Z-8732-A Staff AnalysisJUNE 25, 2012
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File No.: Z-8732-A
Owner: Ace Signs of Arkansas
Applicant: Jason Offutt
Address: 11935 Interstate 30
Description: East side of 1-30, at Otter Creek South Road
Zoned: 1-2
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of. Section 36-554
to allow a ground -mounted sign with increased sign area.
Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Commercial Sign Company — under development
Proposed Use of Property: Commercial Sign Company
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comment
B. Staff Analysis.
The 1-2 zoned property at 11935 Interstate 30 is in the process of being developed
as the new location for Ace Signs of Arkansas. The site has been cleared and
grading work is currently being done in preparation for new building construction.
The new development will include a 25,200 square foot building located within the
west half of the property. Paved parking will be located on the west side of the
building with an access drive from the 1-30 frontage road at the northwest corner of
the property. The applicant is also constructing a gravel equipment yard within the
east half of the property, with a paved access driveway within the pipe stem from
Otter Creek South Road. The gravel equipment yard will be fenced with eight (8)
foot high black vinyl -coated chain link fencing. A gate will be located at the north
end of the paved access driveway. On December 19,2011 the Board of
Adjustment approved a variance to allow the equipment yard area to be gravel and
not paved.
The applicant is currently proposing to install a ground -mounted sign within the
front portion of the property, along 1-30, as noted on the attached site plan. The
JUNE 25, 2012
ITEM NO.: 3 ICON'T.
proposed sign will have a height of 30 feet and an area of 160 square feet (10 feet
by 16 feet). The sign will contain graphics for "Ace" signs, as shown on the
attached sketch.
Section 36-554(a)(2) of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows a maximum sign height
of 30 feet and a maximum sign area of 72 square feet for signs in industrial zoning.
Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance from this section to allow the
proposed ground sign with increased sign area.
Staff is supportive of the requested sign variance. Staff views the request as
reasonable. Staffs support is based primarily on the fact that the sign will be
located along a major interstate and not in the interior of an industrial park
development. The adjacent property to the north is zoned C-3, which allows 160
square foot ground signs. There are numerous other signs with heights and areas
of commercial nature and larger in this area along 1-30. A billboard is located on
the adjacent property to the south, with another billboard across 1-30 to the north.
Existing commercial signs are located to the north, within the commercial
development at 1-30 and Mabelvale West Road. The proposed sign area will not
be out of character with other signs in this general area. Staff believes the
proposed sign will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the
general area.
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variance, subject to the following
conditions:
1. The ground -mounted sign will have a maximum area of 160 square feet and
a maximum height of 30 feet.
2. A sign permit must be obtained for the sign.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (June 25, 2012)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the
application with a recommendation of approval, with conditions.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved, as recommended by staff
with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays and 0 absent.