HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6524-A Staff AnalysisAugust 26, 2002
ITEM NO.: 4
File No.:
Owner:
Address:
Description:
Zoned:
Z -6524-A
Julia May Porbeck Larrison Revocable
Trust
511 President Clinton Avenue
South side of President Clinton Avenue,
between Commerce and Sherman Streets
UU
Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign
provisions of Section 36-353 and 36-557 to
allow for the placement of a wall sign on the
west side of the commercial building.
Justification:
Present Use of Property:
Proposed Use of Property:
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No issues.
B. Staff Analysis:
The applicant's justification is presented in
an attached letter.
Commercial/Office
Commercial/Office
The UU zoned property at 511 President Clinton Avenue contains a two-
story commercial building, with paved parking along the building's west
side. The Flying Fish restaurant occupies the first floor of the building.
The restaurant is proposing to install a 2 foot by 10 foot metal wall sign on
the west side of the building. The wall sign is proposed to be located near
the top of the west building fagade, one (1) foot from the top of the
building and two (2) feet from the front corner of the building. The
applicant is requesting three (3) variances associated with the proposed
wall sign.
August 26, 2002
Item No.: 4
The first variance is from the River Market DOD wall sign provisions of
Section 36-353(c)(1)a. of the City's Zoning Ordinance. This section states
that a wall sign shall not extend above the second floor window sill of a
building. The proposed wall sign is located above the second story
windows near the top of the building.
The second variance is also from Section 36-353 of the Zoning
Ordinance. Section 36-353(c)(3)c. states the lettering on wall signs shall
not exceed 60 percent of the total area of the sign. Staff feels t hat the
lettering of the proposed wall sign exceeds the allowed 60 percent
coverage.
The final variance request is from Section 36-557 of the Zoning
Ordinance. Section 36-557(a) states that wall signs must face public
street frontage. As noted previously, the proposed sign is to be located
on the west side of the building which has no public street frontage, and
faces a parking lot and another building.
Staff is not supportive of the variance requests. Staff feels that the
proposed wall sign is out of character with the design intent for signage in
the River Market District. The River Market District is a pedestrian
oriented commercial area, in which signage is intended to identify
businesses and attract pedestrian traffic from the immediate area, rather
than vehicular traffic from blocks away.
As of this writing, the River Market Design Review Committee is
scheduled to meet and consider this issue on August 19, 2002. Staff will
report the Committee's recommendation to the Board at the public
hearing (August 26, 2002).
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends denial of the requested variances associated with the
proposed wall sign.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (AUGUST 26, 2002)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff noted that
the applicant had revised the application. Staff noted that the revised application
included a 3.5 by 8 foot vertical wall sign which was moved down slightly from
the top of the building's west fagade. Staff also noted that the variance from
Section 36-353(c)(3)c. was no longer needed. Staff informed the Board that the
River Market DRC was in support of the revised application. Staff recommended
approval of the revised application subject to the following conditions:
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August 26, 2002
Item No.: 4 (Cont.
A sign permit must be obtained.
2. The sign be approved on a temporary basis, with a time limit of
two (2) years.
The applicant offered no additional comments.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by
staff by a vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 1 recuse (Gray) and 1 absent.
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