06-14-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, May 17, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 6 5. LA21-000035 DARRIN ROSHA O/B/O ORONO STATION WEST, 2160 W. WAYZATA BLVD, VARIANCE Darrin Rosha o/b/o Orono Station West, Applicant, was present. Staff presented a summary packet of information (Item 5 on the Agenda under Public Hearings). Barnhart stated the property owner recently purchased the existing gas station and are looking to rebrand the fuel sales portion of the business. This property includes the gas station, fuel sales, and several other commercial entities in the mall building on the property. The applicant is requesting variances from the sign ordinance, all of which are spelled out in the City Code and Barnhart’s memo. City Staff supports the second freestanding sign variance, they can support some modification to the sign area but Staff has a challenge supporting a variance that is 2-3 times the size allowed by the City. Staff can support some modification from the number of canopy signs but cannot support lighting of the canopy. When the City enacted a new sign ordinance in 2018, one provision was that a canopy sign cannot be lit. Staff recommends approval of the number of free standing signs, and the number of canopy signs. Staff does not support variances for the lighting of the canopy and the size of the proposed free standing sign. Kirchner said the lighting of the sign Barnhart is talking about is the blue and red line running along the face of the canopy – he asked if the words “Marathon” would be supported as lit. Barnhart replied yes, the Code contemplates logos and signage on the canopy which would be lit. The Code allows this type of business to have one street frontage and one canopy sign; Staff can support multiple canopy signs because of the unique shape of the canopy but cannot support the lighting of the bars around the canopy. Ressler asked what part of the presentation is the changeable copy that Staff had opposition to. Barnhart said as defined by City Code, change of copy is anything that can change the text or graphic of the sign. This technically is changeable copy with the idea they can put pictures, words, advertisements on it which could change. By the strict reading of the rule, the price sign is changeable copy, although that was never the intent of the ordinance so Staff is clarifying that issue with the sign text amendment the Commission will see later. Ressler asked if the gas prices were not part of the calculation would it meet criteria for changeable copy? Barnhart replied it would meet the criteria in the sense that it is the correct ratio. The changeable copy is to be 35% maximum of the freestanding copy area. Ressler asked if they know the size of signage of the gas station down the road from this property to contrast and compare. Erickson sold that property back in 1997 and they received a variance for height at 16 feet high and has 75 square feet of signage. Barnhart noted that sign is in Long Lake so it did not factor in to his comparison. Bollis clarified Code allows 45 square feet. Council Exhibit B LA21-35