03-19-1990 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes March 19, 1990 Page 12 tit request is to get the sign over the trees along the Mississippi River. He stated that they cannot cut the trees on the riverbank due to DNR regulations. Mr. Leary stated he felt the City's sign ordinance was lacking in certain areas. He stated that high speed traffic is not addressed in the sign ordinance. He stated that they are looking at a high traffic pattern and will not be able to show people on Highway 101 that they are located in that site. Mr. Leary and Mr. VanValkenburg requested to show a slide presentation showing what other communities are doing regarding signage. . After the slide presentation, they requested permission to show a video presentation which would show the visibility of the sign they are requesting. Mr. VanValkenburg indicated that they hired a ,boom truck to show the height of the signage they are requesting which would give them the visibility they need from Highways 10 and 101. After viewing the video and the slide presentation, Mayor Tralle agreed that the need for the variance is there, however, he indicated that the applicants did not meet the stipulations for the variance other than an economic hardship which the Council cannot consider. e Steve Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator, indicated that there may be a more proper way to deal with this request other than a variance. He indicated that a sign ordinance amendment may be what is needed. After discussion by the Council regarding the variance request, it was the consensus that a precedence would definitely be set if a variance were granted. Building and Zoning Administrator, Steve Rohlf, suggested that the City contact MnDDT regarding a blue sign (series E) along Highway 101 for the motel. It was the consensus of the Council to direct staff to write a letter to MnDDT requesting a series E sign for the motel to be located on Highway 101. Mayor Tralle opened the public hearing. Rob VanValkenburg indicated that although a series E sign would be helpful, they cannot be guaranteed that they will get the sign. Mr. Rob Lindquest of Americlnn motels spoke regarding the hardship needed in order have a variance granted and stated that he felt this si tuation proved to have an extreme hardship due to the river and the DNR regulations. Steve Rohlf, Building and Zoning Administrator, stated that he did not feel this was a unique situation because of the fact that there are other businesses in the area that cannot advertise above the tree line. e Councilmember Kropuenske indicated that he would not be favor of the variance because the applicant could not meet the five standards. He further indicated that he felt the City's sign ordinance was inequi table at this time because of the fact that certain businesses need signage in order operate.