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Memo to the Planning Commission Page 3 June 25, 1996 • This property currently has a legal non-conforming sign. However, the ordinance clearly states that all new signs must meet the current ordinance. When MSI Insurance, which is located in the same building as North Suburban Orthopaedics, put a new sign up in January 1994, they were required to meet the sign ordinance. MSI Insurance now has two wall signs with a total sign area of 36 square feet. Staff offered several alternatives to the applicant which would not require a variance: 1. Leave the sign as it is because the only change is the addition of "Allina Medical Group". 2. Keep the existing "North Suburban Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine" sign and just add "Allina Medical Group" underneath in the same style letters. 3. Place two smaller cabinet signs on the building. Staff suggested using two signs of similar size as the sign proposed for the rear entrance. The rear entrance sign is 27.5 square feet. Two signs of that size would equal 55 square feet of combined sign area. The applicant is allowed 50 square feet of combined sign area, and staff believes we could work with the applicant on that additional 5 square feet. • 4. Staff suggested that the applicant place one 50 square foot sign over the front entrance and no signage over the rear entrance. The property must be accessed off of Gates Avenue, and therefore, the rear entrance may be less important to sign. Variance This property is subject to the normal standards found in section 900.40 of the Elk River Ordinance which states that a variance may only be granted if it meets these five conditions: 1) That the literal enforcement of the ordinance would cause undue (unnecessary, unavoidable, extreme) hardship. 2) That the hardship caused by special conditions and circumstances which are peculiar to the land and structure involved and which are not characteristic of, or applicable to, other lands or structures in the same district. 3) That the literal application of the provisions of this Ordinance would deprive the petitioner of rights enjoyed by other properties in the same district under the terms of this Ordinance. 4) That the special conditions and circumstances are not a consequence of • the petitioner's own action or inaction. s:\planning\ke ndra\v96-05.doc