4 Chanhassen Cinema Sign Plan
CITY 0 F
CHANHASSEN
PC DATE:
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CC DATE: 3/9/98
CASE NO: 95-21 SPR
By: AI-Jaff:v
STAFF REPORT
PROPOSAL:
Sign Plan review for Cinema portion of the Entertainment Center
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LOCATION:
North of the railroad tracks and Pauly Drive, east of Market Boulevard and
south of West 78th Street. The Cinema occupies the southeast comer of the
building.
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APPLICANT:
Chanhassen Properties, LLC
5300 Highland Greens, Suite 200
Bloomington, MN55437
Attn.: Mr. Bob Copeland
PRES
ACREAGE:
Approximately 6.3 acres
DENSITY:
N/A
ADJACENT ZONING AND
LAND USE:
N - CBD, Filly's and Country Suites Hotel
S - BG, Western Railroad, American Community Bank, and Paulys
E - CBD, Frontier Center
W - PUD, Market Square
Available to the site.
A level parcel with an existing building, parking lot, and bus shelter.
2000 LAND USE PLAN:
Commercial
Cinema Sign Plan
March 9, 1998
Page 2
BACKGROUND
On January 22, 1996, the City Council approved the Site Plan fOl:the Entertainment Complex (#95-
21 SPR) with conditions. The site is located north of the railroad tracks' and Pauly Drive, east of
Market ,Boulevard and south of West 78th, Street.and COtultr)' Suites Hotel. Access is gained off of
two curb cuts on Pauly Drive, and via Market Boulevard. J
The site on which this building is situated is a highly visible one and which is highly likely to
become one of the most important iQ.tersections in the Chanhassen CBD. The building is being
renovated to reflect an entertainme\t theme. The proposal included the redevelopment of the
existing bowling alley/Filly's building into an entertainment center. The Center would include a
bowling,alley/restaurant with an area of 40,000 square feet and 8 theaters with an area of 20,000
square feet. The remodeling of the Entertainment Complex was phased due to the fact that the
Cinema developer was ready to proceed with construction while the Entertainment Center
developer had not completed the financing package. The phasing of the development included
the reconstruction of the facade, the parking lot, and the railing' surrounding the building for the
Cinema portion only.
The sign package for the complex received multiple variances. . The design was an attempt to
mimic an "Old Town" theme. Accordingly, the proposal received variances to allow signs to match
, architecture and "style of the era."
The sign criteria pertaining to the Cinema portion of the complex, included the following:
All individual dimensional letters and logos comprising each sign shall be back lit with
neon tube illumination. Letter styles shall reflect the period style of the facades and/or
corporate logos. At the cinema marquee and restaurant sign bands, lettering on a
"Plexiglas" face shall be permitted and at the cinema marquee temDorarv individual
letters and numbers mav be used to disDlav current and/or comine attractions.
ratinesand show times and dates.
When staff reviewed the sign plan for the complex, several factors were taken into consideration to
justify the size of the marquee sign for the Cinema. The ordinance allows a maximum area of 156
square feet of sign display area for the Cinema. Based upon the fact that traditional theaters display
their coming attractions on the marquee sign, staff recommended approval of this request and the
Planning Commission and City Council approved the marquee with an area of 520 square feet for
that purpose and the sign criteria reflects the intent of that sign. "at the cinema marquee.
tem ora indivrtlualletters and numbers ma be used to dis la current and/or comin
attractions. ratines. show times and dates."
Cinema Sign Plan
March 9, 1998
Page 3
The other type of sign was posters along the south elevation "The cinema shall be permitted
framed poster displays for current and/or cominl! attractions at the south elevation onlv."
People associated theaters with posters and that would help with there advertising. A second
reason why we felt strongly about these posters was the fact that they acted as an accent that
would break up the wall along the south elevation, add some interest, and give it a festive look
which is typically associated with entertainment areas.
The applicant submitted a sign plan which, in staffs opinion, does not meet the sign criteria
approved by the City Council, therefore, this request is reappearing before you.
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS
Section 20-1267. Uniformity of construction, design, etc. "All permanent signs shall be designed
and constructed in a uniform manner and, to the extent possible, as an integral part of the building's
architecture. .. Signage shall use individual dimensional letters and logos, be back lit if a wall sign
is illuminated, and be architecturally compatible with the building and other signage if in a multi-
tenant building. Company symbols, display messages, pictorial presentations, illustrations, or
decorations shall not occupy more than fifteen (15) percent of the sign display area.
Section 20-1303. Highway, general business districts and central business districts. The following
sign shall be allowed by permit in Any"BH", "BO", or "CBD" District:
The following table lists the standards for freestanding and ground low profile signs in the BH, BO,
or CBD zone.
Principal
Structure
Pylon
Height
(feet)
Sign Size
(square feet)
Ground Low Profile
Height Sign Size
(feet) (square feet)
50,000 sq. ft
or greater
20
80
10
80
Less than
50,000 sq. ft. .
16
64
8
64
(1) Pylon business sign. Pylon signs are permitted on parcels that abut State Highway corridors
only. One (1) pylon identification sign shall be permitted. This sign may identify the name
of the center and of the major tenants. The height and square footage of the sign shall be
based on the square footage of the principal structure as shown in the table. Such signs
shall be located at least ten (10) feet from any property line.
Cinema Sign Plan
March 9, 1998
Page 4
(2) Ground low profile business signs. One (1) ground low profile business sign shall be
permitted per each ou1t1ot or separate building pad that has street frontage. The height and
square footage of the sign shall be based on the table above. Such signs shall be located at
least three hundred (300) feet from any other pylon or ground sign and at least ten (10) feet
from any property line.
(3) Wall business signs. Wall business signs shall be permitted on street frontage for each
business occupant within a building only. The total of all wall mounted sign display areas
for each business shall not exceed the square footage established in the following table:
Maximum Percentage
of Wall
Wall Area in Square Feet
Maximum Square
Footage of Sign
15%
13%
11%
9%
7%
5%
3%
0-600
601-1,200
1,201-1,800
1,801-2,400
2,401-3,200
3,201-4,500
4,50+
90
156
198
216
224
230
240
APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL
Marquee Sign: The applicant is requesting to build a 520 square foot marquee sign that spells the
word CINEMA. The height of each letter is approximately 4 feet. The sides of the marquee sign
will carry a decorative element (shooting stars). The sign is proposed to be constructed from a
fabric covering, backlit panel. Panel signs have been prohibited since 1995, when the new sign
ordinance was adopted. Some panel signs still exist, however, they were approved prior to the
adoption of the new ordinance. With the new Cinema proposal, no individual dimension letters are
proposed on the marquee sign. The ordinance and the sign criteria requires individual lettering.
Also, the revised proposal calls for four (4) strips of neon lighting located along the lower two (2)
feet of the marquee sign. The colors of the neon lights are intended to mimic the colors of the
shooting stars. Staff visited a number of theaters within the metro area and looked at their signs.
All traditional theaters carry individual letters and have the names and show times advertised on
their marquee. A sign area variance, as well as allowing the marquee sign was justified when the
original proposal included the names of the shows. With the revised proposal, we find it rather
difficult to justify a hardship. We believe the original proposal is more adequate.
Wall Mounted Sign: The ordinance allows a maximum area of 156 square feet. The applicant's
revised sign proposal calls for a 171 square foot individual letter sign that reads "CHANHASSEN
CINEMA". This sign is located along the south wall. It will result in the elimination of the posters
Cinema Sign Plan
March 9, 1998
Page 5
that advertise the featured shows. Again, the intent was to create a feel for an old town theater and
the proposed wall sign will give a modem feel. Furthermore, if we add the overall square footage
for the marquee sign and the wall sign (676 square feet), the applicant will far exceed ordinance
requirements and again, staff fails to see or find a hardship.
Pylon/Free Standing Sing: This sign was never part of the overall approval, however, the applicant
met with staff and requested a sign closer to Highway 5 and Market Boulevard to advertise the
featured shows. We also discussed the sign being a development identification sign. Since the
Entertainment Center was phased, the overall development identification is proposed to be built in
two phases. Phase I is proposed to include the Cinema only. The design of the sign compliments
the theater. However, the size and the construction materials are of concern. The overall height of
the sign is 15 feet which meets ordinance requirements, however, the area of the sign is 120 square
feet which already exceeds the minimum area permitted by ordinance. If and when Phase II is
added, the sign will have a total height of 24.4 feet and an area of approximately 240 square feet.
This is the largest proposed pylon sign in the City of Chanhassen. The materials of the pillars that
carry the sign are proposed to be aluminum cabinets painted to match the colors of the Cinema. We
strongly recommend that if the sign is approved, that the applicant use construction materials
similar to those used on the Entertainment Center and the color be integrated with the grain or apply
stucco as a finish. The only logical location for the sign is along the southwest comer of the
intersection of Market Boulevard and Pauly Drive (next to the turnaround for Southwest Metro
Transit Buses). We recommend the sign be reduced in size to meet ordinance requirements.
Another issue deals with the fact that the ordinance permits pylon signs on parcels that abut state
highway corridors only. The proposed sign location does not abut the highway and is owned by the
city. Locating signs on city property requires City Council approval.
If the featured shows were required to be located on the theater's marquee sign, then this sign might
be repetitive in service.
ST AFF RECOMMENDATION
Marquee Sign:
Staff recommends the applicant be permitted a marquee sign that advertises the featured shows and
the name of the theater. Should the City Council decide that the word "CINEMA" was acceptable
as the only advertisement on the marquee sign, staff recomends individual dimension backlit letters
with neon tubing and not the fabric covering, backlit panel. Neon tubing along the lower two feet
of the marquee sign shall be permitted.
Cinema Sign Plan
March 9, 1998
Page 6
Wall Mounted Sign:
Staff recommends the City Council deny the wall mounted sign since the applicant already exceeds
the maximum allowable area for signage on the building. The posters featuring coming attractions
will advertise the theater. Should the City Council decide to approve the wall mounted sign, the
area of the sign should be reduced to a minimum of 156 square feet.
Pylon Free Standing Sign:
Should the City Council decide to approve the pylon sign, staff recommends the applicant redesigns
the sign to meet area and height requirements. The construction materials shall match the building.
color and shall be integrated into the grain or apply stucco.
ATTACHMENT
1. Sign Plans
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