Z-8789 Staff AnalysisJULY 30, 2012
ITEM NO.: 9
File No.: Z-8789
Owner: Allied Drive Holdings, LLC
Applicant: Justin Bentley and Isaac Smith/Colliers International
Address: 1 Allied Drive
Description: Southeast corner of Allied Drive and Riverfront Drive
Zoned: O-2
Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-553
to allow an addition to an existing sign with increased height and area.
Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Office
Proposed Use of Property: Office
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comments
B. Staff Analysis:
The 0-2 zoned property at 1 Allied Drive is occupied by a multi -building office
development (Verizon Wireless) on a little over 32 acres. The property is located
along the east side of Riverfront Drive. Paved parking areas are located along the
north, south and west sides of the office buildings. The property backs up to the
Arkansas River. Access drives from Allied Drive and Cedar Hill Road serve the
parking areas.
There is an existing ground -mounted sign at the southeast corner of Allied Drive
and Riverfront Drive, which identifies the " Verizon Wireless" facility. The existing
sign is monument -type, with a height of 5.25 feet and an area of approximately 62
square feet. The applicant proposes to add a section to the top of the sign, as
noted on the attached sketch. The addition will increase the sign height to 9.83
feet and the area to approximately 98.75 square feet. The applicants note that
three (3) of the office buildings are becoming multi -tenant buildings and additional
sign space is needed for future tenants.
J U LY 30, 2012
ITEM NO.: 9 (CON'T.
Section 36-553(a)(2) of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows a maximum sign height
of six.(6) feet and a maximum sign area of 64 square feet for ground -mounted
signs in office zones. Therefore, the applicant is requesting variances from these
ordinance standards to allow the addition to the existing ground sign with an
increased height and area.
Staff supports the requested sign variances. Staff views the request as
reasonable. The existing sign that the applicant proposes to add to is the only
ground -mounted sign on the rather large 32 acre property which identifies a
business at this location. The site also contains small incidental/directional signs.
The applicant is proposing to add to the existing sign rather than construct an
additional sign(s) on the overall site. The property directly across Riverfront Drive
to the west is zoned C-3, with allowed sign heights of 36 feet and sign areas of 160
square feet. The overall height and area of the existing sign after additions will not
be out of character with other signs in this 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 variances, subject to a sign
permit being obtained for the new overall signage.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (July 30, 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.