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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br />Monday, May 17, 2021 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />Barnhart replied 45 square feet for the freestanding sign area. <br /> <br />Bollis asked if that is 45 and the additional electronic portion? Or 45 including it? <br />Barnhart replied it is 45 including it. The sign the Commission is looking at tonight is proposed at 95.79 <br />square feet. <br /> <br />Erickson asked the height on the Marathon sign. <br /> <br />Barnhart noted it is 20 feet high. It conforms because there is a section of the Code that applies only to <br />gas stations which allows a 22 foot high sign. <br /> <br />Gettman asked about the Holiday station on Shadywood; it looks like it is 106 square feet as opposed to <br />the 95 square feet. He noted that is another 10 square feet over what the applicant is proposing and asked <br />if that was approved for any particular reason? <br /> <br />Barnhart did not pull the resolution for that or what the standards were at the time; he does not have the <br />history for that one. He stated a lot of signage that was redone replaced existing signs so it may have been <br />20 years ago. <br /> <br />Bollis asked the square footage of the existing Orono Shopping Center sign. <br /> <br />Barnhart replied it is 141 square feet. <br /> <br />Darrin Rosha noted the owners are present as well as the owner of Hamilton Sign. His law office is in the <br />same building, there have been a lot of improvements to it, and they opened Orono Station West. As a <br />tenant they are happy to see this continuing to move forward. It is very unique and a landmark in the City; <br />Barnhart has talked about historic variances and the new owners have gone back-and-forth trying to <br />figure out what is permissible because there were variances at different times. There are about 10 <br />businesses in the strip mall and if it were parallel to the road there would be more opportunity for signage. <br />In talking about the canopy, it is a challenge because in looking at which sides meet the road, one is at an <br />angle and another is behind you going east, the last one coming to the west; it is a challenge to see those <br />so having them on three sides is definitely beneficial. There is significant improvement in the safety for <br />the staff at the gas station as he heard changing the old plastic price signs in winter with a ladder is <br />challenging. In looking at the way the road curves, most gas stations have a “long run” and drivers have a <br />longer way to see the property; this one comes up on one and if the sign copy is too small it becomes <br />dangerous to drivers and pedestrians. Mr. Rosha stated there is lighting around the canopy on other <br />stations within Orono – it is fairly modest – and 2 of the 4 stations have lighting on the canopy. This <br />property owner would request the same opportunity so people are aware of their presence and maximize <br />their capacity to exceed – he said an independently-owned station adds a lot to the community. <br /> <br />Chair Kirchner opened the public hearing at 7:26 p.m. <br /> <br />Chair Kirchner closed the public hearing at 7:26 p.m. <br /> <br />Erickson asked to clarify which is the monument sign. Barnhart showed it on screen. Erickson said by the <br />picture it looks to be structurally supported. He shared about his time on the Long Lake Planning <br />Commission and there was lots of discussion about signs. They ended up noting a monument sign has