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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6881-D Staff AnalysisSEPTEMBER 29, 2008 ITEM NO.: File No.: Z-6881 -D Owner: First National Bank Applicant: Timothy S. Yelvington Address: 5315 Highland Drive Description: Lot 6, Candlewood East Addition Zoned: O-3 Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Sections 36-557 and 36-553 to allow a sign without street frontage and a second ground - mounted sign. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Branch Bank/Office Proposed Use of Property: Branch Bank/Office STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments B. Staff Analysis: The property at 5315 Highland Drive is zoned 0-3 and occupied by a newly constructed office building which houses a branch bank (First National Bank) and insurance office. The property is located on the east side of Highland Drive, north of Cantrell Road. The new building is located within the east half of the property, with parking between the building and Highland Drive. Drive- thru facilities are located on the east side of the building, with driveways located on all sides of the building. There are two (2) access drives from Highland Drive. The property is located above the grade of Highland Drive and the property immediately to the south which is at the northeast corner of Highland Drive and Cantrell Road. The new office building looks over the building immediately to the south and is visible from Cantrell Road. There is one (1) existing ground -mounted (monument -type) sign at the north entry drive and wall signs on the west building facade, facing Highland Drive. SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 ITEM NO.: 1 (CON'T. The applicant is proposing to construct a second ground -mounted (monument - type) sign at the south entry drive, as noted on the attached site plan. The proposed sign will have a height ranging from 7'-7" to 4'-4", and an area of approximately 60 square feet. The applicant is also proposing a wall sign on the south building facade, as noted on the attached elevation sketch. The sign will have an area of approximately 28 square feet and face the property immediately to the south, with visibility from Cantrell Road. Section 36-553(a)(2) allows one (1) ground -mounted sign per premises (up to 64 square feet in area and six (6) feet in height) for office zoned properties. Section 36-557 requires that all wall signs face required street frontage. Therefore, the applicant is requesting variances from these ordinance standards to allow a second ground -mounted sign on the property, the second sign to exceed the maximum height allowed, and a wall sign (south fagade) with no direct street frontage. Staff does not support the sign variances, as requested. Staff has no issues with the proposed wall sign on the south fagade. This is consistent with what staff has supported in the past for wall signs without street frontage. The site is located at a much higher elevation that the property immediately to the south, so the proposed wall sign on the south building wall will have good visibility from Cantrell Road and will aid in identifying the bank facility. Staff does not support the variance to allow a second ground -mounted sign on the property. Staff feels the existing ground -mounted sign at the north driveway adequately identifies the property to traffic along Highland Drive. The ordinance does allow two (2) directional/informational signs for this property, with a maximum height of six (6) feet and a maximum area of four (4) square feet (Section 36-550). Staff believes the applicant should utilize an allowed directional sign to identify the ATM/drive-thru bank facilities. Otherwise, staff believes the wall sign without direct street frontage will have no adverse impact on the area. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends denial of the requested sign variance, as filed. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (SEPTEMBER 29, 2008) Tim Yelvington was present, representing the application. Thee were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of denial, as filed. Tim Yelvington addressed the Board in support of the application. He explained that the second ground sign was needed to direct bank traffic to the southernmost driveway. There was a brief discussion of this issue. SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 ITEM NO.: 1 (CON'T.) Chairman Burruss asked if a small directional sign as allowed by ordinance would be adequate to direct traffic to the bank's ATM and drive-thru. Mr. Yelvington indicated that it probably would be adequate. Chairman Burruss noted that bank customers would probably be familiar with the ATM and drive-thru locations. There was additional discussion regarding the existing ground -mounted sign. Cindy Dawson, City Attorney, suggested a separate vote on each of the two (2) sign variances. There was a motion to approve the requested variance to allow a wall sign without street frontage. The motion passed by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. The variance was approved. There was a second motion to approve the requested variance to allow a second ground -mounted sign. The motion failed by a vote of 0 ayes and 5 nays. The variance was denied.