HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-21-07 WS•
Minutes
City of Lakeville
City Council Work Session
Monday, May 21, 200 @ 5:0o p.m.
Marion Conference Room, Lakeville City Hall
In attendance: Mayor Holly Dahl and Council Members David Luick, Laurie Rieb, Wendy Wulff,
and Mark Bellows.
Also in attendance: City Administrator Steve Mielke, Assistant to City Administrator Brian
Anderson, Planning Director Daryl Morey, Associate Planner Allyn Kuennen and NAC
Representative Dan Licht.
i. Sign Ordinance Amendment
• Mr. Licht presented to the City Council the proposed sign ordinance. He stated the restrictions
on temporary portable reader board and balloon signs, and "for sale/for lease" signs were
removed at the request of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce and at the direction of the
Planning Commission and City Council as part of the ordinance amendment approved on
February 5, 200. The Planning Commission and City Council directed that staff obtain input
from the Economic Development Commission (EDC) with respect to proposed restrictions on
these types of signs, as well as the allowance of sandwich board signs.
The EDC discussed the proposed sign regulations listed in the February 23, 200 NAC
memorandum at their February 2'J and March 27, 200 meetings. While the EDC supported the
proposed allowance of sandwich board signs and the elimination of temporary portable reader
board and balloon signs, they felt that placing limits on "for sale/for lease" signs would have a
negative impact on area businesses. Placing restrictions on "for sale/for lease" signs is further
complicated by the content neutrality of the new ordinance language.
The EDC's recommendation has been incorporated into a draft ordinance amendment. The
draft ordinance amendment includes the following:
• Creates provisions for the allowance of sandwich board signs in commercial zoning
districts.
• Prohibits temporary portable reader board and balloon signs in any zoning district,
including the P-OS, Public/Open Space District. Temporary banner and pennant
signs will continue to be allowed by special permit.
• Does not change the existing regulations concerning "for sale/for lease" signs.
• Allows buildings in the C-CBD, Commercial District-CBD Area to have an additional
sign on a rear or side wall, which may or may not front a public street, similar to the
• existing allowance for multiple tenant buildings in commercial zoning districts. This
allows a sign for the business to be seen by patrons parking in a lot located at the rear
of the building, which is typical downtown. This provision is being recommended by
staff as an outcome of the Holly Hewitt Dance Studio project on Holyoke Avenue.
The Planning Commission reviewed the EDC's recommendation and discussed the proposed
sign regulations at their April 19, 200 work session. The Planning Commission had a spirited
discussion pertaining to "for sale/for lease" signs. Commissioner Drotning feels strongly that
the ordinance amendment needs to address "for sale/for lease" signs because, under the current
ordinance, these signs can become quasi-permanent and can be used to advertise for properties
located off-premise. He proposes eliminating the allowance of separate "for sale/for lease" signs
on commercial/industrial properties while allowing an increase in the size of freestanding
commercial/industrial signs to accommodate "for sale/for lease" provisions.
On a vote of 4-3, the Planning Commission concurred with the EDC's recommendation and
directed staff to proceed with a public hearing on the ordinance amendment as presented (with
no changes to the current ordinance standards concerning "for sale/for lease" signs).
One aspect of the draft ordinance amendment that staff would like to receive direction from the
City Council pertains to the elimination of the portable reader board signs in all zoning districts.
While it seems appropriate for the City to eliminate the use of reader board signs at the liquor
stores, which are located in commercial districts, we may want to consider allowing the reader
board signs in the P-OS District (i.e. parks and City buildings) to announce City sponsored
events such as the Haunted Forest, the Who Done It Hike, and the Easter Egg Hunt. Currently,
the existing sign ordinance amendment approved in February would allow notice of these events
on "official signs" similar to the signs the City uses for the Panorama of Progress.
Council agreed with the proposed ordinance amendment but felt that the City should research
the cost of monument signage to be placed at the City's prominent parks. This would allow the
City opportunities to communicate with the public in a visually pleasing manner.
2. Comprehensive Plan Discussion
Mr. Kuennen informed the City Council that staff has completed the first round of twelve
neighborhood meetings to gather public input on updating the 2008 Comprehensive Land Use
Plan. Attendance at the meetings ranged from as few as two residents to over 3o with the
average being around i5 per meeting. The meetings were designed to maximize opportunities
for residents to view the presentation boards, ask questions and submit verbal and written
comments. Thus far, staff has been pleased with the dialog and feedback received from these
meetings.
Mr. Licht briefly outlined some of the more prevalent comments received from residents as
stated in the work session packet. Some of the more common themes reiterated by residents are:
• Additional senior housing
• Continue staging of the MUSA
• Additional corporate campus and professional job opportunities
• Protecting the environment
• Preserving natural and open space
• Development opportunities along County Road 70, Cedar Ave., and other collectors
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• City Council briefly discussed Lakeville's transportation needs and funding mechanisms for
those needs. In addition, they discussed County Road 70, Cedar Avenue, and other areas that
have been pursued for development. Overall, the City Council thanked staff for their time
invested thus far into the comprehensive plan update and directed them to continue as outlined in
their schedule.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian J. Anderson
Assistant to City Administrator
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