PUBLIC HEARING - Consider a Conditional Use Permit for iDigital for an Off Premise Digital Billboard at 9500 Hwy. 10 NW.

iDigital (the Applicant) has submitted an application for a digital billboard near the intersection of Hwy 10 at Alpine Drive NW.  The side is proposed to be on the south side of the highway, south of the trail and power lines.  The property is privately owned by the Nathe family.  The sign appears to meet all the size, height, and placement rules for a digital billboard.  

Digital billboards must be at least 2 miles apart.  Last year, iDigital received approval for a sign located south of Highway 10 near Traprock Street (the entrance to the Ankoa County Mississippi West Regional Park).  The proposed location is just under 3 miles away.  Unlike that billboard with a vertical orientation, the proposed billboard has a more traditional horizontal orientation.  The sign will be 29.5 feet tall with a sign area of 575 square feet (50 feet tall and 700 square feet in area are the maximums).  The proposed sign meets all the design requirements set out in City Code.  An agreement between iDigital and the City will come back at a later date to satisfy the following code requirement:

"Applicants for an off-premises digital billboard signs permit shall enter into an agreement with the city to provide the city no less than 20 hours (provided in 9,000 eight-second spots) per month per dynamic display off-premises sign face in the city for community and public service messages at such times as shall be reasonably determined by the city. This agreement must be approved by the city council before a permit for the construction or conversion of an off-premises signs and digital billboard may be issued by the building official."

Notification was mailed to all property owners within 350 feet of the site.  A "proposed development" sign was placed in the approximate location of the billboard.  A legal notice was published in the June 9 Anoka Union Herald Newspaper.  The Planning Commission did not act on the request at its meeting on June 22 due to a lack of quorum.  Staff has re-notified the new date of the new public hearing at the City Council.  

Alternatives:
1.  Adopt Resolution #23-137 approving the CUP as recommended by staff.
2.  Adopt Resolution #23-137 approving the CUP with any modifications that the City Council sees appropriate.
3.  Deny the CUP based on certain findings.

All costs associated with this CUP request are the responsibility of the applicant.  

Staff recommends approval of the CUP.  The Planning Commission did not make a recommendation on June 22 due to a lack of a quorum.  

Motion to adopt Resolution #23-137 for a Conditional Use Permit for an Off-Site Digital Billboard at 9500 Highway 10 NW.