Eagan approves planned-development amendment allowing monument sign setback deviation at The Haven

The Eagan City Council voted June 3 to approve a planned-development amendment allowing flexibility on the minimum required setback for a monument sign at The Haven, 3040 Eagandale Place. The amendment permits the new stone monument sign to be located at a zero-foot setback and requires the property owner to enter an encroachment agreement with the city.

Staff reported the property previously had a sign located about 10 feet from the property line when the site was Sonesta Suites. During a routine inspection, staff discovered a new monument sign had been installed closer to the public right-of-way and within a 20-foot drainage and utility easement. Planner Schultz said the new sign also sat near a fire hydrant and raised initial sight-line and utility concerns.

After discussions with the applicant, staff said the sign face would be recentered and narrowed so the finished monument would sit entirely out of the public right-of-way but remain at a zero-foot setback from the property line and within the drainage and utility easement. City Fire reviewed the proposal and reported no concerns about access to the nearby hydrant; Engineering said the revised, narrower sign would provide acceptable sight lines for outbound traffic. As a condition of approval, staff said the applicant must enter an encroachment agreement that would allow the monument sign to remain in the easement area.

Cindy Johnson of LNG Landscapes told the council the landscaping firm had submitted a design and believed the city had approved it; she said prior pylons from the old sign were absent when her crew arrived and utility work in the area changed field conditions. "We thought they had submitted our design to you, and they said it was approved and came back. And so our sign was installed," Johnson said.

Councilor Abaca moved to approve the planned-development amendment to allow a 10-foot setback deviation (effectively permitting a zero-foot setback under an encroachment agreement); the motion was seconded, and the council approved the amendment by voice vote.

Staff clarified that if the sign is later substantially reconstructed (generally replacements exceeding 50% of value), the city would require the replacement to meet the current 10-foot setback standard. The amendment approval was consistent with a unanimous Advisory Planning Commission recommendation recorded after a May public hearing.

The council's approval requires the encroachment agreement and the APC conditions; staff will follow up to ensure the easement, sight-line and utility concerns are managed during final sign permitting and any future replacement work.