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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

An example from the September 24, 2018 city council agenda illustrates how regulation negatively impacts our business climate.  The city administration’s recommendation located at:  http://www.stcloudcity.com/agenda/agendaindex.asp?agtype=CityC  shows the complexity of trying to place a sign above the sidewalk and attached to a building to guide people to your business.  
Subject/Title: Appeal of Zoning Board of Appeals' denial of a request from JLG Architects on behalf of Whitney Land Company, LLC for a variance from Article 18, Section 18.2, C. – no sign shall project into the public right-of-way except in the C3, Central Business District more than 24 inches. (Location: 505 West St. Germain Street) (VAR-2018-10)
The Zoning Board of Appeals denied (1-3-0) the variance request on September 18, 2018.  A copy of the City's letter informing the applicant of the ZBA's actions and findings is attached. Draft minutes of the ZBA's September 18 meeting are attached. Video of the ZBA meeting is available on the City's website. 

​The Heritage Preservation Commission has approved an alteration permit for the proposed sign finding the design, size, and location consistent with the character of the historic building and corridor.
Background:  Applicants are proposing to install a sign that would project 42 inches into the West St. Germain Street right-of-way, which requires a variance from Article 18, Section 18.2, C., – no sign shall project into the public right-of-way except in the C3, Central Business District more than 24 inches. The applicants are requesting an 18-inch variance. The sign is located more than 10 feet above sidewalk grade. The proposed sign location is not conducive to through pedestrian movements given the sidewalk restaurant seating immediately west.
Local Historic District: The applicants’ property is located within one of the City’s local historic districts. Exterior changes to buildings within the local historic district are required to obtain an alteration permit from the St. Cloud Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). The HPC approved the applicants’ alteration permit for a 30-inch-wide sign with a six-inch-wide mounting bracket, which is six inches smaller than the applicants’ variance 
request. The HPC approved the Heritage Preservation Property Alteration Permit pending the resolution of the variance. 
Other Codes: If the applicants’ variance requests are 
approved, they will still have to obtain necessary permits from the St. Cloud Building Safety Department. 
The city micro manages via ordinance, a committee, a Zoning Board, the council itself and then another city agency.  In this case a vacant building is being put into service and a simple request for signage to make it easy for the clients of the business to find the entrance must run a four pronged gauntlet to take a simple action.  This is an example of an area where simplification of both process and regulation has potential to improve the business climate. 
As a council member I will work to streamline processes and regulation of businesses to improve the business climate of the city. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND LINKS

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©2018 Paid for by John Palmer for City Council