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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,May 17,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> and if they can get an 8-foot wide,they have enough roadway to see a larger digit from farther away. <br /> Proportionally, if he was going to make an 8 foot wide sign he would not have it lower than a 20 foot <br /> sign.Most standards run between 20-24 feet in height. <br /> Gettman asked of that 20-24 feet,how much height is used for the sign itself? <br /> Mr. Hamilton stated it depends on the location,but 50-75%. <br /> Gettman said about 10-18 feet.Back to the canopy sign, is there any requirement from Marathon on <br /> those? <br /> Mr. Hamilton noted this is the new look of Marathon,so the whole fascia is illuminated; if the City denies <br /> that,then it goes down to a hard metal(ACM)like most canopies and the Marathon would be channel <br /> letters. <br /> Kirchner said Marathon has branding standards that allow for a non-lit canopy. <br /> Mr. Hamilton replied they do. <br /> Libby asked about the monument sign—they are truly numeric rather than alpha-numeric—they simply <br /> change the gas prices,there is nothing streaming,no video,no motion. By standards the City has set and <br /> Staff has recommended, is there anything detrimental about conforming with Orono's sign ordinance? <br /> Mr.Hamilton stated they went through it in a meeting and noted the 14 foot sign is very small,even with <br /> an electronic gas pricer,and put a Marathon on the top;Marathon will look at it and say it is too small <br /> because of their standards. Can he shrink it down to 40-45 square feet?Yes,but monetarily he does not <br /> think it is worth it for the customer to put a really small sign out there and battle with Marathon in saying <br /> all they can do is 45 square feet. <br /> Libby said that is not a really small sign,especially with LED digital lighting 24/7.The idea is they are <br /> better off to have a sign that meets and complies with the City ordinance than have no sign at all that <br /> would be changeable and go back to getting on a ladder to change the numbers. He sees a win-win if they <br /> can come to some terms together. He asked if there is any sort of marketing deprivation from having a <br /> canopy that is not lighted versus one that is. <br /> Mr. Hamilton replied driving down the road and seeing Marathon illuminated canopies,people will say <br /> "wow."It is all marketing and he pointed out it is not shining lights throughout the community, it is <br /> illuminating the canopy and when one drives down the road they say"I want to stop there." He said the <br /> electronic message center will really help with the tenants that are not getting noticed there,also. <br /> Mr. Rosha clarified there is a stone base. When one contemplates 22 feet high for a service station sign <br /> and then limit it to 45 square feet,that is a 2-foot-wide sign. It is a challenge with an independent fuel <br /> station,as they must have a relationship with a quality fuel supplier. They could have it down to <br /> Marathon,Regular,and the price;but there would be no local branding(Orono Station)and would not <br /> have the ability to draw people in like the competitor down the road has.The station down in Navarre has <br /> a sign that exceeds even what is being proposed here. His client was trying to come up with something <br /> reasonable;they would prefer that the canopy not be considered signage and be lit. <br /> Page 13 of 21 <br />