06-19-1995 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Zoning File #2026 June 8, 1995 Page 2 Decription of Request Busy Beaver Day Care will be purchased by New Horizon Child Care. Mrs. Cici, the owner of Busy Beaver, had talked of a need to provide better signage for the facility because of the unique location of the entrance at the extreme east and the day care located to the extreme west on the property'. The Director talked of a need to provide clear identification of the location of the facility for the cars that travel in excess of the allowed 45 m.p.h. Some members familiar with New Horizon Child Care facilities will recognize the typical blue/yellow signage proposed with the current application. Two pylon signs have been proposed that will exceed the allowed 12 s.f. of total signage area for this use. Height variances are also requested for both pylons because of the sharp drop in elevations adjacent to Highway 12. Refer to Exhibits H and I, there is a 6 to 7 drop at entrance pylon and 5’ to 6’ drop at lighted pylon. Commercial signage allowance is based on frontage on public road. For each lineal foot, an owner is allowed 1 s.f. of signage. In the B-1, B-2 and B-4 districts, no individual signs shall exceed 50 s.f. In the B-3 shopping district, no single sign shall exceed 100 s.f. The property is zoned residential but surrounding uses of properties suggest other than a typical residential neighborhood. The property is surrounded by a railroad to the south, a cemetery to the east, an elevated Luce Line to the west and finally Highway 12 and another day care facility to the north. The City has never received complaints from residential land owners in surrounding residential neighborhood. The closest residence in Orono would be to the south located 400+’ from the southern boundary of the property. The railroad right-of-way is located within that setback. The actual facility is located 800+’ from the residential property. The City has granted signage area variances to churches that have day care facilities. In 1994, members may remember that we granted signage area variances to the Calvary Memorial Church at Dunwoody and Shoreline. The variances in the 1994 application dealt only with area excesses and not height variances. Statement of Hardship Please refer to Exhibit A, applicant notes the following: 1 Unique topography of site presents a need for additional height in signage.