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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/22/2008 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JANUARY 22,2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Olson called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Board member John Demko Vice-Chairperson Matt Ledvina Chairperson Linda Olson Board member Ananth Shankar Board member Matt Wise Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Shann Finwall, Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Board member Ledvina moved to approve the amended agenda moving Item 7-Visitor Presentations to become Item 5 and renumbering the subsequent items and also adding item 9. c.-Environmental Planner to the agenda. Board member Wise seconded. The motion passed. Ayes - all IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. January 8, 2008 Board member Shankar moved approval of the minutes of January 8,2008 as submitted. Board member Demko seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all V. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Ron Cockriel, chair of the Maplewood Preservation Commission and member of the Maplewood Historical Society, informed the board of the groups efforts to secure a Local Governments grant for educating board and commission members about recognizing historical architectural and design issues. Mr. Cockriel informed the board of several training options that are available. Mr. Cockriel gave the grant information to staff to review. VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. On-Site Dynamic Display Sign Code Discussion Planner Shann Finwall presented the staff report and also informed the board that the city council has requested a moratorium on dynamic display signs to allow the CDRB & PC time to draft an ordinance which addresses those types of signs. That moratorium will go to the city council on Monday, January 28 for first reading. Community Design Review Board 2 Minutes 01-22-2008 The board discussed with staff how the proposed ordinance would affect some of the city's existing signage, such as the amount of sign area allowed for conversion to dynamic display and setback requirements near parks and other signs. Board member Wise questioned whether the right-of-way area should be excluded from the sign setback measurement. Mr. Wise said the matter of whether the 600-foot sign setback Is measured from the road or an out parcel should be considered also, since an out parcel typically already has signage. Mr. Wise suggested that site architectural features might be considered in establishing the square footage or percentage display requirement. Board member Ledvina said he feels the allowable zoning districts of BC, M-1 and M-2 are appropriate and that the minimum 20-minute changeover timeline is reasonable. Mr. Ledvina said he is okay with the maximum 50 percent total square-footage requirement. Mr. Ledvina said he does not believe it would be feasible to exclude the right-of-way for setback measurement due to land issues such as easements that would create an unlevel playing field, but that standards do need to be established relating to specific property lines and uses. Mr. Ledvina suggested the proposed 75-foot residential setback is very close and that a setback of between 100 and 200 feet might be better. Mr. Ledvina said he does not have the answer, but he does not agree with the 600-foot setback concept which would allow the first property owner who can afford it to be able to install the sign and he feels this will be a problem. Staff said the board should consider including an additional side-yard setback requirement which would help to eliminate signs being too close together and should also consider allowing only one dynamic display sign on a property. Board member Olson said only one pylon sign should be allowed per property and should have additional restrictions. Ms. Olson said she feels signs attached to buildings will need a separate set of language. Ms. Olson mentioned she feels the minimum display of 20 minutes is too long and could be shortened to 5 minutes. Ms. Olson said she agrees with increasing the 75-foot residential setback to 100 feet, but should also include the setback to include any residential structure, park, nature preserve, wetland or historic area. Board member Demko suggested including a requirement to remove an existing sign for any new dynamic display sign installed. Mr. Demko said he agrees that the proposed 75-foot residential setback needs to be increased. Board member Olson discussed whether to allow free-standing dynamic signs as opposed to dynamic wall signs. Board member Shankar suggested that wall signs might be allowed only for businesses exceeding 100,000 square feet. Board member Wise suggested that 100,000 square feet would allow wall signage only at the Maplewood Mall and that reducing the square footage to 50,000 to 60,000 square feet might be more reasonable. Mr. Wise also suggested that businesses should be encouraged by the city to enter into shared sign agreements. Board member Ledvina said he favors limiting dynamic display signs to free-standing signs only and yet allow larger commercial properties that have comprehensive sign plans to propose alternate designs for wall signs. The board made suggestions to staff for revisions to the dynamic sign code draft. Community Design Review Board Minutes 01-22-2008 3 Chairperson Olson suggested the board table this discussion until the next meeting and asked staff to review the board's comments and suggestions and prepare a draft of the on-site ordinance for the next meeting. VII. DESIGN REVIEW None VIII. BOARD PRESENTATIONS None IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. 2007 Community Design Review Board Annual Report Planner Finwall presented the staff report and draft copy of the board's 2007 annual report. The board suggested the following revisions to the report: (1) move CarMax Auto and The Shores Tree Preservation and Landscape Plan items to "Miscellaneous Reviews", (2) add "off-site" to the Dynamic Display Sign Ordinance item, (3) add one joint meeting with the environmental and natural resource commission and add the CDRB chair attending their meeting, (4) request feedback to number two under 2008 Recommendations, (5) add information regarding the feedback submitted concerning the Comprehensive Plan review. Board member Ledvina moved the Community Design Review Board forward their 2007 annual report to the City Council to include the revisions discussed at this meeting. Board member Shankar seconded Ayes - all b. Update on Board Member Interviews Planner Finwall reported that board terms expired at the end of 2007 for board members Ananth Shankar and Matt Wise, who have reapplied and will be interviewed by the city council in February. Board members thanked these members for their service. c. Environmental Planner Planner Shann Finwall informed the board that she has been hired by the city as an environmental planner to take effect February 11. Ms. Finwall explained the possible administrative changes that this change entails. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.