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CITY OF LAKEVILLE
PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
July 9, 2020
Chair Pat Kaluza called the work session to order at 6:43 p.m.
Members Present: Chair Pat Kaluza, Jason Swenson, Karl Drotning, Brooks Lillehei,
Jenna Majorowicz, Jeff Witte, Christine Zimmer
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Planning Director Daryl Morey, Monica Waite, Planning & Zoning
Specialist; Penny Brevig, Recording Secretary
Others Present: Pastor Derrick Ross, Mike Kasbohm from Think Digital Signs
Celebration Church Electronic Sign Variance discussion
Pastor Ross explained why it is important for Celebration Church to have a dynamic
display sign. The church feels the dynamic display sign would be more helpful in
advertising their events, such as food drives, Red Cross blood drives, and their day care
being open during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that the dynamic display sign
would not only improve visibility for the church, but it could also benefit the community.
Mike Kasbohm from Think Digital Signs explained the details of the dynamic display
sign that Celebration Church is proposing. He stated digital communication is much
more modern and safe way to communicate than manual changeable copy signs.
If the church replaces the current reader board sign with a new digital message board
sign at the height allowed by the Zoning Ordinance, it would not be able to be seen
safely by northbound traffic. Complying with the City’s sign base requirement for
dynamic display signs would change the character of the existing sign. The current sign
base is the sign of the cross, which is an important symbol to the church. The church
isn’t requesting a larger or taller freestanding sign than their existing sign and the
church would use the existing sign frame. A dynamic display sign would be a safer way
for the church to display messages than manually changing the letters on their existing
reader board sign.
Planning & Zoning Specialist Monica Waite presented the planning report. Ms. Waite
reviewed the background of the site and Celebration Church’s proposal for an electronic
sign variance. There are three components of the church’s sign request that do not
meet Zoning Ordinance requirements: 1) sign size, 2) sign height, and 3) sign base and
material. Ms. Waite discussed Celebration Church’s concern about elevation and
distinguished how sign height allowances are determined by the Zoning Ordinance.
Section 11-6-5 of the Zoning Ordinance lists seven criteria that variance requests must
meet. These criteria are listed in July 2, 2020 planning report. She stated the church is
looking for feedback from the Planning Commission tonight regarding their proposed
sign prior to submittal of a formal variance application.
Planning Commission discussion points:
• The dynamic display sign requirements in the freeway corridor district were
compared to the requirements in the C-3 District.
• The purpose of the dynamic display sign requirements is to minimize distractions,
especially in the freeway corridor.
• Church representatives questioned why building size, and not lot area, is used to
determine sign size in the freeway corridor district. Staff stated if lot frontage or
lot area is used to determine sign size, it could preclude future subdivision of the
church property. There can be unintended consequences.
• Pastor Ross agreed that the church has other options for their sign where they
would not need a variance, such as putting the sign in a different location. If they
moved the sign to the south side of the property, which has a higher elevation, it
could block the Schneiderman’s Furniture freestanding sign and they prefer not
to do that because they are trying to be a good neighbor.
• The Planning Commission agreed that the church’s request does not meet all
seven of the variance criteria, but they expressed support for working with the
church on their sign request. They directed staff to include using a graduated
building size scale for determining sign size in the freeway corridor district as a
discussion item with the next Zoning Ordinance update.
The work session adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Penny Brevig, Recording Secretary