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Nonconforming Use Variance Request – Valtinson Sign (388 Cleveland Avenue) Planning Commission Report; 9-15-20 Page 7 Variance Review: APPLICANT Project Narrative: Height Variance: To whom it may concern; Valtinson Real Estate LLC, located at 388 Cleveland Ave SW, would like to apply for a height variance for a new ground sign with an electronic dynamic display. The city code states that the max height for a ground sign on this property is 20’. With the new wall going up along the highway at 20’ in height, this will not allow for proper visibility of the new sign. After calculating the setbacks that are labeled out on the drawings, we are proposing that the sign be 31’-8” to the top of the sign and 25’ from the bottom. This will allow for the same visibility for traffic that a 20’ high ground sign would have before the wall was erected. Valtinson Real Estate LLC will be using the sign to promote new business, display community messages, and to give the company a new clean look. Size Variance: To whom it may concern; Valtinson Real Estate LLC, located at 388 Cleveland Ave SW, would like to apply for a size variance for a new ground sign with an electronic dynamic display. The total size we are proposing for the new ground size is 63 square feet. The city code states that the max size for a ground sign on this property is 36 square feet. With the new wall going up along the highway at 20’ in height, this will force the sign to be higher than the city code allows for. If the height variance is accepted for this property, the visibility of the characters at that height and set back will be affected. The maximum 36 square foot sign at 20’ high with a 55MPH speed limit would have an ideal viewing distance of approximately 225ft. The letter height for easy readability would be 25”. This would allow for 2 lines of copy on the electronic dynamic display. If the height variance is approved and the sign is an additional 11’-8” high, this would put the ideal viewing distance at approximately 375 feet and would have an ideal letter height for easy readability of 40”. This would also allow for 2 lines of copy for the proposed 63 square foot sign, the same as a 36 square foot sign would at 20’ in height. Valtinson Real Estate LLC will be using the sign to promote new business, display community messages, and to give the company a new clean look. HEIGHT Variance Analysis: General Variance Standards 1) Is the HEIGHT variance in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Zoning Code? Staff Analysis: The zoning code cannot foresee an after-the-fact barrier being erected in-between an existing sign and a roadway, so provided the height increase is the minimum necessary to provide visibility above the new sound wall,