HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-06-21 NAC Memorandum •
northwest associated consultants, inc.
FILECOpy
PLANNING REPORT
TO: LaVonne Wilson
FROM: Andrew Mack/Curtis Gutoske
DATE: 21 June 1989 -
RE : Oak Park Heights - Breckenridge Development-- .
Rapid Oil Change Signage Plan
FILE NO: 798 . 02 - 89 . 08
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -
Background:
Representatives of the Valvoline Rapid Oil Change Company have
submitted a detailed signing plan for their facility to be
located in the proposed Auto Plaza development . Submission of a
detailed plan in conformance with the City' s Sign Regulations was
required as an approval condition by the City Council for the
requested conditional use permit . Attached hereto please find a
copy of the detailed plans submitted by the applicant.
Recommendation:
After review of the detailed signing plans , our office recommends
approval of the project signage subject to the following
conditions :
1 . Pylon sign area not to exceed fifteen ( 15 ) percent of the
front .(Osgood Avenue) building facade.
2 . Approval of a wall signage placement variance to permit
installation on the north building wall .
3 . Final review and comment of the Building Official and City
staff .
4601 excelsior blvd., ste. 410, minneapolis, mn 55416 (612) 925-9420 fax 925-2721
ISSUES AND ANALYSIS
Pylon Sign. The detailed signage plans for the proposed pylon
sign indicates an overall height of 29 feet with a sign area of
96 square feet. Sign regulations will permit a pylon sign for
the project with a height not exceeding 30 feet and a sign area
of up to fifteen ( 15) percent of the front building facade or 150
square feet, whichever is less . The building elevation plans
received by our office were not shown to scale, however, it is
estimated that the front building facade will allow a maximum
pylon sign area of 88 square feet. This would create a proposed
sign area 8 square feet in excess of the allowable area. The
site plan submitted for the project, on the other hand, indicates
a total pylon sign area of 70 square feet . In this regard, the
applicant will need to provide further clarification in terms of
the actual size proposed for the pylon sign. In either case, it
is recommended that the pylon sign be approved not to exceed
fifteen ( 15) percent of the front building facade.
Wall Signs . The applicant has modified the plans for wall
signage to consist of a barrel sign along the building frontage
and illuminated sign lettering along the north . building
elevation. The sign regulations will allow wall signage on both
the west and south building elevations due to the proposed corner
lot location of the. project. In this regard, a variance request
will be required for approval to allow the wall sign on the north
building elevation as proposed. The applicant will need to file
an application for a sign placement variance accordingly. Our
office is prepared to recommend approval for this variance with
the understanding that the wall sign on the north will be allowed
in place of that which would otherwise be permitted on the south
building elevation. In part, this may be justified based upon
the proposed project site orientation to Highway 36 . The
alternative sign location is also consistent with the B-2 ,
General Business Zoning District which is oriented to the Osgood/
Highway 36/St. Croix Mall commercial land use pattern.
During the 12 June 1989 Council meeting, there was discussion
held concerning the applicable area involved in the barrel sign
area calculation. Our office continues to maintain that the
entire graphic area represented by the barrel fixture itself
constitutes a sign under the City' s definition of a sign. This
is based upon the physical attachment of the sign to the building
by the use of fasteners . This does , however, raise the question
of the round sign discs proposed to be located on the north and
south building elevations . In this regard, our office recognizes
the design intent of the barrel "end caps" as an integral image
component of the front barrel sign. Therefore, the west disc
elevations will be interpreted as an extension of the front
barrel sign component and not applied as a separate sign for both
the north and south building elevations . This is supported by
considerations that no copy or lettering will be designed on the
barrel "end caps" and that neither disc will exceed the maximum
wall sign projection of 12 inches from the wall surface. The
barrel sign in the front is not considered to exceed this
requirement due to its containment within the wing walls and the
integral design component of the barrel sign itself .
Given the interpretation of the wall sign components as above
stated, the calculations in relation to sign regulations are as
follows :
Front Barrel Sign: 4 square feet sign discs
24 square feet barrel component
71 square feet barrel component
99 square feet total barrel sign
North Wall Sign
Lettering: 48 square feet
Based on the proposed corner lot location, both street elevations
will be applied toward the total wall signage allowance. In this
case, both percentages when added together, are in excess of the
150 square feet maximum which is therefore used as the standard.
The application of the proposed wall signage to the standards is
then as follows :
Rapid Oil Wall Siqnage
Proposed Required Requirements Met
147 sq ft 150 sq ft Yes
As may be seen from the above analysis , the proposed wall signage
is found to meet the requirements of the City' s Sign Regulations .
CONCLUSION
The detailed signage plan which has been submitted by the
applicant has provided the level of information necessary to
conduct an appropriate review in relation to Sign Regulations .
Although further clarification will be required by the applicant
for the pylon sign area, it is recommended not to exceed fifteen
( 15) percent of the front (Osgood Avenue) building facade .
Finally, the applicant will be required to process a variance
request for placement of the illuminated sign lettering on the
north building elevation. Favorable consideration of this
request is justified based upon the exchange of allowable wall
signage from the south to the north building elevation, the
relationship of the site and B-2 Zoning District to area land
usage and the north building wall orientation to Highway 36 as a
major transportation corridor. All remaining wall signage is
found to be consistent with the City' s Sign Regulations .
cc : Frank Leier
Lyle Eckberg
Mark Vierling
Mark Gilbertson
James Bartlett
Mayor and City Council