09-26-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, August 15, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 4 Oakden replied the current sign encroaches into the right-of-way and the new sign is proposing a zero foot setback but would eliminate the right-of-way encroachment. However both signs would be located in the utility easement. McCutcheon asked about the details of the sign. Oakden replied the sign the monument signage will include the business name, a digital changeable signage area, and a faux stone base. William Salvador of 612 Signs spoke about the visibility which is important for safety and showed a photo on screen noting there have been 3 accidents this year and people cannot see the sign going eastbound. The new sign is a lot more visible and that the current sign does not represent Orono as it is two plastic posts and a panel. They would like to design something really beautiful with architectural stone and down-lighting at the entrance of the town. He does not know that they are married to having the sign at the edge but because there is an existing sign there Mr. Salvador recommended it. He noted they are taking something existing and ugly, bringing it closer to the building, and making it a foot shorter; it is the same size and same place but closer to the building, more visible and thus safer, and much prettier. Kirchner asked what the digital display would scroll. Mr. Salvador thinks it needs to be static; while it can change it needs to be a certain frequency. He cannot speak for the owner but thinks he would say it is not that important. What is important is that they just paid a ton of money to redo the siding and make it more beautiful and want to make the signage more beautiful. If a digital display makes it worse in terms of the Planning Commission’s acceptance, Mr. Salvador thinks they would remove it. They are asking for their opinion and can make changes and he reiterated they are trying to make something prettier than the plastic posts there currently. Chair McCutcheon noted it is already known for being an accident area and they do not want to make more distractions which is why they are sensitive on the digital display. Mr. Salvador spoke about driving on the road near the curve and sightlines of the building, noting one does not see the current sign until they are in front of the business. People then hit the brakes to pull in and from the other direction people cannot see those pulling out or coming across until the last minute which is why there have been many accidents. He clarified the relevance of the sign’s proportion as previously there was a longer name and all sorts of mumbo-jumbo. Now the sign displays the name “River Valley” in large letters so one can read it further out. McCutcheon asked if the current sign is being hit by snow plows as it is so close to the road. Mr. Salvador replied it has been there 20 years and noted the posts do not have marks on them. The new one will be about 30 inches further in. Oakden clarified it abuts roughly two feet into the right-of-way currently and showed the edge of the right-of-way and the edge of the pavement. She reached out to Public Works for comment and they did not have any comments regarding the placement. The City Engineer replied regarding the encroachment agreement over the utility easement.