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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-15 HPC MIN HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING February 15, 2017 7:00 P.M. Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman Larson, Commissioners Hadrits, Mino, Welty, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioners Goodman, Johnson and Krakowski Staff: Planning Consultant Amy Lucas APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of January 4, 2017 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Hadrits, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2017 meeting. All in favor, 4-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA There were no items on the Consent Agenda. NEW BUSINESS Case No. 2017-01: Design Review Permit for new business signage for the property located at 220 Commercial Street. Steven Gnan, property owner and Ben Chaet, applicant. Amy Lucas, Planning Consultant, explained that the applicant is requesting approval of a Design Permit to utilize two existing signs (flat wall cabinet and projecting sign) with new graphics. The current acrylic sign boards will be replaced with new acrylic sign boards that fit within the sign cabinets. Staff recommends approval with three conditions. Commissioner Hadrits suggested that the projecting sign would look better with vertical lettering. Chairman Larson said he would prefer white lettering with black background. Commissioner Welty referred to the downtown design guidelines indicating signs should fit the available space. She feels the square sign has no relationship to the openings of the building and is not well proportioned for its placement. Ms. Lucas indicated the applicant is trying to use the existing sign boxes to minimize damage to the building. Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Hadrits, to approve Case No. 2017-01, Design Permit for new business signage for the property located at 220 Commercial Street, with the staff-recommended conditions, noting the friendly recommendation that the lettering on the projecting sign be done vertically. Motion passed 3-1 with Commissioner Welty opposed. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting February 15, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Case No. 2017-02: Design Review Permit for new business signage and patio improvements for the property located at 324 Main Street South. Jeffrey Larson, property owner and Chris Goetzke, applicant. Planning Consultant Lucas explained that the applicant is requesting a Design Permit for already-installed signage on the gated sign in the patio. The new painted aluminum sign reads “The Tilted Tiki” and has a decorative feature depicting a man and a palm tree above the original sign bracket. It measures approximately 10’ by 2’. The sign is not consistent with the Downtown Design Review Manual or the adopted tenant sign plan for color, lettering or installation and was installed prior to HPC or City approval. A 10’ artificial palm tree with one speaker for outdoor music and outdoor patio tables, blue umbrellas and chairs are already in place. Staff recommends approval with three conditions. Chairman Larson asked the applicant if he was aware of the multi-tenant sign plan for the building. Chris Goetzke, applicant, replied that he had assumed, since the archway was already there, that he could place a sign there. He now believes he misinterpreted the information provided by City Planner Wittman regarding what was allowed. The gold lettering of the previous tenant, Lions’ Main, visually disappeared into the building. The current sign uses the font in the business logo so it would be visible from the street. The sign was constructed by St. Croix Signs and installed by the applicant in November. Mr. Goetzke said he didn’t recall the St. Croix Signs employee saying that he had to have a permit; he told the St. Croix Signs staff that since the location was already approved, he thought the sign would already have been approved. Chairman Larson voiced concern that the sign was put in place without approval. He added that St. Croix Signs staff members are knowledgeable about the City’s design guidelines. He said that when someone proceeds without approval, it puts the HPC in a difficult position. Councilmember Junker recalled there was a lot of past discussion about the multi-tenant signage, lettering, colors, how often it would be changed, open spaces, and so on. The new sign is very different and bigger than what had been approved in the past. He can empathize with the business owner’s desire to have the sign recognized and noticed, but he feels the sign is out of character with the rest of the building. Mr. Goetzke said he realized he could use window stickers to convey the business logo but he prefers not to put a sign up above the door and take up multiple window spaces for signs. Referring to the multi-tenant sign plan for the building, Ms. Lucas stated this suite is allowed a sign on the patio gate and one exterior sign up to 42 sq. ft. installed over the main entrance. She believes the intent was that the signs match but the language doesn’t specifically say that. Commissioner Welty added that the downtown design manual states that signs on a multi-tenant building should not be placed piecemeal and should use a common color and not use neon. She doesn’t think the rest of the tenants want to use lime green signage. Approval would set a precedent and open the door to other businesses doing the same thing. Commissioner Mino commented that the current sign is not compatible with other existing signs on the building due to the following, in part: according to the downtown design guidelines, trademark or logo signs may not be acceptable if the color and character of the sign is not in character with the area; storefront signs should be used primarily to display the name of the business and use only one line of information leaving out secondary information; signage should be somewhat consistent between the two gates on the property. Chairman Larson pointed out the patio items (palm tree and chairs) are not under the purview of the HPC. Motion by Commissioner Welty, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to deny Case No. 2017-02, Design Permit for new business signage for the property located at 324 Main Street South, without prejudice for reasons that it doesn’t fit design guidelines in terms of color or trademark/logo, or the multi-tenant sign plan; and allowing the applicant to come back with a substantially altered sign plan within one year. All in favor, 4-0. Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting February 15, 2017 Page 3 of 3 Case No. 2017-03: Design Review Permit to construct attached storage addition to meet business demands for property located at 1951 Northwestern Avenue. Bill Waterhouse and DiaSorin, Property owner. Planning Consultant Lucas explained that the applicant is requesting a Design Permit for the construction of a new cooling addition to the northwest elevation of the DiaSorin diagnostic building located at 1951 Northwestern Avenue. The addition will measure 36’8” (west-east) by 45’8” (north elevation) and will project 14’4” feet west of the current building. The building will be 19’4” tall and will have a flat roof and the roof line will be lower than the roof of the current building at the south. Exterior materials will follow the horizontal blue and tan/white pattern and concrete block materials of the neighboring building; the addition will consist of CMU (concrete masonry unit) painted in similar blue and natural tan to match the original building. Staff recommends approval with six conditions. Bill Waterhouse, applicant, said there will be nothing on the roof and the exterior is intended to match the original building. The addition will hold a cooler with a side vent on the north elevation. Chairman Larson said any future additions should be as consistent as possible in terms of the look of the building. He suggested the louvered vent on the north side be carefully placed so it stays within the colored band if possible. Mr. Waterhouse replied that knowing whats going on inside the facility, there would be no way to do another addition and make it flow properly. Motion by Commissioner Welty, seconded by Commissioner Mino, to approve Case No. 2017-03, Design Permit to construct attached storage addition to meet business demands for property located at 1951 Northwestern Avenue, with the staff-recommended conditions. All in favor, 4-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings. OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION There were no other items of discussion. STAFF UPDATES There were no staff updates. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Mino, seconded by Commissioner Welty, to adjourn. All in favor, 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary