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Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 of 8 <br />May 27, 2025 <br />4.5 Modification of Legal Nonconforming Advertising Signs (Billboards) <br />Mr. Carlton presented the staff report. He distributed a handout from Erwin Specht, one of the <br />property owners involved in this application. Mr. Specht asked in the handout (which was an email from <br />Mr. Carlton) about the timing of the removal of billboards and Mr. Carlton indicated in the handout <br />that the removal will be timed with the Oakwater Ridge subdivision being constructed. <br />Commissioner Rydberg asked what the allowed size of the billboards was, and if staff were comfortable <br />setting a precedent with the entire stretch of Highway 10 to Ramsey, including clusters of billboards <br />350' apart. <br />Mr. Carlton stated the faces of billboards are allowed by ordinance to be 20x40. He stated the <br />proposed billboard spacing of 350 feet, which is well below the ordinance requirement of a 1,200-foot <br />but an improvement from the current —220 feet separation, was a unique situation and would not <br />create a precedent that would bind the city in the future. <br />Chair Beise opened the public hearing. <br />Jacob Steen, Larkin Hoffman Law Firm - 8300 Norman Center Drive, stated he was representing <br />Security Bank and Trust, as trustee owning these properties. He stated it is a unique situation and, in <br />order to accommodate the development of Oakwater Ridge, they requested to remove all 21 existing <br />structures and replace them with 4 uniform billboards. In doing so, it would clean up and provide <br />uniformity. Dan Franklin of Franklin Outdoor Advertising was also present to answer questions. <br />Commissioner Rydberg asked about the optimal number of billboards. <br />Dan Franklin, Franklin Outdoor Advertising, 8065 Hunter Lake Drive, Clear Lake, explained details <br />about the placement of the signs and when they received repairs. Their goal is to create conformity, <br />following ordinance requirements, at 10.5' by 36'. There were no plans for electronic signage. <br />There being no one else to speak, Chair Beise closed the public hearing. <br />Councilmember Wagner asked for clarification on when the removal of the current signs would be. <br />Mr. Carlton stated there was no required or specific timeline, but it would occur when the land <br />underneath them was platted, potentially phased over 6-7 years. He indicated the property owner and <br />billboard company would work together to determine the removal and replacement timeline. <br />Moved by Commissioner Booth and seconded by Commissioner Rydberg to recommend <br />approval of the request to reduce, relocate, and modify legal nonconforming advertising <br />signs (billboards) as outlined in the staff report, subject to the following conditions: <br />1. The city does not require the demolition or relocation of a billboard until the land <br />beneath the structure is included in a final plat. <br />2. Billboards must be removed from land included in a final plat for Oakwater Ridge and <br />slated for dedication as a frontage road prior to releasing the plat for recording. <br />3. Billboards relocated and constructed on the north side of Highway 10 must be done in <br />accordance with the even spacing exhibit to improve compliance under the current city <br />codes. <br />4. At no time shall there be an increase in the total number of billboard structures, faces, <br />