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City Council Minutes October 17, 2016 Page 6 Councilmember Burandt commented staff report photos show some church steeples as being 6' above the roof of the church. She stated the Planning Commission meeting discussed that there are no set standards or ordinance language requirements for religious symbols in various other cities. She proposed the ordinance be re- written to allow religious symbols or other art, or write separate language for religious symbols, and not limit the signs to a certain height requirement based upon the height requirements of the building. Councihnember Westgaard stated the applicant's request is for a variance for a second freestanding sign, and the applicant's request calls this a sign request. He stated the sign request is excessive for this zoning district. He further clarified this is not about a religious symbol but more about the height of the sign. Mr. Holmes asked for clarification with Councilmember Westgaard's comments. He stated the paper application received from city staff was presented as a sign application, not a religious symbol application. Ms. Simon stated the request was presented as a sign permit and the applicant's narrative describes the religious symbol as a sign. She stated the applicant didn't have an opportunity to fill out a religious symbol permit since we do not have such a permit. Councilmember Wagner stated she felt 75' too high for the residentially -zoned district and she wouldn't support it. She also stated she appreciated staff options presented and felt a 40' addition to the existing building would be a better fit based upon current zoning. Councilmember Olsen stated he felt this could be considered a large sculpture or a piece of art but there is no ordinance for art or sculpture that he's aware of He talked about how churches used to build large steeples and wonders if there's still a need for building large structures. He stated this should be part of the structure and not freestanding. He stated there should be limits for spiritual signs. Mayor Dietz stated this was a difficult issue but this instance is different when residents present a petition asking the city to follow current ordinance. He noted, after reading through the applicant's request, there were some key statements they made which made him feel the church is using the symbol as advertising to attract new practitioners to the church. He wonders about the sense of fairness with other churches a few blocks away from highways. He would consider a variance to the ordinance if the sign were to be attached to the church but he was not in favor of a lighted sign 75' in the air as he felt it intrusive to the neighborhood and doesn't meet the spirit of the ordinance. He suggested seeing what other cities allow relating to signs with religious symbols. He would like to see Council make a decision tonight and then have staff research options or create a religious symbol ordinance. Attorney Beck indicated he has seen ordinances from other cities regarding height limits while allowing a higher limit for steeples or bell towers. p0VIIAte er 1 ATA