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• , _ <br /> ir <br /> tlko' <br /> ELK. RIVER AR_EA <br /> June 18, 2013 Chamber of Commerce <br /> N. -- RE B; <br /> City of Elk River <br /> 13065 Orono Parkway <br /> Elk River, MN 55330 <br /> City Council Members: <br /> Over the past 18 months, the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce has extensively studied the <br /> current City of Elk River sign ordinance. Our concerns about the sign ordinance include the following: <br /> • Some inconsistencies due to updates over the years that may not have filtered throughout the <br /> entire ordinance making it difficult to understand and more difficult to enforce. <br /> • Numerous requests for variances and conditional use permits suggest that the sign ordinance <br /> needs modifications so that there are fewer exceptions to the rules needed to conduct business <br /> • New technologies have changed the landscape of signage and the current ordinance needs <br /> updating especially around the use of digital (changeable-copy) signs <br /> Our recommendations have been forwarded to City staff, Jeremy Barnhart and Cal Portner. It is our <br /> understanding that staff is working on its review of the City's sigr ordinance this summer with help of <br /> their new intern. We are anxiously awaiting their results. <br /> Recently we have been approached to recommend support of the proposed sign request from Granite <br /> Shores. The sign that Granite Shores is requesting fits with our recommended changes to the current <br /> sign ordinance which indicates that "pylon, monument or free standing signs should be allowed in the <br /> downtown district for multi-tenant buildings". The purpose of signage is to help identify businesses for <br /> customers and vendors both current and prospective. In a multi-tenant building it is often difficult to <br /> identify which businesses are present. For this reason we believe it is in the best interest of continued <br /> economic development and general business promotion to allow signage that is easy to find and that <br /> identifies the tenants of the building to the public. We believe that the request from Granite Shores <br /> accomplishes this objective. <br /> This recommendation is supported by the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Ben Bauman <br /> Board Chair <br /> Cc: Annie Deckert, Decklan Group <br /> Jim Soderberg, Granite Shores <br /> Jeremy Barnhart, City of Elk River <br /> Cal Portner, City of Elk River <br /> ELK.RIVER AREA CHAMBER or COMMERCE 509 HIGHWAY 10 ELK RIVER MN 55330 WWW.ELKRIVERCHAMBER.ORG <br /> VOCE (763)441-,3110 FAX (763) 441-3409 ERACC àELK.R1VERCHAMER,ORG <br />