Z-8770 Staff AnalysisMAY 21, 2012
ITEM NO.: 3
File No.:
Owner:
Applicant:
Address:
Description:
Zoned:
Z-8770
United Arkansas Federal Credit Union
Bill Sims/Sign Systems, Inc.
8405 Interstate 30
South side of 1-30, approximately 600 feet east of Geyer Springs Road
C-3
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-557
to allow a wall sign without street frontage.
Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Branch Bank
Proposed Use of Property: Branch Bank
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comment
B. Staff Anal
The C-3 zoned property at 8405 Interstate 30 is occupied by a one-story branch
bank building which is in the process of being remodeled. A drive through facility is
located on the south side of the bank building. Paved parking is located on the
north, south and east sides of the building. Access drives are located along the
south property line. A ground sign is located at the northwest corner of the
building. The bank building is part of a large, multi -building development.
As part of the remodeling project, new signs will be installed on the building. The
applicant is proposing wall signs on the north and south building facades, and has
obtained a sign permit for the north wall sign. The sign on the south wall will be
approximately 13 square feet in area and located on the south wall, east of the
drive-thru canopy, as noted in the attached sketches. The applicant notes that the
proposed sign on the south facade will replace a sign of similar size which existed
at this location on the building for several years. The new sign will contain updated
graphics for the business.
MAY 21, 2012
ITEM NO.: 3 CON'T.
Section 36-557(a) of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires all wall signs to face a
street frontage. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance from this
ordinance standard to allow the sign on the south building facade with no direct
street frontage.
Staff is supportive of the requested variance. Staff views the request as
reasonable. Staff was unable to locate a sign permit for the wall sign which
previously existed on the south building facade. If a permit could have been
located, the new sign would have been allowed administratively under the old
permit number. Staff believes a wall sign on the south wall of the building will aid
in identifying the building to bank customers who enter the site from the south. The
bank is part of a multiple building development containing over ten (10) total
buildings. There is cross -access between all of the building sites within this
development. Staff believes the proposed wall sign without street frontage 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 a permit
being obtained for the sign.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (May 21, 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 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.