Council undecided on amending sign ordinance for Mission Cup

     The comments from the June 7 Monticello City Council meeting regarding a non-compliant sign in front of 338 S. Main St. (the former Fancy Fritter; the new Mission Cup Coffee) led Mission Cup owner Jenn Jones to believe the city would be willing to allow her to keep the pole sign in front of the building.

     There was no indication then that the council was against the pole sign, or against considering amending the city code to allow it to remain.

     Then, during the June 21 council meeting, with two council members absent, those present voted to table any action due to lack of a full council and too much indecision on the matter.

     Council member Dave Goedken admitted he would not vote to support allowing Jones to keep the pole sign, noting how other businesses were forced to take theirs down and erect a monument sign to comply with city code.

     “We put a few people through serious hoops over this sign deal,” he said, noting McDonough Real Estate in particular when they relocated into the Region’s Bank building. “I won’t vote to change (the ordinance) because we forced a number of people to comply. We put people through hell to update their signs; I won’t approve it in this situation.”

     At the previous council meeting, the council directed City Administrator Russ Farnum to provide language to modify the ordinance. Farnum did not support amending the ordinance for one request, unless directed by the council to do so, if that was the best course of action in this situation.

     “We don’t typically support code changes for a single request like this,” said Farnum.

     The amendments would only apply to properties in the C2 zoning district, which includes all of First Street and the west side of Main Street down to the old middle school.

     The amendments would allow a pole sign:

     • For a period of up to five years

     • If the business remained similar to prior use (restaurant, gas stations, etc.)

     • If the business owner is leasing/renting the building

     Goedken said if the council allowed the sign to remain, against code, or even voted to amend the code, then the whole five-year process to update the code was for nothing.

     In terms of enforcing the code, with other businesses not in compliance, Mayor Brian Wolken said typically these issues are compliance driven, or they arise when a business/building is sold.

     Jones asked if the pole sign could remain for up to five years so she has time to work with the property owners on a solution.

     “Do you have intentions of buying the building?” asked Goedken.

     Jones was unsure, but felt that could be a possibility at some point in time.

     “We had enough people we forced to update (signs) when the business changed,” added Goedken. “It’s time to update this sign, too.”

     “Or take it down and add a sign to the building,” suggested Council member Candy Langerman.

     Jones asked if there were other instances in the C2 district where the council made the businesses remove their signs. Wolken said when the now-owners of La Hacienda were starting out, leasing their building, the city made them take the pole sign down that dated back to the former Hardee’s.

     Before a vote was held to table any action, Council members Chris Lux and Scott Brighton voted to approve the first reading of three, noting that changes could always be made to the sign ordinance up to the third reading. That motion was ultimately rescinded.

     “I feel for Jenn, but we’ve already enforced it with others,” commented Langerman.

     Former Council member Gary Feldmann addressed the council, noting that if the sign ordinance had been contested in the past, then clearly it’s not a popular decision.

     “That should be an indication that it’s a bad ordinance,” he said. “Maybe you made a mistake.”

     Lux suggested the council consider amending the zoning on Main Street from C2 to C1. Wolken pointed out that this course of action would also require three readings, postponing the council’s decision. (Jones previously mentioned she would like to re-open Mission Cup in late June.)

     “We need the full council here to provide other ideas,” Lux said.

In other city business:

   • A public hearing was held and action was taken to approve the development agreement with McMATT Properties for construction of a storage facility on John Drive.

     The council also approved amending the city’s Urban Renewal Plan to include the McMATT Properties’ project.