HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-4546-C Staff AnalysisMAY 23, 2016
ITEM NO.: 1
File No.: Z -4546-C
Owner: Christ Episcopal Church
Applicant: Rev. Scott Walters
Address: 509 Scott Street
Description. Southeast corner of Scott Street and Capitol Avenue
Zoned: UU
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section
36-342.1 to allow a new ground -mounted sign to replace an existing ground -mounted
sign.
Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Church
Proposed Use of Property: Church
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comments.
B. Staff Anal
The UU zoned property at 509 Scott Street is occupied by the Christ Episcopal
Church facilities. The property is located at the southeast corner of Scott Street and
Capitol Avenue. The church building is located within the northwest quarter of the
block, with paved parking on the south side of the church building. Access drives
from Scott Street and an alley along the east property line serve as access to the
parking lot. The church has an existing ground -mounted sign within a landscaped
area at the northwest corner of the property, at the intersection of Scott Street and
Capitol Avenue. The existing sign is approximately six (6) feet in height and 24
square feet in area.
The applicant is proposing to remove the existing ground -mounted sign and install
a new ground -mounted sign, as noted on the attached sketch maps. The proposed
sign will be an "L" shaped sign, with signage between two (2) support posts along
each street frontage (Scott Street and Capitol Avenue). The support posts will be
3.5 feet in height with a sign area of approximately 20 square feet. The design of
the proposed sign will be in keeping with the Neo -Gothic architecture of the church
building.
MAY 23, 2016
ITEM NO.: ICON'T.)
Section 36-342.1(c )(11) of the City's Zoning Ordinance notes that ground -mounted
signs are discouraged in the UU zoning district, and may only be permitted as a
variance by the Board of Adjustment. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a
variance to allow the existing ground -mounted sign to be replaced with a new
ground -mounted sign.
Staff is supportive of the requested variance to allow a ground -mounted sign in the
UU zoning district. Staff views the request as reasonable. The proposed ground -
mounted sign will replace an existing ground -mounted sign which is slightly taller,
and located at a 45 degree angle to the intersection. The new "L" shaped sign should
provide better visibility in identifying the property. The proposed ground -mounted
sign will need to be located at least five (5) feet back from the west and north property
lines. The Public Works Department made no comments on the sign proposal. Staff
will require a sign -off from the Traffic Engineering Division of Public Works to be
submitted at the time a sign permit is applied for. Staff believes the proposed
ground -mounted sign will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the
general area.
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the request to allow a ground -mounted sign in the UU
zoning district, subject to the following conditions:
1. The sign must be located at least five (5) feet back from the west and
north property lines.
2. A sign -off from the Public Works Traffic Engineering Division will be
required at the time of sign permit application.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
(May 23, 2016)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item
and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above.
There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and
approved as recommended by the vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
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