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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7037-B Staff AnalysisSEPTEMBER 26, 2011 ITEM NO.: 1 File No.: Z -7037-B Owner: Arkansas Repertory Theatre Applicant: Nikki Sammons, Mangan Holcomb Partners Address: 601 Main Street Description: Southeast Corner of Main and E. 6t" Streets Zoned: UU Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-557 to allow banner signs to exceed the maximum number allowed and to exceed the maximum display time allowed. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Theatre Proposed Use of Property: Theatre STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comment B. Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 601 S. Main Street is occupied by a three-story commercial building which houses the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. The property is located at the southeast corner of S. Main and E. 6" Streets. The first floor of the building contains three (3) sets of frames for banner signs on the west (Main Street) fagade and two (2) sets of banner frames on the north (E. 6t" Street) fagade. The second floor contains two (2) larger banner signs "The Rep" at the northwest corner of the building, one (1) oriented to Main Street and one (1) to E. 6t" Street. All of the banner signs are located over the sidewalk along both street frontages. On May 21, 2001, the Board of Adjustment approved variances to allow the banner signs to be located on the Arkansas Repertory Theatre building and on a street light pole at 601 Main Street. Five (5) banner signs (3 feet by 5 feet) attached to just below the second level of the building, two (2) banner signs (4 feet by 12 feet) attached to the corner between the second and the third floors, and a banner SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 ITEM NO.: 1 CON'T.) attached to the street lamp pole outside the Rep's front door were approved. The banner signs were approved with the following conditions: 1. A franchise must be obtained to coincide with the Board's approval. 2. The banners must be maintained in good condition, otherwise they must be removed. 3. The banner signs are to contain no commercial message and are to only include the identification of the location as "The Rep, Share the Experience." The applicant is now before the Board to request three (3) additional small banner signs, as noted on the attached sketch plan. Two (2) of the signs will be located along the Main Street frontage and one (1) along the E. 6th Street frontage. The smaller banner signs are proposed to be 40 inches by 60 inches in size and contain the name/logo of the specific plays/events during the current season. If there are fewer than eight (8) events during a specific season, the other small banners will only contain "The Rep". The two (2) larger banner signs will be 46 inches by 142 inches and read "The Rep Arkansas Repertory Theatre". Examples of the banner signs are attached for Board review. The banner previously approved for the street lamp pole has been removed. Section 36-557(d) of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows a business one (1) banner sign per street frontage, with a maximum banner size of five (5) feet by twenty (20) feet. Banner signs are allowed through a special event permit for a maximum of 24 weeks per year. Therefore, the applicant is requesting variances from these ordinance standards to allow an increased number of banner signs and permanent placement/display of the banners, with the smaller banners being changed out with each season's events. Staff is supportive of the requested variance. Staff views the request as reasonable. The Repertory Theatre is a cultural attraction, and not a commercial retail -type use, that has benefited from the increased visibility and enhanced visual atmosphere the banners have created over the past several years. The addition of three (3) smaller banner signs and change in concept to display the names/logos of specific plays/events will be of even greater benefit to the theatre. Staff views the use of banner signs by the Repertory Theatre as a unique situation in an area of downtown Little Rock in need of the type of stability the theatre provides. Staff believes use of the banner signs as proposed by the applicant will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the general area. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the variances associated with the proposed banner signs, subject to the following conditions: 1. A franchise permit must be obtained for all banner signs. 2. If any of the banners become damaged/torn they must be removed promptly. SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 ITEM NO.: 1 CON'T. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (September 26, 2011) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of approval, with conditions. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved, as recommended by staff, with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays and 0 absent.