Title
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CONCURRENT USE PERMIT FOR A HISTORIC MARQUEE SIGN IN THE PLATTED STREET RIGHT OF WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
The city of Duluth does ordain:
Section 1. Under the authority of Section 100 of the 1912 Home Rule Charter of the city of Duluth, as amended, and subject to the conditions, limitations and restrictions hereinafter set forth, permission is granted to Robert Boone and Paladin Property LLC and its successor(s) in interests, referred to herein as the permittee, to construct and maintain the following:
(a) A marquee sign approximately 35 feet in width by 12 feet in depth, which would
extend at a height of approximately 10 feet above the sidewalk, adjacent to 317 and 319 North Central Avenue, as shown in Attachment 1.
Section 2. Before this ordinance shall be effective for any purpose whatsoever, the permittee shall file with the planning division a certification of insurance approved as to form by the city attorney evidencing that the permittee has in force a policy of insurance meeting the following requirements:
(a) Comprehensive general liability insurance in an amount not less than $1,500,000 for bodily injuries and in an amount not less than $500,000 for property damage or $1,500,000 single limit coverage; and
(b) Insurance coverage shall include all permittee’s activities occurring upon or within public right of way or easement occupied pursuant to this ordinance whether said activities are performed by the permittee or its agents or representatives; and
(c) The insurance policy shall be approved by the city attorney; and
(d) The policy shall contain a condition that it may not be canceled without 30 days’ written notice to the city of Duluth and directed to the attention of the city attorney; and
(e) The city of Duluth shall be named as an additional insured; and
(f) The certificate shall also reference this ordinance by its ordinance number.
Section 3. The permit granted by this ordinance may be terminated at any time by the city official exercising departmental authority of the public easement if the city of Duluth determines to use the area occupied by the permittee for any public purpose in accordance with the duly dedicated public easement or other lawful use.
Unless a shorter notice period is necessitated by emergency circumstances, or the violation of the conditions set forth in this ordinance, giving the permittee 30 days’ written notice delivered to the last known electronic address, facsimile number, or mailing address of the permittee shall be sufficient notice of termination.
Upon termination permittee shall cause all private improvements to be removed by the deadline provided in termination notice. Permittee shall be responsible for all costs incurred to remove the private improvements, including any costs associated with repairing damage caused to the public easement by the removal and without right to claim from the city of Duluth, or any of its officers, agents or servants, any compensation or reimbursement for damages of any kind whatsoever.
Section 4. By accepting the terms of this ordinance, the permittee agrees to hold harmless and defend and indemnify the city of Duluth against claims or demand which may arise against the city of Duluth by reason of the existence of private improvements, or any act or omission of the permittee, its employees, agents, and assigns. The permittee agrees that the city of Duluth shall not be liable for damage caused to the private improvements while the city engages in the repair and maintenance to, or replacement of, the public improvements or public utilities, including any snow removal operations. The permittee agrees to pay to the city of Duluth all extra costs of installation of any public improvements or public utilities made necessary by the presence of the private improvements.
Section 5. The permittee shall, at its expense, protect, support, temporarily disconnect, or remove from the public easement, the private improvements when required by city officials by reason of snow removal, traffic conditions, public safety, street vacation, freeway and street construction, change or establishment of street grade, sidewalks, installation of sewers, drains, water pipes, power lines, signal lines and tracks, the installation or repair of any type of structures or improvements by governmental agencies, when acting in a governmental or proprietary capacity.
Section 6. Upon the sale or transfer of permittee’s interest in the permit granted by this ordinance, the permittee shall provide written notice to the planning division within ten days of such transfer. The permittee’s successor in interest shall file with the planning division within ten days of such transfer a duly executed and acknowledged written acceptance of the terms of this ordinance and the certificate of insurance required in Section 2 above.
Section 7. The permit granted by this ordinance is subject to termination by the city of Duluth upon permittee’s failure to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this permit. Ten days’ written notice, delivered as provided in Section 3 above shall be sufficient notice of termination. Upon termination, permittee shall remove the private improvements as provided in Section 3.
Section 8. The permittee shall observe the following conditions:
(a) Permittee’s use of the public right of way or easement shall be limited to the designated area described in Section 1 above and further shown on the exhibit; and
(b) Permittee agrees that the private improvements shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner so as in no way interfere with or damage any portion of any public improvement, or other public utilities now or to hereinafter located in any part of said public easement; and
(c) Permittee shall operate, light, and maintain the classic sign only in conformance with a written plan approved by the Land Use Supervisor.
Section 9. The following events shall automatically cause the termination of the term of this ordinance:
(a) The failure by the permittee to file the required insurance certificate as specified in Section 2 60 days after this ordinance takes effect; or
(b) The failure of the permittee to commence the improvements authorized by this ordinance within 180 days after this ordinance takes effect.
Section 10. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days from and after its passage and publication.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This ordinance grants the property owner of 317 and 319 North Central Avenue, Robert Boone and Paladin Properties LLC, marquee sign approximately 35 feet in width by 12 feet in depth, which would extend at a height of approximately 10 feet above the sidewalk in the right of way of North Central Avenue. As this will be a private obstruction in (and above) the public platted right of way, a concurrent use permit is required.
The applicant is proposing to renovate the former movie theater at 317 and 319 North Central Avenue, and as part of the project, restore the former marquee sign. The marquee sign will be constructed as to mimic the former historic sign, and as such is eligible to be considered a classic sign. According to 50-27.11, a sign designated as a classic sign may remain on the premises even if the original use to which the sign relates is no longer located on the premises. As long as the permittee and successors conform to the conditions of the concurrent use permit and conform to the classic sign plan approved by the Land Use Supervisor, the classic sign may remain in operation even if the use of the structure changes.
On November 14, 2017, the planning commission held a public hearing on the proposal as shown in Attachment 2, and voted 5 yeas, 0 nay, 0 abstentions, to recommend that the city council approve the request for a concurrent use of streets.
Petition received: October 13, 2017
Action deadline: February 10, 2018
Applicant:
Robert Boone
317 North Central Avenue
Duluth, MN 55807
PL 17-175