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Home My WebLink AboutZ-7069-A Staff AnalysisMarch 25, 2002 ITEM NO.: 6 File No.. Z -7069-A Owner: RHK, LLC Address: 8500 West Markham Street Description: North side of West Markham Street, approximately 300 feet west of Rodney Parham Road Zoned: Variance Requested: Justification: Present Use of Property: Proposed Use of Property: STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No issues. B. Staff Analysis: O-3 A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36- 553 to.permit a second ground - mounted sign along the south property line. The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Office Office A multi -story office building and associated paved parking areas are located on the 0-3 zoned property at 8500 West Markham Street. The property has two (2) street frontages, West Markham Street and Rodney Parham Road. There is one (1) existing ground -mounted sign along each street frontage. On July 30, 2001, the Board of Adjustment approved variances for both of the existing ground -mounted signs for Simmons Bank. The sign along West Markham Street was approved with a maximum height of 17.5 feet and a maximum area of approximately 70 square feet. The sign along Rodney March 25, 2002 Item No.: 6 Parham Road was approved for a maximum height of 16 feet and area of 64 square feet. The City's Zoning Ordinance allows one (1) ground -mounted sign per street frontage in office zones, with a maximum sign height of six (6) feet and maximum area of 64 square feet. The applicant is requesting a variance to allow a second ground -mounted sign along the West Markham Street frontage. The proposed sign will be approximately six (6) feet in height, with an area of 60 square feet. The sign is proposed to be located along the west side of the easternmost access drive. When the Board approved the ground -mounted sign variances on July 30, 2001, one (1) of the conditions of approval is as follows: "There are to be no other ground -mounted signs on the property other than directional signs." The property owner contends that Simmons Bank representatives never notified them of this requirement. Please see the attached letter for additional information pertaining to this issue. Staff does not support the requested variance. Aside from the specific conditions of the previous approval, the two (2) existing ground -mounted signs are almost three (3) times the maximum height allowed in office zoning. In light of the size of the sign which fronts West Markham Street, staff feels that it would not be reasonable to allow a second ground -mounted sign along this 210 -foot frontage. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends denial of the requested variance to allow a second ground -mounted sign along the West Markham Street frontage. W, March 25, 2002 Item No.: 6 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (MARCH 25, 2002) Vada Reynolds was present, representing the application. There were no persons present in opposition. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of denial. Vada Reynolds addressed the Board in support of the application. She explained the recent remodeling of the property and noted that several of the tenants were requesting signage. She stated that the bank did not notify her of the previous conditions of approval. She further explained the need for the additional signage. She noted that the City's Planning Staff had suggested wall -mounted signage, and explained that wall -mounted signs would not be very visible. Chairman Ruck noted that the proposed sign had 20 tenant names on it and that it appeared that it would be hard to identify a particular business. Ms. Reynolds explained that the tenants wanted the sign. Vice -Chairman Gray asked if there was a sign on the building with the building's address on it. Ms. Reynolds stated that there was not currently and explained. Vice -Chairman Gray asked if there was a previous sign on the building that contained tenant names. Ms. Reynolds stated that there was and explained that the sign was removed due to lack of visibility. This issue was briefly discussed. Andrew Francis asked if the property owner was aware of the previous application. Staff checked the previous file and noted that there was nothing in the file signed by the property owner. Vice -Chairman Gray stated that he did not support the application, as he felt that the proposed sign would be ineffective. He suggested wall -mounted signage. There was a motion to approve the application, as filed. The motion failed by a vote of 0 ayes and 5 nays. The application was denied. 3 01/15/2002 09:05 5018881289 SKYLITE SIGN & NEON PAGE 02 Item No.. 3 Filo No.: Owner: Address: Description: Zoned: VgUtiance Re e s ted : Justification: Present Use of proper : proosed Vise of Pr rty: Staff Re ort: A. Public Works Issues: Z-7069 Simmons First National Hank 8500 west Markham Stxaat Long Legal 0-3 Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-553. p The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Office building Office building No issues :related to this sign variance. B. Staff Analysis: The 0-3 zoned property at $500 West Markham Street is occupied by a three-story office building. The building has housed a bank branch for many years. Simmons First National Bank now proposes to open a branch in the building, utilizing the area and drive-through facilities that have historically been occupied by banks. The property has no ground -mounted signs. Simmons proposes to erect two ground - mounted signs on the property; one on the Markham Street frontage and one on the Rodney Parham frontage. The signs would specifically identify Simmons First National Sank. The sign on the Markham Street Frontage is proposed to be 17.5 feet in height and to have an area of 701 square feet. The sign on the Rodney Parham Frontage is to be 16 feet in height and is to have an area of 64 square feet. The code 01/15/2002 09:05 5018881289 SKYLITE SIGN & NEON PAGE 03 itamO. No.: 3 (Cont. limits the height and area of ground -mounted signs in the office districts to 6 feet and 64 square feet resPectively. On February 18, 1974, the Board of Adjustment approved variances allowing Union National Bank to erect two ground - mounted signs on the property. The sign on the Markham Street Frontage was approved at 36 square feet in area and 15 feet in height. The sign was actually erected at 21± feet in height because the 15 foot height was applied to the pole, not the overall sign. The sign on the Rodney Parham Frontage was approved at 24 square feet in area and 15 feet in height. Again, the sign was actually erected at 21± fQQt in height because the 15 foot height was -applied to the pole, not the overall sign. Whether the discrepancy in sign height was the result of misinterpretation of the code by the Board or by staff, the fact remains that this property has a 25± year history of having two ground -mounted signs at 21t feet in height. Staff is supportive of the requested sign variances. An was previously mentioned, the site has a history of having two ground -mounted signs taller than the height proposed by this application. The signs will meet Or only slightly exceed' the area allowed by the code. Neither sign will appear znoompatible with the overall surrounding neighborhood_ Co=nerci.ally zoned and developed properties are located south and east of this Site. Much larger signs are permitted on those commercial properties. Staff would prefer to see the sign proposed for the Markham Street Frontage moved further east, away from the residential property adjacent to the west. The previous sign on that frontage was located approximately mid -way between the two driveways, 100± feet away from the west property line. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested sign height and area variances subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. There are to be no other ground -mounted signs on the property other than directional signs. 2. The total height of the signs are not to +exceed 17.5 feet for the sign on the Markham. Street Frontage and 16 feet for the sign on the Rodney Parham Frontage - 2