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Approved Howard stated that at the last Commission meeting the Commissioners had numerous questions and staff has not presented answers for any of them. He supports sending this ordinance back to the Council for direction on if they want a comprehensive plan. Schiferl replied agreed that there were a number of valid issues that were raised at the last meeting and if the Council decides to go forward with a shore land ordinance it will need to be a comprehensive plan. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays,MOTION CARRIED. Public Hearings: ZA2006-008Zoning Code Amendment Regarding Ground Sign Limitations for Institutional Uses within Residential Zoning Districts Several months ago sign permits were submitted on behalf of Mounds View Public Schools that proposed a new ground sign at all five schools located within New Brighton. The sign permits indicated that all existing ground signs would be removed. The permits illustrated signs measuring 32 square feet in area. Upon reference of Chapter 9 of the Zoning Code, staff declined issuance of these sign permits as the code only allows for 20 square foot ground signs for institutional uses within all residential districts. All five schools requesting permits were located within residential zoning districts and subject to the 20 square foot maximum. The School District is proposing a Zoning Code Amendment to allow 32 s.f. ground signs for institutional uses in residential district. The district has a goal of maintaining uniform signage for all schools within the district. The applicant submitted Sign Codes of the four other cities within the Mounds View Public School District to provide some perspective on how large of ground sign other cities permit for institutional type uses, including schools. All of the other four cities allow for a ground sign larger than New Brighton’s 20 s.f. maximum, with the exception of the City of North Oaks. The applicant has indicated that a variance was received for the one school sign they propose within the City of North Oaks. The following is a summary of what those cities permit: Arden Hills 48 s.f., Mounds View 32 s.f., Shoreview 40 s.f., North Oaks 2 s.f. Beyond what surrounding cities allow for ground sign maximums for institutional type uses, the applicant also submitted photographs of all the existing ground signs, two of which are in New Brighton. While the actual graphic area of these signs appear to meet a 20 s.f. maximum, however the total square footage of these signs clearly exceeds 20 s.f. Staff was not able to locate sign permits for these signs. The other three schools within the City of New Brighton do not have any existing ground signs. The proposed Ordinance amendment that would change the allowed square footage for institutional use signs within residential zoning districts from 20 s.f. to 32 s.f. as proposed I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\Minutes\2006\08-15-2006.docPage 6 of 14