HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 10-30 Maplewood sign ordinance question postponed by city THE REVIEW Maplewood sign ordinance
question postponed by city
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by Anne Skinner It was commonly felt among the council Bill Smith of MidAmerica State Bank of
members that they could argue between Maplewood presented a slide show that
Rather than deciding to have just about themselves and the two proponents until pictured White Bear Avenue's signs from
all the signs in Maplewood torn down or early morning. They decided that a Larpenteur Avenue to roughly County
adjustedin size,or deciding to leave just "shirtsleeve session"among themselves Road D. Nearly every store that was
about all the signs in Maplewood sten- would accomplish more, The Nov. 9 pictured was in violation of the CDRB's
ding,the Maplewood City Council decided session will be open to the public.After ordinance, they were either too large,
to table action on the proposed sign or- the first session, the council will meet numerous or placed improperly.
dinance question until after it holds a with the two groups to hammer out the Councilman Wiegert responded,"What
"shirtsleeve session"on Nov.9.The Oct. details. really stands out on White Bear Avenue is
14 meeting was filled with controversy the extent of variation in signing.We have
between proponents of the North St.Paul- VARIOUS MEMBERS of the Chamber no standard to judge what is good for one
Maplewood area Chamber of Corn- voiced their opposition to the CDRB's and good or bad for another business,
merce's proposed ordinance (the more ordinance. Chamber manager Brad therefore, we could be giving one an
lenient of the two),and proponents of the Eshleman said,"The chamber feels they advantage over the other. This really
Design Review Board's proposal, have had a pretty much uphill fight to bothers me.I sure would like to give a
work with the board,we feel their mind fairer shake than what we have been
was pretty much made up when they doing.I see a greater consistency in the
Both groups have been working for over started." board's proposal—whether you like their
a year, trying to come up with a Don Eyinck of Strauss Skates asked, regulations or not—it is consistent."
reasonable solution. The Community "Do we want to be a quiet pastoral Carol Peterson of Carbone Pizza
Design Review Board (CDRB) felt the retreat, or a creative, stimulating en- related her experience with the review
Chamber's proposal was not consistent vironment?Is there a way to encourage board,"My husband and I were before
with Maplewood's design plan, and the good design by incentive rather than them twice and flatly turned down.We go
Chamber felt the CDRB was being far too burdensome regulation?We need signs by a big chain restaurant and they can
restrictive in its sample ordinance. effective enough to eliminate the con- have a sign twice as big as the one we
Councilman Burton Murdock wasn't fusion of the consumer. The general wanted."
satisfied with either proposal,"What I theme and feeling of the CDRB's proposal Councilman John Greavu responded,
wanted out of this ordinance was is one of basic lack of faith and confidence "That's why this council sits up here.And
guidelines, so that if a businessman in the general public and businessman." I hope everyone knows that(there is an
wanted to put up a sign,he wouldn't have appeal process.)"
to go through the misery that we call Hochradel returned to respond to the
regular business.He could just read the Luther Hochradel of Windsor Land- idea of a"shirtsleeve session",I can tell
ordinance and put up a sign that was soaping felt the chamber proposal,"does you from experience that you're either
within the ordinance's guidelines." simplify the permit process, gives a going to disadvantage someone or leave it
Councilman Donald Wiegert concurred, common sense factor to the businessman up to the creativity of businessmen.There
"I want a series of guidelines that would who is not going to waste money on ugly are just to many variables to develop-
describe the sign we would like to see in signs,allows for maintenance and annual ment."
accordance with the various zones.Then, inspection,and doesn't discriminate A motion was passed to table the action
if a business wanted to vary from those between the big businessman and the until the council has answered all its
guidelines, it would go through the small.There are restrictions only where questions and has some kind of com-
routine procedure.These ordinances give there are possible problems. The Corn- prehensive opinion about the type of
height limits and I don't know why,say,25 munity Design Review Board either ordinance it would like to see passed.
feet is good,maybe 15 or 40 feet would be wanted to get all the signs out of
better.I want to know why,so if someone Maplewood or didn't know sizes.All the
wants something different,I have a basis signs on White Bear Avenue would have to
to answer their request." go according to their ordinance."