HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6656 Staff AnalysisApril 26, 1999
Item No.: 6
File No.: Z-6656
Owner: Walter Hussman/Sonny Williams'
Steak Room
Address: 500 East Markham Street
Description: Part of Block 2, Pope's Addition
Zoned: GB
Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the
sign location and appearance
provisions of Section 36-353 to
permit a sign on the face of an
awning which exceeds 6 square feet
in area.
Justification: Applicant's ,Statement: Sonny
Williams' Steak Room, LLC, is
requesting permission to apply
signage to an existing awning
located on the west face of the
Museum Center in the River Market
District.
The purpose of our request is to
facilitate recognition of this new
enterprise and to build customer
traffic. In the competitive
environment of restaurant sales and
marketing, adequate signage is a
must for success. To that end,
restaurants and other businesses
currently located in the River
Market District have very visible,
well located signage promoting
their location and their category
of business. In order not to be
placed at a competitive
disadvantage vis-a-vis other
restaurants in the District, we
believe the location of the sign
application on the existing awning
is necessary.
April 26, 1999
Item No.: 6 (Cont.)
Present Use of Property:
Proposed Use of Property:
Staff Report:
A. Public Works Issues:
Thank you for your consideration of
this request in order that Sonny
Williams' Steak Room may succeed
and add to the growing commerce of
the River Market District.
Mixed Use Facility
Mixed Use Facility
No issues related to this sign variance.
B. Staff Analysis:
Sonny Williams' Steak Room is proposing to open a new
restaurant in the Museum Center building at 500 East Markham
Street. The restaurant will be located in the western end
of the building, closest to the River Market. The applicant
is proposing an awning sign on the west wall of the
building, providing greater visibility to the River Market
and people west of the Museum Center building. Lettering is
proposed to be placed on the face of the awning. The
property is located within the River Market area and is
covered by the River Market Design Overlay. Section 36-
353(a) Me states "awning valences are appropriate locations
for signs." The awning in question has no valence. Section
36-353(a)(2)d states "awning signs shall not exceed six (6)
square feet per awning." The proposed lettering does exceed
6 square feet.
It is the applicant's contention that the sign is necessary
for the business in that the majority of customer traffic in
the area is located to the west, around the other
restaurants and the River Market. The building was
renovated, including the addition of the awnings, prior to
implementation of the Overlay District. Consequently, the
awnings were not designed with the thought in mind that
valences would be needed to accommodate signage.
On April 7, 1999, the River Market Design Review Committee
voted to recommend approval of the variances to allow the
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April 26, 1999
Item No.: 6 (Cont.)
size of the sign and the location of the sign on the "body"
of the awning.
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variances.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:
(APRIL 26, 1999)
Craig Douglas was present representing the application. There
were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a
recommendation of approval. Staff informed the Board that 1 of
the 4 persons required to be notified of the hearing was notified
5 days prior to the hearing, not 10 days as required by the
Board's bylaws. Mr. Douglas stated that the owner of 521 East
Markham was out of town and, once he was reached, he signed the
notice form and faxed it back. Mr. Douglas stated that the
adjacent owners supported the variance request.
A motion was made to waive the bylaws and to accept the notices
as provided by the applicant. The motion was approved by a vote
of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 0 absent and 1 open position.
Mr. Douglas described the proposed sign and stated that he felt
it was necessary for the restaurant to have the sign as proposed.
He stated that there were similar signs in the area and noted
that the River Market Design Review Committee had recommended
approval of the variances.
In response to a question from Norm Floyd, Mr. Douglas stated
that the restaurant would have no awning signs on the Markham
Street frontage.
A motion was made to approve the sign variances as requested.
The motion was approved by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes, 0 absent
and 1 open position.
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