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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-2006 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, February 9, 2006 Call To Order: Chair Runk called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Caspers, Liljegren and Wasescha. City Planner Richards, City Administrator Johnson and Commission Liaison Doerr. Absent: Commissioner Dwyer. Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to approve the Agenda, as presented. Carried 4 -0. Approve Minutes of January 12, 2006: Commissioner Caspers, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 4 -0. Department /Commission Liaison Reports /Other Reports: A. Commission Liaison B. St. Croix Crossing Update C. Other Visitors /Public Comment: None. Public Hearings: None. A. CSM (Lowe's) Development Recommendation on the Disposal of Public Property. City Administrator Jolmson reviewed the matter and Minnesota State Statute requirement regarding the disposal of the property by resolution. Brief discussion ensued. Commissioner Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to recommend that the City Council proceed with disposal of the property and sale to CSM so that CSM may proceed with land development. City Administrator tailed for a roll call vote to which all Commissioners present voted yes individually. Carried 4 -0. New Business: None. Old Business: A. Sign Ordinance Flag & Banner Provisions — Continued Discussion City Planner Richards reviewed his report regarding flags, special events and mega animated billboards. He noted that Bill Rambo of Stillwater Ford and Stillwater Cadillac was present and that D.J. Raduenz, while not present, expressed his preference to discuss the matter in a workshop setting. Planning Commission Minutes February 9, 2006 Page 2 of 3 Richards reviewed flag information and the U.S. Flag Code, and shared his observations from the code as related to display at dealership entities. Chair Runk inquired as to how an ordinance requirement of half -staff would be enforced by the City. Richards reviewed proposed language for special event signage such as Holiday Events and Number of Events that would provide some flexibility to the ordinance section content, providing the business community the opportunity for more special event signage, but for shorter periods of time than the ordinance currently provides. Chair Runk invited Bill Rambo to comment on the subject of flags and special event signage. Mr. Rambo provided City Planner Richards with a letter from American Flag Pole and Flag Company, who is the flag contractor for Stillwater Ford and Stillwater Cadillac, which states that flying of the U.S. flag at half -staff is not etiquette or law with enforcement, but rather an etiquette determined by the owner of the flag. He noted that Hecker Dealerships do have larger flags on flag poles, which are lowered but that the poles with decorative flags are not equipped to make lowering of the flags possible. The stationary flags are placed under lights. All of the flags are regularly maintained and replaced as needed. Mr. Rambo added that they do like to have something on the poles as it makes the place look alive, and noted that they didn't have to be U.S. flags. Discussion ensued as to flag costs, quality of flags utilized, what current zoning ordinance allows, what other dealerships are doing, quantity of flags allowed versus their size or what is upon them, other manners of temporary signage within the community, relevance of discussion being business community wide and not geared only toward vehicle dealerships, having a workshop on the matter with the business community invited, the cost of changing the ordinance and how any proposed changes are anticipated to be enforced. Richards discussed the situation of mega animated billboards, primarily located abutting freeway frontages. He discussed tactics that are being used to have sign ordinances deemed invalid by the Court based upon technicalities, such as freedom of speech prohibiting cities to specify sign content. He stated that his office is working with City Attorney offices in researching the issue and that the League of Minnesota Cities is also addressing the issue and is expected to provide some guidelines in the future. He suggested that the Commission may wish to declare a moratorium on signage 300 sq. ft. or larger while the issue is being researched. Discussion ensued, wherein it was determined that staff would discuss the matter at hand with the City Council and seek their feedback. Planning Commission consideration of a round -table work session with the business community would be had after the March meeting. Planning Commission Minutes February 9, 2006 Page 3 of 3 Informational: A. Next Meeting B. Council Representative March 9, 2006 7:00 p.m. — Regular Meeting February - Commissioner Wasescha March — Chair Runk Adjournment Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to adjourn At 7:50 p.m. Carried 4 -0. Respectfully submitted, Jule A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Conunission: March 9, 2006.