This store is the lowest productive Applebee s in the Midwest region feel largely due to location and lack of signage. McCall presented the Board with several colored photographs showing the signage traveling east bound on University, west bound on University, and west bound on Forest. Popken asked if Applebee s had to approve the site before the franchisee could build. Kleppel answered they did. It was Popken s opinion that this was a difficult location.
Hardship is of the applicants own making from choice of site to choice of placement of signage.
McCall stated cost is hardship for building a 30-foot sign as compared to placing the 9 sq foot monument sign on the knoll. Cost of a 30-foot sign is approximately 15,000 making a difference of approximately 6,000.00. Several options were discussed that would keep the applicant in compliance without asking for a variance. Leighton felt that the variance requested was not the course the applicant should have pursued. Leighton reviewed the applicants options according to sign regulations.