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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6524-B Staff AnalysisJANUARY 30, 2006 ITEM NO.: 1 File No.: Owner: Applicant: Address: Description: Zoned: Z -6524-B Torrent Fire Company No. 4, LLC Jimmy Moses 511 President Clinton Avenue Part of Lots 7, 8 and 9, Block 7, Pope's Addition W Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36- 553 to allow a new projecting sign. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Restaurant Proposed Use of Property: Restaurant STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments B. Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 305 President Clinton Avenue is occupied by.a two- story commercial building. The first floor of the building is occupied by the Flying Fish Restaurant. The restaurant is proposing to add a new projecting sign on the northwest corner of the building facing Clinton Avenue. The restaurant also has two (2) door signs and a sandwich board sign. The awning sign "Flying Fish" will be removed as part of the new sign proposal. Other wording on the awning is informational only. The fish above the front door and the boat motors on the west side of the building are considered art work and not signage. The fish artwork above the door will also be removed as part of the new sign proposal. JANUARY 30, 2006 ITEM NO.: 1 (CON'T. The proposed sign will extend upward from the second floor window sill, as noted on the attached sketch. The sign will be approximately 30 square feet in area and have 19.5 feet of clearance above the sidewalk. The applicant is requesting the following variances from the City's Zoning Ordinance (River Market Design Overlay District) for the proposed projecting sign: • Section 36-353(c)(1)b. allows a maximum of three (3) signs per business. The proposed projecting sign will bring the total signs to four (4). The existing awning sign will be removed. • Section 36-353(e)(1)b. states that projecting signs shall not extend above the sill of second floor windows. As noted previously, the projecting sign will extend above the second floor window sills. ■ Section 36-353 (e)(1)c. allows projecting signs to extend a maximum of three (3) feet from the face of the building. The proposed sign projects six (6) feet from the building fagade. ■ Section 36-353(e)(2)a. allows projecting signs to have a maximum area of 12 square feet. As noted previously, the sign has an area of approximately 30 square feet. • Section 36-353(e)(2)b. allows a projecting sign to have a maximum thickness of five (5) inches. The proposed projecting signs has a thickness of 12 inches, with the wingspan of the fish being 36 inches. The River Market Design Review Committee (DRC) reviewed the proposed projecting sign, including variances, at their January 10, 2006 meeting. The DRC approved the projecting sign and variances, subject to the following conditions (see attached letter): 1. Awning signage with the words "Flying Fish" that have been previously installed will be removed. 2. Sandwich Board will be modified to fit current ordinance standards. 3. Existing First door sign will remain. 4. Existing Second door sign will remain 5. Proposed Projecting Sign as submitted 6. Existing Trolling motors on west fagade to stay. 7. Existing 3-D Flying fish over doorway is to be removed. Staff is supportive of the requested variances associated with the proposed projecting sign, as approved by the River Market DRC. Variances for several other projecting signs in the River Market District (Ernie Biggs, Bosco's and Underground Pub) have been approved during the past few years. The proposed sign will not be out of character with other signs in the River Market District and should enhance this entertainment district. Staff views the variance requests as reasonable, and feels the proposed projecting sign will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the general area. K JANUARY 30, 2006 ITEM NO.: 1 CON'T. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested variances associated with the proposed projecting sign, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the conditions as required by the River Market DRC, as noted in paragraph B. of the staff report and the DRC letter dated January 13, 2006. 2. A sign permit must be obtained for the projecting sign and any other existing signs which have no permits. 3. A franchise permit must be obtained from the City's Public Works Department. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JANUARY 30, 2006) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. K ITFM NO.: 3 Name: Location: Request: Source: Flying Fish Sign Package 511 President Clinton Ave. Projecting Sign, Sandwich Larry Richardson, Flying Fish Board and Awning Sign PROPOSAL/REQUEST: The proposal is for Projecting Sign, Sandwich Board and Awning Sign at the Flying Fish Sign Package. The total signs and artwork include: 1. Awning signage with the words "Flying Fish" that have been previously installed. 2. Sandwich Board 3. Existing First door signs 4. Existing Second door sign 5. Proposed Projecting Sign 6. Existing Trolling motors on west fagade to stay. Signage and Artwork to be removed: 1. Existing 3-D Flying fish over doorway is to be removed. In December 2001, there was a hearing to approve three awnings on the front facade of the building. That proposal passed. In addition, the signage approved was one sign on the west side, name above entrance only. This sign could be the sign on the awning on the east side. The approval of the trolling motors and fish above door was approved that day also. In August 2002, there was approval for a two year period for a wall sign without street frontage to be on the west fagade of the building. The justification of the sign and variance was that they did not have traffic on that end of the street and the sign was to draw people to that business. That sign was before the First Security Center was built and the Clinton Library opened. That sign has since been removed. Staff cannot find any record of sign permits being pulled for this business. Sign permits will be required for all signs approved after this action. The proposal now is to add a projecting sign to the northwest corner of the building facing Clinton Avenue and recognize a sandwich board that had been used sporadically in addition to the two door signs and awning sign that is currently in use. ANALYSIS OF PROPOSAL: Below is a point by point analysis of the proposal in reference to the ordinance: Sec. 36-353. Signs. (a) Signs in general. (1) Location. a. Signs shall not hide significant architectural detail or features of a building. b. Signs shall not visually clutter nor interfere with views of the building. c. Wall signs shall be confined to the flat surface of the building and shall not project more than five (5) inches from the building facade. d. Signs shall not be painted directly on the face of a building. e. Awning valences are appropriate locations for signage. f. Free standing signage is prohibited. g. Signs shall be adequately spaced from other signs. h. All signs must face public street right-of-way except those permitted on facades facing the Arkansas River. (2) Appearance. a. Signs shall be compatible with the architecture of the building on which it is located. b. Design of signs shall capitalize on the special character of the District. c. Window signs shall not cover more than twenty-five (25) percent of each glass panel. The combination of informational signs may exceed this limit. The words "Flying Fish" are in blue vinyl applied to the glass doors. They are barely visible in the photos under the address. d. Awning signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet per awning. The current signage does not appear to exceed this maximum. The "SHRIMP OYSTER CATFISH CRAB" are information items and do not constitute a sign. e. Neon illumination is permitted. f. Internally illuminated signs are prohibited. g. In accordance with federal law, businesses with registered trademarks are allowed to display the mark in signage which otherwise complies with City sign regulations. h. Advertising copy on signs is prohibited. i. Materials used in signs shall be sensitive to signs and architecture on adjacent sites. j. Letters on signs shall not exceed one foot six inches (1'-6") in height. (3) Non -conforming signs. Signs existing prior to July 9, 1996 (b) Signs on public buildings. Non -applicable. (c) Wall signs located on or facing public street rights of ways or private streets. (1) Location. a. Except as permitted in subsection (b), the maximum sign height on a building shall not extend above the second floor windowsill or above the overhang of a single story building. b. Signs shall not number more than three (3) per business. (2) Appearance. a. Signs shall not exceed one quarter (1/4) of a square foot of sign area for each linear foot of primary street building frontage, not exceeding twenty- five (25) square feet per sign. (3) Lettering. a. Letters shall not exceed one and one-half (1 1/2) feet in height. b. Letters shall not exceed three-quarters (3/4) of the height of the sign. c. Lettering shall not exceed sixty (60) percent of the total area of a sign. (4) Sign illumination. a. Light fixtures for signs shall not be readily visible from the street or sidewalk. (d) Signs on facades facing the Arkansas River. Non - applicable. (e) Projecting signs. (1) Location.' '. a. Projecting signs shall 7 a, maintain a nine -foot (9') t clearance in all pedestrian walkways _ and a thirteen -foot (13') West door clearance over vehicular use areas, i.e. alleys and driveways. The proposed projecting sign is 19'-6" clearance over the sidewalk. b. Height of projecting signs shall not extend past the sill of the second story windows. This sign extends over the window sill and above the top of the second story window. c. Projecting signs shall extend a maximum of three (3) feet from the face of the building. This sign projects a total of 6 feet, twice the permitted amount. d. The number of projecting signs shall be limited to one sign per one hundred (100) feet of primary street frontage per building. e. Projecting signs shall be placed at a ninety (90) degree angle to the building. f. Signs shall be spaced so not to conflict or obscure other signage. (2) Appearance. a. Projecting signs shall have a maximum of twelve (12) square feet of sign face per sign. This proposed sign has approximately 30 square feet of sign face per side (two and one half times the allowable size). The sign's gross measurements are 10 feet tall, 6 feet projecting from the building and 3 feet across. b. Thickness of projecting signs shall be limited to five (5) inches. The thickness of the sign is 12 inches and the wingspan of the fish is approximately 36 inches. c. Signage colors, typeface, and style shall be compatible with the district. i; Color rendition of projecting sign (3) Lettering. a. Letters shall not exceed one -foot six inches (1'-6") inches in height. The "F" in Flying is 8 inches tall and the "F" in Fish is 12 inches tall. b. Text shall not exceed three-quarters (3/4) of the height of the sign. (4) Sign illumination. a. Internally lit signs are prohibited. When projecting signs are externally lit, they shall be illuminated from a concealed source of light or a decorative source that is integral to the design of the sign. b. Neon is permitted on projecting signs. No movement, flashing, or change of illumination level shall be permitted on signs. Each neon sign shall have a one (1) year maintenance review, by city staff, for functionality. No mention of animation has been made to staff. KFE,A. NOztn--L. Sketch of Projecting sign ,17 7- C- OL -7 to N � Mom MEMO W= MMM =mom= MW ■ ■ Elevation of building with proposed sign (f) Sandwich Board Signs AIM, (1) Location` a. Sandwich board signs shall be located within the brick planting strip portion of the sidewalk. b. Signs shall not number more than one (1) per business. , (2) Appearance I a. Signs shall be no larger that twenty-four s (24) inches wide and thirty-six (36) tall per 4= face with a total height not to exceed ' thirty-six (36) inches. If the sign is used y.. .. that is shown in the photo, the overall height is 41 inches by 24inches wide. The legs could be shortened to get it within regulation size. b. Merchants shall limit the wording on the Side view of Sandwich board signage to effectively use the space. c. Signs shall have a wooden frame that encases and supports the chalkboard or dry erase board. The sign does have a wooden frame surrounding a chalkboard. d. Signs shall be kept in a tidy and clean condition. e. All changeable letters, tacking of flyers and poster boards on signs are prohibited. (3) Signs shall not be illuminated. (4) A franchise permit and sign permit for a permanent type sign shall be required for all sandwich board signs. The district does have other projecting signs currently in use. Bosco's Restaurant has had two different projecting signs; the first sign was 11.55 square feet r. (s.f.) and the current sign is 7.26 s.f. The Underground Pub sign is 15.8 s.f. and Ernie Biggs sign is 12 s.f. These signs were approved by the _ committee and appropriate variances were granted by the Board of Adjustment. Ten Thousand Villages was _ approved by the committee at 13.61 s.f., but has yet i to be approved by the Board of Adjustment. The proposed sign at the Flying Fish at 30 s.f. is two and one half times the allowable size and twice the size of Front view of sandwich board the largest sign. Actions by the committee do not set precedence. Pedestrian traffic has dramatically increased in the past year at this location with the opening of the First Security Center and the Presidential Library. Staff does not feel that this sign requires the size shown to be effective in the District. The District was created to have a pedestrian feel, but this sign is not a pedestrian scale. While the sign is attractive and would enhance the entertainment district, a smaller sign placed lower on the building would accomplish the same goals. A sign that was limited in size to be above the present awnings yet below the second story window sill would be more appropriate to the district. The businesses in the River Market District are limited to three signs per business. If all signs proposed were approved (projecting sign, sandwich board sign, awning sign and two on the doors), that would be a total of five signs. Since the western most door is used only as an emergency exit, it might be considered to remove this sign. 9 North fagade of building West Facade of Building 12/21/2005 Department of Planning and Development 723 West Markham Little Rock, Arkansas Variance Request for Signage: The Flying Fish restaurant, located at 511 President Clinton Avenue requests permission to install a new sign (see attached). We believe the new signage is necessary to maintain and increase the visibility of our restaurant in the River Market District. This visibility is especially crucial for the pedestrian base generated by the convention center, downtown office mix and hotels. These groups are largely unfamiliar with the District and the opportunities an the east end. We believe the now signage with it's mix of color, neon, scale and character will address this need and add to the unique flavor and character of the River Market .District. The Flying Fish has the full support of our landlord and neighbors in the district. We would also like to remind the Board of Adjustment that the Underground Pub and Bosco's restaurants have had similar requests granted in order to install neon signs above the first level of their respective buildings. We wish to thank the River Market Design Review Committee and the Board of Adjustment for their time in reviewing our application. Flying Fish Restaurant Cover Letter submitted with application Variances would include the following if approved as submitted: 1. Number of signs. 2. Height of placement of projecting sign on building. 3. Projecting sign projects too far into right-of-way. 4. Thickness of projecting sign is too great. 5. Sandwich board is too tall. Applicant will be responsible for obtaining a sign permit for each sign and a franchise for the sandwich board and the projecting sign. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff does not support the application as filed.