04/09/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e request a court hearing. City Attorney Tim Sercombe said the owner may file an agreement in Municipal Court indicating that the violation will not be repeated. Ms. Ehrman asked that businesses be notified of the changes in the enforcement process. By consensus, the councilors approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission about the enforcement process. I. Goodpasture Island Automobile Dealerships Mr. Croteau said the Planning Commission recommendation will permit the three automobile dealerships to apply for the Highway Oriented Sign District which will permit 30 foot high identification signs. The existing signs are 39 to 44 feet high. He said the commission recommendation is a compromise because the present Sign Code designation has a height limitation of 20 feet. He said the standards to which other businesses in the community have conformed were considered by the commissioners during their discussion of the dealers' signs. Mr. Rutan said he did not think the community would be served by requiring the dealers' signs to be reduced nine to twelve feet. He said the reduction will be very expensive and exemplifies unnecessary regulation. He said the busi- nesses were outside Eugene when the signs were erected. e Ms. Ehrman said other businesses in the city have complied with the Sign Code and there is no specific reason for giving the three dealers a special exemp- tion. She said it is a matter of fairness. Mayor Obie said he agreed with Mr. Rutan. Mayor Obie said he also supports raising the height limitation in the Highway Oriented Sign District to 44 feet. Mr. Croteau suggested the staff present a proposal that will affect only the three dealers' signs if the other councilors agree that the dealers' signs should remain 44 feet high. He said about 170 signs on Franklin Boule- vard could be raised if the maximum height in the Highway Oriented Sign Dis- trict is increased to 44 feet. Mr. Holmer favored a special provision that will permit the three dealers' signs to remain 44 feet tall. Answering questions, Mr. Croteau said variances will be granted for the size of the existing signs if they are designated the Highway Oriented Sign Dis- trict. The only required change would be in the height of the signs. He said other business owners have made their signs conform to the Sign Code. For example, the Valley River Inn reduced the size of its sign. Ms. Wooten said she favored retaining the 30-foot height for other signs in the Highway Oriented Sign District and approving an exception to permit the three dealers' signs to be 44 feet high. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session April 9, 1986 Page 7