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.