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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 3 of 4 <br /> <br />Erickson asked regarding line 229, free standing pole signs, perhaps it could be a bit expanded. He noted <br />a definition on line 86 that is somewhat similar. <br /> <br />Barnhart noted the pole sign definition prohibits two poles, basically the monument sign is the sign that <br />has a base mounted. He clarified there is a free standing sign definition, a pole sign definition, and a <br />monument sign definition. <br /> <br />Erickson said on Table 1 it comes up again in looking at free standing and “type B” do they want to <br />scratch pole out of there? <br /> <br />Barnhart replied they want to be as clear as possible. On Table 1 he is proposing an increase in the max <br />height for free standing signs in sign district 3 which is most of the commercial. <br />McCutcheon said the max height of a house is 30 so he can see staying under that; earlier tonight they <br />approved almost 22 feet. <br /> <br />Barnhart noted they approved 20 feet and Code allows 22 feet. He stated he is proposing to not count fuel <br />signs as changeable dynamic display as that is a reasonable expectation for those businesses. It is the <br />same with time and temperature displays. He shared one area they get a lot of pushback from the real <br />estate community is what kind of sign one can use to advertise a property for lease or a development and <br />is trying to clarify that signage. Planning Staff recommends approval of these changes with the comments <br />made earlier in terms of residential impact. <br /> <br />Bollis stated regarding the 45 square feet, he feels that is pretty limiting for a business. He thinks <br />Minnetonka has 50 square feet which is also pretty limiting. He asked how long it has been 45 square <br />feet. <br /> <br />Barnhart said when they changed the Code in 2018 that is when they did the 45. He does not recall what it <br />was before that time. <br /> <br />Bollis thinks it is pretty restrictive. He would be supportive of bringing that number up a bit perhaps to 50 <br />or 55. <br /> <br />Ressler would not disagree with that, he thinks at least 50 square feet is reasonable. <br /> <br />Kirchner is not willing to put a number on it right here and would be curious to know what other <br />municipalities nearby are doing. <br /> <br />Erickson noted in Long Lake, Sherwin Williams has 80 and Speedway has 75 on the monument signs. <br /> <br />Ressler has driven by the signs several times and has never felt the sign was too large. If he were going to <br />pick a number, he thinks 75 square feet based on that. <br /> <br />Barnhart is hearing the Commission is open to some changes but Staff should provide some additional <br />feedback to the Council. <br /> <br />Chair Kirchner opened the public hearing at 8:42 p.m. <br /> <br />Chair Kirchner closed the public hearing at 8:42 p.m.