HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-11 work sessionMeeting Notes
Planning Commission Work Session
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Marion Conference Room
The Planning Commission work session commenced at 7:22 p.m. in the Marion Conference
Room at City Hall.
Commissioners Present: Chair Davis, Boerschel, Drotning, Grenz, Lillehei, and Maguire.
Staff Present: Planning Director Daryl Morey and Associate Planner Frank Dempsey.
Other Present: Ron Kveton, Ole Piper Inn, and Jim Hoeft, Hoeft Signs.
Chair Davis opened the work session.
Ole Piper Inn Electronic Readerboard Sian Reauest
Planning Director Daryl Morey stated that he was recently contacted by Ron Kveton, the owner
of Ole Piper Inn, about amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow an electronic readerboard sign
for his business. Mr. Morey stated that he informed Mr. Kveton of the Planning Commission's
discussion on the electronic sign issue at work sessions conducted with the 2010 Zoning
Ordinance update as well as the reasons why electronic changeable copy signs are currently
not allowed by ordinance except for time and temperature and gas pricing.
Mr. Ron Kveton presented the reasons why he would like an electronic changeable copy sign
and introduced Mr. Jim Hoeft of Hoeft Signs. Mr. Hoeft cited his experience working with Clear
Channel and Lamar on dynamic display billboard signs in Minnesota as well as numerous
businesses in the Twin Cities area for electronic business identification and electronic
changeable copy signs. He cited the cities of Minnetonka and Bloomington as good resources
for electronic sign regulations.
Chair Davis polled the Planning Commission as to whether they would be willing to amend the
Zoning Ordinance to allow electronic changeable copy signs. Planning Commissioners
expressed concerns about brightness, animation, and the rate of change of electronic copy.
Commissioner Lillehei stated that since electronic changeable copy signs are currently allowed
for City and school district uses they should also be allowed for business uses. Commissioner
Boerschel stated that he likes the look of the City's existing business areas without the
electronic changeable copy signs.
Mr. Hoeft offered to bring an electronic sign on a trailer to a future Planning Commission work
session to demonstrate the animation and changeable copy capabilities of these types of signs.
After further discussion, the Planning Commission unanimously agreed to re -visit the electronic
changeable copy sign issue for businesses only, not billboards, as part of their review of the
Zoning Ordinance update scheduled for later this year.
Planning Commission Work Session
June 2, 2011
Variance Criteria
Mr. Morey provided the Planning Commission with an update on the legislation that was
adopted and signed into law last month concerning variances. The legislation addresses a
State Supreme Court ruling last year concerning a variance approved by the City of Minnetonka
which overturned the hardship criteria that had been utilized by cities in granting variances for
the past 20 years. He directed the Planning Commission's attention to the table prepared by
the City Attorney's office that compares the previous state variance criteria with the newly
established criteria.
Mr. Morey stated that Chapter 6 of the Zoning Ordinance must be amended to be consistent
with the new state legislation. The Planning Commission concurred. The City Attorney's office
will prepare a Zoning Ordinance amendment incorporating the new state variance criteria to be
considered at an upcoming Planning Commission meeting.
The work session was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
submitted,
Daryl MorV�, Plannin f X)irector
VA