Variance for Sign-459 MainPLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT NO. VN86 -5
BACKGROUND:
VARIANCE FOR SIGN - 459 MAINSTREET
CITY OF HOPKINS
April 17, 1986
PURPOSE: To review and recommend action on a variance application to erect a sign
at 459 Mainstreet.
Name of Applicant: Rudy Luthers Hopkins Honda
Address of Property: 459 Mainstreet
Present Zoning: B -3
Nature of Request: To erect a 195 square foot sign.
Reason for Request: Location identification from County Road 18.
The applicant is proposing to erect five 6'x6' signs which integrated will
create a 195 square foot per side sign. 427.42(18)(2) Maximum Area of
Single Sign: 80 square feet nor shall 2 or more smaller signs be so arranged
and integrated to cause a sign greater than 80 square feet. The proposed
sign will also contain one smaller sign 4'x16'. The applicant has not decided
if the reader board will be included.
The sign will be located on the southeast corner of the subject site The
sign will be blue and white in color and internally lite.
The site is allowed 599 square feet for signage.
The applicant has also asked that two tabled items from April 30, 1985 con -
cerning this sign be presented at this hearing. The first item was an ap-
plication for a variance to erect a sign exceeding the maximum height of 35
feet. Ordinance 427.42(42) states signs including any superstructure stand-
ing or erected free of any building or other structure, shall not exceed an
overall height of thirty -five (35) feet from ground lever. The applicant is
proposing a sign height of 40 feet.
The second tabled item was an application for a Conditional Use Permit to
locate the proposed sign in a lesser setback than required Ordinance 427.42(15)
requires applications for other proposed sign permit involving a lesser setback
than that required by the Hopkins Zoning Ordinance, may be granted only by and
under a Conditional Use Permit as defined in Section 427.04(26) and under the
applicable provisions and regulations of Conditional Use Permit requirements
set forth in Section 427.26 of the Hopkins Zoning Ordinance which Conditional
Use Permits may require periodic reviews and may be cancelled for cause.
Ordinance 427.36)A)(b) requires auto sales to have a 20 foot front yard setback.
All signs are required to have the same setback area.
III REPORT NO. VN86 -5
Page 2
The applicant has also requested permission to put a time and temperature
sign on the proposed sign, however, 427.42(4)(a) prohibits illuminated
flashing, rotating or animated signs. A prohibited sign cannot be granted
a variance.
Ordinance 427.23 states that variances shall be approved only by circum-
stances unique to the property under consideration would cause undue hard-
ship to owner. The applicant has stated that the variances and Conditional
Use Permit are to make the proposed sign visible from County Road 18.
In 1984 Walser was granted a variance for their sign not to exceed 53 feet,
the sign was 215 square feet per side but did not need a variance for square
footage since the ordinance at that time had a maximum area of 250 square
feet.
ANALYSIS:
The applicant has requested to erect a larger than allowed sign so that it
may be visible from County Road 18. The two tabled items from last year are
also to make the sign visible from Mainstreet and County Road 18. The site
has the square footage for the signage, however since his lot is large, the
80 square foot maximum is not adequate. The site is large enough to support
the proposed 195 square foot sign.
A B -3 front yard setback is 1 foot, however since this is an auto sales lot
a 20 foot setback is required. Most of the other lots along Mainstreet can
have their buildings and signs setback 1 foot.
For the applicants type of business and size of lot a smaller setback sign
would not be visible from County Road 18 and from many spots on Mainstreet.
RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend approval of the variances and Conditional Use Permit.
I (,Jn, 06C-)61,Dr
Nancy S.. nderson, Analyst'
Commun�f:ty Development
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April 16, 1985
Case No: 85 -22
Applicant: Rudy Luther's Hopkins Motors Inc.
Location: X59 15st Excelsior Avenue
Subject: fee to locate sign in front yard setback
STAFF FINDINGS & COMMENTS: Kerrigan
1. The subject sign would be the business identification sign of Hopkins Honda.
The applicant is also requesting a variance to allow this sign to exceed the
35 feet maximum height requirement. The sign will be located in the south-
west corner of the subject site, approximately 12 feet from the property
line and 26 feet from the curb. This should provide sufficient visability
for traffic. 427.36A requires a 20 foot front yard setback for auto sales
lots. 427.42(3) does not allow a sign to be located in a setback area.
2. No plan of the proposed sign has been presented for review. The site plan
shows four support posts for the sign.
•
• April 17, 1985
Case No: 85 -23
Applicant: Rudy Luther's Hopkins Motors Inc.
Location: 45 9 West Excelsior Avenue
Subject: � i to exceed maximum sign height
STAFF FINDINGS & COMMENTS: Kerrigan
1. The subject application is in conjunction with a Conditional Use Permit request
to construct an auto dealership on the present Hopkins Theatre site. The sign
as proposed is located in the front yard setback which would also require ap-
proval of a variance. No plan of the sign detailing size, construction was pre-
sented at the time of the review. 427.42(14) of the Zoning Ordinance limits the
height of a sign to 35 feet. The applicant has stated he had not determined at
this time how many feet over the requirement that the sign will actually be con-
structed. This would have to be detailed in any approval.
2. The zoning ordinance states that a variance shall only be granted because of
undue hardship due to circumstances peculiar and unique upon such parcel. Re-
cently the Commission denied a similar request by Walser Corporation for its'
auto sales lot located to the east.