09/27/2006 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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with black vinyl lettering and only the letters would be illuminated. The size of the sign is 13 feet 1%z inches wide and 2 feet 7%z inches tall. The ground signs SG-6 is a directional sign which will be placed so the service area and customer parking is identified. The directional sign will not be illuminated and is 4 feet high 3 feet 7%2 inches wide. SG-5 is the VW pylon sign which will be 9 feet 10 inches tall, 3 feet 6'/a inches wide and will only have the VW logo illuminated the remaining frame will be aluminum. Mr. Lasko questioned the location and status of the existing pylon sign. Mr. Kalina said that the existing pylon sign would remain as is in its current location. Mrs. Meredith voiced that she did not believe that SG-5 pylon sign was warranted as there is already a ground sign which has each car brand name and the VW logo. If the pylon sign is eliminated it would eliminate variance #4 for two ground signs being too close, variance #2 would decrease to a variance for 1 additional ground sign and variance #5 would be decreased in size for distance between existing pylon and proposed SG-6 directional sign. Mr. Lasko questioned if the owners had given thought of moving the existing pylon sign and landscape bed to a new centralized location instead of requesting a second pylon sign. Mr. Kalina said he researched moving the existing pylon and found that it could not be repositioned due to the sign and landscape plans being previously approved and installed. If the VW pylon is not approved the existing pylon would just remain as is. The VW logo could not be resized nor the Ganley sign as they are standard sizes which axe designed for the size and placement on the building. The commission felt that the two wall signs were not proportioned to the size of the building as purposed so decreasing SG-1 logo to 4 foot and SG-2 Ganley sign being re-proportioned to the 4 foot logo would not compromise the architectural integrity of the building. Mr. Kalina suggested that if the commission allowed the Ganley, service and directional pylon signs he could get the logo sign decreased to 4 foot and eliminate the second pylon sign. He voiced that he thought the Ganley owner would agree as well. Mrs. Meredith requested the re-proportioned Ganley sign be relocated beneath the VW logo as the planner recommended. Mr. Kalina stated the location of the Ganley sign could not be moved. Mr. Cotner voiced his disbelief that Volkswagen headquarters only had one size signs and design layout available and questioned what happened in other communities. Mr. Kalina suggested that the total square footage of all three wall signs is below what the building is allowed to have for one wall sign. Mr. Malone did not feel that the directional sign was necessary as there were basically only two directions to travel once you enter the driveway straight to service or turn right for Volkswagen parking. Mr. Kalina believed the directional sign was needed to ensure customers entering go to VW not the Hyundai/Subaru site. Mrs. Meredith questioned if painting a fence green would be acceptable. Mr. Rymarczyk said that it was acceptable as long as it is a green fence. Paint will chip and become a maintenance issue that the applicant will have to keep up with. Commission members voiced that the approved plans approved a green vinyl fence not a painted vinyl fence and that occupancy permits should not be granted unless the plans which were approved are followed. Mr. Bruehler a neighbor to the north agreed with the board eliminating the front pylon sign and decreasing the size of the remaining signs. He is concerned that the Ganley sign is proposed to be 5 feet tall when the city is trying to decrease the number and sizes of signs along Lorain. Yet the applicant feels they are entitled to variances and that the city should bend for them when it should be the applicant doing what is required to fit into this city not visa versa. Regarding the vinyl fence which was to be erected it was to be a green vinyl 4