The meeting was called to Order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Stallworth.

 ITEM 2. ROLL CALL

 Board members present were Chairman Kathie Stallworth, Joe Holt, Ted Stephens, Harry Weigle and Wesley Summers.

 Also in attendance was Skip Grkovic, Director of Economic and Community Development and Christina Anderson, Administrative Secretary for Economic and Community Development.

 ITEM 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 A motion was made by Mr. Weigle to accept the minutes of January 11, 2000. The motion was seconded by Chairman Stallworth and passed unanimously.

 ITEM 4. Confirmation of Agenda

 There were no changes or additions to the agenda.

 ITEM 5. New Business

 Application Number ZV 00-01, Submitted by Taylor Toyota, for a variance pursuant to Section 7.G of the Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance related to the number, size and type of signs which affect the property at 651 Aiken Augusta Highway, tax parcel number 00-019.0-01-035-0000.

 Public Hearing - Having been duly advertised and posted, Chairman Stallworth opened the Public Hearing on the requested variance at 7:07 p.m. The purpose of the Public Hearing was to receive public comment on the application.

1. Should the applicant be permitted to use small (12" to 17") balloons flown from individual vehicles to advertise special sales events on Thursdays through Saturdays of each week?
2.  Should the applicant be permitted to use large (12’in diameter, 100’ high) balloons flown from the property to advertise special sales events on Thursdays through Saturdays of each week?
3. Should the applicant be allowed to fly banners (size, number and location not specified or determined) at the same time and for the same events as balloons?
4. Should the applicant be permitted to erect the new sign face (shown on the attached sheet B 16) on the currently vacant sign structure on the parcel adjacent to the Taylor Toyota lot?
5. Should the Planning Commission and City Council consider amending the sign regulations to accommodate larger and/or more signs in the C-5, Thoroughfare Commercial District? 

Mr. Grkovic also explained that C-5; Thoroughfare Commercial, District is not distinguished in the regulations from the C-3, General Commercial, District with respect to permitted signs. There may be reasons to modify the regulations for signs in the C-5 District.

 Chairman Stallworth asked if a Taylor Toyota representative would like to speak. After being sworn Ms. Ann Taylor presented her case. Ms. Taylor discussed the multiple driveways on the property and the different types of activities – sales, parts and service and body shop – that require the existing signs. She also described the vacant parcel that has been used as employee parking and is now being used as a new car display lot. She said that the balloons, banners and hot dogs make the lot more appealing to customers and sales have gone up as a result.

 Mr. Grkovic said that he had received a fax sent by Mr. Martin Becker representing Mr. Carl Sanders, the owner of the property adjacent to Taylor Toyota on the south, regarding the application. Chairman Stallworth read the fax aloud.

 Mr. Grkovic said that most of the freestanding signs on the Taylor Toyota property are legal but nonconforming because they were there when the property was annexed. One sign, the portable Gastrol GTX sign, is illegal.

 Ms. Stallworth closed the public hearing at 7:20 p.m.

 Consideration of Application Number ZV 00-01, an appeal form Taylor Toyota, for a group of related variances from Section 7.G of the Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance related to the number, size and type of signs which affect the property at 651 Aiken Augusta Highway, tax parcel number 00-019.0-01-035-0000.

 Chairman Stallworth summarized the discussion related to small balloons and asked if there was a motion. Mr. Rick Taylor stated that sometimes the special sales will extend beyond the Thursday through Saturday period and asked if the limitation on the specific days could be removed.

 A motion was made by Mr. Holt to grant a variance related to the first issue, to permit the use of small (12" to 17") balloons flown from individual vehicles to advertise sales events at Taylor Toyota. Mr. Stephens seconded the motion. Mr. Summers offered an amendment to the motion to recommend that the City regulations be revised so that small balloons would be permitted to advertise sales on any auto dealership lot. Mr. Holt and Mr. Stephens accepted the amendment. The motion passed unanimously.

 Chairman Stallworth asked for a motion on the second issue: should the applicant be permitted to use large (12" in diameter, 100’ high) balloons flown from the property to advertise special sales events? Mr. Rick Taylor requested that the second request be withdrawn from the application. Chairman Stallworth stated that the request related to large balloons had been withdrawn.

 Chairman Stallworth asked if the Board understood the request that the applicant be allowed to display banners at the same time and for the same events as balloons? Mr. Grkovic said that he was not fully aware of the type and size of the banners requested. Mrs. Stallworth asked if Taylor Toyota would be willing to provide more information and discuss the issue further with Mr. Grkovic and bring back a recommendation at the April meeting of the Board. Mr. Rick Taylor said that he would. Chairman Stallworth stated that with no objection the issue of the banners would be tabled to the April 11 meeting of the Board. There was no objection.

 Chairman Stallworth read the fourth request: should the applicant be permitted to erect a new sign face on the vacant sign structure adjacent to the Taylor Toyota lot? After discussion Mr. Weigle moved to deny the request and Mr. Stephens seconded the motion. After additional discussion Mr. Weigle withdrew his motion and Mr. Summers moved to table the request to the April 11 meeting of the Board so that Mr. Grkovic and representatives of Taylor Toyota could work together to prepare a recommendation. Chairman Stallworth stated that with no objection the issue of the vacant sign structure would be tabled to the April 11 meeting of the Board. There was no objection.

 Mr. Summers made a motion to recommend that the Planning Commission and City Council amend the sign regulations to clarify some of the ambiguities and address uses in the C-5 zone. Mr. Weigle seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.

 Item 6. Board and Staff Comments

 Mrs. Stallworth asked about the removal of all of the trees on the property being developed at East Martintown Road and East Avenue. Mr. Grkovic said the property is being developed as an office park and the landscaping plan will require the installation of a number of new trees. Mrs. Stallworth said that it’s a shame that the very large pine trees had to be removed.

 Item 7. Adjourn

 The meeting was adjourned 8:55 p.m.

  Respectfully Submitted,

 George M. Grkovic

Director of Economic and Community Development