HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6921-A Staff AnalysisApril 30, 2001
Item No.: 2
File No.. Z -6921-A
Owner: Koon Properties, Inc.
Address: 7615 Fluid Drive
Description• Lot 2C, Replat of Little Rock
River Subdivision
Zoned: C-3
Variance Re ested: A variance is requested from the
sign area provisions of Section
36-555 to permit a ground -mounted
sign exceeding 160 square feet in
area.
Justification: The applicant's justification is
presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Motel
Proposed Use of Proper Motel
Staff Re ort•
A. Public Works Issues
No issues related to this sign variance.
B. Staff Analysis:
The C-3 zoned property located at 7615 Fluid Drive is
occupied by a Travelodge Motel. The property has frontage
on Fluid Drive, Fourche Dam Pike and I-440. A McDonald's
restaurant is located adjacent to the north. A shared
ground -mounted sign is located on the common property line
between McDonald's and Travelodge. This shared sign was
approved for 60 feet in height and has a 19'11" X 1517"
McDonald's sign mounted over an 8' X 32' Travelodge sign.
The sign exceeds the maximum of 36' in height and 160 square
feet in area allowed for signs in the commercial district.
The additional height and area was approved to allow
visibility from I-440 and in response to the previous
property owner's agreement not to request additional ground-
April 30, 2001
Item No.: 2 (Cont.)
mounted signs on the Travelodge property. The hotel site is
permitted 3 ground mounted signs since it has three street
frontages.
Travelodge is now requesting a ground -mounted sign on the
I-440 perimeter of the site. The sign is proposed to be 65
feet in height, or approximately 41 feet over the 24 -foot
height of the I-440 overpass over Fourche Dam Pike. The
applicant proposes to remove the Travelodge component of the
existing shared sign and to relocate it to the new location.
The 256 square foot, 8' X 32' Travelodge sign exceeds the
maximum 160 square feet permitted in commercial districts.
Section 36-557(b) states the height of ground -mounted signs
on properties adjacent to freeways may be measured from the
elevation of the centerline of the freeway. In this -case,
the 36 -foot allowable height may be measured from the 24 -
foot higher elevation of the freeway. The applicant is
requesting an additional 5 feet in height.
Staff is supportive of the concept of relocating the
Travelodge component from the shared sign to its own
location adjacent to the freeway. This would reduce the
visual effect of the large shared sign area. There are
other, larger and taller signs in the area around this
interchange. Since the Travelodge component of the existing
shared sign is below the McDonald's sign, it is hidden from
approaching traffic on I-440 by the tree line. Allowing it
to be placed on its own pole at the taller height will make
it more easily seen from the interstate. Staff believes it
is appropriate to limit the height of the sign to a maximum
of 36 feet above the elevation of the adjacent interstate,
as outlined by Section 36-557(b).
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested sign area
variance to allow Travelodge to erect an 8' X 32' ground -
mounted sign on the I-440 perimeter of the site subject to
compliance with the following conditions:
1. The Travelodge sign component is to be removed from the
shared ground -mounted sign located between Travelodge
and McDonald's.
2. There are to be no additional ground -mounted signs on
the Travelodge property.
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April 30, 2001
Item No.: 2 (Cont.
Staff does not support the variance to allow a sign height
of 65 feet, 41 feet higher than the elevation of the
adjacent interstate.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:
(APRIL 30, 2001)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present.
Staff informed the Board that the applicant had agreed to limit
the height of the sign to 60 feet, 36 feet above the elevation of
the adjacent interstate. Staff also informed the Board that the
sign measured 8 feet by 25 feet in area, not 8 feet by 32 feet.
Staff offered a recommendation of approval of the sign area
variance subject to compliance with the following conditions:
1. The Travelodge sign component is to be removed from the shared
ground -mounted sign located between Travelodge and McDonald's.
2. There are to be no additional ground -mounted signs on the
Travelodge property.
The applicant offered no additional comments.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as
recommended by staff. The vote was 5 ayes, 0 noes and 0 absent.
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