time between when the sign can change is determined? Ms. Stromberg replied, the City Code states that an electronic signs message can't change more than once every 45 seconds. Councilmember Velin asked whether any words or messages would be on the sign? Ms. Stromberg replied, no, and referred to the photo of the picture showing exactly what the sign will look like. The sign will display gas prices only. Nathan McPherson, Altare Signs Inc., stated the sign will probably not change more than once every couple of days as far as the pricing goes. Chairperson Kondrick asked whether he understands and agrees with the stipulations? Mr. McPherson replied, yes. MOTION by Commissioner Saba to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Dunham. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE HEARING CLOSED AT 7:08 P.M. 2 Chairperson Kondrick stated it seems very straightforward with him, and he has no problem with it. MOTION by Commissioner Saba approving Special Use Permit, SP #09-06, by Altare Signs Inc., on behalf of Speedway, Super America LLC, is seeking a Special Use Permit to allow an electronic gas pricing sign at their location at 7299 Highway 65 with the following stipulations: 1. Petitioner shall obtain sign permit and current sign erector license prior to installing any signage on site. 2. Message on L.E.D. sign shall not change more often than authorized under Section 214.07 of the Fridley City Code. 3. Message on L.E.D. sign shall never flash or have motion that may distract vehicular traffic in the area. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Receive the Minutes of the Apri16, 2009, Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Velin to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Saba. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Receive the Minutes of the May 4, 2009, Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Sielaff to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Dunham. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. Receive the Minutes of the March 5, 2009, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Saba to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Receive the Minutes of the May 7, 2009, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Velin to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Saba. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Stromberg stated the second and final regarding of the ordinance to approve the rezoning for the Columbia Arena site will go before the City Council on Monday night, June 22, 2009. The Council was also review the Preliminary Plat and the two Special Use Permits for the Columbia Arena site. Ms. Stromberg stated that the July 1, 2009 meeting has been cancelled, but there will be a meeting on July 15, 2009. ADJOURN MOTION by Commissioner Saba adjourning the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Dunham. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:13 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Denise M. Johnson Recording Secretary 0