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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 2, 2007 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 2, 2007 7:00 PM The meeting was callcd to order at 7:00 pm by Vice Chair-Donna Schmitt. Commission Members present- Thompson, Peterson, and Schmitt. Exeused members: Szurek and Fiorendino. Also present were Jeff Sargent (City Planner), Gary Peterson (Council Liaison), and Shelley Hanson (Secretary). Motion by Thompson, seconded by Peterson, to approve the minutesfi'om the meeting of September 5, 2007. All ayes. MOTION PASSED. PUBLIC HEARINGS CASE NUMBER: APPLICANT: REQUEST: 2007-0903 City of Columbia Heights Zoning Amendmcnt to the Zoning Code as it ,'elatcs to Nightelub Uses Planner Sargent explained that staff is still working on this and asked that it be continued to the November meeting. Motion by Thompson, seconded by Peterson, to table Case 2007-903 to the next regular meeting. All ayes. MOTION PASSED. CASE NUMBER: APPLICANT: LOCATION: REQUEST: 2007-1001 Signminds/Saigon Delight 4621 Central Avenuc NE Site Plan for Sign age INTRODUCTION At this time, Signminds is requesting a site plan approval for new signage at the Saigon Delight Vietnamese Restaurant, located at 4621 Central A venue. This restaurant was previously operated as Cousin's Subs and was taken over by the Thanh Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant when the Cousin's Subs went out of business. Thanh Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant utilized temporary signage to identify the business, as well as the freestanding pylon sign along Central Avenue. The pylon sign became inoperable when a vehicle struck the pole and knocked the sign over. The Plmming Staff (Stan) has had several conversations with the business owner regarding the use of temporary signage on the building, as well as the use of pylon signage in the Design Overlay Highway District. The business owner has decided to change the name of the restaurant and incorporate a monument sign along Central Avenue. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 2 OCTOBER 2, 2007 COMI'REHENSIVE PLAN The Comprehensive Plan guides this area for Commercial related activities including enhancing the image and viability of the Central Avenue corridor. One way to accomplish this goal is for the businesses along Central Avenue to conform to the Design Guidelines for commercial-related activity. By using a monument sign instead of the pylon sign, Saigon Delight '0' signage plan would be consistent with the Design Guidelines and thus consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. ZONING ORDINANCE The property is located in the General Business District (GB), as are the properties to the north and south. The properties to the cast are zoned R-3, Multiple Family Residential and the properties to the west are in the City of Hilltop. The subject parcel is also located within the Design Overlay Highway District, and is subject the regulations for such properties. The City Code at Section 9.106 (P)(12) states that monument signs in the GB District shall be limited to 40 square feet per side, eight feet in height, and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all property lines. The applicant's sign plan indicates that the monument sign will be eight (8) feet in height and 36 square feet in area. The site plan for the sign also indicates that the monument sign will be located five (5) feet from the front property line. Signage on the building is limited to two square feet of signage for each one foot of building frontage along Central Avenue, and is capped at 200 square feet for the entirc building. The restaurant has 62 feet of frontage along Central Avenue, giving the restaurant a maximum of 124 square feet of signage. The sign plan indicates that the restaurant will utilize only one wall sign, measuring 32 square feet in area. DESIGN GUIDELINES SIGNAGE. The Design Guidelines prohibit the use of pylon signs and require that all monument signs be constt'Ucted of materials compatible with those that are used on the principal stt'Ucture. The proposed plans indicate that the monumcnt sign's base will be constt'Ucted of brick to match the building. The Design Guidelines also prohibit internally lit box signs. The proposed monument sign incorporates backlit channel letters that would be consistent with the intent of the Design Guidelines. FINDINGS OF FACT Site Plan Approval Section 9.104 (M) requires that the Planning and Zoning Commission shall make each of the following findings before approving a site plan: 1. The site plan conforms to all applicable requirements of this article The proposed site plan meets all the Design Guidelines standards for monument signs in relation to the color of the sign and the types of materials used to construct it. 2. The site plan is consistent with the applicable provisions of the city's comprehensive plan. The proposed sign plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, as it is consistent 'with the Design Overlay Highway District. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 3 OCTOBER 2, 2007 3. The site plan is consistent with any applicable area plan. There is no applicable area planfor this area. 4. Thc site plan minimizes any adverse impacts on property in thc immediate vicinity and the public right-of~way. The proposed signage meets all the minimum setback requirements and all Design Guideline requirements. For this reason, the property in the immediate vicinity should not be adversely impacted. The signage plan conforms to all standards outlined in the Design Guidelines. Staff recommends approval of the site plan for the Saigon Delight Vietnamese Restaurant, located at 4621 Central Avenue. Questions fi'om Members: Peterson confirmed the fact that the brick on the monument sign would match the brick on the building. He also questioned why the colors on the wall signage were different from the colors on the monument sign. Sargent explained that the Design Guidelines only restrict the number of colors allowed, not the colors themselves, therefore, we cannot regulate the color choices. He said the Design Guidelines would have to be amended in order to regulate that. Peterson also questioned whether all businesses along Central A venue would be allowed to install monument signs. Sargent explained what the Guidelines would allow and that this particular business could have replaced the existing pylon sign with another one, but chose to install a monument sign instead, which conforms with the new guidelines, even though they didn't have to. Schmitt stated that the wall signage is similar to their existing temporary sign. She commented they may need to renew their temporary sign permit until the new signs are installed. The Public Hearing was opened: No one was present for this issue. The Public Hearing was closed. Motion by Thompson, seconded by Peterson, to waive the reading of Resolution No. 2007-PZ06, there being ample copies available to the public. All Ayes. MOTION PASSED. Motion by Thompson, seconded by Peterson, to adopt Resolution No. 2007-PZ06, being a resolution approving a site plan for Saigon Delight Vietnamese Restaurant, located at 4621 Central Avenue. All ayes. MOTJON PASSED. PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 4 OCTOBER 2, 2007 RESOLUTION NO. 2007-I'Z06 RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION APPROVING A SITE PLAN FOR SIGNAGE FOR SAIGON DELIGHT VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT WITHIN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA WHEREAS, a proposal (Case #2007- I 00 I) has been submitted by Signminds to the Plmming and Zoning Commission requesting a site plan approval from the City of Columbia Heights at the following site: ADDRESS: 4621 Central Avenue LEGAL DESCRIPTION: On file at City Ilall. THE APPLICANT SEEKS TilE FOLLOWING PERMIT: Saigon Delight Vietnamese Restaurant. Site Plan approval for signage for WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has held a public hearing as required by the city Zoning Code on October 2, 2007; WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission has considered the advice and recommendations of the City statf regarding the etfect of the proposed site plan upon the health, safety, and wclfare of the community and its Comprehensive Plan, as wcll as any concerns related to compatibility of uses, traffic, property values, light, air, danger of fire, and risk to public safety in the surrounding areas; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Columbia Heights after reviewing the proposal, that the Planning and Zoning Commission accepts and adopts the following findings: l. The site plan conforms to all applicable requirements of this article, except signagc. 2. The site plan is consistent with the applicable provisions ofthe city's comprehensivc plan. 3. The sitc plan is consistent with any applicable area plan. 4. The site plan minimizes any adverse impacts on property in the immediate vicinity and the public right- of-way. FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that the attached conditions, maps, and other information shall become part of this permit and approval; and in granting this permit the city and the applicant agree that this permit shall become null and void if the project has not been completed within one (1) calendar veal' after the approval date, subject to petition for renewal ofthe pcrmit. Passed this 2'''' day of October 2007, Offered by: Seconded by: RollCall: Ayes: Nays: VICE-CHAIR Donna Schmitt Attest: SECRETARY, Shelley Hanson ------------------------------------------------------- - ----------- - - - --------------------------------------------------- Approval is contingent upon execution and return of this document to the City Planning Office. I have read and agree to the conditions of this resolution as outlined above. Bjorn Bowman Date PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES PAGE 5 OCTOBER 2, 2007 NEW BUSINESS Sargent stated that all the City's Boards and Commissions will be receiving a notice regarding the joint meeting with the City Council, to be held on Monday, October 29, 2007 from 7-9 pm where the consultants will present the Inventory and Analysis they did as preparation for re-doing our Comprehensive Plan. This meeting will be held in the Council Chambers. He informed the members that there would be another meeting on November 1, 2007 at Murzyn Hall. OTHER BUSINESS After the meeting was formally adjourned a resident (Bob Warner-5116 7'11 St) came forth to express his concern regarding over crowding of homes, and that new owners are trying to divide houses into multiple units to accommodate more people. He discussed an area he was particularly concerned with, and Mayor Peterson said he would do some checking on it and get back to him. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 16 pm. All Ayes. Respectfully submitted, C~ M~ d~IM6Y\ Shelley Hans8n Secretary